IELTS, TOEFL iBT or TOEIC?
All three test the four skills, but they are used for different purposes. Compare them side by side, then open an exam hub for the format, scoring and a study plan.
IELTS
International English Language Testing System
IELTS tests all four skills on a 9-band scale. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken on the same day with no breaks, and the Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with an examiner, held on the same day or up to about a week before or after. You can take it on paper or on computer. The Listening and Speaking tests are the same for everyone; Reading and Writing are different for the Academic and General Training versions.
TOEFL iBT
Test of English as a Foreign Language (internet-based test)
The TOEFL iBT is a computer-based test of academic and campus English. Since 21 January 2026 it has a shorter format with many short tasks, in this order: Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking. Reading and Listening are adaptive: your answers in the first part of the section decide whether the second part is easier or harder, so the number of questions and the time can vary. Writing and Speaking are the same for everyone. You can take it at a test centre or at home (Home Edition) with a live online proctor.
TOEIC
Test of English for International Communication
TOEIC tests English for work and everyday life, with situations such as meetings, emails, travel, shopping and office announcements. Most people take the TOEIC Listening & Reading test, a 200-question multiple-choice test. The separate TOEIC Speaking & Writing tests measure productive skills and are often required by employers in addition to, or instead of, Listening & Reading.
Side-by-side comparison
| IELTS | TOEFL iBT | TOEIC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run by | British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment | ETS | ETS |
| Best for | University study in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many other countries (Academic); Professional registration, for example for doctors and nurses (usually Academic) | University study, especially in the United States and Canada; Scholarships and exchange programmes that ask for TOEFL | Job applications and promotions at international companies; University graduation requirements in some countries (for example in Asia and Europe) |
| Versions | IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training | TOEFL iBT (test centre), TOEFL iBT Home Edition | TOEIC Listening & Reading, TOEIC Speaking & Writing |
| Total time | About 2 hours 45 minutes in total: Listening about 30 minutes, Reading 60 minutes, Writing 60 minutes and Speaking 11–14 minutes | About 1 hour 30 minutes of test time; allow about 2 hours including instructions and check-in. No scheduled breaks. | Listening & Reading: about 2 hours of test time (about 2.5 hours with registration questions). Speaking & Writing: about 80 minutes. |
| Score scale | Band 1–9, in whole and half bands | 1–6 in half bands (each section and overall) | Listening & Reading 10–990 (each section 5–495); Speaking 0–200; Writing 0–200 |
| Listening | about 30 minutes, 40 questions in 4 parts | about 27–29 minutes, about 35–47 questions (adaptive) | about 45 minutes, 100 questions in 4 parts |
| Reading | 60 minutes, 40 questions on 3 sections | about 27–30 minutes, about 35–50 questions (adaptive) | 75 minutes, 100 questions in 3 parts |
| Writing | 60 minutes, 2 tasks | about 23 minutes, 12 tasks | about 60 minutes, 8 questions |
| Speaking | 11–14 minutes, 3 parts | about 8 minutes, 11 tasks | about 20 minutes, 11 questions |
| B1 level | about 4.0–5.0 | 3–3.5 | L&R about 550–780 · Speaking 120+ · Writing 120+ |
| B2 level | about 5.5–6.5 | 4–4.5 | L&R about 785–940 · Speaking 160+ · Writing 150+ |
| C1 level | about 7.0–8.0 | 5–5.5 | L&R about 945+ · Speaking 180+ · Writing 180+ |
| Lessons here | 121 lessons | 93 lessons | 81 lessons |
Level mappings are approximate and based on the official CEFR concordance published by each test provider. Formats change, so always check the official website before you book. Last checked 2026-10.