IELTS vs TOEFL- What's the difference and which is easier?

Studying abroad is a dream for many students. If you’re considering studying abroad, you must have come across these two exams- IELTS and TOEFL. These exams aim to check the English fluency of people aiming to study abroad in countries such as the USA, Canada, and others. And it’s not just limited to academics. They’re also helpful for professionals looking for career success abroad. 

Before we move any further, let’s understand what these names stand for. 

IELTS: International English Language Testing System.

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Read more: IELTS Exam 2023 and TOEFL Exam Dates

Now, to choose the right exam for you, it’s important to understand the difference between these two. People are flooded with questions like, “Which exam is easier, IELTS or TOEFL?” or “Which one should I take?” Let’s see the pros and cons of each exam and help you make the final call.

There’s very little difference between the IELTS and TOEFL in terms of international recognition. So many colleges and institutions endorse them. However, IELTS (International English Language Testing System), approved by more than 12,000 institutions, is the most widely used English test. So, if you aim to experience different cultures and travel the world, IELTS is your ideal choice.

Also read:

Which exam is easier, TOEFL or IELTS?

One of the most common questions among people is which exam is easier- TOEFL or IELTS. To answer your question there's no predefined definition of easier in the IELTS and TOEFL. All of it depends on individual preferences. You may find the computer-based TOEFL to be easier and more comfortable as compared to the paper-pen method of IELTS. Coming to the exam point of view, in IELTS you have a separate date for all the different sections i.e., Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing whereas in TOEFL everything is on the same day. 

Difference between TOEFL and IELTS

Different testing institutions own them. The British Council, Cambridge Assessment English, and IDP Australia jointly own the IELTS. It is written by the Cambridge Assessment English, and the British Council and IDP Australia run the test centers worldwide.

Whereas, TOEFL iBT is owned, written, and managed by ETS (Education Testing Service), an institution in the USA.

Let’s have a look at the differences between IELTS and TOEFL.

Also read: PTE vs IELTS

IELTS vs TOEFL Formats and Types:

One of the primary differences between the two is the way these exams are conducted. TOEFL is completely computer-based, while IELTS provides both computer-based and paper-based options. This difference can be a deciding factor in choosing the test. If you’re someone who prefers the pen-and-paper method, you know which exam to take. This flexibility makes the IELTS easier than TOEFL. 

Format:

Although they test the candidate’s four different skills—reading, writing, speaking, and listening—they follow different formats in doing so. Let’s see:

Must read: IELTS Exam Pattern and TOEFL Exam Pattern 

Sections

TOEFL is made up of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The aim is to assess the candidate’s different language skills, with a focus on academic English proficiency. IELTS has four sections as well but with a slightly different emphasis. The Writing and Reading sections are split into Academic and General Training versions, to serve different purposes, such as university admissions or immigration.

Question Types:

These are the various question types. A mix of these questions appear in the Listening and Reading sections:

• Multiple choice questions
• Matching form
• Plan/ Map/ Diagram labeling
• Form/ note/ table/ flow-charts/ summary completion
• Complete the sentence
• Complete the summary
• Short-answer questions
• True/ False/ Not given
• Yes/ No/ Not given

The most common types of questions in TOEFL are the MCQs or Multiple Type Questions.

Read more: How to prepare for IELTS?

IELTS vs TOEFL: Listening Section

There is a common misconception among test takers that IELTS is British English and TOEFL is US English. However, the truth is that both of these tests have a range of English accents: North American, British, Australian, and New Zealand accents.

The IELTS Listening Test has four parts to it. These four sections consist of ten questions each. The first two sections relate to everyday, social context, the next sections focus more on the academic and training parts. There is more than one speaker in the first and third sections, whereas there is only one speaker (monologues) in sections second and fourth. This section can be easier for you if you're an avid reader.

Coming to TOEFL iBT: there are two types of listening parts, i.e., lectures and conversations. Both of these parts use formal language, which is expected to be heard and used at university. The composition of this test is:

• 3 lectures, each with 6 questions
• 2 conversations with two speakers and 5 questions per conversation.

Know more: IELTS Preparation Books

IELTS vs TOEFL: Reading Section

The reading section of both IELTS and TOEFL is easier and it can be solved even if you don't know the content well. Let's see the difference between IELTS and TOEFL reading section.

IELTS: 

The reading test consists of three passages and the word count is around 2,150-2,750 words. The questions will cover all the range of question types mentioned above.

Reading texts can come from anywhere, be it books, journals, magazines, newspapers, or websites. Even if you don’t understand the subject well, you’ll be able to answer the questions by reading the text.

TOEFL iBT:

It consists of two reading passages. Each passage has more or less 700 words and consists of ten questions. Here also, it isn’t necessary to know the subject matter well, you can answer the questions based on the text only.

TOEFL vs IELTS: Writing Section

The writing section of both of these tests consists of two tasks. 

IELTS:

The first task represents information in the form of a graph, chart, table, or diagram. The time allotted to complete the task is 20 minutes. A minimum of 150 words is required by you. 

In the second task, you are given 40 minutes to complete it with a minimum of 250 words. It could be a response to a POV, an argument, or a problem. It carries double weightage in terms of marks as compared to the first task. All these tasks would be hand-written if you’re taking the paper-based test.

TOEFL iBT:

The time allotted for its writing section is 30 minutes.

Its writing sections are very different. The first task is a combination of both reading and listening. You are given a short passage to read and an audio lecture to listen to. Then, you have to write the response accordingly.

The second task is to write an essay in support of an opinion, in an online classroom format.

More about IELTS Validity

IELTS vs TOEFL: Speaking Section

TOEFL iBT:

A microphone is given to you, and you are required to speak all the answers into it. The answers are assessed by a combination of AI (artificial intelligence) and human reviewers. It’s conducted on the same day as the rest of the sections.

IELTS:

The major area of difference between the two is that in the IELTS speaking test, an examiner takes the test. It can be either face-to-face or on a video call. Also, it is recorded for training and verification purposes. The examiner marks it and verifies it. 

It is divided into three parts. In the first part, you speak about everyday subjects and also provide your personal information. In the second part, you are given one minute to prepare your answer and speak for two minutes. The last part consists of a discussion with the examiner on the topic given in the second part.

TOEFL vs IELTS: Scores

IELTS:

Each skill has a band score between 0-9. After that, you are given an overall band score. Check for more information about these bands and their descriptions on the IELTS website. Read IELTS Band Score to know more.

TOEFL iBT:

The total score ranges between 0-120 and each skill offers a score range from 0-30. You can find detailed information about these band scores and what they mean on the ETS website. 

Must read: TOEFL Exam Fees

Below is the table that shows the general minimum requirements for different score levels.

Score comparison between the two: