When applying, most Irish universities ask for a proof of your ability to take courses in English. Most of the time, you will need to get a certain IELTS or TOEFL score. However, in some cases, a letter of recommendation signed by an accredited person or organisation might be sufficient.

Both exams have the same content; they are divided into 4 parts: Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking.

However, they still show some differences.

First, the TOEFL is a 4-hour exam whereas the IELTS has a duration of 2 hours 45 minutes. IELTS is a handwritten test with an oral part facing an examiner. The TOEFL is done on a computer with an oral part to record. Also, it is important to know that the TOEFL is in the form of Multiple Choice Questions whereas the IELTS requires much more different types of answers (multiple choice questions, texts with holes, true or false, answers to be linked).

The table below summarises the information to know and the other differences between the IELTS and the TOEFL.

	IELTS	TOEFL
Language	UK English	North-American English (USA, Canada)
Maximum score	9	120
Score required	6 to 7 depending on cursus and universities	88 and + depending on cursus and universities
Exam centres	around 900 worlwide	around 4500 worlwide
Number of sessions	around 50 / year	around 50 / year
Validity	2 years	2 years
Price	€ 230	$ 245 (~210€)

Recognition of IELTS and TOEFL tests in Ireland

It is important to note that IELTS targets people who want to study in Ireland, the United Kingdom, or Commonwealth countries. The TOEFL is more suitable for people who want to study in the United States or Canada.

Thus – although the TOEFL is accepted in most Irish colleges – IELTS remains the most popular English test in Ireland.

Each university has its own preference. In order to know the accepted language test (s) and the required scores, it is recommended to ask the university you wish to apply to.

For more information about both tests, please click on the following links: