# IELTS vs TOEFL

**URL:** <https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/ielts-vs-toefl/7909>\
**Category:** Answers\
**Tags:** internationalstudent, testtaking, toefl, collegeapplications, collegeadmissions\
**Created:** [September 19, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/ielts-vs-toefl/7909 "2016-09-19T01:39:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Slaveya\_Zaharieva](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Slaveya\_Zaharieva](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/u/Slaveya_Zaharieva)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/ielts-vs-toefl/7909/1 "2016-09-19T01:39:42Z")

</div>

I'm an international student and I'm thinking of applying to top US colleges. I searched everywhere but no one seems to know if I should take the IELTS or TOEFL (besides the SAT). Some of my teachers say US colleges favor TOEFL, others say there's no difference. If the second is true, I prefer taking IELTS. So which one should I take?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Laura\_PrepScholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/user_avatar/experthub.prepscholar.com/laura_prepscholar/32/15_2.png) [@Laura\_PrepScholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/u/Laura_PrepScholar)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 10:46am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/ielts-vs-toefl/7909/2 "2016-09-23T10:46:35Z")

</div>

In general, both are acceptable. [This article on our blog gives more information about how to find the English as a Foreign Language testing requirements for colleges](https://blog.prepscholar.com/sat-and-toefl), which you may find helpful. I did a quick check on some of the top colleges and universities and found the following:

**Accepts TOEFL or IELTS (possibly other tests as well)** - [Amherst College](https://www.amherst.edu/admission/apply/international) - [Middlebury College](https://www.middlebury.edu/admissions/apply/international/faq/node/190851) - [Swarthmore College](https://www.swarthmore.edu/admissions-aid/international-students) - [Princeton University](https://admission.princeton.edu/apply/international-students) - [University of Chicago](https://internationalaffairs.uchicago.edu/page/english-language-requirements) - [Yale University](https://admissions.yale.edu/applying-yale-international-student) - [Columbia University](https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/international)

- [Harvard University](https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/international-applicants)

**Doesn't require either** - [Williams College](https://admission.williams.edu/apply/international-applicants/)

You should definitely check with the schools you're planning on applying to before making firm plans one way or the other, but **for the most part IELTS is as widely accepted as TOEFL**. For more information on applying to colleges in the US as an international student, be sure to read [this article](https://blog.prepscholar.com/international-student-admissions-in-usa).