TOEFL vs IELTS: Which Exam Should You Take?

TOEFL vs IELTS: The Complete Comparison

Both TOEFL and IELTS prove your English level for university admissions and visas. But they're very different exams. Choosing the right one can make your preparation easier and your score higher.

Format Comparison

| Feature | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic | |---------|-----------|----------------| | Duration | ~3 hours | 2 hours 45 mins | | Sections | 4 (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing) | 4 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) | | Speaking | To a computer (recorded) | Face-to-face with examiner | | Accent | American English | British English (mainly) | | Writing | Typing on computer | Handwriting on paper | | Scoring | 0–120 (total) | 1–9 (band score) | | Results | 4–8 days | 13 days |

Score Equivalencies

| TOEFL iBT | IELTS Band | CEFR Level | |-----------|------------|------------| | 110–120 | 8.5–9.0 | C2 | | 94–109 | 7.0–8.0 | C1 | | 72–93 | 5.5–6.5 | B2 | | 42–71 | 4.0–5.0 | B1 |

When to Choose TOEFL

Choose TOEFL if:

• You're applying to American or Canadian universities (they often prefer TOEFL)
• You're comfortable speaking to a computer (no face-to-face pressure)
• You type faster than you write by hand
• You prefer American English accent and expressions
• You want faster results (4–8 days vs 13 days)

When to Choose IELTS

Choose IELTS if:

• You're applying to UK, Australian, or European universities
• You prefer face-to-face conversation for the speaking test
• You're better at handwriting than typing
• You prefer shorter test duration
• You need the score for immigration (IELTS is more widely accepted for visas)

Difficulty: Which Is Easier?

Neither exam is objectively easier, but:

• TOEFL Reading is harder — longer academic passages with complex vocabulary
• IELTS Writing is harder — Task 1 requires describing graphs/charts/processes
• TOEFL Speaking is easier for anxious speakers (no human watching you)
• IELTS Speaking is easier if you're good at conversation (natural dialogue format)

Preparation Differences

TOEFL requires you to practise:

• Taking notes while listening (you hear audio ONCE)
• Integrated tasks (reading + listening → speaking/writing)
• Academic vocabulary (more formal register)

IELTS requires you to practise:

• Scanning and skimming for Reading (tight time limits)
• Describing visual data for Writing Task 1
• Natural conversation skills for Speaking

My Recommendation

If you're unsure, take a practice test for both and compare your scores. Many students score 0.5–1.0 bands higher on one exam due to their personal strengths.

The exam you prepare for should match your natural skills. A great typist with computer confidence → TOEFL. A natural conversationalist who writes by hand → IELTS.

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