TOEFL vs TOEIC: the difference, and which test you need

1. TOEFL vs TOEIC at a glance

The short version: TOEFL is for study, TOEIC is for work. If a university or a visa authority asked for your English score, it almost certainly means the TOEFL iBT or another test it names. If an employer asked, it may well mean TOEIC.

2. What each test is for

TOEFL iBT measures, in ETS's words, "all four academic English skills, reading, listening, speaking and writing, the way they are actually used in a classroom". Its scores are used mainly for university admission, and ETS says universities, scholarship bodies and immigration authorities recognise them.

TOEIC measures workplace English. ETS says its questions reflect the communication tasks people meet in professional settings, such as workplace conversations, announcements, emails and business documents, and that businesses, educational institutions and government agencies use the scores for recruitment, placement and promotion.

ETS also says academic institutions may use TOEIC scores to place students into English courses or to meet exit requirements. That is different from admission, which is what the TOEFL iBT is built for.

3. How the tests are built

TOEFL iBT has four sections, Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, in one sitting of about two hours. Since 21 January 2026 Reading and Listening adapt to how you are doing. Every task is listed in our TOEFL exam pattern guide.

TOEIC Listening and Reading is a multiple-choice test of 200 questions, taken in about 2.5 hours including pre-test questions:

TOEIC Speaking and Writing are separate tests. ETS describes the tasks as reading aloud, responding to questions and expressing opinions for Speaking, and sentence writing, email responses and opinion essays for Writing. An organisation may ask for Listening and Reading only, or for all four skills.

4. How the scores work, and why there is no conversion

• TOEFL iBT: four section scores and an overall score from 1 to 6 in half bands. The report also shows a comparable 0 to 120 total for institutions that still use the older scale. Our TOEFL score calculator shows how the two scales and the CEFR levels line up.
• TOEIC Listening and Reading: 5 to 495 for each section, added together for a total from 10 to 990. ETS says scores come from the number of correct answers, converted to a scaled score.
• TOEIC Speaking and Writing: 0 to 200 for each test, with a proficiency level, rated by certified ETS raters.

We found no TOEIC-to-TOEFL conversion table published by ETS, and a number on one scale does not translate into the other. ETS aligns each test to the CEFR separately. If you are asked for a TOEFL score, a TOEIC score will not stand in for it unless the organisation says so.

5. Validity and score reports

TOEFL iBT scores are valid for 2 years from the test date, reach your ETS account 3 days after the test, and the fee includes up to four free score reports. Details are in our score validity guide.

TOEIC: ETS recommends that organisations treat scores as valid for up to two years, and its Listening and Reading handbook says a score report will not be re-issued once two years have passed. If you take TOEIC at a public session you receive your scores from the local EPN office; if an employer or school arranged the session, results go to that organisation.

6. How you book each test

TOEFL iBT: through your ETS account, at a test centre or as the Home Edition. The fee depends on where you test, from US$164 in India to US$475; every charge is in our TOEFL fees guide.

TOEIC: through your country's ETS Preferred Network (EPN) office or a centre it authorises. ETS says online formats are available but that availability varies by region, and it advises registering only through an official EPN provider so that your scores are recognised.

7. Which one should you take?

• Applying to a university abroad: the TOEFL iBT, or another test the university lists. See the scores universities ask for.
• Applying for a visa: only a test the immigration authority names. For Australia, for example, the TOEFL route has its own rules, set out in our TOEFL iBT Australia guide.
• An employer asked for TOEIC: take TOEIC, and ask which parts they need: Listening and Reading only, or Speaking and Writing too.
• Not sure: ask the organisation which test and which minimum score it accepts before you book either one.

Deciding between TOEFL and other academic tests instead? Compare TOEFL vs IELTS and TOEFL vs Duolingo.

8. Questions people actually ask

What is the difference between TOEFL and TOEIC?

Both are made by ETS, but they measure different English. ETS describes TOEIC as measuring workplace English, the language of meetings, emails and business documents, while the TOEFL iBT measures the academic English used in university classes. The TOEFL iBT tests all four skills in one sitting; the main TOEIC test covers Listening and Reading, with Speaking and Writing in a separate test.

Is TOEIC accepted for university admission?

Check with the university. ETS says academic institutions may use TOEIC scores to place students into English courses or to meet exit requirements, but the test ETS builds for university admission is the TOEFL iBT, and universities usually name the tests they accept on their admissions pages.

Can I convert a TOEIC score to a TOEFL score?

Not officially. We found no TOEIC-to-TOEFL conversion table published by ETS. The two tests measure different English on different scales, and ETS aligns each one to the CEFR separately. If an organisation needs a TOEFL score, take the TOEFL.

Is TOEIC easier than TOEFL?

They are not built to be compared that way. The TOEIC Listening and Reading test is multiple choice and uses workplace situations; the TOEFL iBT includes speaking and writing tasks set in university life. Which feels easier depends on your English and on which of those settings you know better.

How long are TOEIC and TOEFL scores valid?

TOEFL iBT scores are valid for 2 years from the test date. For TOEIC, ETS recommends that organisations treat scores as valid for up to two years, and its handbook says a score report will not be re-issued once two years have passed since the test.

What is a good TOEIC score?

ETS says what counts as a good TOEIC score depends entirely on the level of English needed for a specific job, task or purpose. Employers set their own expectations for each role, so ask the organisation that requested the score.