Turkish students applying to study abroad face the same core decision as most international students: IELTS or TOEFL? The answer is almost always destination-driven, and for Turkish students specifically, it also depends on whether you're using Erasmus+, applying to a scholarship like Fulbright or Chevening, or targeting a specific country. This guide maps out the right choice by situation.
Quick Answer by Destination and Programme
| Destination / Programme | Recommended Test | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Erasmus+ (European host university, English-taught) | IELTS (preferred) or TOEFL | IELTS is more commonly listed at European partner universities; both accepted at most |
| Germany (English-taught master's) | IELTS or TOEFL (both accepted) | German universities accept both; IELTS slightly more common in stated requirements |
| United States | TOEFL (preferred) | Standard for US graduate admissions; IELTS widely accepted but TOEFL is the norm |
| United Kingdom | IELTS UKVI Academic | IELTS UKVI Academic satisfies both university admission and UK student visa SELT requirement |
| Netherlands | IELTS (more commonly listed) or TOEFL | Dutch universities typically specify IELTS but accept TOEFL |
| France (English-taught grandes écoles) | IELTS or TOEFL | Both accepted; IELTS slightly more common in French grande école requirements |
| Canada | IELTS or TOEFL | Both accepted; check per institution |
| Australia | IELTS | Standard for Australian universities and student visas |
| Fulbright Turkey (USA) | TOEFL | Standard for US scholarship context; Fulbright Turkey specifies TOEFL |
| Chevening (UK) | IELTS Academic 6.5+ | Chevening specifies IELTS; take IELTS UKVI Academic to satisfy both Chevening and visa |
| Orange Tulip (Netherlands) | IELTS (check per institution) | Netherlands universities typically specify IELTS |
| DAAD (Germany, English master's) | IELTS or TOEFL | Both accepted per DAAD-funded German university programmes |
Test Availability in Turkey
Both tests are widely available across Turkey:
IELTS in Turkey
- Administered by British Council Turkey and IDP Turkey
- Available in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Adana, and other major cities
- Paper-based and computer-based options
- Multiple test dates per month
- Register at britishcouncil.org.tr or ielts.org
- Fee: approximately TL 7,000–9,000 (check current rates — TL fluctuates)
TOEFL in Turkey
- Administered through ETS Prometric centres
- Available in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and other cities
- Computer-based (TOEFL iBT)
- Register at ets.org/toefl
- TOEFL Home Edition available — take from home in Turkey with remote proctoring (same test, same scores, same acceptance)
- Fee: approximately USD 185–205
The Erasmus+ Language Requirement: What You Actually Need
Erasmus+ uses the OLS (Online Language Support) tool to assess language level — it is not a formal language test and does not by itself determine your eligibility. What matters is what the host university's English-medium programme requires:
- Most European host universities in the Netherlands, Germany (English programmes), and Scandinavia specify IELTS 5.5–6.5 or equivalent for English-medium programmes
- Your Turkish home university's Erasmus office may also require a language score as part of the internal selection process
- Many Turkish university Erasmus offices accept IELTS or TOEFL equivalently; some may have their own language assessment
Practical bottom line for Erasmus+: If you are targeting English-taught programmes in the Netherlands, Scandinavia, or Germany, IELTS 5.5–6.0 is the typical benchmark. Aim for 6.0 to have margin.
Scoring Comparison: IELTS vs TOEFL (2026)
IELTS
- Band 1.0–9.0, 0.5 increments
- Overall = average of four skills (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking)
- Face-to-face Speaking test with a human examiner (typical duration: 11–14 minutes)
- Writing: Task 1 (150 words, graph/letter description) + Task 2 (250 words, essay)
TOEFL iBT (2026 Format)
- 1.0–6.0 scale per section (0.5 increments); overall = average of four sections
- Legacy 0–120 equivalent shown on score reports through 2028 (approximately: legacy ÷ 20 = 2026 band)
- Speaking: recorded responses (no human examiner present) — two task types: Listen and Repeat (7 sentences, repeat exactly) and Take an Interview (3–4 spontaneous responses, 45 seconds each, no preparation time)
- Writing: Build a Sentence (word-order tasks) + Write an Email (7 minutes) + Write for an Academic Discussion (10 minutes, 100–130 words)
- Reading and Listening are adaptive (multi-stage) — early performance affects difficulty of subsequent questions
Approximate Conversion Guide
| IELTS Band | TOEFL 2026 Band (approx.) | TOEFL Legacy (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | 3.0–3.5 | 60–69 |
| 5.5 | 3.5–4.0 | 70–79 |
| 6.0 | 4.0–4.5 | 80–89 |
| 6.5 | 4.5 | 90–99 |
| 7.0 | 5.0 | 100–109 |
| 7.5 | 5.5 | 110–119 |
Which Format Suits Turkish Students Better?
There's no universal answer — both tests require genuine English proficiency. But Turkish students commonly notice:
IELTS Considerations for Turkish Students
- Vocabulary is a key discriminator: IELTS Reading uses dense academic texts where breadth of vocabulary matters more than in TOEFL's shorter passages
- Speaking (face-to-face) feels more natural to students accustomed to conversation-based English classes — the Part 3 discussion segment especially tests depth of expression
- Writing Task 2 (250-word essay) has a familiar academic essay format if you have practised this style
TOEFL Considerations for Turkish Students
- No preparation time for Speaking tasks — Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview both require immediate response; students who process ideas quickly without needing a moment to organise tend to do well
- Build a Sentence tests English grammar directly (word order, adverb placement) — this is a more transparent grammar diagnostic than IELTS Writing, where grammar errors are embedded in free text
- Shorter overall test (~90 minutes) vs IELTS Academic (~170 minutes) — less test fatigue
- Home Edition option is useful for students outside major test-centre cities in Turkey (or who can't easily travel to a Prometric centre)
Common observation: Turkish students who have studied in English-medium high schools or preparation courses tend to adapt quickly to TOEFL's task types. Students who learned English primarily through grammar-translation approaches sometimes find IELTS's conversational Speaking section and long Reading passages more manageable initially.
The UK Visa Issue: Critical for Turkish Students Applying to UK Universities
If you are applying to a UK university and need a Student visa, you must use a Secure English Language Test (SELT) — and TOEFL is not a SELT. For UK applications:
- For university admission: Standard IELTS Academic is accepted
- For student visa: IELTS UKVI Academic or PTE Academic UKVI (both are approved SELTs)
- Most efficient approach: Take IELTS UKVI Academic — it satisfies both the university and the visa requirement in one test sitting
If you take TOEFL for your US applications and also want to apply to the UK, you'll need a separate IELTS UKVI sitting for the UK visa. Plan ahead.
If You're Applying to Both the US and EU
A common scenario for Turkish students:
Scenario: Applying to US graduate programmes + European Erasmus or master's programmes
- Take TOEFL first (covers US applications + most EU universities accept it)
- If you receive a UK offer, take IELTS UKVI Academic at that point for the visa (you don't need it until you have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)
Scenario: Applying primarily to European programmes + possibly Chevening UK
- Take IELTS UKVI Academic — covers Chevening's specific requirement, all European programmes, and the UK visa in one sitting. US applications can use this score too (though TOEFL is preferred, IELTS is accepted by most US universities)
Preparation Tips for Turkish Students
Grammar foundation: Turkish grammar is structurally very different from English — sentence-final verbs, postpositions, and agglutinative morphology don't transfer. Both IELTS and TOEFL test English grammar directly. Build English grammar habits through deliberate practice, not just general reading.
Vocabulary approach: Turkish has borrowed from French (through Ottoman) and English in modern usage, but academic English vocabulary is largely Latin/Greek-origin. Focus on academic word lists (AWL) — the 570 word families in the Academic Word List cover approximately 10% of academic text in English.
Speaking practice: Both tests reward fluency and elaboration over accuracy alone. Turkish students who practise responding at length (3–5 sentences per answer, not just one) close the fluency gap faster.
Prepare for IELTS or TOEFL with Gabble — AI-powered speaking and writing practice with instant band scores. Identify which test format suits you, practice under real task conditions, and track your improvement before booking your test date.