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By Olami, AbroadPilot · Reviewed September 2026
If you’re applying to a US graduate program, TOEFL and IELTS are almost always both listed as acceptable — which means the choice is genuinely yours to make. This guide breaks down the practical differences that matter specifically for US grad admissions, so you can pick the test that plays to your strengths rather than defaulting to whichever one is more famous. For the full four-way comparison including PTE and Duolingo, see our IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE vs Duolingo guide.
Why This Decision Is Different for US Grad School
Unlike the UK or Australia, the US visa process (F-1) doesn’t require a specific language test for the visa itself — English proficiency is assessed entirely by the university as part of admissions. That means, for US-bound applicants, the TOEFL-vs-IELTS decision is a pure admissions and personal-fit question, not a visa compliance question. Both TOEFL iBT and IELTS are accepted by the overwhelming majority of US graduate schools, including virtually all major research universities.
TOEFL’s Historical Edge in US Admissions
TOEFL was designed by ETS, a US-based organization, specifically to measure readiness for North American academic English — lecture-style listening passages, academic reading, and integrated tasks that mirror what a first-year graduate student actually does. Because of this history, TOEFL scores are extremely familiar to US admissions committees, and many faculty reviewers have an intuitive sense of what a given score means. If your target programs are traditional, research-heavy US departments, TOEFL remains a very safe, well-understood choice.
IELTS’s Growing Position in the US
IELTS acceptance among US graduate schools has expanded significantly over the past decade, and it’s now accepted at the vast majority of accredited institutions, including nearly all Ivy League and top-50 research universities. Where IELTS tends to have a real edge is the speaking section: it’s a live conversation with a trained examiner rather than a recorded response, which some candidates find easier to perform well in, especially if they’re naturally more comfortable talking to a person than a microphone.
Format Differences That Matter for Grad Applicants
| TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic | |
|---|---|---|
| Reading/Listening style | Dense academic passages and lectures, closer to real coursework | Mix of academic and general-interest passages, slightly more varied tone |
| Speaking | Recorded responses to prompts, no live interaction | Live conversation with an examiner, face-to-face or video |
| Writing | Integrated task (read/listen then write) plus an academic discussion response | A data/graph description task plus an opinion essay |
| Total time | ~2 hours (shortened format) | ~2 hours 45 minutes |
Typical Score Requirements for US Graduate Programs
As a general planning baseline: mainstream US master’s programs typically ask for TOEFL iBT 80–90 or IELTS 6.5 overall, while competitive programs and top-ranked departments frequently expect TOEFL 100–110 or IELTS 7.0–7.5. PhD programs with a teaching-assistant requirement sometimes set a separate, higher Speaking sub-score, since you’ll need to be clearly understood leading undergraduate discussion sections. For a full breakdown of how these numbers convert between tests, see the equivalency table in our main comparison guide, and check exact per-section requirements in our IELTS Band Score Requirements by University article.
Practical Factors Beyond the Score
- Test center availability: in some countries, one test has far more test dates and locations than the other — check availability near you before committing.
- Retake speed: if your application deadline is close, compare current turnaround times for both tests in your country, since this can shift.
- Familiarity with format: if you’ve prepped extensively for one test already (school coursework, coaching center, past attempt), that experience is often worth more than a marginal difference in “which test is more accepted.”
- Department-specific preference: a small number of departments state an explicit preference in their own admissions FAQ — always check the specific program page rather than the university-wide policy.
Some US programs also accept the Duolingo English Test, particularly for master’s admissions with rolling or fast-turnaround deadlines. If speed and cost matter more to you than the traditional-test familiarity of TOEFL or IELTS, check whether your specific program is on Duolingo’s accepted list — see our Duolingo English Test prep guide for details.
FAQ
Do US graduate schools prefer TOEFL over IELTS?
Not generally anymore. Most US graduate programs accept both on equal footing. TOEFL retains a slight edge in name recognition among older faculty and some STEM departments, but this gap has narrowed substantially.
Is IELTS or TOEFL easier for graduate school applicants?
Neither is inherently easier. Candidates who prefer a live speaking interview and slightly more general-interest reading content often do better on IELTS; candidates comfortable with dense academic lecture content and recorded responses often do better on TOEFL.
Can I submit both TOEFL and IELTS scores to the same application?
Most programs only require one, and submitting both isn’t necessary or typically advantageous. Choose the test that better reflects your strengths and submit your best single result.
Related Reading
- IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE vs Duolingo: Which to Take and What Score You Need
- IELTS Band Score Requirements by University
- Duolingo English Test: Full Prep Guide and Sample Questions
Olami is the founder and lead writer at AbroadPilot. He started the site after going through the visa process himself — a German student visa in 2019 and a Canadian work permit in 2023 — and learning first-hand how confusing official immigration language can be, how often rules change, and how easy it is to lose money to bad advice. He spent three years as an international education and travel consultant, helping people source and verify the information that landed their visas and planned their trips. Every guide on AbroadPilot is built from official sources — embassy pages, government immigration portals, and .gov fee schedules — and reviewed as requirements change. AbroadPilot does not sell visas or applications; it is a free resource to help readers apply with confidence.
