IELTS vs TOEFL: Which Do the U.K., U.S., Australia, and Canada Prefer? How Applicants Should Choose (2026 Complete Comparison)
Published on March 21, 2026
TOEFL and IELTS both prove English proficiency, but their design, scoring, and country preferences differ greatly. For U.S. applications, 90% choose TOEFL; for U.K. applications, 90% choose IELTS. But can you take just one test and use it worldwide? This article gives you the answer.
IELTS vs TOEFL: Which Do the U.K., U.S., Australia, and Canada Prefer?
Published on May 14, 2026
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 The idea that "U.K. schools prefer IELTS" is outdated information from five years ago.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
IELTS vs TOEFL: Which Do the U.K., U.S., Australia, and Canada Prefer? How Applicants Should Choose (2026 Complete Comparison) | Study Abroad Blog | Dr.G. Academy
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:
unknown node
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.
