Is TOEFL or IELTS easier?

Neither is objectively easier -- they're difficult in different ways. TOEFL's Speaking section gives you no natural back-and-forth (you answer a prompt alone, on a timer), which some test takers find harder than IELTS's face-to-face interview. IELTS Writing Task 1 requires describing a chart or process, a skill TOEFL doesn't test at all. Most people find whichever test matches their stronger skill set 'easier.'

Do universities prefer TOEFL or IELTS?

Most universities in the US and Canada accept both, but TOEFL is the more common default for North American admissions, while IELTS is more commonly the default or preferred test for universities in the UK, Australia, and much of Europe. Always check the specific program's admissions page -- policies vary by institution, not just by country.

How do TOEFL and IELTS scores compare?

There's no official, universally-agreed conversion, but commonly cited approximate equivalents are TOEFL 4.0 to IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 5.0 to IELTS 6.5, and TOEFL 6.0 to IELTS 8.0. Treat any conversion table as a rough estimate -- if a specific program lists a required score for one test but not the other, ask the admissions office directly rather than relying on a conversion.

TOEFL vs IELTS · September 25, 2026 · 8 min read

TOEFL vs IELTS 2026: Which Test Should You Take?

If a program you're applying to accepts both TOEFL and IELTS, the choice usually isn't about which test is "harder" overall -- it's about which format plays to your actual strengths. Here's an honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide.

Format differences at a glance

Aspect	TOEFL iBT (2026)	IELTS Academic
Reading	3 task types: Academic Passage, Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life	3 long passages, ~40 questions
Listening	4 task types: Choose-Response, Conversation, Announcement, Academic Talk	4 sections, everyday + academic audio
Writing	2 tasks: Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion	2 tasks: describe a chart/process, then an argumentative essay
Speaking	2 tasks: Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview (no human interviewer)	1 face-to-face interview, 11–14 minutes, with an examiner
Scoring	1–6 band per section, 0.5-point steps, CEFR-aligned	0–9 band, averaged across sections
Delivery	Computer-based only	Paper or computer-based, depending on test center
Results	Typically within about a week	Typically 3–13 days depending on format

Where each test is genuinely harder

TOEFL tends to be harder on:

Speaking without a real conversation partner — you respond to a prompt alone, against a timer, with no follow-up questions to react to.
Reading variety — three distinct task types (including Complete the Words, which has no multiple-choice options to fall back on).
Strict, per-task time pressure across every section.

IELTS tends to be harder on:

Speaking under direct social pressure — a live examiner, in real time, which some test takers find more nerve-wracking than a webcam.
Writing Task 1 — describing a chart, graph, or process is a skill most students haven't practiced outside test prep.
Listening focus — the audio runs continuously with no built-in pauses to catch up on notes.

Who tends to do better on which test

Lean toward TOEFL if…

You think and write more naturally in a structured, academic register; you're comfortable being scored by a mix of AI and trained human raters rather than a single live examiner; and you're applying mainly to universities in the US or Canada, where TOEFL is the more common default.

Lean toward IELTS if…

You communicate more naturally in conversation than in formal writing; you'd rather talk to a real person than a webcam for the Speaking section; and you're applying mainly to universities in the UK, Australia, or continental Europe, where IELTS is frequently preferred or required.

University acceptance: check the specific program

As a general pattern, most universities in the US and Canada default to TOEFL, and most in the UK, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand default to IELTS — but a large and growing number of universities worldwide accept both, and some accept only one for specific programs (law and medicine schools are more likely to have stricter requirements). Don't rely on a general rule: check the admissions page for the exact program you're applying to, since the accepted-test policy is set at the institution or even department level.

Approximate score comparison

TOEFL (1–6 band)	IELTS (0–9 band, approx.)
4.0	5.5
5.0	6.5
6.0	8.0

There is no single official conversion table between TOEFL and IELTS — different institutions and test-prep organizations publish slightly different equivalency charts. Treat the numbers above as a rough estimate, and when a specific score matters (a hard admissions cutoff, for instance), confirm directly with the university rather than relying on any conversion.

Should you prepare for both?

Usually not. The two tests share enough underlying skills (grammar, vocabulary range, organization, listening comprehension) that solid preparation for one carries over significantly to the other. Preparing for both from scratch, in parallel, tends to split your practice time without a proportional benefit. The two cases where it's worth reconsidering:

You're applying to universities in two regions with different default tests (say, both the US and the UK), and neither accepts the other's score for your specific programs.
You've already taken one test, scored just below your target, and diagnostic practice on the other format suggests it plays more to your strengths.

If TOEFL is the test in front of you, mrreadyprep's practice covers every 2026-format task type — Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking — with instant AI feedback on the same 1–6 scale your real score report will use.

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