TOEFL vs IELTS after the 2026 change
The 2026 change made these two tests much more similar in scoring shape and much less similar in length.
Since January 2026 the TOEFL iBT runs about 90 minutes and reports a 1.0–6.0 band per section averaged into a total, with speaking recorded on a computer. IELTS Academic runs about 2 hours 45 minutes, reports 0–9 bands averaged into an overall band, and its speaking test is a live interview with an examiner. The TOEFL is now the substantially shorter test.
Side by side
| TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 90 minutes | About 2 h 45 min |
| Sections | Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking |
| Scale | 1.0–6.0 per section, half steps | 0–9 per section, half steps |
| Total | Average of four sections | Average of four sections |
| Speaking | Recorded on a computer | Live interview with an examiner |
| Adaptive | Reading and Listening, by stage | No |
| Break | None | None within the written test |
| Results | About 72 hours (electronic) | Typically a few days (computer-delivered) |
Both now average their four sections, which means the same strategic rule applies to either: fix your weakest skill first.
Which one suits you
- Take the TOEFL if you would rather speak to a computer than a person, you want the shortest sitting, or you need a result fast.
- Take IELTS if you speak better in a real conversation than into a microphone, or if your institutions are more familiar with IELTS bands.
- Either way, check what your institution actually accepts and at what level before choosing — that outranks every other consideration.
Both tests average four skills, so neither lets you hide a weakness. The genuine difference is format comfort — a recorded response versus a live examiner — and how long you can hold quality: 90 minutes versus nearly three hours.
Practise the 2026 format, not the old one
Every task type in the current test, a full explanation on every question, and a band estimate that shows where your next half band comes from.
Frequently asked questions
Is TOEFL easier than IELTS in 2026?
Neither is reliably easier. Both average four section scores, so both punish an uneven profile. The TOEFL is much shorter and its speaking is recorded; IELTS is longer with a live speaking interview.
Which is shorter, TOEFL or IELTS?
The TOEFL, clearly, since the 2026 change — about 90 minutes against roughly 2 hours 45 minutes for IELTS Academic.
How do TOEFL bands compare to IELTS bands?
They are different scales — 1–6 for TOEFL and 0–9 for IELTS — so there is no direct equivalence. Compare through CEFR instead: TOEFL band 5–5.5 is C1, and 4–4.5 is B2.
Do universities prefer one over the other?
Most accept both, but requirements are stated per test and some institutions are still restating TOEFL requirements on the band scale. Check the exact wording for your programme.
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By PrepScore · Last reviewed · Editorial standards