Quick summary
- TOEFL: geared toward higher education, scored out of 120, accepted by over 11,500 universities and institutions worldwide
- TOEIC: geared toward the professional world, scored out of 990 (Listening & Reading) or in a 4-skills version
- Duration: around 2 hours for TOEFL iBT, between 2 hours and 2h22 for TOEIC depending on the version
- Validity: 2 years for both certifications
- Indicative fee: around $235 for TOEFL iBT, $131 for TOEIC Listening & Reading, $216 for TOEIC 4 skills
TOEFL and TOEIC are both developed by ETS Global and measure the same starting point, English proficiency among non-native speakers, but they don’t target the same audience or the same goals. Confusing the two remains a common mistake among candidates who discover too late that a university requires one while an employer expects the other.
The choice between the two depends almost entirely on the goal: studying abroad on one hand, career advancement or an international job application on the other. This comparison covers format, scores, fees, and offers a clear guide based on each situation.
The fundamental difference: academic versus professional
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) measures the ability to follow university courses taught in English. Its vocabulary and materials draw heavily on academic life: lecture excerpts, scientific articles, discussions between students on campus. Nearly all English-speaking universities in the US, Canada, or UK require it for admission.
TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) instead measures the ability to operate in an English-speaking professional setting: meetings, emails, phone calls, business documents. It remains the certification most requested by recruiters and French business schools, which often include it in their graduation requirements.
Format and structure of each exam
TOEFL iBT lasts about 2 hours and breaks down into four parts: 35 minutes of reading, 36 minutes of listening, 16 minutes of speaking, and 29 minutes of writing. All four skills are systematically assessed, with no option to take just part of it.
TOEIC comes in two distinct versions. TOEIC Listening and Reading, the most common, lasts about 2 hours and covers 100 listening questions and 100 reading questions, with no speaking or writing component. TOEIC 4 skills, more complete, lasts 2h22 and adds speaking (5 tasks in 20 minutes) and writing (3 tasks in 60 minutes) to the first two skills. TOEFL is generally seen as more intense, with varied tasks in tight timeframes, while TOEIC follows a more linear, repetitive structure from one exercise to the next.
The lesser-known variants
Beyond the main versions, each test offers a variant suited to specific needs. TOEIC Bridge targets beginner to intermediate levels, A1 to B1, and is mainly used to track progress rather than validate the confirmed level employers look for. TOEFL, meanwhile, comes in an ITP (Institutional Testing Program) version, a paper format reserved for schools and universities: individual candidates can’t choose this version and will necessarily take the computer-based TOEFL iBT, unless their institution runs its own ITP session internally.
Scores and CEFR equivalences
TOEFL iBT is scored out of a maximum 120 points, while TOEIC Listening and Reading and TOEIC 4 skills are both scored out of a maximum 990 points. These two scales have no direct relationship and each converts separately to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), from A1 to C1, which allows comparing a result from either test on a common basis, for example on a resume.
Benchmarks vary noticeably by pathway. For admission to top European business schools that require the TOEIC, admitted candidates’ average score generally sits between 930 and 950, with a score below 850 significantly hurting admission chances. For a master’s degree at an American university, TOEFL iBT is generally expected between 90 and 100 out of 120, with TOEIC not recognised in this specific context.
Fees and validity
TOEFL iBT costs around $235 for an independent candidate. TOEIC Listening and Reading, cheaper, costs around $131, while the more complete 4 skills version comes to around $216. These fees vary slightly by test centre and time of year. Both certifications remain valid for 2 years from the test date, based on the idea that language proficiency evolves over time and that a score from several years ago no longer necessarily reflects a candidate’s current level.
Where to take the test
Both certifications are taken at test centres accredited by ETS Global, found in most major cities. TOEFL iBT additionally offers an at-home option under online supervision, a convenient choice for candidates far from a test centre or working with a tight schedule.
Which test to choose based on your goal
For applying to a university abroad or an international exchange programme, TOEFL remains the standard expected by nearly all English-speaking institutions. To boost a profile with a recruiter, join an international company, or meet a graduation requirement at a European business school, TOEIC remains the most widely recognised choice. Some top schools accept either certification, which makes it worth checking the exact requirements of the target institution or employer before signing up for either test. For simply gauging one’s personal English level, with no institutional requirement, both certifications work equally well, with the choice then coming down to which exam format feels more comfortable.
Frequently asked questions
TOEIC Listening and Reading is often seen as more accessible than TOEFL, since it doesn’t test speaking or writing, unlike TOEFL, which systematically assesses all four skills on more academic material. Neither test has a strict pass or fail concept: every candidate simply gets a score, to be used according to the requirements of the institution or employer in question, and either test can be retaken as many times as needed, subject to a minimum three-day gap between two TOEFL sessions. For applications through European university admissions systems and top European business schools, TOEIC remains the most commonly accepted, but some institutions explicitly prefer TOEFL: checking directly with the target school remains the only reliable way to know for sure.
