IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT — the two most accepted English proficiency tests globally. Here is the data-backed, 100% unbiased guide for Indian students. 0% Commission Charged.
Get Free Test Prep Guidance| Factor | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|
| Administered By | British Council / IDP / Cambridge Assessment | ETS (same as GRE) |
| Score Scale | 0–9 band score (each section); 0.5 increments | 0–120 total (Reading/Listening/Speaking/Writing) |
| Speaking Test | Face-to-face with human examiner (30–40 min) | Computer-based speaking (microphone into computer) |
| Test Duration | 2 hr 45 min (paper); 2hr 45min (computer) | ~2 hours (shorter format from 2023) |
| Preferred For UK/Australia | Yes — UKVI IELTS for UK visas; preferred by AU Home Affairs | Accepted but less preferred by some UK visa categories |
| Preferred For USA/Canada | Widely accepted; equally preferred by most US universities | Yes — TOEFL is ETS-native, familiar to US admissions offices |
| Accepted For German Visa | Yes — IELTS 6.5 standard for student visa | Yes — TOEFL 90 accepted |
| Fee in India | ₹17,000 (approx) | ₹17,000 (approx) |
| Score Validity | 2 years | 2 years |
Choose IELTS if: You are applying to UK or Australian universities (UKVI IELTS is required for UK Student Visa), you prefer speaking to a human (vs. speaking into a microphone), or you're applying to IELTS-only partner universities. Choose TOEFL if: You are applying primarily to US or Canadian universities, you are already preparing for GRE (both are ETS — same test-taking format and portal), or you prefer an all-computer test with no face-to-face component. Both tests are equally accepted at most global universities — if applying to US+UK+Canada+Australia simultaneously, check each university's specific preference.
IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum for most universities), 7.0–7.5 for top UK/US programs, no band below 6.0–6.5. TOEFL: 80+ minimum; 100+ for top US programs (MIT, Stanford, CMU require 100+); Duolingo (72+) is now accepted at many programs as a lower-cost alternative.
Abrobot.ai's AI counsellor gives you a personalised IELTS vs TOEFL recommendation based on your target countries and programs — with zero commission charged.
Get Your IELTS vs TOEFL Recommendation