IELTS vs TOEFL: Which Test Should Indian Students Take?

The Quick Answer

For most Indian students, IELTS Academic is the better choice. It is more widely accepted in the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, and Indian students generally find the speaking section (a face-to-face interview) more comfortable than TOEFL's computer-based speaking tasks. That said, TOEFL is often preferred for US universities — so your destination matters.

Format Comparison

Score Comparison

Universities use conversion charts to compare scores. Here is a rough equivalence:

Most master's programs require IELTS 6.5–7.0 or TOEFL 90–100. Top universities like Oxford, MIT, and UBC often require IELTS 7.0+ or TOEFL 100+.

Which Universities Prefer Which Test?

IELTS is preferred or required by:

• Most UK universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, UCL)
• Australian universities (Melbourne, Sydney, ANU, UNSW)
• Canadian universities (UBC, University of Toronto, McGill)
• New Zealand universities (Auckland, Victoria)
• Irish universities (Trinity College Dublin, UCD)

TOEFL is preferred or required by:

• Many US universities (MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Ivy League schools)
• Some Canadian universities also accept TOEFL
• European universities (especially in Germany and the Netherlands)

Important: Most universities accept both. If you are applying to a mix of US and non-US universities, check each university's specific requirements. Many students take both exams to keep their options open.

Which is Easier for Indian Students?

This is the question everyone asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on your strengths.

• If you are comfortable speaking to a person: IELTS speaking (face-to-face with an examiner) tends to feel more natural for Indian students than TOEFL's computer-recorded responses.
• If you are a fast reader: TOEFL reading passages are slightly more academic and dense, but the questions are more straightforward.
• If you struggle with accents: IELTS uses British, Australian, and American accents in listening, which can be challenging. TOEFL primarily uses North American accents, which many Indian students find easier.
• If you are good at integrated tasks: TOEFL writing includes an integrated task (reading + listening + writing), which some students find easier than IELTS's graph description task.

Overall verdict: Most Indian students score slightly higher on IELTS on their first attempt. But with proper preparation, both are very achievable.

Preparation Tips

For IELTS:

• Use the official Cambridge IELTS practice books (series 1–18)
• Practice speaking with a partner or record yourself answering common questions
• For writing Task 1, practice describing graphs, charts, and diagrams
• Listen to BBC podcasts and TED Talks to get used to different accents
• Aim for at least 6–8 weeks of dedicated preparation

For TOEFL:

• Use the official ETS TOEFL prep materials and practice tests
• Practice speaking into a microphone — record and review your responses
• For the integrated writing task, practice taking notes while reading and listening simultaneously
• Watch American TV shows and podcasts to get comfortable with the accent
• Use the TOEFL Prep app for on-the-go practice

Our Recommendation

If you are applying primarily to UK, Australia, Canada, or New Zealand — go with IELTS Academic. If you are applying mainly to US universities — go with TOEFL iBT. If you are applying to both, take IELTS first (it is more universally accepted), and consider TOEFL only if specific US schools require it.

Also consider the Duolingo English Test — it is cheaper (around $65), can be taken from home, and is now accepted by over 5,000 universities including many top schools. It is worth checking if your target universities accept it.