TOEFL vs IELTS: how they differ
The TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic are both English tests used for university admission; which ones an institution or visa route accepts is set by that body, so check first. The formats differ: the TOEFL has been a shorter, partly adaptive test on a 1–6 scale since January 2026, while IELTS Academic reports bands 0–9 and is moving from paper to computer delivery.
TOEFL vs IELTS at a glance
| TOEFL | IELTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Set by | ETS | IELTS (British Council, IDP and Cambridge) |
| Sections | Reading: about 50 items, about 30 minutes; Listening: about 47 items, about 29 minutes; Writing: 12 items, about 23 minutes; Speaking: 11 items, about 8 minutes | Listening: 4 parts, 40 questions, about 30 minutes; Reading: 60 minutes; Writing: 60 minutes; Speaking: 11–14 minutes |
| Testing time | About 90 minutes of testing; about 2 hours including setup | 2 hours 45 minutes for Listening, Reading and Writing, plus 11–14 minutes of Speaking |
| Scoring | 1–6 for each section and overall; the overall score is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band. A comparable 0–120 score is also reported for two years after 21 January 2026 (through January 2028). | Bands 0–9 in half bands for each skill; the overall band is the average, rounded to the nearest half band |
| How it is taken | At a test center, or at home as the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. Reading and Listening are two-stage adaptive: a first module routes you to an easier or harder second module. Writing and Speaking are not adaptive. | Computer-delivered, with a “Writing on Paper” option in selected markets. Paper-based IELTS is being withdrawn from mid-2026 (the last paper date in Canada was 7 May 2026). One Skill Retake lets you retake one skill within 60 days. |
| Recent changes | The pre-2026 test used 0–30 section scores and a 0–120 total, and its Speaking and Writing sections included integrated read-listen-respond tasks. The current task list contains none of them. | Fully paper-based IELTS is being retired; check which delivery your test center offers. |
How to decide
Check which tests your institutions and visa route accept, and the score each asks for. If both are accepted, compare the formats: the TOEFL is about 90 minutes of testing, adapts Reading and Listening, can be taken at home, and reports 1–6 (with a comparable 0–120 score until January 2028); IELTS Academic is longer, reports a 0–9 band for each skill and overall, and offers One Skill Retake. A timed practice test of each shows which format you handle better.
What differs, and who each may suit
The TOEFL may suit you if you:
- Want a shorter test: about 90 minutes of testing
- Would like to test at home with the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- Are comfortable with Reading and Listening that adapt to your first module
- Have institutions that state a TOEFL requirement you can target
IELTS may suit you if you:
- Have an institution or visa route that asks for IELTS
- Want the option to retake a single skill within 60 days
- Want to handwrite Writing, where Writing on Paper is offered
- Want a separate 0–9 band for each skill
Frequently asked questions
- Is TOEFL or IELTS easier?
- Neither is easier across the board. They differ in length, score scale and delivery; a timed practice test of each is the quickest way to see which format suits you.
- Which is more widely accepted?
- Acceptance is set by each university and each visa authority, and so is the score required. Check the requirement of every institution and route you are applying to.
- Is the 0–120 TOEFL score still used?
- The main scale is now 1–6 for each section and overall. A comparable 0–120 score is also reported for two years after 21 January 2026, through January 2028.
- Can I still take IELTS on paper?
- IELTS is withdrawing paper-based testing from mid-2026, on timelines that vary by country. The test is computer-delivered, with a Writing on Paper option in selected markets.