IELTS vs TOEFL: English Test Guide for Middle East Students

To the students of the Middle East, learning the English language would be the entry into university of the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and other countries. Despite which institution it is, most international organizations demand to have evidence of English language skills, and two of the most widely recognized academic tests are the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Both of the exams are accepted worldwide, and the students in the Middle East are frequently faced with a hard choice of picking the appropriate exam and preparing successively to score high. This paper compares IELTS and TOEFL, gives advice on selection of exams, and gives tips on how to succeed with such an exam.

#TL;DR Highlights:

• IELTS vs. TOEFL: Which Test Is Right for You?Both IELTS and TOEFL are top English language exams accepted by universities worldwide in 2025. Your choice depends on your study destination, test format preference, and comfort with British or American English.
• Updated Score Requirements for 2025 Admissions: Leading study abroad destinations like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand require IELTS scores between 6.07.5 or TOEFL iBT scores from 80110. Competitive programs may ask for higher scoresalways check the latest university requirements.
• Smart Strategies for Middle Eastern Students: Success comes from daily English immersion, targeted practice, and using digital tools and resources. Personalized prep, mock tests, and expert counseling can boost your confidence and scores.

#General description of IELTS vs TOEFL:

• IELTS is a standardized test, which is jointly owned by the British council: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. IELTS is accepted in more than 140 countries by over 11, 000 institutions and it comes in two forms namely Academic and General training. Academic version is standard for higher education. The IELTS measures a student in four abilities: Listening (30 minutes), Reading (60 minutes), Writing (60 minutes), and Speaking (1114 minutes). Markedly, the speaking test is done face to face in the form of an interview.
• TOEFL, in its turn, is conducted by ETS and is generally favored by the American schools. It is the most widely known and accepted form of TOEFL, the internet-based form i.e, TOEFL iBT. Similar to IELTS, it also checks four abilities, namely Reading (5472 minutes), Listening (41-57 minutes), Speaking (17 minutes) and Writing (50 minutes). As opposed to IELTS, the speaking exam is filmed and then brought up to be marked by qualified examiners.

#Comparison Test: IELTS versus TOEFL: Which One to Choose?

• The most common question the students of the Middle East ask is which kind of a test they should take. The choice will be made depending on many things, including the country of destination, preferred test format, and personal abilities. Both, the IELTS and TOEFL, are accepted internationally, although the former is mostly popular in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, whereas the latter is most commonly preferred by the universities in the United States. Nevertheless, both are accepted by the majority of the most influential world organizations.
• IELTS is offered in paper and computer-based form and includes face-to-face speaking. A high level of comfort in communicating with a human may encourage the students towards IELTS. TOEFL, on the contrary, is taken entirely on a computer and can be considered the best test by the candidate who feels more comfortable recording their responses in concern of the speaking section.
• The linguistic mode is also different: IELTS is usually based on British English, whereas American English can be found in TOEFL as its major characteristic. The schools in most parts of the Middle East have a British curriculum so that IELTS can seem more familiar. There are differences in scores too. IELTS is rated using a score band of 0 to 9, whereas TOEFL iBTs are rated out of 120 with each part scoring 30 points.

#Minimum Scores Requirements:

• The English language proficiency requirements vary depending on the university and even program, as well as country. UK based institutions normally demand IELTS rating of 6.0-7.5 or TOEFL score of 80-110. The U.S universities usually require 6.5-7.5 in IELTS or 80-100 in TOEFL. The requirements of the Canadian universities are also comparable where the IELTS result must be approximately 6.0-7.0 and TOEFL slightly higher or 80-100. The Australian and New Zealand colleges and universities also require an IELTS score of 6.0 to 7.0 or TOEFL score of 79-95.
• More competitive subjects e.g. law, medicine and engineering usually need higher scores. Before the decision to take the test students will be advised to look into the requirements of various programs.

Country	IELTS Requirement	TOEFL Requirement
UK	6.0 – 7.5	80 – 110
USA	6.5 – 7.5	80 – 100
Canada	6.0 – 7.0	80 – 100
Australia	6.0 – 7.0	79 – 95
New Zealand	6.0 – 6.5	80 – 90

#Difficulties of the Middle Eastern students:

• Students in the Middle East have specific problems as they attend these exams. The pronunciation is the obstacle that one may pass, particularly, the sounds that are uncommon in the Arabic language, e.g., p and b or v and f. Another essential point of focus is time management because both the exams involve fast reasoning and reading comprehension on time restrictions.
• Academic English vocabulary exposure is also a problem although this is usually exposed in reading and writing sections. Baek, in addition, there is a possibility that some of the test questions would refer to a Western cultural context which the Middle Eastern students might not understand so easily.

#IELTS and TOEFL preparation Strategies:

• The basis of effective preparation is the test selection as the only examination which suits a student the most. Individuals who like talking with people and master British English better can be more successful with IELTS, and ones who feel more at ease using American English and working with a computer can pass TOEFL.
• An organized set of studies is essential. Students are ideally supposed to get ready 6 to 12 weeks prior to the test date. During the first two weeks, make Diagnostic tests in IELTS and TOEFL to check the current level and pick the test that would be relevant to you. Weeks three to six: work on the areas of performance by reading resources online, using apps and doing practice materials. In week seven-nine, do take full mock tests in timed conditions. The last phase, weeks ten to twelve, is for honing test-taking skills, fine tuning vocabulary and getting advisory inputs from teachers or tows.

#Skill Building through Immersion in Language:

• It is necessary to be exposed to the English language every day. It is an imperative that students watch movies, documentaries and TV shows that are in English and with subtitles. The vocabulary is extended and reading comprehension is enhanced by reading via English-language newspapers, scholarly journals, and internet articles. It will improve fluency and develop confidence by attending English speaking clubs or by joining conversation groups.
• Middle East students can construct vocabulary and language patterns with the help of such apps like Duolingo, Memrise, or Anki. It is also beneficial to point out that many students also use YouTube channels that teach English, including BBC Learning English or English Addict with Mr. Steve, or Speak English with Emma.

#Enhancement of Personal Talents:

• To train the listening part, use the listening to podcasts and lectures provided by the BBC, NPR, TED Talks, and others. This makes the students acquainted with different accents and speech rhythm. Listening to notes is very helpful in boosting concentration and recalling.
• In the reading segment, the students must have learned how to skim (to locate the main idea) and scan (to locate particular details). It is strongly advisable to read the articles on the websites of reputable web sources of the English language such as The Guardian, the New York Times, or Scientific American.
• Students are encouraged to practice in task-specific essays in order to write better. In IELTS, you should concentrate on the descriptive and argumentative essays and the visual data analysis in task 1. A similar situation was the case in TOEFL where practice also involved an integrated writing where students were required to first integrate both listening skills and reading skills after which they were given a response to write. Check grammar, clarity, and structure using writing tools; Grammarly or Hemingway Editor.
• To speak, answer sample questions and play them back to find out what you can practice. The IELTS test takers are expected to do a role play of an in person speaking test whereas the TOEFL test takers are expected to talk to a microphone. Teacher or native feedback can be very useful in the improvement of pronunciation, fluency and coherence.

#Services and amenities to Middle Eastern students:

The resources that are targeting Middle East students are many and wide. The British Council and IDP provide IELTS preparation courses and mock exams, and ETS runs a TOEFL portal with sample questions and official books. Such prep books as The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS, Barron’s TOEFL iBT, and Kaplan TOEFL iBT Premier are very popular. Tutorials, live classes and tips are available on YouTube channels such as E2 IELTS, TEST Prep, and Magoosh.

#English Test Waivers and scholarships:

• Scholarship applications can be made stronger with high scores on IELTS or TOEFL as well. There are numerous colleges that provide financial assistance on merit basis to international students, who are good communicators in the language. Moreover, students who have previously studied in English based schools or international curriculums like IB or A-level can also get an English test waiver.
• Other universities do provide their own English placements, or accept others (with varying degrees of amiableness) such as Duolingo English Test. Always check the particular language requirements either on the official website of the university or by approaching the office of admission.

Both IELTS and TOEFL are very renowned and highly accepted English language proficiency exams. The Middle Eastern students can use their success prospectively by choosing the right type of the test that will streamline with their learning style and spending time on specific preparation. The comparison of IELTS and TOEFL may appear to be very challenging, however, by getting to know how this or that test is organized, how it is scored, and what is expected of the participants, the task can be implemented very smoothly.

Students ought to emphasize regular practice, develop an essential base in each related to the four main language capabilities and participate in English language immersion every day. Using an appropriate strategy, tools, and support, Middle Eastern students would get the scores they require and make a confident step toward studying abroad.

#Author’s Takeaways:

• Choose the Right Exam for Your Dream University:

IELTS is preferred in the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, while TOEFL is favored by US institutions. Both are accepted globallysee the latest university language requirements and IELTS/TOEFL guidelines.

• 2025 Score Requirements Are Higher for Top Programs:

For most universities, aim for an IELTS score of 6.57.5 or a TOEFL iBT score of 80110. Competitive fields like law, medicine, and engineering may need even higher scores. Always verify on the university’s official site, such as University of Oxfords English requirements.

• Daily English Practice Is Your Superpower:

Immerse yourself in English every day, watch movies, read news, and join online speaking clubs. Use apps like Duolingo or Memrise, and check out BBC Learning English for free resources.

• Mock Tests & Personalized Prep Make a Difference:

Start your prep 3 months before your test date. Take diagnostic tests, focus on weak areas, and do full-length mocks under timed conditions. For expert help, book a free counseling session with Grad-Dreams.Scholarships and Waivers Are Within ReachHigh IELTS or TOEFL scores can unlock scholarships at top universities. Some institutions offer English test waivers if you’ve studied in English-medium schools or international curricula. Learn more about study abroad scholarships for Indian students and university-specific waivers.