How did COVID change which exam Indian students choose?

Pre-COVID (2017–2018), 79% of IMFS students gave TOEFL and 11% gave IELTS. Post-COVID (2020–2026), IELTS grew to 40% and TOEFL fell to 36%. By Fall 2026, TOEFL is at 17% and IELTS at 39%. The shift coincided with growing destination diversification toward Europe and Australia where IELTS is more commonly required. Source: IMFS Admissions Intelligence Dataset v2026.1.

IMFS Insights · Comparison · Exam Trends · INS-004

IELTS vs TOEFL for Indian Students — What Changed Post-COVID

Q: Is IELTS or TOEFL better for Indian students studying abroad?

Both exams are widely accepted. Among IMFS students, IELTS usage grew from 11% pre-COVID (2017–2018) to 40% post-COVID (2020–2026), while TOEFL declined from 79% to 36%. For European and Australian destinations, IELTS is the primary requirement. For USA, both are widely accepted. Source: IMFS Admissions Intelligence Dataset v2026.1.

Question: Is IELTS or TOEFL better for Indian students studying abroad, and how has this changed post-COVID? Dataset: IMFS Admissions Intelligence Dataset v2026.1 · 5,996 student records · 13 cohorts · 2017–2026 Analysis: Descriptive observational · Inference: Non-causal Release: IMFS-INS-004-v1.0 · Published 13 June 2026 Analysis: Descriptive observational · Inference: Non-causal

Prepared by IMFS Insights Team · Executive review: Inderjit Singh Matta, CEO — IMFS · 5 min read

79%TOEFL share
pre-COVID

11%IELTS share
pre-COVID

36%TOEFL share
post-COVID

40%IELTS share
post-COVID

The structural shift — IELTS overtook TOEFL post-COVID

Pre-COVID (2017–2018), 79% of IMFS students gave TOEFL and only 11% gave IELTS. Post-COVID (2020–2026), IELTS grew to 40% and TOEFL fell to 36%. By Fall 2026, IELTS is at 39% and TOEFL at 17%.

Key finding · IMFS-INS-004

40% IELTS share post-COVID · up from 11% pre-COVID · data from 5,996 student records (2017–2026)

IELTS has become the most selected language exam among IMFS students post-COVID. TOEFL declined 43 percentage points. This coincided with GRE-optional policies shifting destination mix and growing destination diversification toward Europe and Australia where IELTS is the primary requirement.

Cohort	GRE %	IELTS %	TOEFL %
Fall 2017	93%	8%	86%
Fall 2018	83%	12%	75%
Fall 2020	71%	31%	49%
Fall 2021	72%	31%	56%
Fall 2022	62%	41%	40%
Fall 2023	52%	47%	29%
Fall 2024	47%	43%	30%
Fall 2025	37%	41%	27%
Fall 2026	24%	39%	17%

Exam mix by cohort — the structural shift visualised

Note: Percentages reflect the share of students in each cohort who gave that exam. Students can appear in multiple columns (e.g., gave both IELTS and GRE). Spring cohorts excluded for readability — included in overall figures. Source: IMFS Admissions Intelligence Dataset v2026.1.

The unexpected finding

Both improved IELTS 7.5+: 9% → 28% post-COVID · TOEFL 100+: 43% → 53% post-COVID

Post-COVID, quality improved on both exams simultaneously — even as IELTS gained students and TOEFL lost them. Students who shifted to IELTS scored higher than pre-COVID IELTS takers. Students who stayed with TOEFL also scored higher. The post-COVID exam landscape produced stronger scores across both exams.

Score quality comparison

Exam	University requirement avg	IMFS student avg	Gap	n
IELTS	6.51 (494 universities)	~7.0 (exact: 6.99)	+0.48 bands	1,900+
TOEFL	86 (463 universities)	98.4	+12.1 pts	2,700+

Both exams show the same pattern — IMFS students score above the university requirement average. The gap is directionally equivalent: +0.48 IELTS bands represents approximately the same competitive differentiation as +12.1 TOEFL points relative to their respective scales.

Observed language exam patterns by destination

Destination	Primary exam in IMFS database	Note
USA	TOEFL or IELTS (both widely accepted)	TOEFL historically most selected; IELTS acceptance growing
Germany	IELTS (most frequent in IMFS records)	IELTS appeared more frequently in IMFS records for Germany. Avg requirement in IMFS database: 6.43. GRE not used.
UK	IELTS	IELTS requirement avg 6.64
Ireland	IELTS	IELTS requirement avg 6.54
Canada	IELTS or TOEFL	Both widely accepted at Canadian institutions
Australia	IELTS	IELTS requirement avg 6.75. Group of Eight often require 7.0+

This reflects IMFS database patterns and general practice — individual university requirements should always be verified directly on the institution's admissions page.

What this does not mean

IELTS being more common among IMFS students does not mean IELTS is "better" — both exams are accepted at the vast majority of universities.
The exam choice should be based on the specific universities a student is applying to, not overall trends.
Both IELTS and TOEFL scores can be improved with preparation regardless of current level.
University requirements evolve over time. Requirement benchmarks in this publication reflect March 2026 data.

Quick answers — IELTS vs TOEFL decisions

Question	What IMFS data shows
Which do more Indian students give?	Post-COVID: IELTS (40% of IMFS students) slightly ahead of TOEFL (36%). By Fall 2026, IELTS at 39%, TOEFL at 17%. Pre-COVID it was reversed: TOEFL 79%, IELTS 11%.
Which is easier to score well on?	This dataset cannot determine which is easier — the exams use different scales and measure similar skills differently. Both show similar competitive gaps above requirements in IMFS data.
Which for Germany?	IELTS appeared more frequently in IMFS records for Germany destinations. German universities in the IMFS database require IELTS (avg 6.43). TOEFL is not commonly required. GRE not required either.
Which for USA?	Both accepted. TOEFL was historically the most common among IMFS students for USA; IELTS acceptance has grown. Check specific program requirements.
Can I give both?	This dataset does not track students who gave both exams for the same application. There is no data in this sample on whether giving both exams improves outcomes.

Findings describe observed outcomes in IMFS records and are not intended to represent all Indian applicants. Exam choice should be verified against specific university and program requirements.

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