English-language certificates unlock doors to universities, visas and professional bodies. The two giants are IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet-based). Together they serve more than six million candidates each year. IELTS lists more than 12 000 recognizing institutions across 140 countries, while TOEFL is accepted by over 13 000 organisations in 200+ countries.

Since the late-20th century, two assessments have dominated global admissions and immigration paperwork:

• IELTS began in 1989 as a joint venture between Cambridge English, the British Council and IDP Education. By 2018 it was serving over 3.5 million candidates a year and running in more than 4 000 test centres across 140 countries.

• TOEFL started even earlier (paper version 1964; internet-based release 2005) under the US-based non-profit ETS. Recent figures list about 2.3 million annual test takers sitting the iBT format at 4 500 centres in 190+ territories. 

Institutional acceptance

• IELTS is recognised by 12 500+ organisations worldwide, including ministries, universities, licensing bodies and multinationals in 140+ countries. takeielts.britishcouncil.org

• TOEFL enjoys a slightly wider geographic footprint, accepted by 13 000+ institutions in over 200 countries—virtually any place advertising English-medium study will list it. ets.org
   

Which exam “hurts less”? To decide, compare format, timing, scoring, content style, test-day experience, regional acceptance, cost, preparation resources and your own personality.

How the Formats Line Up

Why it matters

• Human interaction: If real-time dialogue energises you, IELTS feels natural; microphone monologues feel detached to some but comforting to shy speakers.
• Task variety: IELTS’s mix of charts, summaries and gap-fills rewards flexible thinkers; TOEFL’s MCQ-heavy style favours fans of consistent patterns and typing speed.
• Endurance: The shorter TOEFL saves stamina, yet IELTS often separates speaking so you can recover between sessions.

IELTS and TOEFL Scoring — What the Numbers Really Mean

How IELTS Builds Its Final Band

Each skill—Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking—is marked from 0 to 9 in half-band steps.

The overall result is the arithmetic mean of those four bands, rounded to the nearest half-band. For instance, 6 (L), 6.5 (R), 6 (W) and 7 (S) give an average of 6.375, which rounds up to 6.5 overall.

The report shows one overall band plus the four individual ones. If an immigration or registration body demands “no part below 7,” a single 6.5 in Writing can block the application even when the overall score meets the target.

How TOEFL iBT Arrives at Its Composite Score

Raw points from each section are converted to a scaled 0–30. Reading and Listening scale directly from correct answers, while Speaking and Writing involve human raters and AI checks before conversion.

The four scaled numbers are added to yield a 0–120 total. A candidate with 28 (L), 22 (R), 24 (W) and 26 (S) receives 100 overall. Because many admission offices list the total first, a strong Listening mark can offset a weaker Reading mark—unless subscores are enforced.

Equivalence in Plain Language

Official concordance charts from IDP/British Council and ETS highlight these milestones:

IELTS 9 ≈ TOEFL 118–120 (native-like mastery)

IELTS 8 ≈ TOEFL 110–114

IELTS 7.5 ≈ TOEFL 102–109

IELTS 7 ≈ TOEFL 94–101

IELTS 6.5 ≈ TOEFL 79–93

IELTS 6 ≈ TOEFL 60–78

IELTS 5.5 ≈ TOEFL 46–59

These ranges align with CEFR: IELTS 7 / TOEFL 94 sits at the upper edge of C1, while IELTS 6 / TOEFL 60–78 hovers around B2.

Why the Different Formats Matter to You

• Transparency vs flexibility. IELTS makes gaps hard to hide; TOEFL lets an outstanding skill balance a weaker one because many universities focus on the 120-point total.
• Subscore policies vary. Some MBA programs accept TOEFL 100 with no extra conditions, whereas certain Australian nursing boards want IELTS 7 in each part. Always read the fine print.
• Super-scoring. A growing list of U.S. schools accepts your best section results across multiple TOEFL sittings. IELTS never aggregates performances; each Test Report Form stands alone.
• Handwriting vs typing. Because IELTS paper tests involve pen-and-paper essays, anyone with neat handwriting but slow keyboard speed might gain an extra half-band in Writing compared with the typed-only TOEFL.

Regional and Institutional Preference

• North America: Universities accept both, yet many list TOEFL ranges first because ETS is US-based.
• UK, Australia, New Zealand: IELTS enjoys historic prominence and straightforward immigration recognition.
• EU/Schengen and Canada: Both tests work, though IELTS often headlines registration for medical or teaching licences.

When timelines are tight, pick the test already required by your institution; skipping conversion tables instantly simplifies life.

Content Style and Accent Exposure

TOEFL listening passages imitate North-American campus life—office hours, classroom debates. IELTS blends British, Australian, Canadian and US accents plus semi-formal contexts such as booking hotel conference rooms. If you binge US podcasts, TOEFL may feel clearer. With broad accent exposure, IELTS variety won’t faze you.

Test Delivery Options

• Computer-based sessions at authorised centres (fast results)
• Paper IELTS for those who prefer handwriting
• Home-edition TOEFL iBT with remote proctoring (strict tech checks required)

Remote flexibility helps rural candidates yet introduces technical risk; stable broadband and a quiet room are essential.

Preparation Resources and Learning Curve

IELTS offers abundant free practice via IDP and the British Council, plus countless third-party YouTube channels. TOEFL provides free sample tests and paid Official Guides. Because IELTS question types vary, candidates often learn specific strategies (e.g. spotting synonyms in True/False/Not Given). TOEFL’s single-style MCQs let you focus more on academic vocabulary depth.

Keyboard skill alert: TOEFL writing is typed; slow typists risk losing points. IELTS on paper rewards neat handwriting; on computer it feels similar to TOEFL.

Candidate Profiles — Who Finds What Easier?

Difficulty Myths Debunked

• “IELTS reading is shorter, so easier.” Passages match TOEFL lengths; the real difference lies in task type.
• “TOEFL speaking is tougher because you talk to a machine.” Introverts often score higher without eye contact; extroverts prefer examiner cues.
• “Universities view IELTS as British and TOEFL as American.” Acceptance depends on policy, not nationality. Always check program pages.

Strategies to Choose Wisely

1. Take free diagnostic tests from both websites; simulate timing.
2. Count raw errors; if one test consistently gives you higher percentile, that path is gentler.
3. Listen to sample speaking recordings; does the scoring engine catch your accent accurately?
4. Check official cut-offs; if an MBA needs IELTS 7.5 but accepts TOEFL 100, compute which gap feels smaller from your baseline.
5. Audit your calendar; TOEFL seats run weekly, while some cities host IELTS only twice a month.

Final Verdict

There is no universal “easiest” exam.

• IELTS feels more straightforward for candidates who thrive on conversational speaking, varied question styles and who like handwriting or balanced computer options. You can check How Many Days Are Required to Prepare for IELTS? if you choose IELTS.
• TOEFL suits those comfortable with steady typing, multiple-choice logic and completing everything in one two-hour sitting.

Choose the certificate that fits your skills, goals and test-day comfort. Prepare consistently, simulate real conditions and the exam will feel far less intimidating—whichever badge you earn on test day.