IELTS or TOEFL: which one should you choose for your plans?
Format, sections, countries that accept them, perceived difficulty and score equivalences: our comparison to help you choose between IELTS and TOEFL.
By Worldwide Studies team, Worldwide Studies teamPublished 5 min read
You are preparing applications to English-speaking universities and one question keeps coming up: IELTS or TOEFL? Both tests are recognised worldwide, but they are not alike. Depending on your destination, your profile and the way you work, one may be much better suited to you than the other. Here is our comparison to help you make the right choice.
The two tests at a glance
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is jointly run by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge. It assesses listening, reading, writing and speaking, with a face-to-face Speaking test with an examiner. Score: from 0 to 9 in half-band steps.
The TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is designed by ETS, an American organisation. It assesses the same skills, entirely on computer, including speaking (you speak into a microphone). Its format and score scale have changed recently: always check which score format the university asks for.
Quick comparison
| Criterion | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Paper or computer | Computer (test centre or at home) |
| Speaking | Face to face with an examiner | Answers recorded into a microphone |
| Reference English | Varied accents (British, Australian…) | Mainly North American English |
| Writing | Two tasks (graph + essay) | Integrated tasks and essay writing |
| Results | A few days (computer) to 2 weeks (paper) | Usually a few days |
| Validity | Usually 2 years | Usually 2 years |
Which countries accept which test?
United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand: IELTS is the benchmark; TOEFL is accepted by many universities but not always for visas.
United States: TOEFL has historically been the benchmark, but IELTS is accepted by the vast majority of universities.
Canada: both are very widely accepted for study; for immigration, the rules are different.
Continental Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia…): both are generally accepted for English-taught programmes.
Malta, Cyprus, Malaysia, the Gulf: IELTS is very common, and TOEFL is often accepted too.
Golden rule: check the "English language requirements" page of each programme you are targeting before you choose.
Which one is easier?
This is the question we are asked most often ("which is easier, TOEFL or IELTS?"). There is no "easier" test in absolute terms, but some profiles do better in one or the other:
IELTS may suit you if:
you are more comfortable speaking to a person than to a microphone;
you prefer writing by hand (paper format);
you are aiming for the United Kingdom or Australia.
TOEFL may suit you if:
you are comfortable on a computer and type quickly;
you handle tasks that combine reading, listening and responding well;
you are mainly aiming for the United States;
you want to take the test at home, where the university accepts that version.
Score equivalences
Universities publish their own thresholds for each test. As a rough guide, an IELTS 6.5 is often matched with an "upper-intermediate" TOEFL score on the former 120-point scale (around 80-90). These equivalences vary between institutions: always rely on the table published by the university.
Price and sessions in Tunisia
Both tests are offered in Tunisia, with fees set by the organisers and revised regularly. IELTS is taken mainly in Tunis and Sousse (see IELTS in Tunisia). The TOEFL iBT is taken at ETS-approved centres or, for the at-home version, at your home with compliant equipment.
What about the Duolingo English Test?
Cheaper, online and fast, the Duolingo English Test is accepted by a growing number of universities, especially in the United States and Canada. But it is still not accepted by some universities and for many visas. Our guide: Duolingo English Test: which universities accept it.
Our method for choosing
List your 5 to 10 target programmes.
For each one, note the accepted tests and the minimum scores (overall and per skill).
Choose the test that is accepted everywhere on your list.
Take a practice test in each format: you will quickly see which one suits you.
Book your session leaving time for a second attempt before the deadlines.
Mistakes to avoid
Choosing a test before checking the requirements of the programmes and the visa.
Taking the wrong version (IELTS General instead of Academic, for example).
Aiming just for the minimum score: a score that is too low in a single skill can be enough to get you rejected.
Taking the test too late to have time to retake it.
Neglecting writing: it is often the weakest skill among Tunisian candidates.
Not practising the format: a good level of English is not enough without mastering the clock.
An 8-week preparation plan
Week 1: full practice test, analysis of weak points.
Weeks 2 and 3: targeted work on the weakest skill, academic vocabulary.
Weeks 4 and 5: intensive format practice (timed sections), two corrected essays per week.
Week 6: second full practice test.
Week 7: final adjustments, speaking simulation.
Week 8: light revision, rest the day before the test.
This plan suits a candidate close to the target level. If the gap is large, allow two to three months.
After the test
Send your results to universities as soon as possible, keep a digital copy and check the validity date against your visa date: some visas require a result that is still valid at the time of application.
Our support
Worldwide Studies helps you choose the test, set a realistic target score and organise your applications to the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada or elsewhere.
👉 Talk to an adviser to find out which test and which score to aim for, depending on your universities.