TOEFL vs IELTS vs PTE vs CELPIP vs Duolingo: Every Question Learners Ask, Answered

Which test is easier?

Is TOEFL harder than IELTS?

Not for everyone. They test the same four skills in different formats. The TOEFL iBT that started on 21 January 2026 is fully computer-based, takes about two hours and adapts Reading and Listening to how you're doing. You speak into a microphone, with no examiner in the room. IELTS takes 2 hours 45 minutes, can be on paper or on a computer, and Speaking is a conversation with a real examiner. People who freeze in front of a person often find TOEFL easier. People who type slowly or find it odd to talk to a screen often find IELTS easier.

Is TOEFL speaking easier than IELTS?

They're built very differently. TOEFL Speaking takes about eight minutes: you repeat seven sentences you hear, then answer four interview questions with 45 seconds each and no preparation time, all recorded on a computer. IELTS Speaking is an 11–14 minute conversation with an examiner in three parts. Writing differs too. TOEFL Writing takes about 23 minutes: ten short sentence-building items, an email and a post for an academic discussion. IELTS Writing takes 60 minutes for two tasks of at least 150 and 250 words.

Which test is easier, PTE or IELTS?

PTE Academic is taken on a computer, scored by computer and takes about two hours, and most results arrive within two business days. Many PTE tasks mix skills: Read Aloud counts toward Speaking and Reading, and Repeat Sentence toward Speaking and Listening. IELTS has a human examiner for Speaking, human markers for Writing and longer reading passages. Fluent speakers who get nervous with people often find PTE easier. People who like to explain their ideas to a person often do better in IELTS.

Is CELPIP easier than IELTS?

CELPIP-General is set in everyday Canadian life, with tasks such as writing an email, giving advice or dealing with a difficult situation, and all of it is in Canadian English. It takes 2 hours 50 minutes in one sitting, with Speaking recorded on the computer and marked by human raters. IELTS General Training has a live examiner for Speaking and uses a range of English accents. CELPIP levels also match Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels one to one, so CELPIP 7 is CLB 7, which makes your Express Entry position easy to read. Which one is easier depends on whether the Canadian context or the examiner conversation suits you better.

Is Duolingo easier than IELTS?

The Duolingo English Test (DET) is shorter, at about an hour. You take it at home whenever you like, the questions are short and adapt to your level, and results arrive within two days. That makes it easier to sit, not a shortcut: it isn't accepted for Canadian PR, Australian visas or UK visas that need a SELT. If a university accepts both, many people find the DET the quicker route. If your goal needs IELTS, it doesn't matter which is easier.

Which is easier, TOEFL or Duolingo?

Both are adaptive and computer-based. The DET takes about an hour at home. The new TOEFL takes about two hours at a test centre or at home, with longer academic reading and listening and a score from 1 to 6. US universities almost always accept TOEFL, and many accept the DET too, so check your programs first. Our DET vs TOEFL guide goes through the tasks.

Is PTE easier than TOEFL?

Both are computer-based, about two hours long, and record your speaking through a microphone. PTE has many short tasks that mix skills. TOEFL has longer academic passages and ends Speaking with a four-question interview. PTE results usually come a little faster. PTE also opens more visa doors: PTE Academic for Australia, PTE Academic UKVI for the UK and PTE Core for Canadian PR.

Is PTE Core easier than CELPIP?

Both count for Express Entry. PTE Core is scored by computer, takes about two hours and usually reports within two business days. CELPIP takes 2 hours 50 minutes; its Listening and Reading are computer-rated, and its Speaking and Writing are marked by trained human raters. Scores arrive in 2–4 business days. The CLB targets also look different on paper. CLB 9 starts at 84 in PTE Core Speaking and 88 out of 90 in Writing, while CELPIP asks for 9 in each skill. Our CELPIP vs PTE Core guide compares the tasks.

Which one is easy, PTE or Duolingo?

The DET is shorter and you take it at home. PTE Academic is at a test centre. They don't open the same doors, though: PTE Academic counts for Australian visas and PTE Academic UKVI for UK visas, and the DET counts for neither. For a university that accepts both, compare them on your own scores.

Which English test is the easiest?

There isn't one. The Duolingo English Test is the shortest, usually the cheapest and can be taken at home, which is why people call it the easiest. But ease only matters among the tests your goal accepts. After that, the format decides: a live examiner or a microphone, typing speed, accents and the kind of questions. That part is personal, and it's what Test Finder measures.

Which English test is the hardest?

There's no official ranking. Each test reports on its own scale, and the providers publish concordance tables so that a given level means roughly the same thing on each. One test feels hardest to you when its format works against you: talking to a person, talking to a computer, typing, a long sitting or unfamiliar accents.

Which test is better for you?

Is IELTS better than TOEFL?

Most universities in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Europe accept both. IELTS is the safer pick if you might also need a test for a visa. IELTS General Training counts for Canadian PR, IELTS for UKVI for UK visas, and IELTS for Australian visas. TOEFL counts for Australian visas only when booked as "Taking TOEFL for Australia" at a test centre, and not for Canadian PR or UK visas. If you only need admission, take the one whose format suits you.

Should I choose PTE or IELTS?

They're accepted in many of the same places. Australia takes IELTS and PTE Academic, UK visas take IELTS for UKVI and PTE Academic UKVI, and Canadian PR takes IELTS General Training and PTE Core. PTE suits people who want quick results and computer scoring. IELTS suits people who would rather speak to a person, or write by hand on the paper test. Our PTE vs IELTS guide compares the formats task by task.

Which is better for Canada PR, CELPIP or IELTS?

IRCC treats them the same way, and PTE Core too: each score converts to a CLB level using official tables, and the same CLB level earns the same points. CELPIP is entirely in Canadian English, and its levels match CLB directly. IELTS General Training is offered in more countries, which can matter if you're applying from outside Canada, and it's the only one with a live examiner. PTE Core is scored by computer and usually reports within two business days. Take the one you'll score higher on. Our CELPIP vs IELTS vs TOEFL guide and CELPIP vs PTE Core guide have the details.

Should I take Duolingo or IELTS?

For a university application that accepts both, the DET is quicker to book, quicker to sit and usually cheaper. IELTS is accepted in more places, including for visas, and some universities and programs still ask only for IELTS or TOEFL. Check each school's English requirement before you book.

Which English test can I take instead of IELTS?

It depends on the goal. For Canadian PR: CELPIP-General or PTE Core. For Australian visas: PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT booked for Australia, CELPIP General, C1 Advanced, LANGUAGECERT Academic, MET or OET. For UK visas that need a SELT: PTE Academic UKVI, LanguageCert, Trinity or PSI Skills for English. For university, TOEFL, PTE Academic and often the Duolingo English Test.

Which English test is most accepted?

IELTS covers the most ground. Universities accept it, and so do the visa rules of Canada (General Training), the UK (IELTS for UKVI), Australia and New Zealand. PTE comes close, but you need a different version for each country. TOEFL is widely accepted by universities, especially in the US, but not for Canadian PR or UK visas. The DET is accepted by many universities but not for those visas.

Should I switch from IELTS to PTE?

Only if PTE counts for your goal and the problem was the format rather than your English. People switch in every direction: IELTS to PTE or CELPIP, CELPIP to PTE Core, PTE or TOEFL to IELTS. If speaking to an examiner made you freeze, a computer-recorded test may suit you better. If talking to a screen felt unnatural, IELTS may. If your writing or listening is below target, the same gap will follow you. Test Finder shows which skills are holding you back on both formats before you pay for another attempt.

Which exam should I take?

Start with where the score is going. That rules some tests out straight away: for Canadian PR it's CELPIP, IELTS General Training or PTE Core, and for UK visas below degree level it's a SELT. If you're not sure where you'll apply, IELTS keeps the most options open, as long as you choose the right version: Academic for university, General Training for Canadian PR and IELTS for UKVI for UK visas. If you'll apply only to universities, choose by format and by which tests your shortlist accepts.

Canada: PR, study permits and PGWP

Which English test is required for Canada Express Entry?

One of three: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training or PTE Core. (For French, IRCC takes TEF Canada and TCF Canada.) IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test aren't accepted, and neither is IELTS One Skill Retake. Your results must be less than two years old when you apply.

Does Canadian PR accept TOEFL?

Not yet. IRCC designated ETS for economic immigration in August 2025 for TOEFL Essentials, but ETS said at the time that IRCC wasn't accepting TOEFL Essentials scores yet, and IRCC's list still didn't include it on 22 October 2026. The TOEFL iBT isn't on the list either. Canadian universities do accept TOEFL iBT for admission.

Is Duolingo accepted for Canada PR?

No. Many Canadian colleges and universities accept it for admission, but IRCC doesn't accept it for PR, the PGWP or other economic immigration programs.

Is PTE accepted in Canada?

Yes, but which PTE matters. For PR, Express Entry and the PGWP, IRCC accepts only PTE Core. PTE Academic doesn't count for immigration, but many Canadian colleges and universities accept it for admission. Our PTE Academic vs PTE Core guide explains the difference.

Which IELTS should I take for Canada PR?

General Training. IRCC doesn't accept IELTS Academic for Express Entry. Universities usually want Academic, so if you're studying first, you may need both at different times. Our Academic vs General Training guide compares them.

Does Canada study permit require IELTS if university accepts Duolingo?

Usually not. IRCC's study permit guide doesn't name a language test; your college or university sets the requirement, and many accept the DET alongside IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic. A few visa offices list test results in their country checklist, so check the one for your country. The Student Direct Stream, which had its own test rules, ended on 8 November 2024.

Which English tests are accepted for PGWP?

The same as for Express Entry: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training or PTE Core, or TEF Canada or TCF Canada. If you apply on or after 1 November 2024, you need CLB 7 in all four skills after a university degree program and CLB 5 after a college program. IRCC says the results must be less than two years old and the test should be taken in person.

IELTS vs. TOEFL: which test should I take for studying in Canada?

For admission, Canadian universities generally accept both, along with PTE Academic and often the DET, so choose by format. If you might stay for a PGWP and PR, know that neither IELTS Academic nor TOEFL counts for those: you'll need CELPIP, IELTS General Training or PTE Core. Many people take an academic test now and one of those three before they graduate. Test Finder flags this second test when your goal is study in Canada.

Which countries accept CELPIP?

Canada, where IRCC accepts CELPIP-General for PR, Express Entry and the PGWP, and Australia, where Home Affairs accepts CELPIP General for tests taken from 7 August 2025. It isn't on New Zealand's skilled residence list, and it isn't a UK SELT.

IELTS or CELPIP to boost CRS score?

Neither gives more points by itself. IRCC converts each test's scores to CLB levels, and your points follow the CLB level, skill by skill. The test you score higher on gives you more points, so compare where you'd land on each before you book a retake.

Australia and New Zealand

PTE or IELTS: which is better for Australia PR?

Both are accepted, so the choice comes down to format and speed. If you're claiming points for proficient or superior English, the exact score you need depends on the test. Home Affairs sets its own minimum scores for "competent", "proficient" and "superior" English and publishes a table for each test. PTE Academic and C1 Advanced changed for tests taken from 7 August 2025, and the new versions have their own score requirements. Use the Home Affairs table rather than a general concordance.

Which English test is accepted for Australia PR?

For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025: C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, IELTS Academic and General Training (including One Skill Retake), LANGUAGECERT Academic, Michigan English Test (MET), OET, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT. All must be taken at a secure test centre. Results from older tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 can still be used until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa.

Is TOEFL accepted in Australia?

Yes, if you take the TOEFL iBT at a test centre and choose "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when you register. Results booked any other way aren't eligible, and the Home Edition isn't accepted. TOEFL wasn't accepted for tests taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024.

Is Duolingo accepted in Australia?

Not for visas. It isn't on Home Affairs' list. If an Australian university accepts it for admission, check separately whether your visa needs a Home Affairs-approved test.

Is PTE Core accepted in Australia for PR?

No. Home Affairs lists PTE Academic. PTE Core is for Canadian immigration.

Is computer-based IELTS accepted for Australia immigration?

Yes, when you take it at a test centre: IELTS on computer is IELTS Academic or General Training, which Home Affairs accepts. What it doesn't accept is a test taken at home. It names IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, CELPIP Online, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online, MET Digital and OET@Home as examples.

Which English test is accepted in New Zealand?

For skilled residence: IELTS (Academic or General Training), TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, B2 First and OET, taken in person and no more than two years old. CELPIP and the DET aren't on that list. For student visas a test isn't mandatory, because your education provider decides. NZQA says providers other than universities can't accept the TOEFL iBT introduced in January 2026.

UK, USA, Ireland and Europe

Which is better for UK, IELTS or PTE?

At degree level and above, your university can assess your English itself, so it may accept IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL or the DET. Below degree level, and for other visas that need a Secure English Language Test (SELT), you need an approved test such as IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI. Both work, so choose by format.

Does the UK accept Duolingo for a student visa?

Only if your university accepts it for a degree-level course. The university can assess your English itself, and it must be at least B2. The DET isn't a SELT, so it can't be used where a SELT is required.

Is TOEFL accepted in the UK?

Not for visas that need a SELT: TOEFL isn't on the UK's SELT list. Some UK universities accept it for degree-level study, which is a university decision rather than a visa test.

Is IELTS UKVI harder than IELTS?

No. IELTS for UKVI is the same test; it's booked as a SELT at an approved centre, with extra identity checks. You need it when your UK visa requires a SELT. For a degree-level course, check whether your university accepts regular IELTS Academic.

Does the US prefer IELTS or TOEFL?

US universities almost always accept TOEFL, and IELTS is widely accepted too. If you're applying only to US universities, choose by format: TOEFL is shorter and fully computer-based, while IELTS has a live examiner for Speaking.

Is PTE accepted in the USA?

By many US universities, but not all, and some accept it only for certain programs. Check each program's admissions page before you book.

Does the USA accept Duolingo English tests?

Many US universities accept the DET, but not all, and some set their own minimum score or accept it only for certain programs. Check each program's admissions page before you book.

Which countries accept Duolingo for a visa?

Few. Ireland lists the DET for study visas. Canada doesn't accept it for PR or the PGWP, Australia and New Zealand don't list it for visas, and it isn't a UK SELT. Where it helps is admission: many universities accept it, and some study routes rely on the university's own English check, such as UK degree-level study and Canadian study permits.

Will universities stop accepting TOEFL results from 2026?

We found no official sign of that. ETS prints a comparable 0–120 score on reports until January 2028 so institutions can compare old and new results. Some have been slower to update: in New Zealand, NZQA says providers other than universities can't accept the new TOEFL yet, and some learners report universities that still list only the old format. Check that each university names the new 1–6 score or the comparable score.

Which English test is accepted in Ireland?

Irish immigration lists Cambridge exams, the DET, IELTS (Academic and UKVI), PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT including the Home Edition, LanguageCert, Trinity ISE and others for study visas, each with its own minimum score. Your college may ask for a different score. The list was last updated in September 2024, so check it before you book.

Which is better for Europe, TOEFL or IELTS?

Both are widely accepted by European universities. Requirements vary by country and program, so check each one. For a visa or residence permit, the rules are set country by country.

Score conversions

How do I convert IELTS to CLB?

Use IRCC's table on its Express Entry language test page. It converts IELTS General Training skill by skill: CLB 7 is 6.0 in all four skills, and CLB 9 is 7.0 in reading, writing and speaking with 8.0 in listening. CELPIP is simpler, because each CELPIP level equals the same CLB level. PTE Core has its own range for each skill, shown in the table above.

What is IELTS 7 equal to TOEFL?

94 on the old 0–120 TOEFL scale, or 5 on the new 1–6 scale, according to ETS. IELTS 6.5 is 79, or 4.5.

What is IELTS 7.5 equal to TOEFL?

102 on the 0–120 scale, or 5.5 on the 1–6 scale. On the new scale, ETS maps 4 to IELTS 6.0, 4.5 to 6.5, 5 to 7.0, 5.5 to 7.5 and 6 to 8.0–9.0. Until January 2028, TOEFL score reports also show a comparable 0–120 score.

What is 100 TOEFL equivalent to IELTS?

IELTS 7.0. ETS's table puts IELTS 7.0 at 94 and 7.5 at 102 on the 0–120 scale, so 100 falls in the 7.0 range.

Is 65 PTE equal to 7 IELTS?

Yes. On Pearson's current table from July 2025, PTE Academic 63–70 corresponds to IELTS 7.0. For an Australian visa, use the Home Affairs table instead, because it sets its own PTE scores.

What is IELTS 6 equal to PTE?

PTE Academic 47–54 on Pearson's July 2025 table. IELTS 6.5 is 55–62 and IELTS 7.0 is 63–70.

How much Duolingo score is equal to IELTS?

Duolingo's 2026 guide puts DET 120–125 at IELTS 6.5, 130–135 at 7.0 and 140–145 at 7.5. Universities often set their own DET minimum, so check that before relying on a conversion.

What is a 120 Duolingo score equivalent to TOEFL?

Duolingo's 2026 guide puts DET 120–125 alongside TOEFL 87–97 on the 0–120 scale, and IELTS 6.5. For the new 1–6 TOEFL scale, Duolingo suggests converting to 0–120 first and then using ETS's table.

Is CELPIP 7 equivalent to IELTS 7?

No. CELPIP 7 is CLB 7, and CLB 7 equals IELTS General Training 6.0 in each skill. IELTS 7.0 in reading, writing and speaking reaches CLB 9, which is CELPIP 9. IELTS listening needs 8.0 for CLB 9.

What is 8777 IELTS equal in CELPIP?

Listening 8.0 with 7.0 in reading, writing and speaking is CLB 9 in all four skills under IRCC's table, which matches CELPIP 9 in each skill.

What is the PTE equivalent to CLB 7 and CLB 9?

For PTE Core, CLB 7 starts at 68 in Speaking, 60 in Listening, 60 in Reading and 69 in Writing. CLB 9 starts at 84, 82, 78 and 88. The table above shows the full bands, and IRCC's Express Entry language test page has every level. PTE Academic doesn't count for Express Entry.

Cost, results, format and retakes

Which English proficiency test is cheapest?

The Duolingo English Test usually costs a fraction of the others. The fees for TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and CELPIP are closer to one another, and they change by country, currency and test version. Compare the current fee on each provider's booking page for your country.

Do you get CELPIP results immediately?

No. CELPIP scores appear in your online account 2–4 business days after the test. For comparison, IELTS on computer usually reports in one to two days, most PTE results arrive within two business days, the DET reports within two days and TOEFL in about three. IELTS on paper can take up to 13 days.

Can I take CELPIP at home?

There is an online version, CELPIP Online, but check before you book it for a visa. Australia names CELPIP Online among the tests it doesn't accept, and IRCC's PGWP guidance says tests should be taken in person. The same caution applies to the other at-home options: the DET (online only), TOEFL iBT Home Edition and IELTS Online (Academic only) are for universities that accept them, not for Canadian PR, Australian visas or UK visas that need a SELT.

Is TOEFL Home Edition accepted?

By many universities, but not all, so check each one's English page. Ireland lists it for study visas. Australia doesn't accept it for visas, and TOEFL doesn't count for Canadian PR or UK SELT visas in any form.

CELPIP vs PTE speaking: AI or human?

In CELPIP, trained human raters score Speaking and Writing, and Listening and Reading are computer-rated. PTE is scored by computer. In both you record your speaking on a computer, as you do in TOEFL and the DET. IELTS is the only one of the five with a live examiner, in person or by video call depending on the test centre.

Is there one skill retake in PTE?

No. IELTS is the only one of the five with an official one-skill retake. IELTS One Skill Retake lets you retake one skill from a computer-based test within 60 days; UKVI and Australia accept it, but IRCC doesn't accept it for Express Entry. For PTE, TOEFL, CELPIP and the DET, you retake the whole test.

How long is IELTS valid for Canada PR?

IRCC needs results less than two years old when you apply, for IELTS General Training, CELPIP and PTE Core alike. CELPIP itself says its scores are valid for two years from the date the score report is issued. Most universities also accept results up to two years old, and Australian visas set their own time limits.