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IELTS or TOEFL for Teachers: What Schools Abroad Actually Require

IELTS or TOEFL for Teachers: What Schools Abroad Actually Require

Unlike nursing or allied health, teaching doesn’t have its own dedicated English test — most schools and licensing bodies abroad ask for either IELTS or TOEFL, and which one (plus the score) depends on the country, the school type, and sometimes the specific licensing board. The good news is both are general English tests you likely have some familiarity with already; the harder part is confirming exactly what your specific target requires before you book.

Do international schools prefer IELTS or TOEFL?

It varies by region and by institution type. Many UK and Commonwealth-affiliated schools and licensing pathways lean toward IELTS Academic, since it’s the test most familiar to their own systems. US-affiliated international schools and American licensing pathways more often ask for TOEFL iBT, since it’s the standard most US institutions recognize. Independent international schools — the large, well-resourced schools common across the Middle East, East Asia, and parts of Europe — sometimes accept either, or set their own minimum without preferring one over the other. There’s no universal rule, which is exactly why confirming with the specific school or licensing board matters more here than for tests like OET, where the accepted test is usually clearer per regulator.

Do teachers need a certification exam too, or just an English test?

This depends on the role. If you’re applying to teach English as a second language (ESL/EFL) specifically, some employers also expect a teaching certification like TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA on top of your English proficiency score — the English test alone doesn’t demonstrate teaching methodology. If you’re applying to teach a different subject (math, science, elementary) at an international school, the English proficiency test is usually the main language requirement, alongside your teaching license or degree from your home country. Always check the specific job posting or licensing board’s requirements — “IELTS required” and “IELTS or equivalent teaching certification required” are different asks.

How is the content of IELTS and TOEFL different for a teacher applicant?

IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT both test Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, but the format differs. IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face interview with an examiner. Since ETS updated the test in January 2026, TOEFL Speaking is recorded and has two task types: Listen and Repeat, and Take an Interview, where you answer recorded interview questions. IELTS Writing includes a data/graph description task and an opinion essay; TOEFL Writing now has three tasks: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and Write for an Academic Discussion. TOEFL Reading and Listening are now adaptive, and scores are reported on a new 1–6 scale. Neither test is specifically about teaching, but TOEFL’s academic and campus-life material may feel more familiar if you’re used to an American-style classroom, while IELTS’s broader general-topic material may suit teachers coming from a UK-aligned curriculum background.

What should a teacher prioritize when studying?

  • Confirm the exact test and score before you study — don’t prepare for IELTS if your target school specifically lists TOEFL, or vice versa. This single step saves the most wasted effort.
  • Practice academic-register speaking and writing — both tests assess formal, structured communication, which is a different register from classroom instructional language, even for experienced teachers.
  • If TOEFL, practise the 2026 task types — Write an Email and Take an Interview reward a clear structure and the right tone for the reader. Review books printed before 2026 still teach tasks that are no longer on the test, so check your materials are updated.
  • If IELTS, practice describing visual data clearly — Writing Task 1 (the graph/chart description) trips up many strong general-English speakers simply because it’s an unfamiliar task type.

Choosing between IELTS and TOEFL when a school accepts either

When you do have a choice, base it on your own strengths: IELTS if you’re more comfortable in a live conversation format and general-topic writing, TOEFL if you work well with short, structured tasks on a computer and with academic or campus-life material, since that’s what the updated TOEFL focuses on.

One more check if you choose TOEFL: some schools and licensing boards still list their minimum on the old 0–120 scale. Until January 2028, TOEFL score reports show a comparable 0–120 total next to the new 1–6 scores, so you can match either requirement.

Getting ready for either test

IRIS Review Center has coached teachers through both IELTS and TOEFL for over 20 years, in small onsite classes in Quezon City and Laguna, or one-on-one online sessions with mentors who stay with you until you pass. If you’re not sure which test your target school or country actually requires, talk to us and we’ll help you confirm it before you commit to a study plan. See our IELTS and TOEFL course pages for details.