- Both tests are accepted by most universities worldwide, but they suit different students.
- IELTS has a face-to-face Speaking test; TOEFL records your answers on a computer.
- Since January 2026, TOEFL is about 90 minutes long and scored from 1 to 6.
- For Canadian PR, only IELTS General Training (not TOEFL) is accepted among these two.
IELTS and TOEFL are the two best-known English tests in the world, and many universities accept both. So which should you take, and which is easier? The honest answer is that it depends on what you need the score for and how you like to be tested.
This guide compares the two tests, including the changes TOEFL introduced in January 2026, and helps you decide in a few minutes.
The quick answer
- For immigration, check the official list. IELTS is accepted for many more visa routes, including Canadian permanent residence and UK visas that need a Secure English Language Test.
- For university, both are usually accepted. Choose the test whose format suits you better.
IELTS vs TOEFL side by side
| IELTS | TOEFL iBT | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | British Council, IDP and Cambridge | ETS (Educational Testing Service) |
| Test length | About 2 hours 45 minutes | About 1 hour 30 minutes (since January 2026) |
| Where you take it | On computer at a test centre | At a test centre or at home online |
| Speaking | Face-to-face with a real examiner | Recorded answers into a microphone |
| Scores | Bands 0–9, in half bands | 1–6 in half points (plus a 0–120 equivalent for now) |
| Accents | A range of English accents | Mostly North American, with some others |
| Versions | Academic and General Training | One main test, for academic purposes |
The 5 differences that matter most
1. How you speak
In IELTS, you have a real conversation with an examiner who asks questions and follows up on your answers. In TOEFL, you listen to prompts and record your answers into a microphone. Some people relax more with a person; others prefer not having anyone in front of them.
2. How long it takes
TOEFL iBT became much shorter in January 2026, at about an hour and a half. IELTS takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. If concentration over a long test is hard for you, that matters.
3. Question types
IELTS uses a wide mix of question types, from gap-fills and map labelling in Listening to True, False, Not Given in Reading. TOEFL Reading and Listening are now adaptive: the questions get harder or easier depending on how you answer.
4. Writing
IELTS Writing has two tasks: describing a graph or writing a letter, and a full essay. TOEFL Writing uses shorter, more functional tasks. If you find long essays difficult, that's worth considering.
5. Scoring
IELTS gives bands from 0 to 9. TOEFL now uses a 1–6 scale in half points, aligned with the CEFR levels, and for a transition period also shows the old 0–120 score. Both report a score for each skill and an overall score.
Where each test is accepted
| If… | Take |
|---|---|
| You are applying for Canadian permanent residence | IELTS General Training (TOEFL iBT is not accepted) |
| You need a UK visa that asks for a Secure English Language Test | IELTS for UKVI |
| You want to move abroad for work | IELTS General Training |
| You are applying to university and both are accepted | Whichever suits your strengths: try a practice test of each |
Which is easier for you?
IELTS may suit you better if you…
- feel more natural talking to a person than to a computer;
- are used to British, Australian or a mix of English accents;
- are comfortable writing a full essay;
- need a test accepted for immigration as well as study.
TOEFL may suit you better if you…
- are comfortable speaking into a microphone without a listener;
- are used to North American English;
- prefer a shorter test and shorter writing tasks;
- only need the score for a university that accepts it.
How to decide in 3 steps
- List every university or visa you are applying for and check which tests they accept.
- If more than one test is accepted, try a practice test of each under real timing.
- Choose the one where you scored higher or felt more comfortable, then focus all your preparation on that test. If it's IELTS, start with what IELTS is and our syllabus guide.
Try IELTS in the real format
Take a full IELTS practice test on screen, with AI marking for Writing and Speaking, and see how it suits you.
- Computer-delivered Listening, Reading and Writing
- Speaking with an AI examiner
- Your band for every skill
