TOEFL or IELTS: Which English Test Suits You?
TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic both measure the four skills, and many universities accept either. They differ in how the test is delivered, how speaking is assessed and how scores are reported, especially since TOEFL changed in January 2026. This page sets the official facts side by side, so the choice can rest on the student’s strengths and destination.
- Facts from ETS and IELTS
- Format, scales and speaking compared
- Who each test tends to suit
- No test declared “better”
TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic side by side
Figures are those published by ETS for the 2026 TOEFL iBT and by IELTS for IELTS Academic.
| Criterion | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | ETS | IELTS, jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment |
| Sections and items | Reading: 50 items, about 30 minutes; Listening: 47 items, about 29 minutes; Writing: 12 items, about 23 minutes; Speaking: 11 items, about 8 minutes | Listening: 40 questions, about 30 minutes; Reading: 40 questions, 60 minutes; Writing: two tasks, 60 minutes; Speaking: 11–14 minutes |
| Total time | About two hours; timings vary because the test adapts | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Adaptive design | Reading and Listening are two-stage adaptive; Writing and Speaking are linear, with the same tasks for everyone sitting a given form | IELTS does not describe its test as adaptive |
| Score scale | 1–6 for each section and overall, in half-point steps; the overall is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half point. A comparable 0–120 score is also reported for a two-year transition from January 2026 | 0–9 for each skill and overall, in whole and half bands; the overall is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band |
| Speaking | Spoken answers recorded at the computer (Listen and Repeat; Take an Interview); ETS lists these tasks as AI-scored, and scoring is done centrally, never at the test centre | A three-part face-to-face interview with an examiner, recorded; in IELTS Online, held by video call with an examiner |
| Writing | Typed: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion | Task 1: describe visual information such as a graph, table or diagram; Task 2: discuss a point of view, argument or problem. Typed on computer, or handwritten where IELTS offers Writing on Paper |
| Where it is taken | On a computer at an authorised test centre, or at home with a live human proctor | On computer at a test centre (paper delivery is being withdrawn from mid-2026, market by market); IELTS Online from home for IELTS Academic only |
| Results | In the ETS account 3 days after the test date | Usually within a few days on computer at a centre; 6–8 days for IELTS Online |
| Validity | Scores are valid for 2 years | IELTS recommends treating results as valid for two years; a university may accept older results |
Sources: ETS, TOEFL iBT test content, score pages and 2026 test blueprint; IELTS, IELTS Academic format, Speaking format, scoring, IELTS Online and the notice on test delivery from mid-2026; all checked 8 October 2026.
Who each test tends to suit
TOEFL iBT often suits
Students who are at ease doing everything on a computer, including speaking into a microphone without a person in the room, and who work well through many short tasks at speed. The at-home option can also help where a test centre is far away, provided the universities accept it.
IELTS Academic often suits
Students who speak more naturally in a conversation with a person than to a computer, and who are comfortable with long academic reading passages and a full-length written argument. Where a UK visa route requires a Secure English Language Test, IELTS for UKVI is on the approved list and TOEFL iBT is not.
Either may suit
Students whose universities accept both and whose practice results are close. Then test dates, the nearest centre and how quickly results are needed usually settle it.
How universities and visa rules treat the two tests
Each university decides which English tests it accepts, the minimum overall score, any minimum in each skill and how recent a score must be. ETS itself notes that each institution sets its own requirements. During the TOEFL transition, some universities still publish requirements on the 0–120 scale; since ETS reports both scales for two years after January 2026, ask the university which one it will apply to your application.
Visa rules are separate and are set by each government. For UK visa routes that require a Secure English Language Test, the Home Office’s approved list includes IELTS for UKVI and does not include TOEFL iBT. IELTS also states that IELTS Online should not be used for visa and immigration purposes. Rules for other countries differ, so confirm the current requirement with the immigration authority of the country you are going to.
How to decide
List what each university and visa route accepts
Note the tests, the minimum scores, any per-skill minimums, whether TOEFL’s at-home option or IELTS Online is accepted, and for TOEFL, which scale the requirement uses.
Try official material for both
Work through official sample material from ETS and IELTS under timed conditions. The task types are different enough that a short trial of each is revealing.
Think about the speaking format
Some students speak more fluently to an examiner; others are more comfortable recording answers on a computer. Your own reaction to each format is a fair basis for choosing.
Check dates, centres and results against your deadline
Look up sessions on the official ETS and IELTS sites, and allow time for results and for a possible re-sit before the earliest application or visa deadline.
Commit to one test
The two tests reward different habits, so preparing for both at once usually slows progress on each. Choose one and plan backwards from the test date.
Book the right version
IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training and IELTS for UKVI are different bookings, and only some are accepted for a given university or visa route. For TOEFL, check that each university accepts the at-home option before choosing it. Register only through the official ETS and IELTS sites or their authorised partners.
Related pages
TOEFL Preparation
Online TOEFL iBT tutoring for the 2026 format: adaptive sections, the new task types and the 1–6 score scale, for students across Africa.
TOEFL prices
TOEFL tutoring from USD 67 per 90-minute lesson. Compare lesson packages, group courses and self-study products.
IELTS Preparation
IELTS prep course online for students in Africa: one-to-one tutor or live group classes, line-by-line Writing and Speaking feedback, Academic and General.
IELTS prices
IELTS tutoring from USD 67 per 90-minute lesson. Compare lesson packages, group courses and self-study products.
IELTS vs PTE
IELTS Academic and PTE Academic side by side: structure, timing, the 0–9 and 10–90 scales, examiner or AI scoring, test centres, results and validity.
Exam comparisons
Side-by-side comparisons of the exam choices students in Africa most often face: SAT or ACT, IB or A Level, AP or IB, IELTS, TOEFL or PTE, GMAT or GRE.
Frequently asked questions
Short, direct answers. If yours is not here, ask us.
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