IELTS, TOEFL and GRE

Which tests you may need

• For English-taught study: a recognised proficiency test. IELTS, TOEFL and PTE are widely accepted, and some universities also accept a medium-of-instruction letter instead.
• For certain graduate programmes: the GRE, a graduate admission test used most widely for postgraduate applications.
• For visas and professional bodies: some destinations and licensing bodies ask for a test of their own — check separately.
• Always confirm the test, module and any minimum your university states before you book; requirements differ by programme and can change.

What each test covers

IELTS assesses listening, reading, writing and speaking. Everyone takes the same listening and speaking sections; reading and writing come in Academic and General Training versions, and degree applicants normally take the Academic version.

TOEFL, produced by Educational Testing Service (ETS), measures academic English and is accepted by universities in English-speaking countries worldwide; most candidates take the internet-based version (iBT).

The GRE, also run by ETS, is used for graduate-school admission. The General GRE tests verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing; subject tests exist in a few fields and are only needed where a programme asks for them.

Choosing between them

• Start from your universities’ requirements — that decides the test more often than personal preference.
• Where a university accepts more than one English test, pick whichever format and local availability suit you better.
• For the GRE, check whether your programmes actually require it before paying for preparation.
• Plan test dates backwards from application deadlines, leaving room for a retake if a result disappoints you.

Preparing well

• Take an official practice test first to find your honest starting level.
• Work hardest on your weakest module — for most candidates that is writing or speaking.
• Practise under realistic timed conditions once you know the format.
• Use official preparation material for the test you booked; formats differ between tests.
• Get feedback on writing and speaking from a teacher or study group — self-study alone rarely fixes those two.

Booking and results

Register through the official test provider or a local test centre well ahead of your application deadline, because slots fill up. Score reports are issued electronically and by post depending on the test — check how long results take, how many reports your university needs and whether it accepts a scanned copy at application stage.

Next steps

Book a free consultation — we will tell you which test your universities expect, when to book it relative to your deadlines, and how preparation fits your overall timeline.