If you are applying to universities in the UK, the United States, Canada or Australia, you will almost always need to prove your English. The usual question is not "Do I need a test?" but "Which test should I book?" This comparison of IELTS vs PTE, TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test is a practical way to choose, based on where you want to study and whether a visa authority, not just a university, has to accept the result.
Test fees, dates, score tables and acceptance lists change. Confirm the requirement on your university's admissions page and on the official visa site for that country before you pay.
IELTS vs PTE, TOEFL and Duolingo: the short version
IELTS (Academic, and IELTS for UKVI when a visa requires it) is still the most widely accepted English test for UK, US, Canadian and Australian universities. If you are unsure of your destination, IELTS is usually the safest single booking, provided you take the version the visa route asks for.
PTE Academic is widely accepted in the UK, Canada and Australia, and by a growing number of institutions elsewhere. If you are aiming at Australia or the UK and prefer a computer-based test with faster results, PTE is often a strong alternative. For some UK visa applications you may need PTE Academic UKVI, not the standard test.
TOEFL iBT remains a standard option for US universities and is accepted by many institutions in Canada and elsewhere. If most of your applications are in the United States, TOEFL is often the most straightforward choice.
The Duolingo English Test is cheaper, taken at home, and accepted by many universities, especially in the US and by some in Canada and the UK. Acceptance is always institution-specific. A university offer that accepts Duolingo does not automatically mean the country's visa authority will accept it for the visa itself.
Match the test to the visa, not only to the offer
This is the point that catches people out. Admissions teams and immigration authorities can have different rules.
- United Kingdom. A university may accept a range of tests for admission. For a Student visa, many applicants must show a Secure English Language Test (SELT) on the Home Office list, such as IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI, unless the university is allowed to assess English itself. Check both your CAS guidance and GOV.UK: Student visa.
- Australia. Student and Temporary Graduate visa applications generally require an English test taken at a secure test centre. Duolingo, because it is taken at home, typically cannot meet the visa English requirement even if an Australian university accepted it for admission. Start with the Department of Home Affairs and the test lists on your visa page.
- Canada. Universities set their own admission tests. A later post-graduation work permit may also need a language result at a stated CLB/NCLC level. IELTS (Academic or General, depending on the purpose), CELPIP, PTE and some other tests appear in IRCC guidance for different applications. Confirm the accepted test for the exact application you will file on canada.ca.
- United States. Universities decide which tests they accept for admission. There is no single US student-visa English test in the same way as the UK SELT system, but your offer letter will still set a minimum score.
How to choose in practice
- Write down every university and visa route you might use in the next 12 months.
- List the tests each university accepts, and the minimum overall score and section scores.
- Check the visa English rule for that country, including whether the test must be a UKVI or in-centre version.
- Pick the test that satisfies the strictest rule on your list. If one university or visa needs IELTS UKVI, that may decide it.
- Book an official date from the test provider, not from a middleman who offers "special slots" or guaranteed scores.
Official starting points include IELTS and British Council or IDP booking pages, Pearson PTE, ETS TOEFL, and the Duolingo English Test.
Format, timing and preparation
IELTS Academic can be taken on paper or on a computer, with a separate speaking interview. PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT are computer-based, with speaking recorded in the test centre (or, for some TOEFL versions, in an official at-home format where that is offered). Duolingo is a shorter adaptive test taken on your own computer, with an identity check and a recorded writing or speaking sample.
Result times differ and can change, so read the provider's current timeframe when you book. If a university or visa deadline is close, a faster-reporting test can matter more than a small difference in fee. Fees themselves vary by country and should be checked on the official booking page.
Prepare with official sample questions first, then add a course or tutor if you need one. Employers and universities care about the score, not about a prepaid "VIP" package. If you are using a waiver (for example, a previous degree taught in English), get that confirmed in writing from the university before you skip the test. A waiver for admission may not help with a visa.
Checklist
- Confirm the exact test name, including UKVI or "Academic" versus "General Training" where that applies.
- Check section minimums, not only the overall band or score.
- Check how long the result remains valid, usually two years for many tests, and whether your university uses the date of the test or the date of application.
- Leave time for a resit. Do not book your only attempt three days before a CAS or PAL deadline.
- Keep the official score report and login details; you will often need to make results available to more than one institution.
Frequently asked questions
Is Duolingo enough for a fully funded scholarship that says "no IELTS"?
Sometimes, but only if that scholarship and the host university both accept Duolingo, and only if your visa authority does too. "No IELTS" usually means "another test or a waiver may be accepted," not "no English proof at all."
Should I take IELTS General or Academic?
Degree admissions almost always want the Academic module. General Training is a different test, often used for some work or migration applications. Check the exact module named on the form.
Can I use one test for the UK, Canada and Australia?
Sometimes yes, if every university and visa route on your list accepts that test and version. That is why IELTS Academic, or IELTS for UKVI when needed, is often the most flexible choice. It is not automatically the cheapest or the fastest.
Do I need a test if I was taught in English?
Some universities waive the test if you completed a qualification taught in English in a country they recognise. Visa rules can still require a listed test. Get the waiver in writing and check the visa page anyway.
Information checked November 2026; always confirm on the official site.