Standardised Tests: TOEFL and/or IELTS
Know about the difference between TOEFL and IELTS, preparation strategies and potential to waive off the language test requirements.
Once you’ve gotten your GRE situation somewhat under control, you’re probably going to hit this next question:
Do I need to take an English language test?
If you’re applying to universities abroad — especially in the US, UK, Europe, or Australia — chances are you’ve come across TOEFL and IELTS in the list of requirements.
Now, if you’re anything like me, your first instinct might be to immediately start prepping for one of them, just to stay “safe.” But here’s the thing:
You may not even need to give these tests.
In this post, I’m hoping to help you figure out:
Do you really need to take the TOEFL or IELTS?
If yes, which one should you pick?
How should you prepare (without driving yourself mad)?
And of course, as always, I’ll share a bit about my own experience with both tests, so you don’t end up repeating the mistakes I made.
Let’s get into it.
So, What Exactly Are TOEFL and IELTS?
If you’re applying abroad, you’ve probably seen these two names crop up everywhere:
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
Both of these tests basically want to check one thing:
Can you survive in an academic environment where everything happens in English?
Will you be able to understand lectures, write essays, participate in class discussions, work on group projects — all without too much struggle?
Both tests assess the same four core skills:
Reading
Listening
Speaking
Writing
But here’s the thing — even though the skills they test are the same, the way they go about it feels quite different.
The TOEFL, for example, is a computer-based test. The speaking section involves talking into a mic (with other people in the room doing the same thing at the same time).
The IELTS, on the other hand, has a real person interviewing you for the speaking section — and the test can be either paper-based or computer-based depending on where you take it.
The formats are not just different on paper; they feel different while you’re taking the exam. And that’s what ends up making one easier or harder depending on the person.
We’ll get into my own experience with both in just a bit. But before that, let’s pause and ask —
Do you even need to give these tests at all?
Do You Actually Need to Give These Tests?
Here’s the good news — you may not need to give TOEFL or IELTS at all.
I say this because so many of us (me included!) jump straight into prepping for these tests without first checking if they’re even required. And honestly, with how expensive and time-consuming they are, it’s worth asking that question early on.
Here’s what I learned from my own process:
Even if a university has listed TOEFL or IELTS under their admission requirements, a lot of them are actually willing to waive the English test if:
You did your undergrad in English, and
You can get your university to issue an official letter saying so.
But — and this is important — most places won’t tell you this upfront. You have to write to them and ask.
In my case, sending that one email saved me over $120. And more importantly, saved me the time and energy of preparing for a test I didn’t need to take in the first place.
That said, not every university is flexible. Some schools are quite strict about their policy — they won’t budge even if you did your entire education in English. If that’s the case, well, then you’ll have to give the test.
So before you book a test date or start prepping, just do this one thing:
- Check the admissions page properly.
- If it still feels unclear, write to the admissions team and ask if you’re eligible for a waiver.
It’s a small step, but it could save you a lot of unnecessary stress.
If You Have to Give It, How Should You Prepare?
First things first — whichever test you’re taking, please don’t assume you can wing it just because you’re good at English. These tests aren’t just about your language skills — they’re also testing your stamina, your ability to handle pressure, and, honestly, how well you understand the test format itself.
Here’s how I’d break down the prep:
Reading Section:
The key here is speed and focus. Make sure you’re able to read the entire paragraph or passage quickly and still retain the core idea. The questions can get tricky — they’re not always direct fact-finding questions. Sometimes they test your ability to understand why something was said or what the author is implying. Goes back to my earlier point: these tests don’t just check your English, they also test your critical thinking.
Listening Section:
This one can feel deceptively simple but requires solid attention to detail.
In IELTS, they can be quite strict — if you misspell the answer or use a synonym instead of the exact word, you could lose marks.
In TOEFL, the listening section involves longer conversations and academic lectures, followed by multiple-choice questions.
For both tests, I would strongly recommend practising taking fast, copious notes unless you have an excellent short-term memory. You often have to remember small details across multiple conversations or lectures — and trust me, they will test you on those details.
Speaking Section:
In IELTS, this is the most straightforward section. It’s just a conversation with a person. You may also be asked to speak on a specific question for about two minutes. You won’t know the topic beforehand, so it helps to have a few strategies in place — ways to stall for time, or examples you can quickly pull out from different areas (personal experience, general observations, etc.).
In TOEFL, the speaking section was honestly a nightmare for me. Everyone in the room speaks at the same time, answering similar questions into their respective mics. It gets noisy, distracting, and stressful — because while you're trying to think and speak, you're also hearing fragments of what others are saying. My advice? Practice speaking with distractions around you. Learn how to block out background noise, so you’re not thrown off on the day of the test.
Writing Section:
Both tests have very specific rubrics and expectations for how they grade the writing section. It’s not just about writing well — it’s about writing in the format they expect. Whether it’s structuring your essay clearly, using transition words properly, or addressing the question directly, practice is key here. Don’t just write essays; review the scoring guidelines, look at sample high-scoring responses, and get a feel for what “good” looks like in their system.
Very important note from my experience: If you go to TOEFL/IELTS preparation centers, they will usually demotivate you like anything. I consulted some of them just to check what they might say to me about preparing. They outrightly said that I’ll be lucky to get a score of about 7 on IELTS or 90 on TOEFL. I ended up getting 9.7 and 112 on these tests, respectively, without seeking their help. So ignore what most of these centers are telling you - these are just money-making tactics. (Unless you are in dire need of support).
Key takeaways: What’s my point?
The point I’m really trying to make here is this:
Don’t give these tests just because they’re on someone else’s checklist.
First, find out if you actually need to give them. If yes, figure out which one makes the most sense for you. And if you’re going for it — prep properly, but don’t let it take over your entire application process.
Remember, these tests are just one tiny part of your application. They’re not going to make or break your chances if the rest of your application — your essays, your CV, your recommendations — aren’t strong.
And on the flip side, no amount of perfect TOEFL or IELTS scores will compensate for a weak, generic personal statement. So give these tests the attention they deserve — but not more than that.
Save your energy for the parts of the application that actually tell your story.
What’s next?
In the next post, we’ll talk about something that often shows up alongside these test requirements — WES credential evaluation. If you’re applying to the US or Canada, there’s a good chance you’ve seen this mentioned on the admissions page. But just like TOEFL and IELTS, the real question is: do you actually need to do it? I’ll break down what WES is, when it’s required, and how to go about it without the usual confusion.