Selecting the test between the TOEFL and IELTS tests might be challenging for candidates, as both exams are used to measure English proficiency. However, the decision on which one to choose between IELTS vs TOEFL must depend on an individual's preferences, test structure, difficulty level, and scoring patterns. TOEFL and IELTS are both widely accepted across countries for purposes such as admission, visa applications, and job requirements. Both tests are aimed at assessing the 4 English skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking and yet they are different. We have mentioned a complete guide on the key differences between TOEFL and IELTS for prospects to make informed decisions. Hence, which is better between IELTS and TOEFL is a decision that must be made after comparing both tests on different aspects.
This Story also Contains
IELTS vs TOEFL: Overview
Key Differences between IELTS and TOEFL
TOEFL Exam Updates
TOEFL vs IELTS: Structure
IELTS Vs TOEFL: Which is Better?
IELTS vs TOEFL Fees in India
TOEFL vs IELTS: Which is Easier?
IELTS vs TOEFL Accepting Countries
IELTS VS TOEFL: Benefits
IELTS VS TOEFL Format
How to Prepare for IELTS and TOEFL?
IELTS VS TOEFL
IELTS vs TOEFL: Overview
Detail
IELTS
TOEFL
Conducting Body
British Council and IDP Education Ltd.
Educational Testing Services (ETS)
Mode of Exam
Online and Offline
Online and Offline
(Note: TOEFL Offline has been discontinued)
Types of Tests
IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, IELTS Indicator
TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials
Duration
2 hours 45 minutes
1 hour 56 minutes (latest revised duration)
Exam Pattern
Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking
Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
Score Range
0-9 (Band)
0-120
Breaks
No breaks during the listening, reading and writing sections, but the speaking portion can be taken up to a week before or after the rest of the test
A 10-minute break between listening and speaking sections
Exam Frequency
48 times/Year
50+ times/Year
Cost
INR 18,000
INR 16,900 (TOEFL iBT)
Key Differences between IELTS and TOEFL
Candidates planning to migrate outside the country for educational or working opportunities must fulfil the English language proficiency requirements of the place of destination. Both TOEFL and IELTS assess the English language proficiency of candidates; however, IELTS is considered to be more beneficial for multiple reasons. While both are widely accepted for academic and professional purposes, they have some key differences.
Format: IELTS is available in paper and computer formats, while TOEFL is solely computer-based. IELTS features a face-to-face speaking exam, whereas TOEFL's speaking section is recorded electronically.
Acceptance: IELTS has a greater rate of acceptance worldwide than TOEFL. IELTS is preferred in the UK, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries, while TOEFL dominates in the US and many other nations. Moreover, TOEFL is acknowledged by Canada and the UK as a valid English Language test for migration.
Design: IELTS is geared towards British, Australian, and Commonwealth nations, while TOEFL caters to North America.
Modules: IELTS offers separate Academic and General Training versions, while TOEFL has a single test for both academic and professional purposes. Both assess Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking, but IELTS uses a band system (1-9) and TOEFL points (0-120).
Cost: IELTS is generally slightly costlier than TOEFL. For Indian students, the IELTS exam fee is INR 18,000. Whereas, the TOEFL exam fee for Indian students is INR 16,900 for the year 2025.
Difficulty: Some find IELTS easier, particularly the reading section, while others struggle with TOEFL's vocabulary and sentence structure.
TOEFL Exam Updates
The TOEFL exam will undergo some major changes that are majorly effective from 2026. We have mentioned these updates below for better comparison between IELTS and TOEFL.
ETS has improved the TOEFL home edition experience through easier check-ins, automated proctoring, and improved home test taker support. This is applicable from May 30, 2025.
TOEFL results will be available within 72 hours of the test date from 2026.
The reading and listening section of the TOEFL test will be more adaptive for candidates by including questions based on their answers.
ETS will also release a band score of 1 to 6 (CEFR levels) along with traditional TOEFL scoring of 0 to 120.
The TOEFL test centres will now provide Koss headphones for the listening section of the TOEFL test for better audio quality.
To adapt to the changes, numerous free prep materials will be provided by ETS.
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Both IELTS and TOEFL exams have four major test sections, namely, listening, reading, writing, and speaking to assess the English language proficiency of students. However, the level of difficulty and the format of the tests slightly differ from each other. Read the complete article to know the differences between TOEFL vs IELTS- test sections.
Listening Sections in TOEFL and IELTS
IELTS: There are four sections in the IELTS Listening section with 10 questions in each section. While the first two sections test daily life and social context, the other two parts are more academic. Sections 1 and 3 involve multiple speakers, while 2 and 4 are monologues.
TOEFL: In TOEFL listening, 5 parts of listening involve conversations and lectures in a language that is relevant to a university abroad. There will be 3 lectures with 6 questions each and 2 conversations by two speakers.
IELTS 2025 Writing Task 1 & 2 - Study Materials
Aspirants who are appearing for IELTS exam can download this eBook which have complete study material for academic writing task 1 (Data Interpretation) and academic writing task 2 (Essays) sections.
IELTS: In IELTS reading, three passages are given from a range of topics totalling around 2,150-2,750 words. All the topics are usually given from books, magazines, newspapers, journals, or websites.
TOEFL: In TOEFL only two reading passages of 700 words each are given. A candidate need not be a subject matter expert to answer questions on the reading passages.
Writing
Both IELTS and TOEFL have two writing tasks that differ in format.
IELTS
IELTS Writing Task 1: Candidates will be asked to write a letter asking for information or outlining the circumstances. The letter may be personal, semi-formal, or formal in style.
IELTS Writing Task 2: In the IELTS Writing Task 2, the candidates will be asked to write an essay responding to a point of view, argument, or problem.
TOEFL
TOEFL Task 1: Candidates have to listen to a short lecture, read a short passage, and write a response based on what has been read or listened to.
TOEFL Task 2: An essay writing supporting an opinion in an online classroom discussion.
TOEFL vs IELTS: Writing Section
Exam Type
TOEFL
IELTS
Total Tasks
2
2
Time Allocation
29 minutes
60 minutes
Speaking
The main difference between IELTS and TOEFL speaking sections is that IELTS speaking section is conducted in a face-to-face conversation or video call with an IELTS examiner. The TOEFL speaking section requires candidates to answer questions on a microphone by listening to the given questions. A combination of AI and humans does the TOEFL speaking evaluation.
IELTS vs TOEFL: Speaking Section
Exam Type
TOEFL
IELTS
Total Tasks
4
3 parts
Time Allocation
16 minutes
11 to 14 minutes
IELTS Vs TOEFL: Which is Better?
Both IELTS and TOEFL exams have their pros and cons. However, one of the most common questions asked by the candidates is “Which is better between IELTS and TOEFL?”. Both IELTS and TOEFL are globally accepted major English language testing examinations. However, a slight difference between IELTS and TOEFL is observed in the following aspects:
IELTS is accepted in most English-speaking countries but TOEFL is mainly accepted in the US and Canada.
IELTS offers both paper-based and computer-based test options for candidates. TOEFL exam is mostly computer-based. Only one version is available.
IELTS has over 3,000 test centres in over 60 countries. Availability of the test centres is one of the major factors that makes IELTS a more preferred choice than that of TOEFL.
IELTS vs TOEFL Fees in India
IELTS exam fee for Indian students differs as per the test type. For the year 2025, the IELTS exam fee is INR 18,000. Candidates can pay their fees through Credit/ Debit (Visa or Master), net banking, demand draft, and bank deposit.
TOEFL exam fee for Indian students is INR 16,900. Candidates also need to pay for late registration, rescheduling of the exam, and score review.
TOEFL vs IELTS: Which is Easier?
The level of difficulty of the exams is generally dependent on the personal strength and preparation of the students. Both IELTS and TOEFL are challenging exams that assess the knowledge of English of candidates who want to migrate to foreign countries for various purposes. Therefore, it is hard to determine which is easier between TOEFL and IELTS. Some of the determinants of the level of difficulty of IELTS and TOEFL are listed below:
IELTS has a variety of question formats (e.g., matching headings, true/false). Some test takers find it easier than TOEFL's multiple-choice format.
IELTS audio recordings feature British, Australian, and New Zealand accents; some test-takers find it more natural and easier to understand than the American accents used in TOEFL.
IELTS speaking section is generally conversational; therefore, some test takers find it more comfortable compared to TOEFL's structured format.
IELTS vs TOEFL Accepting Countries
One of the most important factors that should be considered while taking an IELTS or TOEFL test is the university to which the candidate would be applying. TOEFL organised by the ETS, is accepted by the TOEFL participating Institutions are mostly American universities and are also across 165 countries in the world. While IELTS conducted by the British Council is accepted in over 135 countries, including colleges to study in the UK.
So, if the candidate plans in one of the Ivy League colleges to study in the USA, make sure to sit for TOEFL. In a comparison of TOEFL vs IELTS score, many institutes and organisations accept scores of both tests. The only difference in acceptance will be the comparative degrees of score and band so in case we want to determine which is more accepted between the TOEFL and IELTS it is very difficult to decide. The IELTS, and TOEFL exam benefits or advantages are listed below.
IELTS VS TOEFL: Benefits
Test Features
Advantages of IELTS
Advantages of TOEFL
Conducting Body
British Council, IDP Australia, and Cambridge ESOL
ETS
English
IELTS uses British English
TOEFL uses American English
Format
IELTS has two versions, namely, Academic and general, depending on the purpose of the test-taker
TOEFL is conducted in only one version.
Duration
2 hours 45 minutes long
More than 4 hours
Speaking test
It involves one-on-one interactions between a test-taker and an examiner
TOEFL has a computerised speaking test
Scoring
IELTS Result format is a 9-band scoring system where 0 is for candidates who did not attempt the test and 9 is for expert users.
TOEFL Result Format - Total score of 120 with a maximum of 30 points for each section.
IELTS VS TOEFL Format
The IELTS Test is conducted in two formats - IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Candidates planning to pursue a higher degree are advised to take the IELTS Academic test. IELTS general training is for those who are seeking work-related training in an English-speaking country.
TOEFL has only one format. Therefore, all candidates are required to take the same test irrespective of their purpose. The difference between IELTS and TOEFL exam formats is one of the determining factors for opting for one exam more frequently than the other.
Both IELTS and TOEFL exams require some special study strategies and preparation tips to get a promising score. Although both exams have similar four sections, however, the format of the exam is different. Some of the preparation tips for both exams are included below.
IELTS Preparation Tips
Some of the important IELTS preparation tips and strategies for all four sections have been given below:
Listen to the questions asked carefully, and answer directly for the speaking part.
Add more relatable information to the answers, and ensure the answers remain relevant.
Distribute your materials according to each section.
Analyse of the assigned tasks and quickly prepare the answers mentally.
Although the difficulty level of every exam depends on the personal preparations of the students. However, IELTS is considered to be easier than the TOEFL. Especially, the reading section. IELTS is shorter and uses a band scoring system, whereas TOEFL uses a multiple-choice format.
Q: Which certificate is better IELTS or TOEFL?
A:
Both IELTS and TOEFL exams are globally recognised. Therefore, which exam certificate is better, depends on the individual’s usefulness and personal goals. IELTS is preferred in the UK and Australia, while TOEFL dominates in the US.
Q: Is TOEFL hard for Indian students?
A:
The level of difficulty of TOEFL exam depends on the individual practice level and proficiency in the English language. However, Indian students find TOEFL a little more difficult than IELTS. TOEFL reading section is considered to be challenging for Indian students due to unfamiliar vocabulary and sentence structure.
Q: Does the UK prefer TOEFL or IELTS?
A:
The UK prefers IELTS over TOEFL. Although both exams are accepted by multiple educational and work institutions, however, IELTS aligns better with the British educational context and is the most widely used English test in the UK and Europe.
Q: What is IELTS 7-band equal to TOEFL?
A:
An IELTS 7-band score is approximately equivalent to a TOEFL score between 94 and 101. However, due to different test formats and scoring systems, the exact conversion is not possible.
Q: Which is cheaper IELTS or TOEFL?
A:
The cost of TOEFL and IELTS differs from test locations. Both test cost are almost similar, so you can not differentiate the test based on the cost factor. IELTS costs approximately Rs 18,000 for Indian students and TOEFL costs Rs 16,900.
Q: Which is best among IELTS vs TOEFL for USA?
A:
Many USA universities accept IELTS and TOEFL for measuring English language proficiency. So, candidates can choose the best test for their abroad education based on their convenience in the test dates and centres or interest in specific exam format.
Yes, admission to a German private university with 52% in bachelors, 6.0 IELTS band, and a 1-year gap is possible, but options are limited.
Private universities in Germany are more flexible than public ones. You can apply for courses in management, business, or IT fields. However, you must justify the gap year and ensure a strong Statement of Purpose (SOP).
It’s better to contact universities directly, as some may ask for additional documents or foundation courses before admission.
You are running short of time usually the ideal time would be 2–3 months prior,i advice that you start with your applications that you can quicky begin with your study abroad procedure.
It depends on the university you are applying to.
Most German universities do not require
GATE
for admission to a Master's in Biotechnology. However, some universities may ask for the
GRE
, especially if you are applying to a highly competitive program.
You should check the specific admission requirements of the universities you are interested in. Generally, having
IELTS (or TOEFL)
and a
German language proficiency certificate
(if the course is in German) is enough.
