IELTS vs TOEFL vs CELPIP vs Others

Choosing the right English proficiency test can be confusing. Here's a brief comparison of IELTS with other popular exams like TOEFL and CELPIP.

Important: Always check the specific requirements of the institution or organisation you are applying to, as they often prefer or only accept certain tests.

Quick Comparison

Feature	IELTS (Academic/General Training)	TOEFL iBT	CELPIP (General/LS)
Primary Use	Global Higher Education, Professional Registration, Migration (UK, AUS, NZ, CAN etc.)	Mainly Higher Education (esp. USA/Canada), some professional bodies	Mainly Canadian Immigration (IRCC), Professional Designation in Canada
Format Delivery	Paper-based OR Computer-delivered	Computer-delivered (Internet-Based Test)	Computer-delivered
Speaking Test	Face-to-face interview with a human examiner (recorded)	Speaking into a microphone, recorded and rated by AI + human raters	Speaking into a microphone, recorded and rated by human raters
Accents Heard	Variety (British, Australian, American, etc.)	Mainly North American, some others in lectures	Mainly North American (Canadian)
Writing Tasks	Task 1: Describe visual (Acad) / Write letter (GT) Task 2: Essay	Integrated Task (Read/Listen -> Write) Independent Task (Essay)	Task 1: Write an Email Task 2: Respond to Survey Questions
Scoring	0-9 Bands for each skill + Overall	0-30 points for each skill (Total 120)	1-12 Levels for each skill (Corresponds to CLB levels)
Test Length	Approx. 2h 45m (L/R/W) + 11-14m (S)	Approx. 2 hours (Recently shortened)	Approx. 3 hours (General) / Approx. 1 hour (LS - Listening/Speaking only)

Note: This is a simplified comparison. Test formats and details can change. Always refer to official test provider websites for the latest information.

When to Choose Which Test?

Choose IELTS if: You need wide acceptance globally (UK, Australia, NZ, Europe, Canada, USA), prefer a face-to-face Speaking test, or need the General Training version for migration/work.
Choose TOEFL iBT if: You are primarily applying to universities in the USA or Canada that prefer TOEFL, or you are more comfortable with North American accents and computer-based integrated tasks.
Choose CELPIP if: Your primary goal is Canadian immigration (it's designed specifically for IRCC and aligned with CLB levels) or professional designation within Canada.

Consider factors like test availability in your location, cost, your comfort level with computer vs paper tests, and your preference for the speaking test format.

Back to What is IELTS?