IELTS vs TOEFL: Which Test Fits Your Bursary Application?
Neither test is easier. IELTS and TOEFL both measure academic English, and they reward different strengths. IELTS gives you a live speaking interview with a person. TOEFL iBT has you speak to a computer. For a South African student, the most useful first step comes before either test: ask your funder whether you need one at all.
This guide compares the two tests on the things that decide your result and your budget. It also covers scoring, acceptance, how to read funder requirements and the exemption many South African graduates overlook.
TL;DR
- Neither test is objectively harder. Pick the one whose format suits you, especially the speaking section: a human examiner for IELTS, a computer for TOEFL.
- IELTS scores run from 0 to 9. Since 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT reports run from 1 to 6 in half-point steps.
- Your funder’s required score and accepted tests matter more than general advice. Read the bursary or scholarship terms before you book.
- South African public universities teach in English, so you may be exempt. Ask the provider in writing before paying for a test.
- IELTS offers a One Skill Retake, but confirm that your funder accepts those results.
Table of Contents
- Why this choice matters for funding
- IELTS vs TOEFL at a glance
- Is IELTS easier than TOEFL?
- Understanding the scores
- What real funders ask for
- Check whether you can skip the test
- Booking in South Africa
- How we see it
- Find funding before you pay for a test
- A practical way to decide
- FAQ
- Sources
Why this choice matters for funding
Most local bursaries never ask for IELTS or TOEFL. They want your matric results, proof of income and a university acceptance letter. The tests appear when you apply for funding abroad: government-to-government scholarships, international university awards and some postgraduate programmes.
The cost of getting this wrong is real. You can pay for a test the funder did not require. You can sit a test the funder does not accept. You can also score well but fall short of that provider’s cut-off. All three are avoidable if you read the terms first.
If you are still working out which funding route you are on, our guide to how to choose a bursary walks through the filters that save the most time.
IELTS vs TOEFL at a glance
| Feature | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring scale | 0 to 9 bands | 1 to 6, half-point steps (since 21 January 2026) |
| Overall score | Average of four sections | Average of four section scores |
| Speaking | Face to face with an examiner | Delivered on computer and recorded |
| Writing | Computer-delivered, with a handwriting option (Writing on Paper) in selected countries | On computer |
| Retakes | One Skill Retake available | Full retake |
| Typical use | Study, work and migration | Mainly university admission |
The scoring and speaking differences are documented by the British Council’s comparison and by ETS on the new TOEFL score scale. Note that the British Council is an IELTS partner, so read its pitch for IELTS with that in mind.
Is IELTS easier than TOEFL?
This is the question most students type, and the honest answer is that it depends on you. Research comparing the two tests’ content, published by IELTS research in 2026, points to different task characteristics and language demands rather than one test being harder. Choose by comfort, not by rumour.
Here is how that plays out for different people.
If you speak better to a person than a microphone
IELTS suits you. The speaking test is a conversation with an examiner, so you can read facial cues, ask for a clarification and recover from a stumble. Many candidates find that more natural than talking into a headset.
If you are comfortable with screens and recorded answers
TOEFL may suit you. Your spoken responses are recorded, and you never have to manage a live conversation. If talking to strangers makes you freeze, this is a real advantage. If silence makes you rush, it is a disadvantage.
If you type slowly
IELTS now has a Writing on Paper option on the computer-delivered test. The writing tasks appear on screen and you answer by hand. It is not available for UKVI-specific tests. The IELTS organisation says it is planned for selected countries from mid-2026, so ask your test centre whether it is offered in South Africa before you rely on it.
If one weak section worries you
IELTS allows a One Skill Retake. You can re-attempt just Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking rather than the whole exam. Before you count on it, check that your funder accepts retake results.
Understanding the scores
The scales are different, so you cannot compare a raw number from one test with the other.
IELTS reports bands from 0 to 9. Funders usually state an overall band and sometimes a minimum per section, for example 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0.
TOEFL iBT changed on 21 January 2026. ETS now reports a 1 to 6 scale in half-point increments, with an overall score averaged from the four sections and rounded to the nearest half band. The older 0 to 120 scale still appears in many funder documents, and the South African DHET international scholarships portal notes that old-scale scores remain available during a two-year transition.
This matters because funder pages written before 2026 may quote the old scale. If a call for applications says TOEFL iBT 84 or 85, that is the 0 to 120 scale. If you are unsure how your new-scale result converts, ask the provider rather than guessing.
Do not trust a concordance table blindly
Comparison tables exist so institutions can line up IELTS and TOEFL results. IELTS itself warns that score comparison tables are a shortcut with hidden risk because institutions apply their own standards. Aim for the exact score the provider states, not for a number that looks equivalent online.
What real funders ask for
Two examples from the DHET international scholarships portal show how much requirements vary.
| Programme | IELTS requirement | TOEFL iBT requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus scholarship, 2026-2027 intake | Academic, overall 6 | 85 |
| Australia Awards Africa | Overall 6.5, no band below 6.0 | 84, with at least 21 in every subtest |
Three lessons come out of this:
- The gap is not the same everywhere. Cyprus asks for a lower IELTS band than Australia Awards, yet a higher TOEFL total.
- Format limits apply. Australia Awards intakes can exclude paper-based TOEFL, so check which version of a test counts.
- Section minimums can sink a good total. A strong overall score does not help if one section falls below the floor.
IELTS is also the stronger choice if your plans might include migration or visas. The British Council’s comparison says IELTS is better recognised by visa authorities. If your only goal is a university place that accepts both, that point carries less weight.
Check whether you can skip the test
This is the part most guides leave out. English is the medium of instruction at South African public universities. The DHET portal advises that this can make you eligible for an exemption from English tests when applying for international scholarships. It also publishes a letter on the medium of instruction at South African public universities addressed to a foreign scholarship programme.
Do not assume it applies to you. Some providers insist on a test whatever your previous studies. The Cyprus call above, for example, requires a listed test even when earlier studies were in English. So do this before you book:
- Find the language requirement in the call for applications.
- Email the provider and ask whether your university transcript, or a letter confirming English as the medium of instruction, is accepted instead of a test.
- Keep the reply. Attach it to your application if needed.
- Only then book IELTS or TOEFL, and only the test the provider lists.
Test fees are significant for a student on a tight budget, so a single email can save you real money.
Booking in South Africa
For IELTS, the British Council lists official test centres in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Gqeberha, and an IELTS Online option. Check current dates and fees on that page, because they change. For TOEFL, use the official ETS booking pages, and look at the fee and the test-day rules before you commit.
Book early. Funders set closing dates, and results take time to arrive. Plan to have your score in hand a few weeks before the deadline, not on the day.
How we see it
At BursaryZA we read funder terms all day, and the same mistake repeats. Students prepare hard for a test and only later discover that the provider wanted a different one, or none. Language tests are rarely the hard part of a funding application. The expensive mistakes are missed documents and missed dates.
Our advice is simple. Treat the funder’s wording as the final authority. Write down the accepted tests, the minimum overall score, any section minimums and the validity window of results. Compare that with your own strengths. If both tests are accepted, choose by speaking format and your comfort with typing. If an exemption is possible, ask first.
This is also why every listing on our site carries an eligibility checklist, closing dates and document needs. A test requirement is exactly the sort of detail you should know before you start. Our guide to bursary requirements in South Africa shows what funders commonly ask for, and the difference between funding types is explained in our bursary vs scholarship guide.
— Nkosi
Find funding before you pay for a test
If you are searching for funding, start with the requirements, not the test. BursaryZA lists verified bursaries, scholarships, internships and learnerships with their eligibility checklists, closing dates and direct links to the official application pages. We never charge fees or collect applications. Use the filters on the BursaryZA homepage to narrow by field, study level and location. If you are aiming for a large, competitive award, look at a programme such as the ISFAP bursary and read its criteria line by line.
A practical way to decide
Use this order and you will rarely pick wrong.
- Funder first. Which tests does the provider accept, and at what score?
- Exemption second. Can your transcript replace the test?
- Format third. Do you prefer a live examiner or a computer for speaking? Would you rather type or handwrite?
- Logistics last. Which test centre is near you, and which date leaves a buffer before the closing date?
A short mock test of each format, using official free sample material, tells you more than any opinion online. Sit one speaking practice with a friend playing examiner, and one recorded alone on your phone. Notice which you handle better.
FAQ
What is a good TOEFL score?
It depends on the funder. The Cyprus call above asks for 85 and Australia Awards Africa for 84, both on the 0 to 120 scale. Since January 2026 results are also reported on a 1 to 6 scale, so check which scale the provider quotes.
Should I do IELTS or TOEFL?
If the funder accepts only one, the decision is made. If both are accepted, pick the speaking format you prefer: a live examiner for IELTS or a computer for TOEFL. IELTS is also the better-recognised option with visa authorities, according to the British Council.
Is a 7 IELTS score easy?
It is not a casual target. Band 7 is above the 6 and 6.5 minimums in the examples we cite here, so it asks for consistently strong English in all four sections. Most funders we looked at ask for less, so check the actual requirement before you set your goal.
Can South African students skip IELTS or TOEFL?
Sometimes. English is the medium of instruction at public universities, so some providers accept your transcript. Others, such as the Cyprus call, require a test regardless. Ask the provider in writing before you pay.
Sources
- British Council: IELTS vs TOEFL comparison
- ETS: TOEFL iBT score breakdown
- IELTS research: content comparison of IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT
- IELTS: score comparison tables, shortcut or hidden risk
- IELTS on computer: Writing on Paper option
- IELTS: updates to Writing test delivery mode
- DHET international scholarships portal
- DHET: Australia Awards Africa requirements
- British Council South Africa: IELTS dates, fees and locations