IELTS or a Cambridge exam: which should you choose?
Both are internationally recognised, and in Croatia we run both. They differ in what they are for: IELTS shows where you are on the scale at this moment, while a Cambridge exam confirms that you have reached a particular level.
As listed on 13 October 2026
Comparison
| IELTS | Cambridge exams | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | a band score on a scale up to 9 for each of the four skills, and an overall band score | a certificate at a particular level, for example B2 First or C1 Advanced |
| One test or several | one test for all levels: there is no pass or fail | a separate exam for each level |
| How long it is valid | the British Council states two years; the IELTS partners recommend that an older result be accepted only with evidence that the candidate has maintained their English | the certificate does not expire; organisations decide for themselves how old a certificate they accept |
| When the result arrives | in one to five days | a digital exam in 5 to 10 working days, a paper-based exam usually in 4 to 6 weeks |
| Where it is taken | in Zagreb and Split; IELTS for UKVI in Zagreb and Ljubljana | in Zagreb and Split, and in other towns according to the dates on ispiti.org |
| Fee | IELTS Academic and General Training: €289 | according to the price list on ispiti.org |
When to choose IELTS
- When the organisation specifically asks for it. For Express Entry, Canada accepts none of the Cambridge exams, but it does accept IELTS General Training. For UK visas that require a Secure English Language Test (SELT), the only IELTS tests that count are IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills; there are no Cambridge exams on that list.
- When you need the result quickly. The result of the test on computer arrives in one to five days.
- When you don’t know whether you will reach the level. IELTS has no pass or fail: the result shows where you are on the scale.
When to choose a Cambridge exam
- When you want a lasting certificate. The certificate does not expire. Organisations and employers nevertheless decide for themselves how old a certificate they accept.
- When the university accepts it. TU Delft, for example, accepts for admission to its English-taught bachelor’s programmes, alongside IELTS, a Cambridge certificate at C1 Advanced level or above, but no more than two years old.
- For school pupils. There are Cambridge exams from Pre A1 level, for the youngest candidates, up to level C2.
You will find everything about Cambridge exams, with dates and fees, on our other site: ispiti.org.
If you are not sure
Start with the organisation you are sending your result to: read on its page which tests it accepts and how old the result may be. If it accepts both, check your level and decide according to whether you need a lasting certificate or a quick result.
Questions and answers
Can I take both?
You can. A Cambridge certificate does not expire, and you take IELTS when an organisation or the immigration authorities specifically ask for it.