Should You Take the TOEFL or IELTS for Studying Abroad?

TOEFL and IELTS are two of the most widely recognized English proficiency tests in the world, and often the first step in applying to universities abroad!

Today, most international universities accept both TOEFL and IELTS scores. Instead of choosing based solely on your destination country, you should select the test format that best suits your skills and preferences. This allows you to showcase your abilities and achieve the best results.

Valour breaks down the key differences between these two exams to help you choose the right path based on your English proficiency, learning style, and study abroad goals!

1. Introduction

TOEFL iBT® IELTS®
Examination Fees Approximately NT$7,700 (USD 250) IDP: Approximately NT$7,700
BP : Approximately NT$8,300 (price increase effective from June 24)
Test Focus Focuses on assessing academic English skills Focuses more on practical application, commonly used in everyday conversations and daily life situations.
Test Format TOEFL iBT is entirely computer-based:

Speaking: Answered using headphones and a microphone.

Writing: Typed using a keyboard; scored through a combination of human and automated grading.

 IELTS offers both paper based and computer-based test formats:

Paper-based test: Answers are handwritten.

Computer based test: Answers are typed using a keyboard.

Speaking: For both formats, the speaking test can be taken as a one-on-one interview with a live examiner either in person or via online video call.
Question Types Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing
Test Duration There are 5 to 8 test dates every month, allowing test-takers to choose based on their own needs. Paper-based test: 4 sessions per month
Computer-based test: Available every day of the week
Test Location TOEFL Authorized Test Centers
TOEFL iBT Home Edition (At-Home Test)		 IDP IELTS Official Test Centers
Score Reporting Results are released within 4 to 8 days after the test. Paper-based IELTS: Results released 13 days after the test
Computer based IELTS: Results released 5 to 7 days after the test

2.Test Overview

Listening Section

  • 36 minutes, 5 sections, with limited note-taking allowed, making it relatively challenging.

  • It is divided into two parts: lectures and conversations.

  • The content mainly focuses on academic settings, such as classroom lectures and campus dialogues.

  • Each audio clip is played only once, but the questions appear after each clip finishes playing.
  • 30 minutes, 4 sections, with questions answered while listening; difficulty increases progressively.
  • The content includes monologues and conversations, covering both academic and everyday life scenarios.
  • Each audio clip is played only once, and questions and answer choices are visible while the audio is playing.
Speaking Section
  • Computer-based test, where you record your answers using a microphone. Responses are evaluated later by official raters.
  • It includes 4 tasks:

The first part is an independent task, where the test taker responds to a question based on their own ideas and experiences.
The next three parts are integrated tasks, requiring the test taker to first listen to or read some material, then respond to related questions.

The topics mainly focus on academic fields, such as art, humanities, and social sciences.
  • The speaking test is a face to face interview with an examiner, featuring strong interaction.
  • It is divided into three parts with increasing difficulty

Self introduction and interview, individual speech, and a two-way discussion

  • The topics mainly involve everyday subjects such as weather, social activities, the internet, leisure activities, and other related discussions
Reading Section

  • 36 minutes, 2 passages, each about 800 words, 20 questions, mostly multiple-choice, computer-based test.

  • No highlighting or marking on the question stems allowed.

  • Passages mainly come from college textbooks, covering various academic disciplines.

  • Question types include factual information, inference, vocabulary, etc.

  • 60 minutes, 3 passages, each about 1,000 words, approximately 13 questions per passage, with various question types including fill in the blank, true/false, multiple choice (single and multiple answers), matching names/places, main idea selection, and cloze tests.

  • Highlighting and marking on the test paper is allowed.

  • Academic IELTS reading consists of three long passages with a total of 40 questions.

  • Passages are sourced from books, magazines, newspapers, and academic journals.
Writing Section
  • Computer-based test, consisting of two parts (integrated writing and academic discussion writing), assessing summarizing and independent thinking skills.
  • The integrated writing task requires students to read a passage, listen to a lecture, and then write a summary.
  • The academic discussion writing task involves comparing multiple viewpoints and adding the student’s own ideas, with a minimum of 100 words.
  • Emphasis is placed on the ability to integrate information and express opinions clearly.

  • Paper-based test with stricter grading standards, requiring careful attention to handwriting.

  • Divided into two parts: Task 1 and Task 2.

Task 1 requires candidates to describe a graph or process diagram.
Task 2 requires candidates to write an argumentative essay on a given issue or opinion.

Emphasis is placed on clear structure, coherent arguments, and precise vocabulary usage.
Comprehensive Comparison
  • TOEFL listening is more academic, with higher demands on specialized terms and academic language.
  • TOEFL speaking emphasizes the integrated use of skills such as listening, reading, and speaking.
  • TOEFL reading focuses on academic content, testing students’ ability to understand and analyze long academic passages.
  • TOEFL writing emphasizes the ability to integrate information.
  • IELTS listening focuses more on everyday life scenarios.
  • IELTS speaking emphasizes interactive communication, effectively simulating oral communication in both real-life and academic settings.
  • IELTS reading features a variety of question types, helping students develop skills to handle different formats.
  • IELTS writing focuses on descriptive and argumentative essays, cultivating students’ ability to describe and argue effectively in academic writing.
Score Calculation Each section is scored out of 30 points, with a total score calculated by summing the four sections. The maximum total score is 120. Each section is scored out of 9 points. The four sections are scored individually, and the final score is the average of the four section scores.
Special Score Calculation

TOEFL iBT also offers the MyBest® scores option:
MyBest® scores represent the highest section scores from all valid TOEFL iBT tests taken within the past two years, combined into one superscore.
All TOEFL iBT score reports will display both the selected single test scores and the MyBest scores.

 Currently, IELTS offers the “One Skill Retake” option.
After completing the full IELTS test, candidates who are not satisfied with their score in one specific section Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking can choose to retake only that section. This eliminates the need to retake the entire test, as was previously required. It also avoids the risk of scoring lower in other sections during a full retake.

4. Q & A

Q: Which should you choose: TOEFL or IELTS?

A:

  • TOEFL is a fully computer-based exam, making it suitable for students who are comfortable with reading and typing on a computer. Its reading and listening sections focus more on academic content, which is ideal for those with a strong academic English background. The speaking section is recorded via a computer microphone, making it a good fit for test takers who perform better without face to face interaction.
  • IELTS allows for paper based reading and writing, and the speaking test involves a live interview with an examiner either in person or via video call. This format is better suited for students who excel in interactive communication. The listening and reading sections cover a range of real life topics including daily life, work, and education, making IELTS a strong choice for students planning to use English in diverse, multicultural settings.

💡 Myth Busting Time!
In the past, many people believed that TOEFL was mainly for applying to schools in the United States and Canada, while IELTS was suitable for the UK, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries. However, nowadays, the vast majority of international universities accept both TOEFL and IELTS scores. Test-takers should choose the exam format and question types that best suit their own strengths, rather than deciding solely based on the country they are applying to, in order to maximize their performance and achieve the best results.

No matter which exam you choose, it is essential to prepare thoroughly and understand the features and requirements of the test.

IELTS and TOEFL are among the essential documents for applying to universities abroad. Enroll in Valour’s one on one courses, where professional instructors will guide you to choose between TOEFL and IELTS based on your strengths! Through mock exams and targeted training, you can improve your test-taking skills and overall English proficiency. Ultimately, the key is to select the exam that best suits you and prepare wholeheartedly to achieve your target scores and realize academic and career success.

Contact us