By Vahid Alaghehband
IELTS and TOEFL both test all four skills, and both recommend treating results as valid for 2 years. The main differences: the TOEFL iBT takes about 2 hours, is computer-based, adapts Reading and Listening to your level and scores Speaking with AI. The IELTS takes 2 hours 45 minutes and its Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with an examiner. Fees depend on the country. Choose the test your destination accepts and the format you perform best in.
Independent guide, not affiliated with ETS, IELTS or Cambridge.
Neither test has a pass mark: each university, program, employer or government sets the score it requires. So step one is to check which test your destination accepts. Step two is knowing your level today; you can start with the Vozi Exam level check. If you've already chosen the TOEFL, see our full TOEFL guide: test types, format and speaking prep.
What's the difference between IELTS and TOEFL?
The most visible difference is Speaking: in IELTS you talk to an examiner for 11 to 14 minutes; in the TOEFL iBT you repeat sentences and answer a recorded interview in about 8 minutes. The total length, the score scale and the task types also differ. Both are internationally recognized, and each says it is accepted by more than 13,500 organizations.
| Feature | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|
| Owned by | British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment | ETS |
| Delivery | On computer from mid-2026 (with a "Writing on Paper" option in some markets); also online | On computer, at a test center or at home (Home Edition) |
| Length | 2 h 45 min | About 2 hours |
| Sections | Listening (30 min), Reading (60 min), Writing (60 min), Speaking (11–14 min) | Reading (30 min), Listening (29 min), Writing (23 min), Speaking (8 min) |
| Speaking | Face-to-face interview with a certified examiner | Listen and repeat plus an interview; AI-scored |
| Score scale | Bands 0–9, in half bands | 1–6, in half points (since Jan 21, 2026) |
| Adaptive | No | Reading and Listening, two-stage |
| Recommended validity | 2 years | 2 years |
| Fee (example: Ecuador) | USD 249 (IDP, Buckingham English Center, Guayaquil) | USD 230 (ETS, before taxes) |
| Stated recognition | More than 13,500 organizations | More than 13,500 institutions in 160+ countries |
Sources: IELTS Academic test, IELTS test delivery update, IDP IELTS Ecuador, ETS, TOEFL iBT Test Content, ETS, TOEFL iBT Test Fees and ETS, Understanding TOEFL Scores. Recognition figures are each organization's own claim.
Section by section
Listening
IELTS: 4 parts and 40 questions in about 30 minutes. Parts 1 and 2 are everyday situations; Parts 3 and 4 are educational settings. You hear each recording once, with accents that include British, Australian, New Zealand and North American. TOEFL iBT: 47 items in about 29 minutes: responding to a line, conversations, announcements and academic talks. It adapts: the second stage depends on how you did in the first.
Reading
IELTS: 3 texts totaling 2,150–2,750 words, with 40 questions in 60 minutes, including True/False/Not Given items. TOEFL iBT: 50 items in about 30 minutes: completing words, everyday texts (a notice, an email, a post) and an academic passage.
Writing
IELTS Academic: 2 tasks in 60 minutes. Task 1 asks you to describe a graph, table or diagram (at least 150 words); Task 2 is an argumentative essay (at least 250 words) and counts twice as much. TOEFL iBT: 12 items in about 23 minutes: building sentences, writing an email and contributing to an academic discussion.
Speaking
IELTS: an 11–14 minute interview with an examiner in 3 parts: questions on familiar topics (4–5 min), a 2-minute talk after 1 minute of preparation, and a more general, abstract discussion about the Part 2 topic (4–5 min). It's marked on fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. TOEFL iBT: about 8 minutes: 7 sentences to listen to and repeat, and 4 interview questions, scored by an AI system that looks at features such as fluency, coherence and grammar.
Is the TOEFL harder than the IELTS?
Neither is harder for everyone, and there's no official study showing that one is easier. What changes is the kind of task. If speaking to a person makes you nervous, the TOEFL format may feel more comfortable; if you'd rather have a real conversation than talk to a computer, IELTS may suit you better. The TOEFL is shorter; IELTS gives you more time for Reading and Writing.
A practical way to decide: try an official sample of each. ETS offers a free TOEFL iBT Sample Test of about 40 minutes, and IELTS publishes sample questions for every section on ielts.org. See which instructions felt clearer and where you finished on time.
IELTS, TOEFL and CEFR equivalents
There is no official table that converts an IELTS score directly into a TOEFL score. What each organization does publish is how its scale relates to the CEFR, so you can compare by level: for example, B2 is 4–4.5 on the TOEFL iBT and 5.5–6.0 on IELTS.
| CEFR level | IELTS (overall band) | TOEFL iBT (1–6) | TOEFL iBT (comparable 0–120) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C2 | 8.5–9.0 | 6 | 114–120 |
| C1 | 7.0–7.5 (8.0 is between C1 and C2) | 5–5.5 | 95–113 |
| B2 | 5.5–6.0 (6.5 is between B2 and C1) | 4–4.5 | 72–94 |
| B1 | 4.0–4.5 (5.0 is between B1 and B2) | 3–3.5 | 44–71 |
| A2 | Not reported | 2–2.5 | 24–43 |
Sources: IELTS and the CEFR (IELTS ranges are our reading of its chart; the text says the C1 threshold falls between 6.5 and 7, 8.5 and above is C2, and 8 is borderline) and ETS, TOEFL Score Scale Update. IELTS notes there is no exact one-to-one match between its bands and the CEFR. For all levels and Cambridge exams, see our CEFR levels guide.
What is 7.5 IELTS equivalent to on the TOEFL?
An IELTS 7.5 is C1 according to IELTS's CEFR chart. On the TOEFL iBT, C1 is 5 or 5.5 (a comparable 95–113 on the old scale). This is a level-to-level comparison, not an official conversion. IELTS adds that the C1 threshold sits between 6.5 and 7, so an institution that wants to be sure an applicant is C1 may ask for 7.
What TOEFL score is B2?
On the current TOEFL iBT scale, B2 is 4 or 4.5, equal to a comparable 72–94 on the old 0–120 scale. If a university still lists a 0–120 requirement, ETS recommends 80 → 4 and 90 → 4.5.
Which test should you choose?
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Your university or scholarship accepts only one | Take that one. Nothing else to compare. |
| They accept both | Try an official sample of each and choose the format you do best in. |
| You're migrating (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK) | Check the government's list. IELTS says General Training is the test for those purposes, and there's IELTS for UKVI for UK visas. |
| Speaking to a person makes you nervous | TOEFL iBT Speaking has no examiner in the room. |
| You'd rather talk than speak to a recording | IELTS Speaking is a real interview. |
Whichever you choose, what moves your score most is practicing the real format, especially Speaking and Writing, the two open-response sections. If your score has stalled, read why you're not improving your English exam score.
Which is more expensive, TOEFL or IELTS?
It depends on the country, because both set fees locally. ETS lists the TOEFL iBT fee by country (for example, USD 270 in the United States and USD 230 in Ecuador, before taxes). IELTS fees are set by each test center: in Ecuador, IDP charges USD 249 for IELTS on computer at its Guayaquil center.
So in Ecuador the TOEFL iBT is USD 19 cheaper, but that may not hold in your country. Check both official booking pages for your city before deciding on price alone. For more on TOEFL fees by country, see our TOEFL guide.
Train your speaking for either test
In Vozi Exam you take a level check covering speaking, listening, reading and writing, with a CEFR reference. In Vozi Coach you practice spoken answers at your level, with feedback at the end. HelloVozi is not an ETS or IELTS product.
Try Vozi Exam →Frequently asked questions
Is the TOEFL harder than the IELTS?
There's no official evidence that one is harder. It depends on you: try an official sample of each test and compare where you finish on time and feel more comfortable in Speaking.
What is 7.5 IELTS equivalent to on the TOEFL?
There's no official direct conversion. By CEFR level, IELTS 7.5 is C1, and C1 on the TOEFL iBT is 5 or 5.5 (a comparable 95–113 on the old 0–120 scale).
Does the US prefer IELTS or TOEFL?
Neither organization publishes a US-wide preference, and both say they are recognized by thousands of institutions. What counts is each university's policy: check the admissions page of every program you apply to.
Which is more expensive, TOEFL or IELTS?
It depends on the country. In Ecuador, on September 29, 2026, the TOEFL iBT cost USD 230 before taxes (ETS) and IELTS USD 249 at IDP's Guayaquil center. In the United States, ETS lists the TOEFL iBT at USD 270; IELTS fees are set by each test center.
How long are IELTS and TOEFL scores valid?
Both recommend 2 years. IELTS says organizations may choose to accept older results; ETS says TOEFL iBT scores are valid for 2 years.
What TOEFL score is B2?
On the TOEFL iBT scale used since January 2026, B2 is 4 or 4.5. On the old 0–120 scale, that's a comparable 72 to 94.