TOEFL vs IELTS: Key Differences & Test Comparison

Whether you are a student or a professional with dreams of studying or working abroad, the choice between TOEFL and IELTS is something you can’t avoid. While both are mandatory English-language proficiency tests for seeking university admissions and jobs abroad, many are confused about picking the one best suited to their needs.  In this article, we shed some light on the TOEFL vs IELTS debate. While neither TOEFL or IELTS is easier than the other, the distinction between the two will help you make an informed decision best suited to your goals.

TOEFL vs IELTS- An Overview

TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, and IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System. IELTS is accepted in over 140 countries and TOEFL in 190.  The basic difference between TOEFL and IELTS is in their format and design. TOEFL vs IELTS boils down to individual strengths and preferences. Your score won’t be affected whether you use British or American English. What matters is the format that suits you the most.

Parameter/Aspect	TOEFL	IELTS
Number of Universities Accepting	10,000+ universities in more than 160 countries	12,000+ organizations in more than 140 countries
Validity	2 years	2 years
Organiser	Educational Testing Service (ETS)	IELTS IDP India
Fee	INR 16,900	INR 17,000
Duration	2 hours	2 hours, 45 minutes
Score Range	0 to 120	1 to 9
Popularity	Popular in the USA, New Zealand, the UK, and Canada	Popular in Canada, the UK, and Australia
Test Modules	Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening	Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening
Reading Module	2 Tasks (20 Questions)	3 Tasks (40 Questions)
Listening Module	3+2 Tasks (28 Questions)	4 Parts (10 Questions each)
Speaking Module	4 Tasks	3 Tasks
Writing Module	2 Tasks	2 Tasks

 

What is TOEFL?

TOEFL tests a student’s command of English as a second language. It is recognised in 190 countries and is crucial for entry into prestigious foreign universities where English is spoken as a first language. 

The exam is conducted by Education Testing Services (ETS), a US-based non-profit organisation specialising in conducting standardised tests. It offers three modes, and you can choose whichever seems most suitable.

1. At a test centre
2. At home with a Home Edition test
3. On paper with TOEFL iBT paper edition test

Also Read: TOEFL Registration 2025

What is IELTS?

IELTS checks a person’s English skills in reading, listening, writing, and speaking. The British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge Assessment English jointly conduct the test in two modes:

1. Paper test
2. Computer test

TOEFL vs IELTS- Key Differences

If you are confused about which test is better, remember that they both check your fluency in reading, writing and speaking English. That being said, they do differ in their components and scoring system. Before you make a TOEFL vs IELTS choice, compare their score requirements and exam structure and make an informed decision about what suits your goals and strengths.

Aspect	IELTS	TOEFL
1. Scope	Broader, including academic, occupational, and immigration purposes.	Primarily for academic purposes, with some use for immigration.
2. Types	Academic and General Training.	Academic-focused.
3. Locations Available	Over 1,600 locations in 140+ countries.	Over 6,000 locations in 170+ countries.
4. Popularity	Over 3.5 million test-takers annually.	Over 2.3 million test-takers annually.
5. Interaction with Examiner	Face-to-face speaking section.	Computer-based speaking section.
6. Scoring	Band system (1-9).	Scored out of 120 (0-30 per section).
7. Exam Duration	2 hours 45 minutes.	2 hours (iBT) or 3 hours (paper-based).
8. Frequency	48 days per year.	60+ sessions per year, 5 days a week.
9. Result Declaration	Online results within a week, offline for up to 13 days.	Scores available in 4-6 days.

 

IELTS vs TOEFL: Exam Pattern & Syllabus

Here’s a section-wise breakdown of both exams according to their exam pattern and syllabus:

Reading Section

Your reading ability reflects your capacity to read and understand the study material, research papers, and assignments required for your academic program. It’s a key skill without which studying and working in an English-speaking country may become difficult. Here’s how the TOEFL vs IELTS reading sections differ:

TOEFL

The TOEFL reading section tests whether you can read and understand university-level study material. The test runs for 35 minutes where you will have to answer 20 questions. You simply have to read the passages and then respond to the questions.

Please note that after January 2026, the TOEFL iBT test will be updated to assess students’ use of English in modern academic contexts. The reading section will comprise tasks such as “Complete the Words”, “Read in Daily Life” and “Read an Academic Passage.” There will be 35-48 questions, which you will have to answer in about 27 minutes.

IELTS

Like TOEFL, IELTS also tests the same parameters, but the total time allowed is 60 minutes. There are 3 sections or passages with 40 questions in all. The test evaluates whether you can understand the author’s point of view and locate information within the passage.

Aspect	TOEFL	IELTS
Exam Type	20 questions	40 questions
Time Allocation	35 minutes	60 minutes

Read Also: IELTS Exam Fees

Listening Section

Good listening is a core skill for any student who wants to perform well in an academic environment. That’s why both tests check whether you have the requisite listening skills to comprehend spoken English in an academic environment. Here’s how the TOEFL vs IELTS listening sections differ:

TOEFL

In the TOEFL listening section, you will be evaluated for your ability to grasp lectures and conversations in English. As part of the test, you will be given 28 questions based on brief lectures or classroom discussions. The test should be completed in 36 minutes.

Post January 2026, the section will comprise 35-45 questions, which have to be answered in about 27 minutes. The test will be centred on how you listen to a conversation, announcement and an academic talk, and how you choose a response.

IELTS

Like TOEFL, the IELTS listening section will test your ability to understand and decipher specific information. The test has 4 parts with 10 questions in each. You have to finish the section in 30 minutes.

Parts 1 and 2 of the test deal with everyday social situations. Part 3 and 4 of the test deals with educational and training situations.

You will have to be very alert since you will hear the recording only once. The audio will play a variety of accents like UK, US, New Zealand and Australian.

Exam Type	Total Questions	Number of Parts	Time Allocation
TOEFL	28	4	36 minutes
IELTS	Varies (typically 40 questions)	4	30 minutes

 

Writing Section

Writing, like reading, listening, and speaking, is a core skill required at universities and workplaces abroad for writing essays, reports, and professional communication. Here’s how the TOEFL vs IELTS writing sections differ:

TOEFL

TOEFL writing section tests whether you can articulate ideas through writing. The segment will consist of two tasks. In the first one, you have to read a passage, listen to a recording and then type a response. In the second one, you have to state your opinion and support it based on a simulated classroom discussion. You have less than 30 minutes to complete the entire section.

Post January 2026, this test will be updated to include Sentence Building, Email Writing and Writing for an Academic Discussion. The section will contain 12 questions and you will have 23 minutes to complete it.

Read Also: IELTS Exam Eligibility 

IELTS

In IELTS, there will be two writing tasks. The first will deal with visual information like a graph, table, chart, or diagram, which you must describe in your own words. You have to write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.

In the second one, you will be given a point of view, argument, or problem for discussion. You have to write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes

Exam Type	Total Tasks	Time Allocation
TOEFL	2	29 minutes
IELTS	2	60 minutes

Speaking Section

Speaking is the primary communication method, which underscores the ability to ask relevant questions, clear doubts, communicate thoughts, and give presentations in an academic and professional environment. It shows that you can communicate actively. Here’s how the TOEFL vs IELTS speaking sections differ:

TOEFL

The TOEFL speaking test consists of 4 tasks where you discuss a familiar topic and discuss the material you have read and heard. The entire section has to be completed in 16 minutes. 

Important Note: After January 2026, the section will comprise 2 questions with 11 tasks. The first will be a listen-and-repeat test, and the second a mock interview.

IELTS

In IELTS, the speaking test consists of 3 parts: a face-to-face, recorded interview between you and the examiner; a task-based speaking test (Long Turn) based on a card; and a discussion about a topic given on the card. The test will conclude in 11-14 minutes. 

Exam Type	Total Tasks	Time Allocation
TOEFL	4	16 minutes
IELTS	3 parts	11 to 14 minutes

 

TOEFL or IELTS – Which is Better?

When deciding between TOEFL or IELTS, the key is understanding the differences in format structures and requirements. Both tests assess English proficiency but vary in components and scoring. Whether you are considering TOEFL vs IELTS score comparisons or trying to determine which is more straightforward- TOEFL or IELTS- choice is primarily based on personal strengths.

In the following sections, we’ll break down based on key parameters, such as test duration, scoring, and popularity, as explained in the table below:

Section	TOEFL	IELTS
Reading	20 questions, 35 minutes; Academic materials; Multiple choice	40 questions, 60 minutes; 3 long reading passages with varied question types (gap-fill, matching, etc.)
Listening	36 minutes, 28 questions; Includes lectures and campus conversations; Multiple choice with note-taking	30 minutes, 40 questions; 4 recorded conversations and monologues with various types of questions
Writing	2 tasks within 29 minutes; Task 1 involves note-taking from a reading and lecture; Task 2 integrates reading and listening	2 tasks in 60 minutes; Task 1 involves describing/explaining visuals (graphs, tables); Task 2 is an essay (250 words)
Speaking	16 minutes, 4 tasks; Responses recorded on a computer based on short descriptions/conversations	11-14 minutes, 3 tasks; Interview with an examiner, including a warm-up, visual stimulus, and extended discussion

 

Read Also: IELTS Exam Dates 

TOEFL vs IELTS Score: A Comparison

Your TOEFL score will reflect how much you scored out of 120. Based on your performance, IELTS will place you in a band from 0 to 9 for each of the four sections. In the end, an average score will be considered.

While Ivy Leagues look for a 100+ TOEFL score, other top colleges may consider 90-10 good enough. Top colleges and Ivy League institutions may require 7.0 to 7.5 overall for IELTS, while other top universities may be fine with 6.5-7.0.

Here is a breakdown of  how you will be scored in TOEFL vs IELTS:

IELTS Score	TOEFL Score
9	118-120
8.5	115-117
8	110-114
7.5	102-109
7	94-101
6.5	79-93
6	60-78
5.5	46-59
5	35-45
4.5	32-34
0-4	0-31

 

TOEFL vs IELTS: Cost Comparison

TOEFL and IELTS are competitively priced at Rs 16,900 and Rs 17,000, respectively. However, both may incur additional service fees for late registration, test rescheduling, reinstatement of cancelled scores, score review, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more accepted: TOEFL or IELTS?

TOEFL and IELTS are equally relevant in universities and colleges worldwide. However, it has to be noted that TOEFL is generally more accepted in the US and IELTS in the UK, Australia, and Canada. Before you make the TOEFL vs IELTS choice, verify the requirements of the institution you are applying to.

Is TOEFL easier than IELTS?

Neither the TOEFL nor the IELTS is easier than the other. As we mentioned above, it depends on what formats you find comfortable. Those who find test-taking easier online with multiple-choice questions, TOEFL might be right for you. IELTS has both computer-based and paper-based formats.

TOEFL has a recorded speaking test, as opposed to IELTS, which requires an interview with a human examiner. If you are more comfortable with human interactions and variety in question styles, IELTS may be right for you.

TOEFL vs IELTS: Which test is more widely accepted for university admissions?

TOEFL and IELTS are both relevant in most universities worldwide. However, TOEFL is more widely accepted in the United States, while IELTS is more relevant in UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand Universities.

TOEFL or IELTS for Indian students?

As Indian students, the choice between TOEFL vs IELTS depends on which countries you want to apply to and what formats you are comfortable with. As explained earlier, TOEFL is more popularly accepted in the US, and IELTS is more relevant in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. If you find the online mode of test taking with multiple choice questions easier, then TOEFL is for you. In contrast, if you are more comfortable with face-to-face interactions and perform better in a human-moderated environment, IELTS may be right for you.