IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, and TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. Both are well recognised standardised tests that provide an indication of your level of English proficiency. Both of them are commonly used by many universities worldwide where English is the medium of instruction as part of the admission requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. There are 4 sections in both the IELTS and TOEFL tests: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
Comparison of IELTS vs TOEFL (updated June 2026)
|
IELTS |
TOEFL |
| Register Through |
British Council or idp IELTS HK |
HKEAA |
| Total Duration |
~2hrs 45m |
~under 2 hrs (~85m test time) |
| Sections |
Listening (30m, 40 Qs),
Reading (60m, 40 Qs),
Writing (60m, 2 tasks),
Speaking (11–14m, interview)
|
Reading (30m, adaptive, 50 Qs),
Listening (29m, adaptive, 47 Qs),
Writing (23m, 3 tasks),
Speaking (8m, 2 tasks)
|
| Format Style |
Linear (same for all candidates) |
Writing & Speaking:
Linear
Reading & Listening:
Adaptive (adjust difficulty)
|
| Question Types |
Varied |
MC questions |
| Speaking |
Face-to-face interview with examiner |
AI-scored:
“Listen & Repeat” + “Take an Interview”
|
| Writing |
Academic:
describe visual + essay;
General:
letter + essay
|
Build a Sentence (machine-scored),
Write an Email (AI-scored),
Academic Discussion (AI-scored)
|
| Scoring |
Band scale 1–9 (average of 4 sections, rounded to 0.5) |
Band scale 1–6 (aligned to CEFR A1–C2); transitional dual reporting with legacy 0–120 until 2028 |
| Delivery |
Computer-based (except speaking) |
Fully computer-based, AI-driven |
| Result Time |
3–5 days |
3 days |
Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) – IELTS – TOEFL Equivalence (2026)
| CEFR Level |
IELTS
Band |
TOEFL iBT
(New Scale) |
TOEFL iBT
(Legacy Score) |
| C2 |
Proficient |
8.5 – 9.0 |
6.0 |
114 – 120 |
| C1 |
Advanced |
7.0 – 8.0 |
5.0 – 5.5 |
95 – 113 |
| B2 |
Upper-Intermediate |
5.5 – 6.5 |
4.0 – 4.5 |
72 – 94 |
| B1 |
Intermediate |
4.0 – 5.0 |
3.0 – 3.5 |
58 – 71 |
| A2 |
Elementary |
3.0 – 3.5 |
2.0 – 2.5 |
30 – 57 |
| A1 |
Beginner |
Below 3.0 |
1.0 – 1.5 |
Below 30 |
* Comparison chart generated by Copilot
Making the Right Choice
First, review the requirements of your target institutions to see if they specify which test you must take. While most now accept both IELTS and TOEFL, there are still exceptions. If either option is acceptable, try a mock test of each to determine which suits you better. Some prefer American English, while others are more comfortable with British English. Certain candidates perform best with shorter tasks, whereas others may struggle with spelling. These personal factors are worth considering before deciding which test to pursue.
Support from the ILC
The Independent Learning Centre offers
workshops and
small-group classes for IELTS and TOEFL respectively. For additional online and print resources, please refer to the ILC’s
IELTS and
TOEFL sections. You are also welcomed to make an appointment for individual consultation sessions to meet with our ILC teaching staff for personalised advice or practice. Appointments can be made
online or by calling our general office at 3943 8733.
