TOEFL 2026 vs IELTS: Which English Test for European Universities?

On January 21, 2026, ETS dropped a bombshell: TOEFL ceased to exist in the form you knew it. No more three-hour marathon, no more essays, no more traditional 0–120 scoring. The new TOEFL 2026 lasts 85 minutes, is fully adaptive, AI-scored, and operates on a Band 1–6 scale (with parallel conversion to the old 0–120 scale during a transition period). This is the most radical change in the exam’s history – and it means that any TOEFL vs IELTS comparison from before January 2026 is outdated.

If you’re planning to study in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, or Scandinavia, you’ll need to take an English proficiency test. In 2026, the choice between TOEFL and IELTS looks completely different than it did a year ago. The new TOEFL is shorter, faster, and more “practical” (email writing instead of an essay, an interview instead of an abstract monologue), while IELTS Academic has remained true to its classic format – two essays, an interview with an examiner, and an hour for Reading. Two entirely different exam experiences, leading to the same universities at the end of the process.

In this guide, we compare both exams section by section, taking into account the new TOEFL 2026 format: we convert scores, compare costs, examine university preferences, and help you choose the test that will yield the highest score for your skill profile. Prepare on prepclass.io for the exam that best suits your strengths – because in 2026, the choice between TOEFL and IELTS is not a matter of prestige, but of strategy.

What’s New in TOEFL 2026?

Forget the old TOEFL iBT. As of January 21, 2026, ETS introduced a new format that has changed virtually everything: from section structure and task types to the scoring system. The only things that remain are the name and the fact that you’re tested on four skills: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The rest? A whole new game.

The most significant change is time – the new TOEFL lasts approximately 85 minutes, whereas the old iBT dragged on for nearly 2 hours (and before the 2023 changes: even 3.5 hours). 85 minutes is less than half the duration of IELTS Academic (2 hours 45 minutes). For anyone who gets anxious during long exams, this is a huge psychological difference.

The second revolution is new task types. Instead of traditional academic essays, you’ll be writing emails. Instead of a monologue into a microphone, there’s a “Take an Interview” section with an AI system. Instead of classic reading comprehension: tasks like Complete the Words (filling in missing words in context) and Read in Daily Life (reading menus, announcements, instructions). ETS openly states that the new TOEFL tests “the English you actually use” – and it’s hard to disagree. You can find more about the new tasks in our detailed guides on Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.

The third change is scoring. The new TOEFL now uses a Band 1–6 scale, aligned directly with CEFR levels (Band 4 = B2, Band 5 = C1, Band 6 = C2). During the transition period, which will last at least until the end of 2026, ETS reports scores on both the new band scale and the traditional 0–120 scale, allowing universities to smoothly transition to the new system. Scores are available within 72 hours, twice as fast as computer-based IELTS and five times faster than paper-based IELTS.

The fourth change is AI scoring. The Writing and Speaking sections are entirely scored by artificial intelligence. The absence of a human examiner means faster results and (theoretically) a more objective assessment; however, it also means a lack of “human” nuances in interpreting your responses. If your accent is non-standard or your writing style is highly creative, AI might not appreciate it as much as a human would. You can find a detailed guide to the new format in our complete guide to TOEFL 2026.

Format – Section-by-Section Comparison

Reading: 27 minutes vs 60 minutes

In the new TOEFL, the Reading section lasts just 27 minutes and features entirely new task types. You no longer read long academic texts and answer series of multiple-choice questions. Instead, you get two main task types:

Complete the Words – you read a short text (a few sentences) with missing words and fill in the appropriate word based on context. This is more a test of vocabulary and linguistic intuition than reading comprehension in the traditional sense. It’s closer to a cloze test than anything on the old TOEFL.

Read in Daily Life – you read practical texts: restaurant menus, job advertisements, instruction manuals, emails from a professor. Questions check whether you can find specific information in functional texts. This is a complete departure from the academic style of the old TOEFL.

On IELTS Academic, the Reading section lasts 60 minutes, more than twice as long. You receive 3 long academic texts (700–1000 words each) from various fields and answer 40 questions. Question types are classics: True/False/Not Given, matching headings, sentence completion, multiple choice, short answer. The texts can be dense, full of specialized vocabulary and complex sentences, making it a true test of academic reading skills.

Who wins in Reading? If your strong suit is quickly extracting information from practical texts – the new TOEFL will be easier. If you enjoy analyzing long academic texts and have a rich vocabulary, IELTS might suit you better. For many students, the new TOEFL Reading is easier because it doesn’t require as deep an analysis as IELTS.

Listening: 27 minutes vs 30 minutes

The Listening section on the new TOEFL is 27 minutes with two new task types:

Listen and Repeat – you listen to a short segment (a sentence, a phrase) and repeat it into the microphone. The AI system assesses your pronunciation, intonation, and accuracy of repetition. This task combines Listening with Speaking: you need to hear well to repeat well.

Traditional questions based on recordings: still present, but shorter and more focused on everyday situations (campus conversations, announcements, brief instructions) alongside typical academic lectures.

On IELTS, the Listening section lasts 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes to transfer answers for the paper-based version). You have 4 sections of increasing difficulty: a daily conversation, an informational monologue, an academic discussion, and a lecture. A key advantage of IELTS: you see the questions before the recording, so you know what to listen for. On the old TOEFL, you had to take notes blindly – it’s similar on the new one, although the recordings are shorter.

Who wins in Listening? IELTS gives you an advantage because you know the questions beforehand: it’s like reading with spoilers. The new TOEFL adds a Speaking element (Listen and Repeat), which can be an additional source of stress if your pronunciation isn’t strong. However, time is on TOEFL’s side – 27 minutes of concentration is less than 30–40 minutes on IELTS.

Speaking: 8 minutes vs 11–14 minutes

This is the section where the difference between TOEFL 2026 and IELTS is colossal.

The new TOEFL Speaking section lasts just 8 minutes. The main task is Take an Interview, where you have a conversation with an AI system that asks you questions in the style of a job interview. The system reacts to your answers and asks follow-up questions. It’s interactive, but your conversation partner is a machine, not a human. In addition, there’s Listen and Repeat (which technically combines Listening and Speaking). There are no longer abstract tasks like “read a text, listen to a lecture, summarize orally”; the new format is closer to a real conversation.

On IELTS Speaking, you converse with a live examiner for 11–14 minutes. There are three parts: introduction and general questions (4–5 minutes), a monologue on a chosen topic with one minute of preparation (3–4 minutes), and an abstract discussion related to the monologue (4–5 minutes). The examiner is trained to be neutral and supportive: they don’t assess your opinions, only the quality of your language.

Who wins in Speaking? If conversing with a human stresses you out: TOEFL 2026. AI won’t judge you with its eyes or react to your accent with facial expressions. If, on the other hand, you’re a communicative person who thrives in dialogue, IELTS is more natural. The examiner can ask follow-up questions, give you time, and guide the conversation. AI on TOEFL is less flexible. For introverts and those with stage fright, TOEFL. For talkative extroverts – IELTS.

Writing: 23 minutes vs 60 minutes

In the new TOEFL Writing section, you get 23 minutes and two entirely new task types:

Build a Sentence – you are given scrambled words/phrases and must arrange them into a grammatically correct sentence. This is more a test of grammar than writing in the traditional sense.

Write an Email – you write a short email (150–200 words) in response to a situation described in the prompt. For example: an email to a professor requesting a deadline extension, an email to a roommate proposing a division of chores, an email to an employer inquiring about an internship. Practical, everyday, zero abstraction.

On IELTS Writing, you have 60 minutes and two classic tasks: Task 1, describing a graph, diagram, or process (150+ words, 20 minutes), Task 2, an argumentative essay on an abstract topic (250+ words, 40 minutes). IELTS Writing is the most challenging section of this exam – statistically, test-takers achieve the lowest scores here.

Who wins in Writing? For many students, the new TOEFL Writing is significantly easier. Email writing is a skill you practice daily. Writing an academic essay with the appropriate structure (introduction → body paragraphs → conclusion) in 40 minutes under time pressure is an entirely different league. If writing is your Achilles’ heel, TOEFL 2026 will definitely make it easier for you. You can prepare for both formats on prepclass.io, which offers exercises for both the new TOEFL and IELTS Writing.

Scoring and Score Conversion

Understanding the scoring scales of both exams is crucial, as European universities state their requirements in both formats: you need to know whether your TOEFL 90 corresponds to an IELTS 6.5 or 7.0.

TOEFL 2026 now operates on two scales simultaneously. The new scale is Band 1–6, directly aligned with CEFR levels (Band 4 = B2, Band 5 = C1, Band 6 = C2). During the transition period – at least until the end of 2026 – ETS also reports scores on the traditional 0–120 scale (the sum of four sections, each 0–30). This means you will see both numbers on your score report.

IELTS Academic has always used a Band 1.0–9.0 scale with increments of 0.5 (so you can get 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, but not 6.3). The overall score is the arithmetic mean of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half-band. Each section is scored independently.

The conversion table used by European universities in 2026 looks like this. However, remember that ETS and British Council do not officially publish a joint conversion chart, so these are widely accepted approximations:

The most common threshold required by European universities is TOEFL 80–100 / IELTS 6.0–7.0 – which corresponds to CEFR level B2/C1. Most students with advanced English skills from high school (equivalent to the Polish Matura advanced level) have a realistic chance of reaching this threshold after 1–3 months of focused preparation on prepclass.io. Key point: specific conversions may vary depending on the university. If a university requires TOEFL 90, don’t automatically assume that IELTS 6.5 will suffice. Always check the official program website. Learn more about required scores in our guide to TOEFL scores for studies in Europe.

Which University Prefers Which Test?

Theoretically, most European universities accept both TOEFL and IELTS. Practically, however, there are clear geographical preferences worth knowing before you invest time and money in preparation.

United Kingdom, historically an IELTS stronghold, as the British Council is a co-organizer of the exam. Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial, and LSE all accept IELTS as the standard. TOEFL is formally accepted at most British universities, but in practice, IELTS is the “default” certificate. If you’re applying exclusively to the UK – go with IELTS.

Netherlands, a pragmatic approach, with no strong preferences. University of Amsterdam, Maastricht, Erasmus Rotterdam, and Leiden all accept both tests equally. Typical requirement: TOEFL 90 / IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each section. Dutch universities are also among the most open to alternatives – Cambridge CAE and Duolingo are sometimes accepted as well.

Germany – TU Munich and other technical universities accept both certificates. TOEFL is slightly more popular among international candidates, but the difference is minimal. Typical requirement: TOEFL 88 / IELTS 6.5.

Switzerland – ETH Zurich and EPFL more often list TOEFL as a reference point, but accept both. Requirements are relatively high: TOEFL 100 / IELTS 7.0 for many programs.

Italy, with the lowest language thresholds in Europe. Politecnico di Milano requires TOEFL 78 / IELTS 6.0, Sapienza, even TOEFL 72 / IELTS 5.5. Bocconi is an exception with a requirement of TOEFL 93 / IELTS 6.5. Most Italian universities also accept Cambridge CAE.

Scandinavia, SSE, CBS Copenhagen, Hanken Helsinki, all without strong preferences. Typically TOEFL 90 / IELTS 6.5.

Strategy: If you’re applying to multiple countries simultaneously (e.g., UK + Netherlands + Germany), IELTS is a safer choice: it works everywhere. If your goals include the USA + Europe, TOEFL will cover both destinations. If you’re aiming exclusively for continental Europe – choose the test on which you’ll achieve a higher score, as both options are accepted.

Costs and Logistics

Money matters, especially when you need to factor in exam fees, application costs, and flights for open days into your study abroad budget. Here’s a detailed comparison of the costs and logistics of both tests in Poland.

In terms of price, both exams are similar: the difference is 50–150 PLN (approximately 12-37 USD), which shouldn’t be a deciding factor. More significant differences lie in logistics.

TOEFL Home Edition is a huge advantage: you can take the exam from home, without traveling to a test center. You’ll need a computer with a camera, a microphone, stable internet, and a closed room. For students in smaller towns, where the nearest test center is two hours away, this is a game changer. IELTS does not offer a fully equivalent home version – IELTS Online is available, but not universally accepted.

Score waiting time is another TOEFL advantage: 72 hours vs. 3–5 days (computer-based IELTS) or 13 days (paper-based IELTS). If you’re taking the exam “just before the deadline” for your application, those extra days can make a difference.

Test date frequency – TOEFL is available more often (3–4 times a month vs. 2–4 times for IELTS), and the minimum retake period is just 3 days. If you plan to take the test multiple times, TOEFL offers greater flexibility. IELTS has no formal limit on the break between attempts.

Score reporting – IELTS wins in this regard with 5 free reports (TOEFL: $20 per university). If you apply to 8 universities, the difference is ~$160, or approximately 650 PLN (~160 USD). Learn more about registering for TOEFL 2026 in our registration guide.

Which Test to Choose – Decision Tree

Let’s be practical. Instead of general advice like “both are good,” here are specific scenarios to guide you toward the optimal choice.

Here are a few specific scenarios from a prospective student’s perspective:

Scenario 1: You’re applying to LSE, KCL, and Edinburgh. Three universities in the UK: go with IELTS. It’s the natural choice for British universities, examiners in Poland are well-trained, and an IELTS 7.0 will cover the requirements for all three.

Scenario 2: You’re applying to ETH Zurich, TU Munich, and universities in the Netherlands. Continental Europe: choose the test on which you’ll achieve a higher score. Both are accepted equally. If writing is your weakness, TOEFL 2026 will be easier (email vs. essay).

Scenario 3: You’re applying to universities in the USA and a few in Europe. TOEFL – it will cover both destinations and is the standard in the States.

Scenario 4: You don’t yet know where you’ll be applying. IELTS Academic: it’s accepted everywhere, without exception. TOEFL is also accepted almost everywhere, but IELTS has slightly broader global acceptance.

Regardless of your choice, preparation is key. On prepclass.io, you’ll find preparation materials for both exams: diagnostic tests, section-by-section exercises, and full simulations under exam conditions.

Next Steps

1. Take a diagnostic test – on prepclass.io, check your current level in both formats and see which one you perform better on
2. Identify your target universities – check the language requirements on the official program websites (use our guides on TOEFL for studies in Europe)
3. Choose your test – based on the decision tree above and your diagnostic test results
4. Plan your preparation – a minimum of 2–3 months before the deadline, 30–60 minutes daily on prepclass.io
5. Register for the exam – TOEFL on ets.org, IELTS on britishcouncil.pl or ielts.org
6. Read the detailed guides – the complete guide to TOEFL 2026, and guides to the Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing sections

A language proficiency certificate is one of the first windows through which a university will see you. Present your best self: choose the test that plays to your strengths, prepare systematically, and achieve a score that will open doors for you. Good luck.