Do You Need TOEIC or IELTS for Jobs? What Score Is Enough?

Admin Loy · · upskilling
Do You Need TOEIC or IELTS for Jobs? What Score Is Enough?

When you need a TOEIC or IELTS score, how to tell what score is enough for the job you want, which test to choose and an 8-week prep plan.

You scroll through a job post you want to apply for and find a small line at the bottom: "TOEIC 600 or above will be given special consideration." Another post just says "good English communication" with no score. Now you wonder whether you need to take a test before applying, and if so, what score is enough.

The short answer: it depends on the role and the company. There is no single score that works for every job. But there is a clear way to work out whether you should take a test yet and what score to aim for.

What TOEIC and IELTS are and how they differ

TOEIC

TOEIC is developed by ETS and focuses on English in a work context. The version Thai job seekers use most is TOEIC Listening and Reading, which measures listening and reading. In Thailand it is administered by CPA (Thailand). PREP, citing CPA (Thailand), states that the Public Test fee is 2,000 baht per sitting.

IELTS

IELTS measures all four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. There is an Academic version for further study and a General Training version for work or migration to some countries. A PREP article updated for 2026 states that the IELTS fee in Thailand is 8,860 baht, the same at both British Council and IDP.

Fees change, so always check the latest price directly with the test centre before booking.

Which should you choose?

How to tell what score is enough

Instead of trusting numbers passed around by word of mouth, use data from the jobs you actually want.

  1. Collect 10 job posts at the same role and level you are applying for
  2. Note how many mention a score, and what score
  3. Look at the wording: "minimum" means a screening gate, while "special consideration" means an advantage, not a requirement
  4. Aim slightly above the most common number to leave a margin

In general, multinational companies, roles dealing with overseas clients or teams, and management trainee programmes ask for scores more often than jobs that mainly use Thai. But actual requirements vary from company to company.

Many organisations set a limit on how old a score can be. If your score is old, ask HR whether it is still accepted.

An 8-week TOEIC prep plan

  1. Weeks 1 to 2: take one full practice test to find your starting score and weak spots, noting which parts you miss most
  2. Weeks 3 to 4: practise your weak parts 30 to 60 minutes a day and review work vocabulary such as meetings, finance and travel
  3. Weeks 5 to 6: take one timed full test per week and practise time management in the reading section
  4. Weeks 7 to 8: review questions you keep getting wrong, take a final practice test, then rest well before test day

If you want structured learning, browse English and workplace skills courses from our partners on the courses page.

Common mistakes

Showing your English without a score

A test score opens the door, but what gets you the job is using the language for real on interview day.

Where to start

  1. Collect 10 target job posts from the job listings page and note their English requirements
  2. Decide whether you need a test, and which one
  3. Take one practice test to learn your starting score
  4. Plan your 8 weeks and book a test date so you have a deadline
  5. Meanwhile, practise answering English interview questions in Interview Lab

If you have an English interview coming up, read preparing for an English job interview with confidence.