ScoreFluentMET vs TOEFL iBT: what actually changes?
Both are computer-delivered with recorded Speaking. TOEFL iBT is about two hours with adaptive Reading and Listening on a 1–6 scale; MET is a fixed 155-minute form reported 0–80 against the CEFR. Neither publishes a score table for converting to the other.
Two computer-delivered tests, different shapes.
| MET | TOEFL iBT | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 155 minutes | About 2 hours including check-in (ETS) |
| Sections | Writing, Listening, Reading, Speaking | Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking |
| Adaptive? | No: fixed forms | Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive; Writing and Speaking are linear |
| Speaking | Five recorded tasks, certified raters | Recorded, no examiner; AI scoring plus human raters |
| Score scale | 0–80 per section, CEFR A2–C1 | 1–6 from January 2026; legacy 0–120 shown during a two-year transition |
| Results | Typically within five days | 3 days after the test (Paper Edition is slower) |
| Retakes | One section (Writing, Listening or Reading) can be retaken once | No per-section retake; the whole test, not more than once in any 3-day period |
| Validity | Results do not expire; institutions set their own window | Score reports valid for 2 years from the test date |
MET facts are from Michigan’s handbook and curriculum guide. TOEFL facts are from the ETS pages checked on 27 September 2026 and cited in our MET and TOEFL admissions comparison. Both publishers revise their pages, so confirm anything you rely on.
No official table to convert between them.
Michigan’s published concordance is with IELTS Academic, and we found no official MET–TOEFL score table from either publisher. Be cautious of any tool that converts one to the other: it is guessing.
The reliable route is to ask your institution for its requirement in the test you plan to take, then read MET scores through the CEFR cuts: 64–80 is C1, 53–63 is B2, 40–52 is B1 and 27–39 is A2.
How to decide between them.
Acceptance decides first
Neither ETS nor Michigan sets a single acceptance rule; each university or board decides for itself. Confirm that your target accepts the test and the delivery mode before you pay for a booking.
Adaptive or fixed
TOEFL’s adaptive Reading and Listening adjust to how you are doing. MET’s forms are fixed and the same shape every time, which makes the format easier to rehearse in advance.
Retake strategy
If you may fall short in one section, MET’s single section retake lets you redo Writing, Listening or Reading without sitting everything again. Speaking is excluded, and the receiving institution must accept a section retake.
Where you can sit it
MET at-home testing is paused indefinitely after 30 September 2026, so a test-centre booking is the route. Check the current delivery options for each test when you book.
Straight from the test maker.
ScoreFluent is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Michigan Language Assessment. The MET facts here come from Michigan’s documents; TOEFL facts come from ETS pages, summarised in the linked comparison:
- MET Test Taker Handbook, July 2025 (PDF) — format, timings, scale and retake rules.
- Michigan Language Assessment: MET
- ETS: TOEFL iBT test content
- ETS: TOEFL iBT score scale update
Exam details change — the test maker revises its documents during the year. If a decision hangs on a detail here, check it against the official pages above first; they outrank this page.
Keep going: the full format guide, how scoring works, MET scores and CEFR, MET vs IELTS, TOEFL vs MET for US admission, the TOEFL guide.
MET vs TOEFL, answered.
Is MET easier than TOEFL iBT?
Neither publisher offers a comparison that settles it. The tests differ in shape: TOEFL iBT is shorter with adaptive Reading and Listening, while MET is a fixed 155-minute form. Choose on acceptance and on which format suits you.
Is there an official MET to TOEFL score conversion?
We found none. Michigan’s published concordance is with IELTS Academic. Ask your institution for its requirement in the test you plan to take, and treat any conversion calculator as an estimate.
Which is longer, MET or TOEFL iBT?
MET takes 155 minutes. ETS describes the 2026 TOEFL iBT as about two hours including check-in.
Can I retake one section of MET or TOEFL?
MET allows one section retake for Writing, Listening or Reading, ordered within three days of results. TOEFL iBT has no per-section retake: you sit the whole test again, not more than once in any 3-day period.
Do MET and TOEFL scores expire?
TOEFL iBT score reports are valid for two years from the test date, per ETS. MET results do not expire on Michigan’s side, but each institution sets its own acceptance window.
Can I take MET at home?
At-home MET testing is paused indefinitely after 30 September 2026, so a test-centre booking is the route. TOEFL iBT offers a Home Edition, though it is not accepted for every purpose, so check your institution.
Does ScoreFluent offer MET and TOEFL practice?
Yes, both are live, free to start, under one account. MET Speaking and Writing are scored on Michigan’s published scales. Results are practice estimates, not official scores.
Start practising MET today.
MET practice is live on ScoreFluent — alongside TOEFL iBT, under one account, free to start.
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