If you need to prove your English proficiency for university admissions, immigration, or professional licensing, you're facing one of the most common — and most confusing — decisions in the process: which English test should you take? The four major options in 2026 are TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, and the Duolingo English Test (DET). Each has different formats, scoring systems, costs, and acceptance patterns.
This guide breaks down exactly how these tests compare so you can pick the one that gives you the best chance of hitting your target score with the least stress and expense.
Quick Overview: The Four Tests at a Glance
TOEFL iBT is produced by ETS and has been the gold standard for academic English testing for decades. It's a computer-based test lasting about 2 hours, scored on a scale of 0-120, and widely accepted by universities in North America, Europe, and Asia. It emphasizes academic English with reading passages, lectures, and essay writing.
IELTS Academic is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. It can be taken on paper or computer, lasts about 2 hours and 45 minutes, and is scored on a band scale of 0-9. IELTS is especially popular for UK, Australian, Canadian, and European university admissions, as well as immigration to Commonwealth countries.
PTE Academic is produced by Pearson and is fully computer-based, lasting about 2 hours. Scored on a scale of 10-90, it's gained significant traction since 2020, particularly for Australian and UK immigration and an increasing number of universities worldwide. Its fully automated scoring means results come back in 1-2 days.
Duolingo English Test (DET) is the newest and most disruptive option. It's taken online from home, lasts only about 1 hour, costs $65, and delivers results within 48 hours. Scored on a scale of 10-160, it gained massive acceptance during the pandemic and is now recognized by over 5,000 institutions worldwide.
Test Format Comparison
Understanding the format differences helps you play to your strengths.
TOEFL iBT has four sections: Reading (35 minutes, 2 passages), Listening (36 minutes, lectures and conversations), Speaking (16 minutes, 4 tasks recorded into a microphone), and Writing (29 minutes, 1 integrated task and 1 academic discussion). The test is entirely computer-based at a test center. The speaking section is the most unusual element — you speak into a microphone rather than to a human examiner, which some people find easier (no social pressure) and others find awkward.
IELTS Academic also has four sections: Listening (30 minutes, 4 sections with increasing difficulty), Reading (60 minutes, 3 long academic passages), Writing (60 minutes, a graph/chart description and an essay), and Speaking (11-14 minutes, a face-to-face interview with an examiner). The speaking section is the key differentiator — if you perform better in conversation than talking to a screen, IELTS may suit you. The paper-based option is also unique among the four tests.
PTE Academic integrates skills more heavily than the others. Speaking and Writing are combined into one section (54-67 minutes), Reading takes 29-30 minutes, and Listening takes 30-43 minutes. Tasks often test multiple skills simultaneously — for example, you might listen to a lecture and then write a summary, testing listening and writing together. PTE's AI scoring also means pronunciation and oral fluency are measured precisely by algorithm.
Duolingo English Test has the most distinctive format. It's an adaptive test, meaning questions get harder or easier based on your responses. The test has three main sections: a 45-minute adaptive section testing literacy, conversation, comprehension, and production; a 10-minute video interview (unscored but sent to institutions); and a 5-minute writing sample (also unscored but sent to institutions). You take it at home on your own computer with camera and microphone monitoring.
Cost and Convenience
This is where the tests diverge dramatically.
TOEFL iBT costs approximately $200-$250 depending on your country. Test dates are available most weekends at authorized centers. Results take 6-10 days. You can send scores to up to four institutions for free; additional score reports cost $20 each.
IELTS costs approximately $230-$260. Test dates are available multiple times per month at centers worldwide. Results take 3-5 days for computer-based, 13 days for paper-based. You can send scores to up to five institutions for free.
PTE Academic costs approximately $200-$230. It offers very flexible scheduling with test dates almost daily at Pearson centers. Results come back in just 1-2 business days, which is a major advantage if you're on a deadline. Unlimited free score sending to institutions.
Duolingo English Test costs just $65 — dramatically cheaper than the others. You can take it anytime from home (24/7 availability). Results arrive within 48 hours. Unlimited free score sending. You can also take it as many times as you want (with a minimum 24-hour gap between attempts).
For students on a budget or those who need flexibility, DET's price and convenience are hard to beat. For those who need results fast, PTE's 1-2 day turnaround is the quickest among center-based tests.
Score Equivalencies
Universities and immigration bodies often publish conversion tables. Here are approximate equivalencies for common thresholds:
A "good" score (equivalent to IELTS 6.5, the most common university requirement) translates to roughly TOEFL 79-93, PTE 58-64, and DET 110-120.
A "high" score (equivalent to IELTS 7.0, required by competitive programs) translates to roughly TOEFL 94-101, PTE 65-72, and DET 120-130.
An "excellent" score (equivalent to IELTS 7.5+, required by top universities and immigration skilled visas) translates to roughly TOEFL 102-109, PTE 73-78, and DET 130-140.
Keep in mind that these are approximations. Each institution sets its own minimum scores, and they don't always align perfectly with published conversion tables. Always check your target institution's specific requirements.
Which Test Should You Choose?
The "best" test depends entirely on your situation. Here's a decision framework:
Choose TOEFL if your target universities are primarily in the United States or Canada, you're comfortable with academic English and long reading passages, you prefer speaking into a microphone rather than to a person, and you have access to a test center and the budget for a $200+ test.
Choose IELTS if you're applying to UK, Australian, or Canadian institutions (especially for immigration purposes), you perform better in face-to-face conversation than recorded speaking, you prefer the option of paper-based testing, or you need a test that's universally recognized for both academic and immigration purposes.
Choose PTE if you need results fast (1-2 day turnaround), you're applying for Australian immigration (PTE is heavily used for visa applications), you prefer fully computer-based testing with AI scoring (no human bias), or you're comfortable with integrated skill tasks.
Choose Duolingo English Test if budget is a concern ($65 vs $200+), you need maximum flexibility (test from home, anytime), your target institutions accept DET (check their website first), you want to take multiple attempts affordably, or you perform well in adaptive testing formats.
Acceptance and Recognition
This is the critical factor that narrows your choice. Not every institution accepts every test.
TOEFL and IELTS have the broadest acceptance worldwide and are safe choices for almost any application. If you're unsure which test your institution prefers, these two are the safest bets.
PTE has grown rapidly and is now accepted by thousands of universities and immigration authorities, but it still has gaps — some European and Asian institutions don't list it as an option. Always verify before booking.
DET acceptance has exploded since 2020. Over 5,000 programs at institutions like Yale, Columbia, Duke, and many others now accept it. However, some institutions still don't, particularly in the UK and for immigration purposes. Always check your specific program's requirements page.
Our detailed guide on English test score requirements by country covers institution-specific requirements if you need more granular information.
Preparation Tips for Each Test
Regardless of which test you choose, preparation strategy matters.
For TOEFL, practice with official ETS materials and focus on note-taking skills — the integrated tasks require you to synthesize information from reading and listening passages. The Academic Discussion writing task is new as of 2023, so make sure your prep materials cover it.
For IELTS, practice writing under strict time pressure — 60 minutes for two writing tasks is tight. For the speaking test, practice thinking and speaking simultaneously on unfamiliar topics. Recording yourself and reviewing is extremely helpful.
For PTE, pronunciation and oral fluency drills are essential since the AI scorer weighs these heavily. Practice the "Read Aloud" and "Repeat Sentence" tasks extensively — they impact both speaking and reading scores.
For DET, take the free practice test on the Duolingo website to understand the adaptive format. Practice typing quickly and accurately, as several tasks require written responses under time pressure. The video interview and writing sample aren't scored, but institutions do review them.
Our Recommendation
If you're applying to a broad range of institutions and want maximum flexibility, take IELTS or TOEFL — you can't go wrong with either.
If you're budget-conscious or need a quick, convenient option and your target schools accept it, the Duolingo English Test offers remarkable value.
If you're focused on Australia or need the fastest results, PTE Academic is your best bet.
And if you're still unsure, check out our individual deep-dive guides: IELTS Band 7 preparation plan, PTE Academic score chart, Duolingo English Test accepted universities, and our comparison of which is easier: IELTS or PTE.