best English test for Fulbright scholarship

You’ve got the grades. You’ve got the ambition. Now two acronyms stand between you and your American dream — and you can’t afford to pick wrong.

Every year, thousands of international students lose time, money, and precious scholarship opportunities simply because they chose the wrong English proficiency test. This guide fixes that.

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Introduction: The Decision That Could Make or Break Your Scholarship

Picture this. You’ve spent months polishing your personal statement. Your letters of recommendation are glowing. Your GPA is competitive. And then you freeze at the very first step — do I take TOEFL or IELTS?

It seems like a small question. But in the scholarship game, the “small” decisions often carry the most weight. Some programs explicitly prefer one test over the other. Some scholarship committees have spent decades reading TOEFL scores and feel instinctively more comfortable interpreting them. And some scholarship portals — like certain Fulbright country-specific programs — won’t even accept IELTS results.

This is the guide you wish existed when you first Googled this question. We’ve researched official university requirements, dug into the latest 2026 test updates, mapped out real scholarship score thresholds, and built a head-to-head comparison you can actually use.

By the time you finish reading, you’ll know exactly which test to take, why, and how to approach it for the highest possible score — and the best shot at that funding.

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1. TOEFL vs IELTS Explained: What Are These Tests and Why Do US Scholarships Care?

Before we dive into strategy, let’s cover the basics — because this matters more than most students realize.

TOEFL, which stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and checks how well you can read, write, speak, and understand English in an academic environment. The test is scored out of 120, with each of the four sections carrying a maximum of 30 points. University Living

IELTS, on the other hand, stands for International English Language Testing System, jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment. It evaluates the same four language skills — listening, reading, writing, and speaking — and rates performance on a band scale from 1 to 9. IELTS scores are valid for 2 years, identical to TOEFL. University Living

Why do US scholarships care so deeply about these scores? Because they’re the most standardized, globally trusted tools admissions committees have for comparing applicants from 160+ countries. A student from Nigeria, Vietnam, and Germany can all submit a TOEFL 105 — and the scholarship committee knows exactly what that means.

Your test score doesn’t just prove you can speak English. It signals that you’re ready to survive — and thrive — in a demanding American academic environment without needing extra language support. That matters enormously when funding is on the table.

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2. The 2026 TOEFL Overhaul: What Every US Scholarship Applicant Must Know Right Now

Here’s what most comparison articles won’t tell you: the TOEFL you’ve been reading about on older websites doesn’t exist anymore.

As part of a major update effective January 21, 2026, ETS introduced a new 1–6 banded score scale to replace the old 0–120 total score. The new system better aligns TOEFL with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), making scores easier for institutions to interpret globally and compare alongside tests like IELTS. The WorldGrad

The 2026 TOEFL iBT now uses a shorter, fully adaptive format running approximately 90 minutes, with the Reading and Listening sections adjusting question difficulty in real-time based on your performance. All four old Speaking tasks have been replaced with two new formats: Listen and Repeat, and Take an Interview — both emphasizing spontaneous, real-time verbal communication. Amerigo Education

Score delivery has also been dramatically accelerated. Results are now available within 72 hours, compared to the previous 4–8 day wait — a critical advantage for applicants racing against scholarship deadlines. The WorldGrad 

What does this mean for your scholarship strategy?

• Dual scoring transition: For any test taken after January 21, 2026, your score report includes your CEFR level, your new 1–6 band scores, and a comparable score on the traditional 0–120 scale — giving institutions ample time to adjust their requirements. Upgrad
• New benchmarks: Under the new scale, a score of 5.0 or above is generally competitive for top-tier graduate programs, while 4.5 is solid for most undergraduate and graduate applications. GETGIS
• MyBest Scores: The updated TOEFL lets you submit a composite of your best section scores from the past two years — meaning one bad test day won’t necessarily derail your application.

If you’re preparing with materials from 2024 or earlier, stop and update your prep resources. The test has changed significantly.

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3. TOEFL vs IELTS Format: The Side-by-Side Breakdown That Actually Helps

Format is everything. The test that fits your natural strengths is the test you’ll score highest on — and that score is your scholarship currency.

TOEFL is more structured and predictable, while IELTS requires adaptability to different question formats and live speaking interactions. TOEFL listening tasks primarily feature American accents and focus on note-taking and comprehension of lectures or conversations, while IELTS listening includes a mix of accents, emphasizing understanding context, tone, and implied meaning. LeapScholar

TOEFL speaking is recorded and evaluated via computer or AI, reducing pressure for students uncomfortable with direct interaction. IELTS, however, features a face-to-face speaking interview with a human examiner — which many students find more natural and conversational. LeapScholar

Here’s the full picture in one place:

One significant practical difference: TOEFL’s adaptive testing format — where the difficulty of the Reading and Listening sections shifts based on your real-time performance — can feel disorienting if you’re not prepared for it. Magoosh Prepare with adaptive practice tools from the official ETS portal, not older linear practice tests.

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4. Which Test Do US Universities Actually Prefer for Scholarship Applications?

Let’s address the elephant in the room: does your test choice actually affect your scholarship odds?

The TOEFL iBT remains the gold standard for American admissions, with 9 out of 10 US universities preferring it over other English-language tests, and it being accepted by 100% of US institutions. Yocket That’s not marketing copy — that’s a statistical reality with real implications for scholarship applicants.

Although more and more American schools now accept IELTS as proof of English proficiency, TOEFL remains the primary proof of proficiency in the US. If you’re considering IELTS instead, always make sure your target universities explicitly accept it before registering. Scholars Avenue

That said, IELTS has been closing the gap rapidly. It’s now accepted by thousands of US institutions, including every Ivy League university. For purely practical purposes — getting through the application door — both tests work at most schools. The real nuance shows up when you zoom in on specific scholarship programs.

Where TOEFL holds a clear advantage:

• Fulbright programs in some countries specifically require TOEFL (not IELTS)
• TOEFL-linked scholarships such as the Tata Scholarship for Cornell are exclusively tied to TOEFL performance
• US admissions officers have decades of experience interpreting TOEFL scores, which can create unconscious familiarity bias in competitive scholarship reviews

Where IELTS holds its own:

• Wider global acceptance if you’re hedging between US, UK, Canadian, or Australian universities
• The One Skill Retake option (retaking just one section) can be more cost-effective
• Some scholarship programs in certain regions or fields explicitly prefer IELTS

The safe play — if your target list is 80% or more US schools — is TOEFL.

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5. Real Scholarship Score Requirements: The Numbers That Actually Matter

Let’s talk specifics, because scholarship applications live and die on exact thresholds.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program — the most prestigious US scholarship available to international students, awarding roughly 4,000 grants annually — accepts both tests with clearly defined minimums.

To pass the initial technical evaluation of the Fulbright process, applicants must be fluent in English as demonstrated by a recommended recent score of no less than 79–80 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 6.5 overall on IELTS. LeapScholar

Note the word recommended minimum. In practice, competitive Fulbright applicants score significantly higher — typically TOEFL 100+ or IELTS 7.0+. Think of the minimums as the floor, not the ceiling.

Here’s an expanded breakdown of score requirements across major US institutions and scholarships:

TOEFL vs IELTS Score Requirements: Top US Universities & Scholarships (2026)

Sources: Official university admissions pages, Fulbright Foreign Student Program, ETS TOEFL score users database, LeapScholar 2026 data

A critical detail many students miss: some schools like the University of Michigan require specific sectional scores — for example, 23 or above in Listening and Reading — rather than just focusing on your overall total. Yocket A student who scores 100 overall but only 18 in the Speaking section may still be rejected at some programs. Always read the fine print.

The “safety buffer” rule: Always aim for 5–10 points above the stated minimum on TOEFL, or 0.5–1.0 bands above the IELTS minimum. In competitive scholarship cycles, minimums are just the entry ticket — a score above the threshold is the actual competitive weapon.

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6. The Fulbright Factor: How the World’s Biggest US Scholarship Handles TOEFL vs IELTS

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program deserves its own section because it’s where most ambitious international students set their sights — and because its approach to TOEFL vs IELTS varies more than most people realize.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program awards approximately 4,000 grants annually to foreign students to pursue Master’s or Doctorate degrees and conduct research across US campuses. Applicants must demonstrate English fluency with a recommended recent score of no less than 79–80 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT), or 6.5 on IELTS, with scores submitted to IIE using institutional code 2326. LeapScholar

Here’s the catch that trips people up: Fulbright requirements aren’t globally uniform. They vary by country.

Some country-specific Fulbright programs — such as the Netherlands Campus Scholarship Program — do not accept IELTS at all. Candidates for these programs must submit TOEFL scores exclusively. Scholars Avenue

In other country programs, both TOEFL and IELTS are explicitly required in the application package. Candidates are advised to check their country’s specific Fulbright program page carefully, since requirements for test scores differ from country to country. University Living

Key takeaways for Fulbright applicants:

• Always visit your specific country’s Fulbright Commission or US Embassy page — not the global Fulbright homepage — to verify current test requirements
• In some programs like Kazakhstan, nominated candidates receive a free TOEFL voucher, effectively incentivizing TOEFL over IELTS even in countries where both are accepted Shiksha
• Competitive Fulbright applicants consistently report scores well above the stated minimums — a TOEFL 100+ or IELTS 7.5 is far more typical among accepted candidates than the minimum threshold

The Fulbright application also weighs your essays, recommendations, GPA, and research proposal heavily. But a score below the threshold can get your application dismissed before human eyes ever see it. Don’t let an avoidable language score be the reason a committee never reads your story.

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7. TOEFL vs IELTS Score Equivalency: How to Compare Your Results Across Both Tests

One of the most confusing parts of this debate is that TOEFL and IELTS use completely different scoring scales. How do you know if TOEFL 95 is “better” or “worse” than IELTS 7.0 in the eyes of a scholarship committee?

In general, a TOEFL score of 100 roughly equals an IELTS band of 7.0, while TOEFL 80 is similar to IELTS 6.5. Nomad Credit But the equivalency gets more nuanced when you factor in the new 2026 TOEFL band scale.

Under the new 2026 scoring system, a score of 5.0 on the TOEFL 1–6 scale is equivalent to approximately 95 and above on the old 0–120 scale. This means that if a university previously required a TOEFL 100, setting a threshold of 5.5 on the new scale is roughly comparable — though ETS cautions institutions to consider the exact conversion ranges carefully. Manhattan Review

Here’s a simplified crosswalk for scholarship applicants:

Note: Conversions are approximate. The new TOEFL 1–6 scale was introduced January 21, 2026. During the 2026–2028 transition, both scores appear on official reports.

The practical implication: if a scholarship requires TOEFL 100 and you’re debating whether to take TOEFL or IELTS, you need at least an IELTS 7.0 to be in competitive equivalent territory. And since most US universities have more experience interpreting TOEFL scores at that upper range, the margin for misinterpretation is smaller with TOEFL.

This matters most when your score sits just above a scholarship threshold. A TOEFL 101 is unambiguously above a TOEFL 100 requirement. An IELTS 7.0 near a TOEFL 100 equivalency might prompt a committee to double-check conversion charts — an extra step you’d rather they not have to take.

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8. The “Which Is Easier” Question: An Honest Answer for Scholarship Strategists

Every student asks this. Nobody wants to admit they’re asking because it feels like gaming the system. But here’s the honest truth: choosing the test you’ll score highest on isn’t cheating — it’s strategy. And it’s exactly what the world’s most successful scholarship applicants do.

Neither test is universally harder. They present different challenges, and the one that feels harder depends entirely on your personal strengths and preferences. The TOEFL’s adaptive testing, computer-recorded speaking, shorter time frame, and new 2026 task types can feel disorienting if you’re not prepared for them. IELTS, by contrast, features a live speaking interview and varied question formats that may feel more natural for conversational learners. Magoosh

The reading section in IELTS is generally considered more accessible than TOEFL’s, and the IELTS essay requires 250 words compared to TOEFL’s 300-word requirement, which can reduce writing pressure. Maxxcelloverseas

Here’s a practical self-assessment you can do right now:

You should probably take TOEFL if:

• You prefer multiple-choice questions to open-ended writing tasks
• You type faster than you write by hand
• You’re more comfortable with American English accents
• Your target school list is predominantly US-based
• You want the test most familiar to US scholarship committees
• You need results in 72 hours for an urgent deadline

You should probably take IELTS if:

• You communicate better in live, human conversation
• You find speaking to a microphone unnatural or anxiety-inducing
• You want the flexibility to retake just one section if you score poorly in a single area
• Your backup options include UK, Canadian, or Australian universities
• You score demonstrably higher on IELTS practice tests

The most honest advice: Take a full-length, timed practice test for both — under real conditions, no pauses, no bathroom breaks, no “I’ll just check that quickly.” Your gut feeling after each test is often the most reliable data point you’ll find. Many students discover that their practice scores differ by the equivalent of a full IELTS band between the two tests. That gap is your answer.

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9. TOEFL vs IELTS Availability, Cost, and Score Delivery: Practical Logistics for Deadline-Driven Applicants

Scholarship applications run on tight timelines. Your test choice needs to account for logistics — not just your linguistic strengths.

Score Delivery Speed:

As of January 2026, TOEFL delivers official scores within 3 days of your test date, with PDF score reports downloadable one day after you receive your electronic scores. Paper score reports, if requested, arrive 11–15 days after score confirmation via postal mail. Galvanize Test Prep

IELTS computer-delivered tests typically return scores in 3–5 days. Paper-based IELTS can take up to 13 days — a potentially significant factor for late applicants.

Test Availability:

The TOEFL iBT is accepted by over 13,000 institutions in more than 160 countries, and the TOEFL Home Edition offers a fully proctored at-home option — a lifesaver for students in regions where test centers are scarce or fully booked. Galvanize Test Prep

IELTS is offered up to 48 times per year in most markets. For students in heavily populated scholarship-application seasons (typically August–October for most US deadlines), both test calendars can fill quickly. Register early — at least 6–8 weeks before your application deadline.

Score Sending Costs:

• Your TOEFL test fee includes up to four free official score reports sent to institutions. Score recipients can be designated until 10 p.m. on the day of your test. Reports sent after this deadline cost an additional fee per recipient, delivered electronically in 1–8 business days or by postal mail in 10–12 business days. Galvanize Test Prep
• IELTS includes no free score reports in the base fee, but does allow score sending to 5 institutions after results are released.

Cost Comparison:

• TOEFL iBT: Approximately $180–$300 USD depending on country
• IELTS Academic: Approximately $150–$260 USD depending on test center location

The cost difference is small enough that it shouldn’t drive your decision. What matters far more is the value of scoring 5+ points higher (or 0.5 bands higher) on whichever test suits you better.

One smart tactic: For scholarship-intensive applications targeting 5+ schools, designate your four free TOEFL score sends strategically during registration. Sending scores to top-priority schools for free — and paying only for lower-priority institutions — can meaningfully reduce your total application cost.

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10. TOEFL-Linked vs IELTS-Linked Scholarships: Follow the Money Trail

Not all scholarships are test-neutral. Some programs have baked-in preferences or explicit requirements that make your test choice financially significant.

Scholarships that lean TOEFL:

The Tata Scholarship for Cornell University provides full tuition support for Indian undergraduates and requires a TOEFL score of 100 or above — IELTS is not listed as an alternative for this award. Yocket

Some Fulbright country programs, as noted earlier, exclusively accept TOEFL. The ETS TOEFL score users database is the most authoritative and current resource for confirming which specific scholarship programs and institutions recognize TOEFL scores before you register.

Scholarships that accept IELTS (and sometimes prefer it):

IELTS has its own scholarship ecosystem worth knowing:

• The IDP IELTS Prize rewards high-scoring candidates with meaningful funding, typically requiring band scores of 7.5 or above across all components
• The IELTS USA Andrea Scott Scholarship supports test-takers pursuing US education
• Many Commonwealth-linked scholarships include IELTS scores in their requirements, making IELTS the natural choice for students applying to both US and UK programs simultaneously

The dual-application strategy:

If your scholarship list spans both the US and other English-speaking countries — UK, Canada, Australia — taking both tests has genuine merit. Yes, it costs more. But an IELTS score that opens doors in London and Toronto while your TOEFL score unlocks doors in Boston is a meaningful portfolio hedge when your scholarship search is international in scope.

For comprehensive up-to-date guidance on preparing for the TOEFL, including the new 2026 format, the official ETS TOEFL preparation resources remain the most authoritative and proven preparation hub available — no third-party material will be more accurately aligned with the actual test.

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11. Common Mistakes Scholarship Applicants Make With TOEFL vs IELTS

Let’s close the strategic section with a quick damage-prevention checklist. These are the errors that cost real students real scholarships every year.

Mistake 1: Preparing with outdated materials

The updated TOEFL format — with adaptive Reading and Listening, new Speaking and Writing tasks, and a revised 1–6 scoring scale — rolled out on January 21, 2026. Students preparing with pre-2026 materials are practicing for a test that no longer exists. Great Learning Use current ETS resources.

Mistake 2: Checking only the overall score requirement

Sectional minimums are just as important as overall totals. A student who hits TOEFL 100 overall but scores 17 in Speaking may fail to meet the threshold at programs requiring 23+ in each section. Always check each section’s requirement separately.

Mistake 3: Assuming IELTS and TOEFL are interchangeable everywhere

Some Fulbright programs, institutional scholarship funds, and professional licensing bodies accept only TOEFL — not IELTS. Before registering for any test, verify your target programs’ exact requirements. Scholars Avenue A phone call or email to the admissions office takes 10 minutes. A test retake costs hundreds of dollars.

Mistake 4: Underestimating the score buffer needed

Minimum scores are exactly that — minimums. In scholarship cycles where 500 qualified applicants compete for 20 seats, the student who scores 15 points above the minimum is not in the same pool as the student who barely cleared it. Aim high.

Mistake 5: Taking the test without adaptive practice

The new adaptive TOEFL Reading and Listening sections adjust question difficulty in real-time based on your answers, which can feel destabilizing if you’re expecting a linear experience. Practicing with adaptive mock tests before exam day is essential for the 2026 format. Magoosh

Mistake 6: Ignoring IELTS One Skill Retake for cost efficiency

If you’ve already taken IELTS and one section dragged down your overall band score, the One Skill Retake option lets you retest just that section without sitting through the full exam again. This can save significant time and money on the path to a scholarship-qualifying score.

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12. The Final Verdict: TOEFL or IELTS for Your US University Scholarship?

After all of this, here is the clearest, most honest answer I can give you.

Take TOEFL if:

• Your scholarship and university list is primarily or exclusively US-focused
• Your target programs include TOEFL-exclusive awards (Tata-Cornell, certain Fulbright programs)
• You’re comfortable with computer-based testing and American academic English
• You want the test that 9 out of 10 US universities know best — and that scholarship committees have spent decades reading

Take IELTS if:

• Your university list spans multiple countries and you need one test to rule them all
• You consistently score higher on IELTS practice tests (this is the simplest tiebreaker)
• You communicate better in live, conversational speaking situations
• You want the One Skill Retake option as a safety net

Take both if:

• Your scholarship list truly spans US and UK/Australia simultaneously
• You have the time and budget (6+ weeks of prep per test, plus registration fees)
• Your target US scholarships require TOEFL while your backup options require IELTS

And for everyone, regardless of which test you choose: always verify requirements directly with the scholarship program and the university department — not just the university homepage. Requirements change. Details matter. The student who reads the fine print is the one who doesn’t get eliminated on a technicality.

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Conclusion: Your Test Score Is a Key — Your Story Is the Door

Here’s the perspective shift that changes everything: TOEFL and IELTS don’t win scholarships. They unlock the door to the room where scholarships are won.

What wins scholarships is the arc of your life’s work — the research you’ve done, the communities you’ve served, the problem you’ve committed to solving, and the clarity with which you can communicate why an American university education is the next necessary chapter of that story.

But you can’t share that story if a below-threshold test score gets your application flagged and removed before a single committee member reads it.

So take the test seriously. Choose strategically. Prepare rigorously. Aim not for the minimum but for a score that makes your application impossible to overlook. Give yourself 8–12 weeks of structured preparation, not 3 weeks of panicked cramming. Use official materials. Take full-length practice tests under real conditions.

And then go write that scholarship essay with every bit of confidence you’ve earned.

You’ve come this far. The rest is just preparation.

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📢 Your Next Move

Found this guide valuable? Share it with a friend who’s navigating the same decision — one share could genuinely redirect someone’s scholarship journey.

Drop a comment below — which test are you planning to take? Which scholarship are you targeting? Let’s talk strategy in the comments. Real questions get real answers.

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Last updated: March 2026. Test formats, score scales, and scholarship requirements change regularly. Always verify current requirements directly with ETS, IELTS, and your target scholarship programs before registering.