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Study Guide: IELTS vs. TOEFL: How to Choose
Source: https://www.fatskills.com/ielts/chapter/ielts-vs-toefl-how-to-choose

IELTS vs. TOEFL: How to Choose

By Fatskills Exam Guides Team — the exam nerds behind 28,500+ quizzes and 2.1M practice questions across 500+ global exams.

⏱️ ~1 min read

For many, the first trap is choosing the wrong test. Both are widely accepted, but they have distinct personalities. Here is a comparison to help you decide which "behemoth" to face .

Feature IELTS TOEFL iBT
Test Format Paper or Computer (choose) 100% Computer-based
Speaking Test Face-to-face with an examiner Record responses on a computer
Accent Mix of British, Australian, American, etc.  Primarily North American
Reading Questions Multiple formats (matching, T/F/NG, completion)  All multiple-choice
Writing Task 1 (Academic) Describe a graph, chart, diagram, or map  "Integrated" task: read a passage, listen to a lecture, then write
Scoring Band score 1-9 (overall average)  Score 0-120 (sum of 4 sections, each 30) 

Score Comparison (Approximate)

If you have a score from one test, this rough guide shows how it compares to the other .

IELTS Band Score TOEFL iBT Total Score
9.0 118-120
8.5 115-117
8.0 110-114
7.5 102-109
7.0 94-101
6.5 79-93

Choosing Your Path 

  • Choose IELTS if: you prefer a face-to-face speaking test, are comfortable with a variety of accents, and prefer a mix of question types.

  • Choose TOEFL iBT if: you are comfortable with a computer-based test, are more familiar with North American accents, and feel confident with multiple-choice questions.



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