Quick answer: For US universities and grad school, take TOEFL (accepted at 13,000+ institutions worldwide, gold standard for US programs). For UK Student Visa, take IELTS UKVI (the only test accepted for UK immigration). For Australia, New Zealand, or Canada visas, IELTS is safest. For speed and budget (60-minute test, about $70, results in 48 hours), Duolingo works if your target schools accept it. PTE Academic is a strong alternative accepted widely in Australia and increasingly in the US. Not sure which fits your situation? Take the 60-second quiz below for a personalized recommendation, or scroll down for the full side-by-side comparison.
| Feature | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic | Duolingo | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test duration | About 90 minutes (2026 format) | About 2 hours 45 minutes | About 60 minutes | About 2 hours |
| Format | Computer at test center or Home Edition | Computer or paper at test center; Speaking with live examiner | Fully online at home | Computer at test center |
| Scoring scale | 1.0 to 6.0 band (0.5 increments) | 0 to 9 band (0.5 increments) | 10 to 160 | 10 to 90 |
| Sections | Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing | Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing | Adaptive, mixed skills | Speaking and Writing (combined), Reading, Listening |
| Speaking format | Recorded, AI + human scored | Live face-to-face examiner | AI, adaptive video prompts | Recorded, AI-scored |
| Cost (approximate) | $200 to $250 (varies by country) | $215 to $260 | $65 to $70 | $210 to $230 |
| Result turnaround | 4 to 8 business days | 3 to 5 days (computer), 13 days (paper) | 48 hours | 2 business days |
| Score validity | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Institutions accepted at | 13,000+ | 12,500+ | 6,500+ | 3,500+ |
| UK Student Visa (UKVI) | Not accepted | IELTS UKVI accepted | Not accepted | Not accepted for UKVI |
| Best fit for | US universities, academic English, adaptive-format comfort | UK/Australia/Canada visa, live Speaking, broad acceptance | Speed, budget, tech-savvy applicants | Australia, AI-scoring comfort |
TOEFL 2026 Reading uses 2 academic passages plus 1 daily-life passage in the new adaptive format. Questions include Complete the Words (a vocabulary-in-context task unique to TOEFL 2026) and traditional comprehension questions. IELTS Reading presents 3 longer passages totaling 2,150 to 2,750 words with 40 questions in 60 minutes. Duolingo adapts passage length to your performance level. PTE uses shorter passages with re-order paragraphs and fill-in-the-blank types.
Easier for you if: You prefer shorter, adaptive passages with vocabulary tasks: TOEFL. You prefer longer passages with more time per question: IELTS. Practice TOEFL Reading with our free Complete the Words practice and Read in Daily Life practice.
TOEFL 2026 Listening is adaptive, with academic lectures, conversations, announcements, and a new Choose a Response task type. IELTS Listening plays audio once with 40 questions across 4 recordings (conversations and monologues). PTE Listening includes summarize spoken text and fill-in tasks. Duolingo integrates listening into its adaptive mixed-skill format.
Easier for you if: You are comfortable with North American accents and academic lectures: TOEFL. You prefer British/Australian accents and everyday conversations mixed with academic content: IELTS. See our TOEFL 2026 Reading and Listening Guide for detailed task breakdowns.
This is where the tests differ most. TOEFL 2026 Speaking includes Listen and Repeat (7 sentences) and Take an Interview (4 spontaneous 45-second responses with zero prep time), all recorded and scored by AI plus human raters. IELTS Speaking is a live 11-to-14-minute face-to-face interview with a trained examiner. PTE Speaking is fully computer-recorded with read-aloud, repeat-sentence, and describe-image tasks. Duolingo uses adaptive video prompts scored by AI.
Easier for you if: You are comfortable recording yourself and speaking to a screen: TOEFL or PTE. You strongly prefer talking to a real person: IELTS (this is the single biggest reason many students choose IELTS). See our TOEFL 2026 Speaking Guide for the new task types.
TOEFL 2026 Writing includes Build a Sentence (10 grammar-focused sentence construction items), Write an Email (80-120 words, 7 minutes), and Write for an Academic Discussion (100-130 words, 10 minutes). IELTS Writing requires a 150-word Task 1 (describe a chart or graph) and a 250-word Task 2 (academic essay). PTE Writing combines summarize written text and a 200-300-word essay. Duolingo includes short writing prompts adapted to your level.
Easier for you if: You prefer shorter, more structured writing tasks: TOEFL (the 2026 format replaced the long essay with three shorter tasks). You prefer a single extended essay: IELTS Task 2. Practice TOEFL Writing with our free Build a Sentence practice and read the TOEFL 2026 Writing Guide for rubric details.
Use this table to translate scores across the four tests and CEFR levels. Ranges are approximate and based on official concordance data from ETS, IDP/IELTS, Duolingo, and Pearson. Always verify against your target institution's published requirements.
| CEFR | TOEFL 2026 Band | TOEFL Old (0-120) | IELTS Band | Duolingo | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C2 | 6.0 | 114 to 120 | 8.5 to 9.0 | 145 to 160 | 85 to 90 |
| C1 (high) | 5.5 | 110 to 113 | 8.0 | 130 to 144 | 79 to 84 |
| C1 | 5.0 | 100 to 109 | 7.0 to 7.5 | 120 to 129 | 68 to 78 |
| B2 (high) | 4.5 | 87 to 99 | 6.5 | 105 to 119 | 59 to 67 |
| B2 | 4.0 | 72 to 86 | 6.0 | 95 to 104 | 51 to 58 |
| B1 (high) | 3.5 | 57 to 71 | 5.5 | 80 to 94 | 43 to 50 |
| B1 | 3.0 | 42 to 56 | 5.0 | 65 to 79 | 36 to 42 |
Need to convert a specific TOEFL score in either direction? Use our free TOEFL score converter.
TOEFL is the gold standard for US university admissions. Harvard, MIT, and Stanford require TOEFL Band 5.0+ (approximately 100+ on the old scale). Most top-20 US universities set similar thresholds. State universities like Arizona State and University of South Florida accept Band 4.0 (approximately 72-86 on the old scale). IELTS is accepted at 100% of US universities that accept TOEFL, so either works. Duolingo is accepted at many US universities but the list is smaller and varies by program.
For graduate programs, particularly MBA, PhD, and Master's degrees, TOEFL remains the most universally accepted test. Many programs explicitly list TOEFL score requirements in their admissions criteria, making it the lowest-risk choice. If your application targets both selective and safety schools, a single TOEFL score covers the full range.
Verdict: TOEFL for US grad school and maximum optionality. IELTS is an equally valid alternative. Verify Duolingo acceptance at each target school. See our TOEFL 2026 Score Guide for university-specific requirements.
Oxford and Cambridge use IELTS 7.0 to 7.5 as their standard English requirement. IELTS UKVI is the only test accepted by the UK Home Office for Student Visa applications. TOEFL is accepted by UK universities for academic admission but cannot be used for the visa itself. This means applicants targeting UK universities need IELTS UKVI even if their university also accepts TOEFL for the academic side.
This creates an important practical consideration: if you are applying to both UK and US universities simultaneously, you may need two test scores. IELTS UKVI satisfies the visa requirement and most UK university admissions, while TOEFL covers the US applications. Some students take both within the same preparation window to maximize their options.
Verdict: IELTS UKVI is the safest choice for UK-bound students. If you are also applying to US universities, consider taking both TOEFL and IELTS.
University of Toronto, McGill, and UBC accept both TOEFL and IELTS. Typical TOEFL requirement is Band 5.0 (old 100+). IELTS is common for students who also need the score for Canadian immigration purposes, since IELTS is widely recognized by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada).
Verdict: Either TOEFL or IELTS works for university admission. IELTS has a slight edge if you also need the score for immigration.
University of Melbourne, ANU, and University of Sydney all accept TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE Academic. PTE is particularly popular in Australia because Pearson is an Australian company and PTE results are fast (2 business days). For Australian student visa purposes, IELTS and PTE are the most widely recognized.
Verdict: IELTS or PTE for visa-related applications. TOEFL is accepted for university admission at most Australian institutions.
Bocconi, LUISS, IESE, INSEAD, HEC Paris, and LBS all accept TOEFL. Requirements typically range from Band 4.5 to 5.0 for MBA and MSc programs. IELTS is also broadly accepted across European institutions. Duolingo acceptance varies significantly by institution and is less common at traditional European business schools.
For students applying to multiple European programs simultaneously, TOEFL's broad acceptance across the continent makes it the most versatile single-test choice. Scores from one sitting can be sent to INSEAD in France, IESE in Spain, Bocconi in Italy, and LBS in the UK with one registration. The TOEFL Home Edition is available throughout Europe for students who prefer to test from home.
Verdict: TOEFL is the safe European default for business schools and international programs. IELTS is equally accepted. See our Bocconi SAT guide for detailed European admissions context.
NUS (National University of Singapore), HKU (University of Hong Kong), and University of Tokyo accept both TOEFL and IELTS. TOEFL is particularly common in Singapore and Hong Kong due to strong US university ties in those markets. In Japan, TOEFL is the dominant English proficiency test for university admissions.
For students in Southeast Asia applying to both local and international programs, TOEFL scores travel well across borders. A single TOEFL score can serve applications to NUS in Singapore, a US university, and a European business school simultaneously. IELTS is equally valid for most of these institutions, so the choice often comes down to format preference and whether you also need the score for immigration purposes.
Verdict: TOEFL is common and widely accepted across East Asia. IELTS is also accepted at most institutions.
Neither is universally easier. TOEFL is easier if you are comfortable with computer-based tests, academic English, and North American accents. IELTS is easier if you prefer a live face-to-face Speaking section and shorter reading passages. The 2026 TOEFL is 90 minutes (down from 2 hours) with adaptive Reading and Listening. Try a practice test for each and see which fits your strengths.
TOEFL is the gold standard for US universities, accepted by 13,000+ institutions including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Ivy League schools. Most US universities require Band 5.0+ (old scale 100+) for graduate programs. IELTS is accepted at 100% of US universities that accept TOEFL, so either works. Duolingo is accepted at many US universities but the list is smaller, so verify each target school.
No. As of 2026, IELTS UKVI is the only English test accepted by the UK Home Office for Student Visa applications. TOEFL is accepted by UK universities for academic admission but cannot be used for the visa itself, meaning applicants need IELTS UKVI even if their university accepts TOEFL.
Duolingo is accepted at 6,500+ institutions worldwide, including many top US universities. Harvard, MIT, and Stanford have accepted Duolingo for undergraduate admissions in recent years, but graduate programs vary by department. Always verify with the specific program before relying on Duolingo alone.
TOEFL Band 5.0 corresponds to approximately IELTS 7.0-7.5, TOEFL Band 4.5 to IELTS 6.5, TOEFL Band 4.0 to IELTS 6.0. In CEFR terms, Band 5.0 maps to C1, Band 4.5 to B2 (high), Band 4.0 to B2. Use our free TOEFL score converter for specific score-to-score translation.
TOEFL Home Edition, IELTS Online, Duolingo (fully at-home by default), and PTE Home Edition are all available. Home tests require a quiet room, working webcam, stable internet, and often specific software. IELTS Online is available in most countries but not for UK Student Visa. Duolingo is at-home by default.
Duolingo is the cheapest at approximately $65-70. TOEFL costs $200-250, IELTS $215-260, and PTE $210-230, depending on country. Duolingo's price advantage is significant if your target institutions accept it.
TOEFL is about 90 minutes as of the January 2026 redesign (down from 2 hours). IELTS is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes. Duolingo is approximately 60 minutes. PTE is approximately 2 hours. TOEFL is now the shortest of the three traditional academic tests.
TOEFL is accepted at Bocconi, INSEAD, HEC Paris, IESE, LBS, and most European business schools. Typical requirements are Band 4.5 to 5.0 for MBA and MSc programs. IELTS is also broadly accepted. See our Bocconi SAT guide for detailed European admissions context.
US PhD programs typically prefer TOEFL, with minimums around Band 5.0 (old 100+). Many require higher Speaking sub-scores (23+) if you are seeking Teaching Assistant funding, since TAs must be understandable in English classrooms. UK PhD programs usually accept both TOEFL and IELTS with similar thresholds.
Yes. There is no restriction on taking multiple English tests. Some students take both to hedge against a low score on one, or because different target universities have different preferences. Both scores are valid for 2 years from the test date.
The 2026 TOEFL is shorter (90 minutes instead of 2 hours) and uses a 1-6 band scale instead of 0-120. The content is not easier: rubrics and academic English standards remain. What changed is the reporting scale, the section timing, and new task types like Complete the Words, Build a Sentence, and Take an Interview. Preparation still targets the same skills.
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