IELTS or TOEFL: Which Should You Choose for Your Studies or Career?

Putting together an application to study or work abroad, and being asked to prove your English level? Two names come up almost every time: IELTS and TOEFL. But which one should you choose? The answer has less to do with your level than with your destination.

The two exams, in brief

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) assesses your English across four skills — listening, reading, writing, speaking — with a final score on a 0–9 scale (the "band score"). The speaking test is done face-to-face with an examiner.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), usually the iBT (Internet-Based Test) version, assesses the same four skills but scores on a 0–120 scale. The speaking section is done in front of a computer, recording your answers.

At their core, both exams measure the same thing: your ability to understand and express yourself in English in an academic or professional setting. The real difference lies elsewhere.

The real deciding factor: your destination

• Aiming for the US, Canada (outside Quebec), or a university that favors American English? TOEFL is often the historical standard, though IELTS is now widely accepted there too.
• Aiming for the UK, Australia, or an immigration process (like Canada's Express Entry)? IELTS is generally the required or preferred exam.
• Aiming for a specific employer, competitive exam, or scholarship? Always check the exact requirement of the institution or program — some accept either, others insist on one without exception.

When in doubt, the safest rule is to check the requirements of your target program or institution directly before choosing.

Not sure of your destination yet?

That's a common situation, and a perfectly normal one. In that case, IELTS has the advantage of being recognized by a very large number of countries and institutions worldwide, which often makes it a safe "default" choice if you don't want to close off any options.

How to prepare properly

Passing the IELTS or TOEFL isn't something you can wing — these are exams with a precise format, tight timing, and specific expectations for each section. Structured preparation is often what separates a passing score from a score that truly opens the doors you're aiming for.

At FlexAcademy, we offer dedicated preparation for international English exams (IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC) and French exams (TCF, TEF, DELF, DALF), tailored to your starting level and your timeline.

Our advice

Don't pick your exam at random, and don't leave it up to "what someone told me" either. Check precisely what your destination requires — university, employer, or immigration process — then prepare seriously for that specific exam rather than splitting your focus between both.