IELTS vs TOEFL: Which Do the U.K., U.S., Australia, and Canada Prefer? How Applicants Should Choose (2026 Complete Comparison)
Every May, the question I hear most often from parents is: “Teacher, my son has practiced SAT for six months and scored 105 on TOEFL. He wants to apply to Yale and Oxford at the same time. Does he also need to take IELTS?”
My answer is always: “No need to take both. One TOEFL score, plus one Duolingo score as backup, is the most efficient strategy.”
Parents get even more anxious: “What if Oxford rejects TOEFL?”
The answer: Oxford accepts TOEFL scores of 100+, and has accepted them for years. The idea that “U.K. schools prefer IELTS” is outdated information from five years ago. Today, both U.S. and U.K. universities broadly accept both tests. This article draws on my 15 years of practical experience to dismantle this myth completely.
1. The Fundamental Differences Between TOEFL and IELTS
| Item | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Organizer | ETS (U.S.) | British Council + IDP + Cambridge |
| Format | Computer-based | Paper-based and computer-based options |
| Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Scoring | 0-120 | 0-9 (in 0.5-band increments) |
| Speaking | Recorded on a computer (11 minutes) | Face-to-face with a human examiner (11-14 minutes) |
| Writing | Typed on computer (30 minutes / 2 tasks) | Mostly handwritten (60 minutes / 2 tasks) |
| Test-date availability | Multiple sessions each week | 2-4 sessions per month |
| Fee | USD $230 | USD $250-260 |
2. Score Comparison (120 vs 9)
The official conversion tables published by ETS and IELTS:
| TOEFL Range | IELTS Equivalent | Level Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 118-120 | 8.5-9.0 | Native-speaker level |
| 110-117 | 7.5-8.0 | Top 20 university threshold |
| 102-109 | 7.0 | Top 50 university threshold |
| 94-101 | 6.5 | Mid-tier public university threshold |
| 79-93 | 6.0 | Standard university threshold |
| 60-78 | 5.0-5.5 | Foundation / conditional admission |
Median for Taiwanese students: TOEFL ~90 ≈ IELTS 6.5
3. The Real Preferences of Universities by Country
3.1 United States (90% of students choose TOEFL)
Reality: 99% of U.S. universities accept IELTS.
- TOEFL preference: A small number of old-school LACs (some departments at Williams and Amherst)
- IELTS accepted: All Ivy schools, all Top 50 universities, all UC campuses, all flagship public universities
Why do Taiwanese students choose TOEFL?
- TOEFL has more test centers in Taiwan and is easier to book
- Most counseling agencies have more TOEFL preparation materials
- SAT/ACT and TOEFL are both ETS-style systems, so the question types feel familiar
3.2 United Kingdom (90% of students choose IELTS)
Reality: All U.K. universities accept IELTS, and Oxbridge plus most Russell Group universities also accept TOEFL.
- IELTS required: When applying to Oxford / Cambridge through UCAS, IELTS is the “default”
- TOEFL accepted: All Top 50 U.K. universities, but IELTS is the default on official websites
U.K. Visa: The Tier 4 student visa only accepts the IELTS UKVI version. If students need a visa, they must take IELTS UKVI once (not the Academic version).
3.3 Australia (IELTS dominates, but TOEFL also works)
Australia’s Group of Eight universities accept IELTS 100% of the time, and TOEFL about 95% of the time.
- Australian immigration visa: Only accepts IELTS Academic / General (not TOEFL)
- Australian student visa: Both are accepted
3.4 Canada (Both work; IELTS is slightly more common)
Canada’s U15 universities (the top 15) all accept both tests.
- Canadian immigration PR: IELTS General is the default (not Academic)
- Canadian student visa: Both are accepted
3.5 Hong Kong / Singapore (IELTS dominates)
The University of Hong Kong, HKUST, and CUHK all accept both. Singapore’s NUS, NTU, and SMU do as well.
- HK work visa: IELTS is the default
- SG work visa: IELTS is the default
4. Decision Logic for Taiwanese Students
The decision tree I give Dr. G. students:
Application goal:
├─ U.S. only -> TOEFL (90%) + Duolingo (backup)
├─ U.K. only -> IELTS Academic
├─ U.S. + U.K. dual applications -> TOEFL (110 for U.S. / 100 for U.K.)
├─ Australia / Canada immigration -> IELTS (also prepares for visa needs)
├─ HK / SG only -> IELTS
└─ Applications + future visa considerations -> IELTS (one score, multiple uses)5. The Real Difference in the Speaking Section
Many parents get stuck on which is easier: “Speaking to a machine or speaking to a person?” Here is the practical comparison:
| Dimension | TOEFL (Machine) | IELTS (Human Examiner) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological pressure | Low (no one is watching you) | High (the examiner is right in front of you) |
| Time control | Strict timing, forced cutoffs | Examiner can make slight adjustments |
| Scoring consistency | Cross-scored by multiple raters | Scored by one examiner |
| Interactivity | 0 | High (the examiner will ask follow-up questions) |
| Room to perform | You can only follow your template | You can develop your own stories |
Reality:
- Introverted / shy students should choose TOEFL (less pressure speaking to a machine)
- Outgoing / talkative students should choose IELTS (human conversation lets them perform better)
6. The Real Difference in the Writing Section
| Dimension | TOEFL | IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1 | Integrated (read + listen + write) | Task 1 (150-word chart description) |
| Task 2 | Academic Discussion (100+ words in the new format) | Task 2 (250-word argumentative essay) |
| Word count | 250-325 words total | 400 words total |
| Format | Fully typed | Mostly handwritten |
For Taiwanese students:
- Fast typing -> TOEFL advantage
- Strong at describing charts (technology / business visuals) -> IELTS Task 1 advantage
7. Four Key IELTS Band Scores
IELTS is scored from 0 to 9, and the Band Score is the average of the four sections:
| Band | Level Meaning |
|---|---|
| 9.0 | Expert (native-level perfection) |
| 8.0 | Very Good |
| 7.0 | Good (Top 30 university threshold) |
| 6.5 | Competent (Top 100 threshold) |
| 6.0 | Modest (mid-tier university threshold) |
IELTS requirements for Top 20 U.K. universities:
| School | Overall | Minimum Per Section |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford / Cambridge | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| Imperial College | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| UCL | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| King’s College London | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| LSE | 7.0 | 7.0 (stricter) |
| Edinburgh / Manchester | 6.5-7.0 | 6.0-6.5 |
Reality: The minimum per-section score matters more than the overall score. A student with R 8 / L 8 / S 5 / W 7 has an overall 7, but Speaking 5, so most U.K. universities will reject the score outright.
8. TOEFL Home Edition vs IELTS Online
Both exams have at-home online versions, but their acceptance differs:
| Version | Acceptance by Schools |
|---|---|
| TOEFL Home Edition | Accepted by 95% of schools (all Ivy and UC schools accept it) |
| TOEFL iBT Paper Edition | Accepted by fewer schools |
| IELTS Online | Lower acceptance (some U.K. universities do not accept it) |
| IELTS Computer-delivered (physical test center) | 100% accepted |
Tactic: If time is tight and test centers are full, TOEFL Home Edition is a good option.
9. Current Test-Center Situation in Taiwan
TOEFL
- Test centers: Taipei 8+, Taichung 4+, Kaohsiung 3+
- Sessions: Every Saturday and Sunday
- Registration: Seats are usually available within 1-3 weeks
- Urgent option: TOEFL Home Edition is available anytime
IELTS
- Test centers: Taipei 6+, Taichung 3+, Kaohsiung 2+
- Sessions: 2-4 per month
- Registration: Usually fully booked 3-4 weeks in advance
- Urgent option: Additional IELTS UKVI sessions may be available
Conclusion: TOEFL is easier to book than IELTS in Taiwan. If you only decide one month before the test, TOEFL is the only realistic choice.
10. Dual-Test Strategy: Should You Take Both?
90% of students should not take both tests. Reasons:
- High time cost: Each exam takes 3-6 months to prepare
- Schools only look at one: Schools say, “We accept X or Y.” Submitting X is enough
- Poor return on cost: One test costs USD $230-260
Exception: If applying to Top 20 U.S. universities and Oxbridge / Imperial at the same time, and the TOEFL score is below 110, then adding an IELTS 7.5+ score can be insurance.
11. Duolingo English Test: The Third Option
| Item | Duolingo English Test (DET) |
|---|---|
| Format | Fully online, monitored through your own webcam |
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Fee | USD $59 (4 times cheaper than TOEFL/IELTS) |
| Scoring | 10-160 |
| Acceptance | Accepted by 95% of Top 30 U.S. schools (Yale / Brown / Cornell all accept it) |
| Duolingo | TOEFL Equivalent | IELTS Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 145+ | 110+ | 7.5+ |
| 130 | 100 | 7.0 |
| 120 | 90 | 6.5 |
Strategic value:
- Stuck at TOEFL 105 -> Try Duolingo and you may go straight to 130+ -> equivalent to 100
- Low application cost, short exam, fast results (48 hours)
- More and more Top 30 schools accept it
Warning: MIT and Harvard do not accept Duolingo. These two schools require TOEFL / IELTS.
12. Conclusion: Choose the Right Tool, Do Not Prepare on Two Tracks
Over the past 15 years, I have seen too many parents force their children to prepare for TOEFL + IELTS at the same time, only for them to perform poorly on both.
My final reminder to Dr. G. students:
If 90% of your applications are to the U.S., one TOEFL score is enough; if 90% are to the U.K., one IELTS score is enough; if you are applying to both, choose TOEFL and add one IELTS 7.5 score only if needed for U.K. applications. Do not prepare on two tracks at once.
English tests are only tools. Stop once you reach the requirement. Wasting two more months pushing 110 to 115 is time you could use to write five supplemental essays. The latter is what actually decides the outcome.
Further Reading
Speaking and writing stuck at the same band?
Listening and reading respond to volume; speaking and writing stall without someone marking them. Our IELTS/TOEFL prep scores the four skills separately so the hours go into the two that can still move.
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