TOEFL iBT remains one of the most widely accepted English proficiency tests for US university admissions specifically, with a format that rewards a different kind of preparation than IELTS. Here’s what it actually involves.
Figures reflect general ranges based on current published guidance as of August 2026 and vary by region — confirm the exact current fee for your country directly through ETS before booking.
Cost and format
TOEFL iBT typically costs in the range of $185–$250 depending on your country and testing center, and takes roughly 2 hours, covering four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Unlike IELTS’s face-to-face speaking component with a human examiner, TOEFL’s Speaking section is entirely computer-delivered — you speak into a microphone and your responses are recorded for scoring, which some test-takers find less intimidating and others find harder without a real conversational back-and-forth.
Scoring
TOEFL iBT is scored 0–120, combining all four sections. A distinctive feature is MyBest Scores: if you’ve taken the test more than once, ETS can report your best section scores across your different test dates as a single combined “super score,” which some universities accept — worth checking your target program’s specific policy on this, since not all institutions consider MyBest Scores in admissions decisions.
Where it’s most valuable
TOEFL has historically had particularly strong acceptance at US universities, which makes it a reasonable default choice if the US is your primary or sole target destination. It’s also widely accepted across Canada and at many programs in the UK and Australia, though IELTS or Duolingo may have a broader footprint outside the US specifically, depending on your target list.
How TOEFL differs from IELTS in practice
Beyond the computer-based Speaking format, TOEFL’s Reading and Listening passages tend to be more explicitly academic in tone (lecture-style listening passages, academic reading texts) compared to IELTS Academic, which includes more varied text types. Neither is objectively harder — the difference is more about which format matches your own test-taking strengths.
Preparing without overspending
The same core principle from IELTS Preparation on a Budget applies here: use ETS’s own official free and low-cost practice materials first, since they’re built by the organization that writes the actual test, and identify your specific weak section through a diagnostic before spending money on broad, generic prep.
Registering for TOEFL iBT and what to expect on test day
You register for TOEFL iBT directly through your ETS account, choosing between a test center appointment or the at-home version depending on availability in your country. Test centers across most African countries run TOEFL iBT sessions multiple times a month, though popular dates near application deadlines fill up quickly, so book several weeks ahead rather than waiting for the last available slot. The test itself runs a little under two hours, shorter than it used to be after ETS trimmed redundant questions from the reading and listening sections in a recent update. Bring the same identification document you used to register, since a mismatch is one of the most common avoidable reasons applicants get turned away on test day. For the current official fee, test center locator, and registration steps, see ETS’s official TOEFL iBT page directly, since test center availability and pricing shift throughout the year.
Deciding which test is actually right for you
See IELTS vs TOEFL vs Duolingo for the full three-way comparison, and confirm your specific target university’s accepted test list directly — particularly if you’re applying to multiple countries at once, where the “safest” single test can differ from what’s optimal for any one destination alone.