TOEFL vs TOEIC: Which Test Do You Need?
Key Takeaways
- TOEFL and TOEIC are both ETS tests: the TOEFL iBT measures English for university study, and TOEIC measures English for the workplace.
- Universities ask for the TOEFL in admissions; ETS says 13,500+ institutions in 160+ countries recognise it. TOEIC is used mainly by employers, government agencies and training programmes.
- The TOEFL iBT tests Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking in about two hours. TOEIC splits Listening and Reading into one test and Speaking and Writing into separate tests.
- Since 21 January 2026 the TOEFL is scored 1 to 6 per section and overall. TOEIC Listening and Reading runs from 10 to 990, and TOEIC Speaking and Writing are each 0 to 200.
- A TOEIC score does not replace a TOEFL score for study abroad unless the university's own requirement names TOEIC, so take the test your university, employer or agency asks for.
Table of Contents
- What is the difference between TOEFL and TOEIC?
- TOEFL vs TOEIC: how do they compare side by side?
- What is on the TOEFL iBT test?
- What is on the TOEIC tests?
- How are TOEFL and TOEIC scored?
- Who accepts TOEFL and who accepts TOEIC?
- Which test should you take: TOEFL or TOEIC?
- How can you see where you stand on the TOEFL?
TOEFL and TOEIC are both English tests from ETS, but they answer different questions. The TOEFL iBT shows whether your English is ready for university study, and it is the one universities ask for in admissions. TOEIC shows whether your English works in the workplace, and it is mainly used by employers, government agencies and training programmes. If you are applying to study abroad, you almost certainly need the TOEFL.
This guide compares the two tests on purpose, sections, timing, scoring and who accepts each. The details come from ETS’s own TOEFL iBT test content page and its TOEIC Listening and Reading and TOEIC Speaking and Writing pages, checked 31 October 2026.
If you are still choosing between the main study-abroad tests, our TOEFL vs IELTS comparison covers that decision.
What is the difference between TOEFL and TOEIC?
The difference is the setting each test is built for. ETS describes the TOEFL iBT as measuring reading, listening, speaking and writing “the way they are actually used in a classroom”, so the tasks include academic passages, academic talks and an academic discussion. TOEIC, in ETS’s words, measures “English-language skills used in the workplace”: its questions are built around offices, meetings, emails, announcements and other everyday business situations.
There is also a structural difference. The TOEFL iBT is one test that covers all four skills and gives you one overall score. TOEIC is a family of separate tests: the TOEIC Listening and Reading test, and the TOEIC Speaking and Writing tests, which can be taken together or separately. ETS also runs the TOEIC Bridge tests for beginner to intermediate learners.
TOEFL vs TOEIC: how do they compare side by side?
| Feature | TOEFL iBT | TOEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | ETS | ETS |
| Built for | Academic English: university study | Workplace English: jobs and business communication |
| Main users | Universities and colleges (ETS says 13,500+ institutions in 160+ countries) | Employers, government agencies, schools and English training programmes (ETS says 14,000+ organisations in 160+ countries) |
| Skills tested | Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking in one test | Listening and Reading in one test; Speaking and Writing in separate tests |
| Length | About 2 hours | Listening and Reading: about 2.5 hours, including about 30 minutes of background questions. Speaking: about 20 minutes. Writing: about 60 minutes |
| Score scale | 1 to 6 for each section and overall, in half-point steps | Listening and Reading: 5 to 495 per section, 10 to 990 in total. Speaking and Writing: 0 to 200 each |
| Where you take it | A test centre, or at home with the TOEFL iBT Home Edition | Public sessions (booked online in the US and Canada, through ETS’s local office elsewhere), or institutional sessions run by an employer or school |
| How long scores last | Valid for 2 years | Kept on file and reported for 2 years |
Sources: ETS TOEFL home page, understanding TOEFL iBT scores, TOEIC home page, TOEIC registration and the TOEIC Listening and Reading Score User Guide, checked 31 October 2026.
What is on the TOEFL iBT test?
The TOEFL iBT has four sections. ETS changed the format in January 2026, and the current tasks are:
| Section | Tasks | Items | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Complete the Words; Read in Daily Life; Read an Academic Passage | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Listening | Listen and Choose a Response; Listen to a Conversation; Listen to an Announcement; Listen to an Academic Talk | 47 | 29 minutes |
| Writing | Build a Sentence; Write an Email; Write for an Academic Discussion | 12 | 23 minutes |
| Speaking | Listen and Repeat; Take an Interview | 11 | 8 minutes |
Source: ETS, TOEFL iBT test content and structure, checked 31 October 2026. ETS says to allow about two hours in total, that the times exclude directions, and that item counts and timing can vary. There are no scheduled breaks.
Notice that the new TOEFL mixes everyday tasks (an email, a daily-life text, an announcement) with academic ones. Even so, the academic passage, academic talk and academic discussion are what set it apart from TOEIC.
What is on the TOEIC tests?
TOEIC Listening and Reading is a multiple-choice test with two timed sections of 100 questions each:
- Listening (45 minutes, 100 questions): Photographs, Question-Response, Conversations and Talks.
- Reading (75 minutes, 100 questions): Incomplete Sentences, Text Completion and Reading Comprehension.
ETS adds about 30 minutes for biographical questions, so the session takes about 2.5 hours. Source: ETS, about the TOEIC Listening and Reading test, checked 31 October 2026.
TOEIC Speaking and Writing are two separate tests:
- Speaking (11 questions, about 20 minutes): read a text aloud, describe a picture, respond to questions, respond to questions using information provided, and express an opinion.
- Writing (8 questions, about 60 minutes): write five sentences based on pictures, respond to two written requests (emails), and write an opinion essay.
Source: ETS, about the TOEIC Speaking and Writing tests, checked 31 October 2026.
How are TOEFL and TOEIC scored?
TOEFL iBT: since 21 January 2026, each section is scored from 1 to 6 in half-point steps, and the overall score is the average of the four sections rounded to the nearest half band (an average of 5.125 becomes 5). For a two-year transition after January 2026, score reports also show a comparable overall score on the old 0 to 120 scale. Source: ETS, understanding TOEFL iBT scores. To work out an overall score from four section scores, use our TOEFL score calculator.
TOEIC Listening and Reading: your score depends on the number of correct answers, with no penalty for wrong answers. Each section is converted to a scale of 5 to 495, so the total runs from 10 to 990. TOEIC Speaking and Writing are each scored from 0 to 200. Sources: TOEIC Listening and Reading Score User Guide and ETS TOEIC Speaking and Writing page, checked 31 October 2026.
The scales are not interchangeable. A TOEIC Listening and Reading total and a TOEFL overall score measure different things on different scales. ETS aligns both programmes to the CEFR (the Common European Framework of Reference), but a university that sets a TOEFL requirement wants a TOEFL score.
Who accepts TOEFL and who accepts TOEIC?
TOEFL iBT is the admissions test. ETS says it is recognised by 13,500+ institutions across 160+ countries, and you can check a specific university with ETS’s TOEFL destinations search. During the score-scale transition, some universities list requirements on the 0 to 120 scale, some on 1 to 6 and some on both; ETS says this does not change acceptance.
TOEIC is the workplace test. On its score use page, ETS says corporations and government agencies use TOEIC scores for hiring and to check whether employees can do their jobs in English, while universities and schools use them to check proficiency levels, and English training programmes use them for placement and progress. ETS counts 14,000+ organisations in 160+ countries using TOEIC.
Two things follow. First, TOEIC is not a substitute for TOEFL in a study-abroad application unless the university’s own English requirement names TOEIC. Second, how you take TOEIC matters: scores from a public test session are yours to use anywhere, but scores from an institutional session (one run for your employer or school) are released only to that organisation and are not portable, according to ETS’s TOEIC score reports page.
Which test should you take: TOEFL or TOEIC?
| Your situation | Test to take |
|---|---|
| Applying for a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD abroad | TOEFL iBT (or another test the university lists) |
| An employer or job advert asks for an English score | Whatever the employer names; TOEIC is the ETS test built for this |
| Your company is sending you abroad or testing staff | Usually TOEIC, often in an institutional session your employer arranges |
| Your university needs a score for graduation or placement, not admission | Check its rules: some use TOEIC for this |
| You need proof of all four skills for study | TOEFL iBT, which tests all four in one sitting |
The rule that settles almost every case: read the exact wording of the requirement from the university, employer or agency you are applying to, and take the test it names. If you are heading to university and the list includes other tests too, our TOEFL vs Duolingo guide and four-test comparison can help you choose. Remember that TOEFL scores are valid for two years, so time your test with your application deadlines; our post on TOEFL score validity explains how.
How can you see where you stand on the TOEFL?
If the TOEFL is your test, the quickest way to find your starting point is to sit a full practice paper under timed conditions. Take our free TOEFL practice test to get a section-by-section picture of your Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking before you plan your preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between TOEFL and TOEIC?
Purpose. The TOEFL iBT measures the English you need for university study and is used in admissions. TOEIC measures the English you need at work and is used mainly by employers, government agencies and training programmes. Both are made by ETS.
Is TOEIC accepted by universities for admission?
Rarely as a replacement for TOEFL. ETS says universities and schools use TOEIC scores to check proficiency levels, but for study-abroad admissions most universities list the TOEFL iBT and similar academic tests. Use TOEIC only if the university’s own English requirement names it.
Which is harder, TOEFL or TOEIC?
They are not directly comparable. The TOEFL iBT uses academic passages, academic talks and an academic discussion task, while TOEIC uses workplace situations such as meetings, emails and announcements. Choose the test your university or employer asks for rather than the one that seems easier.
How long is the TOEFL compared with TOEIC?
ETS says to allow about two hours for the TOEFL iBT. The TOEIC Listening and Reading test takes about 2.5 hours, including about 30 minutes of background questions. The TOEIC Speaking test takes about 20 minutes and the Writing test about 60 minutes.
What sections are on the TOEFL iBT in 2026?
Reading (50 items, about 30 minutes), Listening (47 items, about 29 minutes), Writing (12 items, about 23 minutes) and Speaking (11 items, about 8 minutes), according to ETS. Item counts and timing can vary.
What sections are on the TOEIC Listening and Reading test?
Two multiple-choice sections of 100 questions each: Listening (45 minutes) with Photographs, Question-Response, Conversations and Talks, and Reading (75 minutes) with Incomplete Sentences, Text Completion and Reading Comprehension.
How is the TOEFL scored?
Since 21 January 2026, each of the four sections is scored from 1 to 6 in half-point steps, and the overall score is the average rounded to the nearest half band. For two years after January 2026, score reports also show a comparable 0 to 120 score.
What is the TOEIC score range?
TOEIC Listening and Reading scores each section from 5 to 495, for a total of 10 to 990. TOEIC Speaking and TOEIC Writing are each scored from 0 to 200.
Can I convert a TOEIC score to a TOEFL score?
No. The two tests measure different kinds of English on different scales. ETS aligns both to the CEFR, but a university that sets a TOEFL requirement expects an official TOEFL score.
How long are TOEFL and TOEIC scores valid?
TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years from the test date. ETS keeps TOEIC Listening and Reading scores on file and reports them for two years from the test date.
Can I take TOEFL or TOEIC at home?
The TOEFL iBT can be taken at a test centre or at home through the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, with a live human proctor. TOEIC public sessions are held at test locations: online registration in the US and Canada, or through ETS’s local office in other countries. Employers and schools can also arrange institutional TOEIC sessions.
Can I use TOEIC scores from my company's test for a new job?
Usually not. ETS says scores from an institutional session, one run for an employer or school, are released only to that organisation and are not portable. Scores from a public session are yours to use anywhere.
