Should I take both IELTS and TOEFL exams or is one enough in Singapore for a Master's/Bachelor's?

Both TOEFL and IELTS are widely accepted for Master's applications in the USA and Singapore. The best choice depends on your comfort with the test format and your target universities' preferences.

- TOEFL iBT: Fully computer-based, including a recorded speaking section. Preferred by many US universities and accepted in Singapore. - IELTS Academic: Offers paper-based and computer-based options, with a face-to-face speaking interview. Commonly accepted in Singapore and also recognized in the USA.

Check the specific requirements of your chosen universities, as some may prefer one test or set different minimum scores. Choose the test format that suits your strengths.

The real differentiator here is not country acceptance, both tests clear that bar easily, it is test format and how your specific department, not just the general graduate school, sets its minimum score, since some departments require higher thresholds than the university's published floor.

TOEFL iBT vs IELTS Academic

What to Check Before You Book

• Department-level minimums: some Master's programmes set requirements above the university's general graduate-school floor, so verify at the department page, not just the admissions homepage.
• 2026 TOEFL scoring change: reports now show both the new 1 to 6 scale and a comparable 0 to 120 score, and some universities are still updating their published requirements to match.
• Validity window: both TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic scores are generally treated as valid for two years, so time your test date against your actual application and intake deadlines rather than booking too far in advance.

This Information Is Also Available On

ETS, TOEFL iBT institution acceptance data; IELTS.org, Academic test format and institution recognition.

My Advice

Make a spreadsheet of every US and Singapore programme you are targeting before you book either test, and note the department's stated minimum, not the university-wide one. If you tend to freeze speaking to a screen, IELTS's live examiner format is usually the safer bet. If you would rather avoid a face-to-face Speaking section altogether, TOEFL is the more comfortable choice. Either way, book a test date with enough runway to retake once if your first attempt lands just under a programme's minimum.