Format & Delivery Differences
IELTS offers both paper-based and computer-delivered formats with an in-person, face-to-face speaking interview with a human examiner.
TOEFL iBT is entirely computer-delivered, including the speaking section where candidates speak into a microphone in response to recorded audio prompts.
Geographic Nuances
While almost all top institutions in both North America and Europe now accept both tests, IELTS remains the default gold standard in the UK, Australia, and Canada, while TOEFL is historically entrenched in the US.
