Is IELTS easier than TOEFL?

Neither is easier in general. They measure the same level of English in different ways. IELTS tends to suit people who are comfortable talking to a person and writing longer answers. TOEFL tends to suit people who prefer a shorter, fully computer-based test.

What is the main difference between IELTS and TOEFL?

The Speaking test. In IELTS you talk face to face with an examiner for 11 to 14 minutes. In TOEFL iBT you speak into a microphone and your answers are recorded and scored afterwards. The tests also differ in length, question styles and score scale.

Do universities prefer IELTS or TOEFL?

Most universities that teach in English accept both and state a minimum score for each. A few accept only one, and visa rules can be stricter than university rules. Check the requirements page for your exact course and visa route.

Is IELTS or TOEFL better for the USA?

Both are widely accepted by US universities. TOEFL has a long history there, but that does not make it required. Look up each university on your list and take the test that all of them accept.

How long are IELTS and TOEFL scores valid?

Two years in both cases. TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years from the test date, and IELTS recommends that results are treated as valid for two years, with the receiving organisation making the final decision.

Did TOEFL change in 2026?

Yes. From January 2026 TOEFL iBT became shorter and adaptive, and section scores are now reported on a 1 to 6 scale. For a two-year transition period, score reports also show a comparable overall score on the old 0 to 120 scale.

IELTS vs TOEFL: Differences and Which One to Take

Both tests do the same job. They tell a university or an immigration office how well you use English in the four skills.

They do it differently enough that most people have a clear preference once they see the two side by side. And much of what is written online about TOEFL describes a version of the test that changed in January 2026.

IELTS vs TOEFL at a glance

	IELTS	TOEFL iBT
Run by	British Council, IDP and Cambridge	ETS
Total time	About 2 hours 45 minutes	About 2 hours
Format	On computer, with Speaking face to face	On computer throughout
Adaptive	No. Everyone gets a fixed set of questions	Yes. The test adapts as you answer
Speaking	Live interview with an examiner, 11–14 minutes	Recorded answers, about 8 minutes
Score scale	Bands 0–9, in half bands	1–6 for each section, in half bands
Overall score	Average of four skills, rounded to a half band	Average of four sections, rounded to a half band
Taken at	A test centre in most cases	A test centre, or at home with a live proctor
Validity	Two years recommended	Two years
Versions	Academic and General Training	One academic test

The Speaking test is the real difference

In IELTS you sit in a room with an examiner. The test is a conversation in three parts: short questions about you, a two-minute talk, and a discussion. The examiner can repeat a question, and the exchange feels like an interview. How IELTS Speaking is scored explains the four criteria.

In TOEFL iBT you wear a headset and speak to a computer. Your answers are recorded and scored afterwards. ETS presents this as a way to keep scoring consistent and to avoid the bias that can occur in face-to-face interviews.

Which is better depends on you.

If you speak more naturally to a person, and silence from a screen makes you freeze, IELTS will feel easier.
If an examiner watching you makes you nervous, and you would rather answer a prompt and move on, TOEFL will feel easier.

Length and structure

IELTS has a fixed shape: Listening for about 30 minutes, Reading for 60, Writing for 60 and Speaking for 11 to 14. Every candidate at a sitting gets the same questions.

The TOEFL iBT that began in January 2026 is shorter and adaptive. The published guide figures are:

TOEFL iBT section	Items	Time
Reading	50	30 minutes
Listening	47	29 minutes
Writing	12	23 minutes
Speaking	11	8 minutes

ETS notes that because the test adapts, time and item numbers may vary, and asks candidates to allow about two hours.

The practical difference is in the kind of effort. IELTS asks for fewer, longer pieces of work: two writing tasks in an hour, including an essay of at least 250 words. TOEFL asks for many shorter items answered quickly.

Scores

IELTS reports a band from 0 to 9 for each skill and an overall band, all in half bands. The overall band is the average of the four. The band score calculator shows how the rounding works.

TOEFL iBT now reports each section on a 1 to 6 scale, and the overall score is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half. For two years from January 2026, score reports also show a comparable overall score on the old 0 to 120 scale, because many institutions still state their requirements that way.

Do not convert scores yourself from a table found online. Use the requirement your institution publishes for each test. What IELTS band score do you need? explains how to read one.

Results and validity

TOEFL iBT scores appear in your account three days after the test and are valid for two years.

IELTS results are treated as valid for two years on the recommendation of IELTS, with the final say belonging to the organisation you apply to. How long an IELTS score is valid covers the detail.

Which one should you take?

Work through these in order.

1. What does your institution accept? This decides most cases. Many universities accept both. Some visa and migration routes name specific tests, and IELTS has a General Training version designed for migration and work, which TOEFL does not.

2. Which is available near you, and at what price? Compare test dates and fees in your city. IELTS fees by country lists current IELTS prices.

3. Which Speaking format suits you? A person or a microphone.

4. Which writing load suits you? Two longer tasks or several shorter ones.

5. Do you need to test at home? TOEFL iBT has a Home Edition with a live proctor. IELTS is normally taken at a test centre; ask your local provider whether an online option exists in your country, and check that your institution accepts it.

If the answers still leave both open, try a practice test of each and compare how you feel afterwards. A free IELTS mock test gives you a band for each skill.

If you choose IELTS

Start with the format, then find your weakest skill:

Sources

TOEFL iBT test content and structure (ETS) Official TOEFL iBT section timings and item counts, the adaptive design, the 1 to 6 score scale, the transitional 0 to 120 score, and the test centre and home options.
Understanding your TOEFL iBT scores (ETS) Scores are available three days after the test and are valid for two years.
IELTS Speaking test format IELTS Speaking is an interview with a certificated examiner, in three parts, lasting 11 to 14 minutes.
IELTS scoring in detail The IELTS 9-band scale, how the overall band is calculated, and the two-year validity recommendation.

Last reviewed October 5, 2026. See our editorial policy for how guides are checked and corrected.

Frequently asked questions

Is IELTS easier than TOEFL?: Neither is easier in general. They measure the same level of English in different ways. IELTS tends to suit people who are comfortable talking to a person and writing longer answers. TOEFL tends to suit people who prefer a shorter, fully computer-based test.
What is the main difference between IELTS and TOEFL?: The Speaking test. In IELTS you talk face to face with an examiner for 11 to 14 minutes. In TOEFL iBT you speak into a microphone and your answers are recorded and scored afterwards. The tests also differ in length, question styles and score scale.
Do universities prefer IELTS or TOEFL?: Most universities that teach in English accept both and state a minimum score for each. A few accept only one, and visa rules can be stricter than university rules. Check the requirements page for your exact course and visa route.
Is IELTS or TOEFL better for the USA?: Both are widely accepted by US universities. TOEFL has a long history there, but that does not make it required. Look up each university on your list and take the test that all of them accept.
How long are IELTS and TOEFL scores valid?: Two years in both cases. TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years from the test date, and IELTS recommends that results are treated as valid for two years, with the receiving organisation making the final decision.
Did TOEFL change in 2026?: Yes. From January 2026 TOEFL iBT became shorter and adaptive, and section scores are now reported on a 1 to 6 scale. For a two-year transition period, score reports also show a comparable overall score on the old 0 to 120 scale.