Can I use TOEFL for a UK visa?

Where a UK visa route requires a Secure English Language Test (SELT), TOEFL is not on the Home Office list of approved tests. You would need an approved test such as IELTS for UKVI, which is booked and taken separately from standard IELTS. Whether you need a SELT depends on your visa route, so check the current GOV.UK guidance before booking.

IELTS vs TOEFL in 2026: Which English Test Should You Take?

Ali Gharji

Sep 1

6 min read

Updated: Oct 7

Choosing between IELTS and TOEFL is one of the first decisions you face if you plan to study, work or move abroad. Both tests are accepted by thousands of universities and employers, but they measure English in noticeably different ways, and one of them changed a great deal this year.

Have an older TOEFL score? Use my TOEFL score converter to see what it means on the new 1–6 scale.

Since 21 January 2026, the TOEFL iBT has had a new, shorter format and a new scoring scale. Many articles and prep books still describe the old 120-point test, so check the date on any comparison you read.

The short answer

Neither test is better in every situation. IELTS tends to suit you if you want a live conversation with an examiner, you are applying to UK universities or need a test for a UK visa, or you are comfortable with longer traditional exam tasks. TOEFL tends to suit you if you prefer to work entirely on a computer, want a shorter test, and are applying mainly to programmes that list TOEFL.

Above all, the test your university or visa route accepts decides the matter, so check that before anything else.

IELTS vs TOEFL at a glance

Feature	IELTS	TOEFL iBT (since January 2026)
Test length	About 2 hours 45 minutes	About 90 minutes
Sections	Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking	Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking
Delivery	Paper-based or computer-delivered	Computer-based, at a test centre or at home
Speaking	Live, face-to-face conversation with an examiner	Recorded on the computer
Difficulty	The same test structure for every candidate	Reading and Listening adapt to your level
Scoring	Bands 0 to 9, in half-band steps	Bands 1 to 6, in half-point steps (CEFR-aligned); the older 0-120 scale is also shown for now

How the IELTS works

IELTS comes in two versions. IELTS Academic is used for university study and some professional registration. IELTS General Training is used mainly for work and migration. Both have the same four parts, which take about 2 hours 45 minutes in total:

Listening (about 30 minutes): you answer questions while listening to recordings of conversations and talks.
Reading (60 minutes): you work through long texts and answer a variety of question types.
Writing (60 minutes): in Academic, Task 1 asks you to describe a graph, chart, table or diagram in at least 150 words, and Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words. General Training replaces Task 1 with a letter.
Speaking (11 to 14 minutes): a live conversation with an examiner in three parts, starting with personal questions, then a short talk on a topic, then a discussion.

Scores are reported as bands from 0 to 9. A common pattern is an overall band plus a minimum in each skill, for example 6.5 overall with no part below 6.0, but requirements vary by institution.

How the TOEFL iBT works now

ETS redesigned the TOEFL iBT in January 2026. The test takes about 90 minutes on a computer and is no longer scored out of 120.

Reading (about 30 minutes) and Listening (about 29 minutes): both are adaptive, so the difficulty of the second stage depends on how you performed in the first. Tasks include shorter academic texts, everyday material and a new Complete the Words exercise.
Writing (about 23 minutes): the essay-style tasks have been replaced by shorter ones, including Build a Sentence, Write an Email and an Academic Discussion post.
Speaking (about 8 minutes): your answers are recorded on the computer and include a Listen and Repeat task and an interview-style task.

Each section receives a band from 1 to 6 in half-point steps, and your overall score is the average of the four. The bands are aligned with the CEFR, the European framework that runs from A1 to C2. Score reports currently also show the older 0-120 figure for a transition period, because many institutions still publish their requirements on that scale. Results normally arrive within about three days.

Which test do universities and visa routes accept?

Both tests are widely accepted for university admission around the world. Traditionally, TOEFL has been especially common for applications to the United States, while IELTS is more familiar in the UK, Australia and Canada. Always confirm the exact test and score on the website of each programme you are applying to.

UK visas work differently. Where a UK visa route requires a Secure English Language Test (SELT), TOEFL is not on the Home Office list of approved tests. You would need an approved test such as IELTS for UKVI. A standard IELTS Academic or General Training result does not count as a substitute, even at the same score, because the UKVI version is booked and taken separately. Whether you need a SELT at all depends on your visa route, so check the current GOV.UK guidance before you book anything.

Which test suits you?

IELTS may suit you if you:

prefer speaking with a real person rather than into a microphone
are comfortable describing data from graphs and charts and writing a structured essay
are applying mainly to UK universities or need a test for UK immigration
can stay focused for close to three hours

TOEFL may suit you if you:

prefer working entirely on a computer and typing your answers
would rather sit a shorter test made up of many short tasks
are applying mainly to programmes that list TOEFL, which is common in North America
like tasks that reflect everyday campus English, such as emails and announcements, alongside academic material

How to decide, step by step

Check the requirements first. List every university, programme or visa route you are applying to and note which tests and minimum scores each accepts. If only one test is accepted, your choice is made.
If both are accepted, try a timed practice section of each. Use official practice materials from the test makers, and notice where you actually lose marks, not just which format feels more comfortable.
Compare dates, fees and locations. The availability of test dates near you, at-home options and retake rules can matter as much as the format.
Choose one test and prepare for it specifically. The skills overlap, but the timing and task types are quite different, so splitting your practice between both spreads your effort thin.

Common questions

Is IELTS or TOEFL easier?

Neither is objectively easier. They reward different strengths: live speaking and longer written tasks in IELTS, and short computer-based tasks with adaptive sections in TOEFL. A better question is which format lets you show your English at its best.

Can I convert my score from one test to the other?

There are unofficial comparison charts, and both tests now map onto CEFR levels, which helps institutions compare them. However, most institutions name the exact test and score they want, so aim for that rather than for an equivalent.

Does the TOEFL change affect how I should prepare?

Yes. If you are preparing now, prepare for the new format. Practice books and videos built around the previous format may no longer match what you will see on test day.

What if I already have an older TOEFL score?

Scores from before January 2026 stay on the old 0-120 scale. TOEFL results have traditionally been valid for two years, but it is up to each institution whether to accept them, so ask before you decide to retake.

Preparing for the test you choose

Whichever test you take, focused, exam-specific preparation matters more than which test you pick. Understanding the timing, task types and scoring criteria of your chosen test, and practising under realistic conditions, makes the biggest difference. Our IELTS Preparation and TOEFL Mastery Training courses are built around exactly these differences, so you can prepare with confidence for the test you have chosen.

Last updated: September 2026. Test formats, scoring and visa rules change, so confirm current details with the test provider (ETS for TOEFL; the British Council, IDP and Cambridge for IELTS) and with GOV.UK before you book.