Test Overview
For non-native English speakers applying to universities in English-speaking countries, demonstrating language proficiency is a near-universal requirement. The two dominant tests for this purpose are the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Both are accepted at the vast majority of universities worldwide, though their formats, scoring systems, and regional preferences differ meaningfully.
The TOEFL is administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) and is taken entirely at a computer in a testing center, or at home via a supervised online format. The IELTS is co-owned by Cambridge Assessment English, the British Council, and IDP Australia, and is offered in both a paper-based Academic format and a computer-based format. Understanding these structural differences helps predict which test will play to your strengths.
Format Comparison
The TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test) has four sections: Reading (35 minutes), Listening (36 minutes), Speaking (16 minutes), and Writing (29 minutes), for a total of approximately 2 hours. Speaking responses are recorded and scored by certified raters. The entire test is delivered through a single computer interface, and the listening and reading sections are integrated — you hear or read material and then respond to questions about it.
The IELTS Academic test also has four sections: Listening (30 minutes), Reading (60 minutes), Writing (60 minutes), and Speaking (11–14 minutes). The key structural difference is the Speaking section: IELTS speaking is conducted face-to-face with a human examiner in a separate room, often on a different day from the other sections. Many test-takers find this format more natural for conversational English; others find it more intimidating than speaking into a microphone.
The TOEFL Reading and Listening sections include multi-answer questions (select all that apply, drag-and-drop tables), which differ from IELTS's more straightforward multiple choice and short-answer formats. Familiarity with the interface matters for TOEFL performance.
Scoring Systems
The TOEFL iBT is scored from 0 to 120, with each section scored from 0 to 30. Score validity is 2 years from the test date. Universities typically require a minimum total score of 80–100 for undergraduate admission and 90–110 for graduate programs, with section minimums varying by institution.
The IELTS uses a band score system from 0 to 9, in increments of 0.5. Each section (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) receives a band score, and the overall score is the average of all four rounded to the nearest 0.5. Universities typically require 6.0–7.0 for undergraduate admission and 6.5–7.5 for graduate programs. IELTS scores are also valid for 2 years.
Converting between the two scales is approximate: TOEFL 100 roughly corresponds to IELTS 7.0, and TOEFL 90 to IELTS 6.5. Many admissions office websites publish explicit TOEFL/IELTS equivalency tables — consult these directly rather than relying on general conversion charts.
University Acceptance
Both TOEFL and IELTS are accepted at virtually all accredited English-language universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. For American universities specifically, TOEFL historically held an advantage as the default test, but IELTS acceptance is now essentially universal at accredited institutions.
UK and Australian universities have traditionally shown a slight preference for IELTS, partly reflecting the British testing heritage and the format's conversational speaking component. However, most UK institutions now formally accept TOEFL with equivalent score requirements, so this preference rarely translates into a formal policy difference.
Always verify requirements directly on each university's admissions page for your specific program — minimum score thresholds can vary even within a single institution between departments, and some programs may have section-specific minimums (for example, a minimum writing band score of 6.5 on the IELTS regardless of overall score).
The Duolingo Alternative
The Duolingo English Test (DET) has emerged as a third option, particularly after the pandemic expanded acceptance of remote testing. Offered entirely online with automated proctoring, it costs approximately $65 compared to $200–250 for TOEFL and IELTS, takes about an hour, and delivers scores within 48 hours.
The DET uses an adaptive computer-based format testing reading, writing, listening, and speaking through a variety of innovative task types. Scores range from 10 to 160. As of 2024, thousands of universities worldwide accept the DET, including many highly selective institutions.
However, DET acceptance remains less universal than TOEFL or IELTS, and some universities that technically accept it impose higher score requirements that reflect skepticism about its equivalency. If your target schools include any conservative or highly selective programs, verify DET acceptance carefully before committing to it as your sole proficiency test.
Preparation Tips
The most effective TOEFL and IELTS preparation begins with a diagnostic practice test under real timing conditions. ETS publishes free TOEFL practice tests; the British Council and Cambridge Assessment offer free IELTS preparation materials and practice tests. Spend at least six to eight weeks preparing if you have not recently taken an English proficiency test, longer if you identify significant gaps in any section.
Speaking practice is often neglected because it is harder to self-study. For TOEFL, record yourself responding to sample prompts and listen critically for fluency, vocabulary range, and grammatical accuracy. For IELTS, practice speaking on unfamiliar topics for two minutes without stopping — the Speaking Part 2 "long turn" consistently trips up underprepared candidates.
Writing tasks differ between the two tests in important ways. TOEFL Writing Task 1 (Integrated Writing) asks you to synthesize information from a reading passage and a lecture — a format with no equivalent in IELTS. IELTS Writing Task 1 asks you to describe a graph, chart, or diagram, which TOEFL does not include. Practice the specific task types relevant to your chosen test rather than generic academic writing.
Retaking and Score Validity
Both tests allow you to retake as many times as needed, subject to minimum waiting periods: TOEFL requires a 3-day gap between attempts; IELTS requires a waiting period of 1 day for computer-based tests (though most test-takers wait longer due to scheduling availability). Most test-takers who prepare seriously improve on their second attempt.
For TOEFL, MyBest Scores allows sending your highest section scores from all valid test dates to universities — a form of superscoring that approximately 600 universities have agreed to accept as of 2024. IELTS does not currently offer an equivalent feature; each test date generates a single overall score that is reported intact.
Both scores expire after two years. Plan your testing timeline so that your scores are valid when applications are due and, if you receive a conditional offer, when enrollment begins. Students who take the test in early junior year and delay applications may need to retest.