Guides
IELTS vs TOEFL: Which English Test Should You Take?
By Sana Iqbal · · 7 min read
Quick answer
Choose IELTS if you prefer speaking face-to-face with a real examiner, shorter tasks, and handwriting or typing options — it is especially common for the UK, Australia and immigration. Choose TOEFL if you are comfortable speaking into a microphone, typing all answers, and dealing with academic lectures — it is long-established in the United States. Both are widely accepted; check your specific university or visa requirement first, because that usually decides it for you.
Start with the only question that really matters
Before comparing formats, check what your target university, employer or immigration authority actually accepts and what minimum score they require. Many institutions accept both tests, but some accept only one, and some set different minimums per section. That single check often makes the decision for you and saves months of preparing for the wrong exam.
The core format differences
Both tests assess listening, reading, speaking and writing. The biggest practical difference is the speaking section: IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face conversation with a real examiner, while TOEFL Speaking is recorded into a microphone and scored later. If talking to a person calms you, IELTS suits you. If being watched makes you freeze, TOEFL may feel easier.
TOEFL is fully computer-based and typed. IELTS offers both computer-delivered and paper options, so if your handwriting is faster than your typing — or the reverse — you can pick what suits you.
Scoring: bands versus points
IELTS is scored in bands from 0 to 9, in half-band increments, with an overall band and a score for each skill. TOEFL iBT is scored from 0 to 120, made up of four sections worth 30 points each. Neither scale is 'easier' — they simply describe the same ability differently, and institutions publish equivalents.
What matters is meeting the minimum for each section if your target sets one. Many candidates hit the overall requirement but miss a single sub-score, which can still mean a rejection, so prepare your weakest skill deliberately rather than pushing your strongest higher.
Which is harder?
Neither is objectively harder — they are hard in different ways. TOEFL uses a lot of academic lecture content and integrated tasks where you read, listen, then write or speak about both together, which suits students used to university-style material. IELTS uses a wider mix of everyday and academic material and rewards clear, direct communication.
In practice, the 'easier' test is the one that matches how you perform. Try one full official practice test of each. Your scores and, just as importantly, how you felt during them, will tell you more than any comparison article.
Cost, availability and results
Fees are broadly similar and vary by country, so check current prices locally. Both are offered frequently in most cities, and both release results within days for computer-based versions. If your deadline is tight, availability of test dates near you may quietly become the deciding factor.
Preparing efficiently for either
Whichever test you choose, the preparation principles are the same: take a full official practice test early to find your weak section, work on that section deliberately, and get real feedback on speaking and writing — the two skills you genuinely cannot self-mark accurately.
Reading and listening: what actually differs
TOEFL reading passages are drawn from academic texts and tend to be longer, with questions that test detailed comprehension and inference. IELTS reading (Academic) mixes academic and general-interest material and includes a wider variety of question formats — matching headings, True/False/Not Given, sentence completion — which some candidates find fiddly until they learn the technique for each.
In listening, TOEFL leans on campus lectures and conversations, and you take notes and answer afterwards. IELTS listening presents a wider mix of everyday and academic contexts and you answer as you listen. Neither is harder in the abstract; they simply reward different habits, and both are learnable.
Choosing when you genuinely have a free choice
If your university accepts both, take one full official practice test of each. Compare not only the scores but how you felt: did the recorded speaking section make you tense, or did the face-to-face examiner? Did the note-taking suit you, or did answering as you listen feel more natural?
That two-hour investment is the most reliable decision-making tool available, and it beats every comparison table — including this one.
For further reading, ETS (the official TOEFL provider) is a reliable, authoritative source. When you are ready for personal help, explore our TOEFL tutoring or book a free demo session.
Frequently asked questions
Is IELTS or TOEFL better for the UK?+
IELTS is more traditionally associated with the UK, and for some UK visa routes a specific approved test (IELTS for UKVI) is required. Always confirm exactly which test and version your university or visa route accepts.
Is IELTS or TOEFL better for the US?+
TOEFL has long been the standard in the United States, but the great majority of US universities now accept IELTS too. Check your specific university's requirements rather than assuming.
Can I take both tests?+
You can, but it is rarely a good use of time or money. Choose the one your institution accepts, and put all your preparation into that.
How long are the scores valid?+
Both IELTS and TOEFL scores are typically valid for two years. If you are applying later than that, you will usually need to retake the test.
How long should I prepare?+
It depends on your starting level. Many candidates need two to three months of consistent preparation to move up meaningfully, and speaking and writing improve fastest with feedback from a tutor rather than self-study alone.
Which test is better if my speaking is weak?+
Neither will hide a weakness, but the format matters: if speaking to a person makes you anxious, TOEFL's recorded format may feel less pressured. If speaking into a microphone feels unnatural, IELTS's conversation with a real examiner usually suits you better.
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