IELTS guide
The definitive 2026 comparison — updated to reflect the new TOEFL adaptive format, the new 1–6 band scale, and how both tests compare for study, work, and immigration purposes worldwide. Both IELTS and TOEFL are accepted by 12,000+ universities globally, but the right choice depends on your destination, your strengths, and your timeline.
What this guide covers
Choose IELTS if: you are applying to UK, Australian, Canadian, or New Zealand universities; you need a test for immigration to Canada, Australia, or the UK; you prefer face-to-face speaking with a real examiner; you are comfortable with handwriting essays (paper-based) or typing (computer-based); your test centre is in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, or Australia where IELTS dominates.
Choose TOEFL if: you are applying to US universities (TOEFL is historically preferred, though IELTS is now widely accepted); you prefer recorded speaking responses over live interviews; you are comfortable with computer-based testing only; you find it easier to take notes during integrated reading-listening-speaking tasks; you do not need the test for Canadian or Australian immigration (TOEFL is not accepted for those).
For most candidates with a flexible destination, IELTS is the safer choice in 2026 because it is accepted by all the same universities as TOEFL plus all Commonwealth immigration programs. TOEFL is the better choice when your specific target university or program states a TOEFL preference.
Use this conversion table to interpret IELTS and TOEFL scores against each other. Both tests assess the same underlying English proficiency, but they use different scoring scales. The new TOEFL 2026 format added a 1–6 band scale alongside the traditional 0–120 score.
Band 9 / Expert level: IELTS 9.0 = TOEFL 118–120 (legacy) = TOEFL band 6 (2026). Highly educated native-speaker level.
Band 8 / Very Good: IELTS 8.0–8.5 = TOEFL 110–117 = TOEFL band 6. Required for top-tier US universities, UK postgraduate programs, professional registration.
Band 7 / Good: IELTS 7.0–7.5 = TOEFL 94–109 = TOEFL band 5. Required for most competitive university programs worldwide.
Band 6.5 / Competent+: IELTS 6.5 = TOEFL 79–93 = TOEFL band 4. The most common minimum for undergraduate admission to Anglophone universities.
Band 6 / Competent: IELTS 6.0 = TOEFL 60–78 = TOEFL band 3. Acceptable for some undergraduate programs and most work visas.
Band 5.5 / Modest+: IELTS 5.5 = TOEFL 46–59 = TOEFL band 2. Foundation-level English; typically requires English-language preparation programmes.
These are approximate conversions. Specific universities may apply different cutoffs, so always verify with your target institution. The conversion is most reliable in the band 6.0–8.0 range where both tests have the most data.
IELTS Listening (30 minutes, 40 questions): 4 sections progressing from casual conversation to academic lecture. Audio plays only ONCE. You write answers on a question paper, then transfer to an answer sheet in 10 extra minutes (paper-based) or type directly (computer-based).
TOEFL Listening (36 minutes, ~28 questions): 2–3 conversations and 3–4 lectures. Audio plays once. You can take notes throughout. Questions appear after each audio passage. No transfer time needed (computer-based only).
IELTS Reading (60 minutes, 40 questions): 3 long passages from books, journals, magazines (Academic) or everyday materials (General Training). 14+ question types including True/False/Not Given, matching headings. No extra transfer time — answers must be written as you go.
TOEFL Reading (35 minutes, ~20 questions): 2 academic passages with 10 questions each. 10 question types including Insert Text, Prose Summary, Fill a Table. Questions and passage are visible simultaneously on screen.
IELTS Writing (60 minutes, 2 tasks): Task 1 = describe a chart/graph/process/map (Academic) or write a letter (General Training), 150+ words in 20 minutes. Task 2 = essay responding to an argument or opinion, 250+ words in 40 minutes. Task 2 carries twice the weight.
TOEFL Writing (29 minutes, 2 tasks): Integrated Writing = read 3 min + listen 2 min + write 20 min explaining how lecture relates to passage, 150–225 words. Academic Discussion = respond to a professor's question with your own contribution in 10 minutes, 100+ words.
IELTS Speaking (11–14 minutes): Face-to-face interview with a trained examiner. Part 1 personal questions, Part 2 cue card monologue, Part 3 abstract discussion. Often scheduled on a different day from the other sections.
TOEFL Speaking (16 minutes): 4 recorded tasks. Task 1 Independent Speaking (15s prep, 45s response). Tasks 2–4 Integrated (read or listen, then speak). All responses recorded into a microphone — no live examiner.
Test fee: IELTS costs $215–$310 USD depending on country (typically $250 in most major test centres). TOEFL costs $200–$320 USD (typically $245). Costs are roughly comparable; specific country pricing varies.
Test centres: IELTS has roughly 1,600 test centres in 140+ countries, with the densest coverage in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. TOEFL has roughly 4,500 test centres in 165+ countries, with the densest coverage in the Americas. In most major cities, both tests are available within driving distance.
Test frequency: IELTS is offered up to 4 times per month at major centres. TOEFL is offered roughly 50 times per year at most centres (close to weekly). For tight application deadlines, TOEFL typically has more flexibility.
Result delivery: IELTS computer-based results in 3–5 days; paper-based in 13 days. TOEFL results in 4–8 days. Both deliver results to chosen universities digitally at no extra cost (within 5 free score reports).
Test validity: Both tests are valid for 2 years from the test date. After 2 years, you must retake to use the score for new applications.
USA: Both accepted at 99% of universities. TOEFL is historically preferred but IELTS is now accepted at 3,400+ US institutions including all Ivy League schools, MIT, Stanford, Caltech, and the University of California system.
UK: IELTS is the dominant test, accepted by 100% of UK universities. TOEFL is accepted but the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) office requires the specific "IELTS for UKVI" version for visa purposes — TOEFL is not currently accepted for UK visa applications.
Canada: For university admission, both tests are accepted by virtually all institutions. For Canadian immigration (Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs), IELTS is the primary accepted test — TOEFL was not accepted for immigration as of early 2026 but Citizenship and Immigration Canada has begun accepting TOEFL for some streams.
Australia: Both accepted by all universities. For Australian skilled migration and visa applications, IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, OET, and Cambridge English are all accepted. IELTS is the most common choice.
New Zealand: Both accepted by all universities. For NZ skilled migration, IELTS is the primary test; TOEFL is also accepted.
EU and Asia: Both tests are widely accepted at universities. For specific country immigration, requirements vary — Germany, France, and Japan typically accept either; Korea and China typically prefer IELTS for university admission.
There is no universally "easier" test — difficulty depends on your specific strengths and weaknesses. Here are the patterns most candidates report.
IELTS is harder if: you struggle with handwriting essays under time pressure (paper-based IELTS); you find a wide variety of English accents difficult (IELTS Listening uses British, Australian, North American, and other accents); you find face-to-face speaking interviews stressful; you struggle to switch quickly between question types in Reading.
TOEFL is harder if: you struggle with sustained note-taking during long audio passages (TOEFL lectures are 5+ minutes); you find recorded speaking responses awkward (no human to read your reactions); you have weaker academic English vocabulary (TOEFL Reading is exclusively academic); you struggle with integrated tasks that combine 2 or 3 skills at once.
For Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese candidates: TOEFL Reading is often easier (more familiar academic content) but TOEFL Listening is harder (American accent only, fast natural speech). IELTS Reading is broader but IELTS Listening is more accessible due to clearer enunciation in conversational sections.
For Arabic and Indonesian candidates: IELTS Speaking with a live examiner is often easier because you can read the examiner's reactions and adjust your pace. TOEFL Speaking with recorded responses requires more rigid time management.
Both IELTS and TOEFL preparation takes approximately the same time for a comparable score improvement. Going from band 6.0 (TOEFL 60–78) to band 7.0 (TOEFL 94–109) typically requires 8–12 weeks of focused study (10–15 hours per week) for either test.
IELTS preparation resources: Official Cambridge IELTS books 12–19 (gold standard), IELTS Liz YouTube channel for Speaking and Writing, BBC podcasts for Listening practice, and AI-graded Writing and Speaking practice on English AIdol. Average cost of preparation: $0–$200.
TOEFL preparation resources: Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test (ETS), Magoosh TOEFL online, NoteFull YouTube channel for Speaking strategies, ETS official practice tests, and AI-graded Writing and Speaking on English AIdol. Average cost of preparation: $0–$300.
Both tests benefit enormously from AI feedback for Writing and Speaking — the two skills hardest to self-evaluate. English AIdol provides AI feedback for both IELTS (against the four IELTS criteria) and TOEFL (against the TOEFL criteria), so you can practice either or both depending on your test choice.
There is no universally easier test — it depends on your strengths. IELTS is generally easier for candidates comfortable with face-to-face speaking interviews and varied English accents. TOEFL is easier for candidates who prefer structured computer tasks and have strong academic vocabulary. Most candidates find one section of each test easier than the other.
Both are accepted by virtually all US universities. TOEFL has historically been preferred for US applications, but IELTS is now accepted at 3,400+ US institutions including all Ivy League schools, MIT, Stanford, and the University of California system. For US universities specifically, check each program's preference.
For Canadian immigration (Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs), IELTS is the primary accepted test — TOEFL was historically not accepted for immigration but Citizenship and Immigration Canada has begun accepting it for some streams. For Canadian university admissions, both tests are accepted by virtually all institutions.
Approximate conversions: IELTS 6.0 ≈ TOEFL 79; IELTS 7.0 ≈ TOEFL 94–96; IELTS 8.0 ≈ TOEFL 110–112; IELTS 9.0 ≈ TOEFL 118–120. With the new TOEFL 2026 band scale: IELTS 6.0 ≈ TOEFL band 3; IELTS 7.0 ≈ TOEFL band 5; IELTS 8.0 ≈ TOEFL band 6.
IELTS costs $215–$310 USD depending on country (typically $250). TOEFL costs $200–$320 USD (typically $245). Costs are roughly comparable. Both deliver 5 free university score reports — additional reports cost $20–$25 each.
Both IELTS and TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years from the test date. After 2 years, you must retake the test to use the score for new university applications or visa submissions.
IELTS has wider acceptance for both university admission and immigration, especially for Commonwealth countries (UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand). For maximum flexibility across destinations, IELTS is typically the safer choice. Take TOEFL when a specific target university or program states TOEFL preference.
The underlying English skills are identical, but the test format is different. Switching from IELTS to TOEFL preparation requires 2–3 weeks to learn the new question types, integrated task formats, and computer-based interface. Switching from TOEFL to IELTS requires the same time. Most candidates choose one test and stay with it.