IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE Academic vs Duolingo: Which test you should take

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Piyush
Piyush Kohli
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Sep 22, 2022 19:01 IST

Being the universal language, English is a compulsion for students who aspire to study abroad. Universities abroad follow the rules of the global education system, which judges on the basis of your score in standardised tests designed to test your language fluency. There are predominantly three standardised English language tests that are widely accepted in most foreign universities i.e. IELTS (International English Language Testing Service), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), PTE (Pearson Test of English), and Duolingo English Test.

While all three of them evaluate your English language skills based on four parameters of Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, the ongoing debate of which test to take has become a moot point amongst aspirants. Before landing on any conclusion, it is essential that we consider our requirements or preferences. 

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If you are looking for TOEFL vs IELTS? In this article, we will inform you which exam you should take. Also, if you are looking for IELTS vs PTE, then we have informed the difference between these exams as well. Let us closely examine the factors to consider before zeroing in on which test to take up:

Exams have been compared on the basis of versions, organizer (conducting body), and fees.

Exam

Versions

Organizer

Fee

IELTS

- Academic

- General Training

British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge Assessment English

INR 16,250

TOEFL

- TOEFL PBT (TOEFL Paper-based Test)

- TOEFL iBT (TOEFL Internet-based Test)

Educational Testing Service (ETS)

US$195

PTE

-  PTE Academic

- General

- Young Learner Test

Pearson PLC Group

INR 14,700

Duolingo (DET)

Duolingo Academic

Duolingo

$49

Exams have been compared on the basis of their structure, duration, and score.

Exam

Structure

Duration

Score

IELTS

Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening

2 hours 45 minutes

1 to 9

TOEFL

Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening

3 hours

0 to 120

PTE

Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening

2 hours

10 to 90

Duolingo (DET)

Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, Production

1 hour

0 to 160

Exams have been compared on the basis of their results, popularity, and acceptance.

Exam

Results

Popularity

Acceptance

IELTS

3 to 5 days after the test date

Widely popular in Canada, UK, and Australia

11000+ International Colleges

TOEFL

6-10 days after taking the test

Widely popular in USA and Canada

11,500+ International Colleges in 160 countries

PTE

Declared online within two working days

Recognized in many institutions in the UK, Australia, USA, and Canada

3,000+ International Colleges

Duolingo (DET)

Within 48 hours of completing the test

USA, Canada

Accepted by thousands of institutions worldwide

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Quick links:

IELTS Important Dates

TOEFL Important Dates

PTE Academic Important Dates

Register for IELTS

Register for TOEFL

Register for PTE Academic

IELTS Syllabus

TOEFL Syllabus

PTE Academic Syllabus

IELTS Preparation Tips

TOEFL Preparation Tips

PTE Academic Preparation Tips

IELTS Practice Papers

TOEFL Practice Papers

PTE Academic Practice Papers

IELTS Test Centres in India

TOEFL Test Centres in India

PTE Academic Test Centres in India

IELTS vs. TOEFL: Which should you take?

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System whereas, TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language. To apply to abroad universities one needs to take the IELTS Academic test or TOEFL iBT. You can take both these exams at the test centres located near you. Above we have given the difference between IELTS and TOEFL in detail whether it is fee, exam structure or duration of the exam.

Format of both the tests

Skills

IELTS Academic

No. of Questions

Listening

30 mins

40

Reading

60 mins

40

Writing

60 mins

2

Speaking

11-14 mins

3

 Skills

TOEFL iBT

No. of Questions

Listening

41-57 mins

28-39

Reading

54-72 mins

30-40

Writing

50 mins

2

Speaking

17 mins

4

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'Which test to take?' is mostly a matter of opinion and individual preference. If you are not taking external assistance to help you decide, you may decide on the test on the basis of the location you choose to study. For instance, if you are planning to join universities/colleges in North American countries, TOEFL is the right choice for you. The IELTS score is generally accepted worldwide, with a higher acceptance rate in the European countries as well as New Zealand, and Australia. Nowadays, PTE Academic is also accepted in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It is always recommended that you conduct thorough research before finalizing an exam. To avoid further confusion, you may always seek assistance from the study abroad experts, who with their valuable experience and expertise can help you make useful decisions.

You might also want to read Choosing between TOEFL and IELTS: A Comparison. If already finalised, you might be interested to know When to start preparing for IELTS or TOEFL?

Also check:

About the Author
Piyush Kohli
Study Abroad Expert

With a plethora of knowledge of the education domain, Piyush Kohli has been involved with study abroad for over 5 years and counting. He comes with prior experience on the complexities of the study abroad applicatio... Read Full Bio

Comments

R

Ramanpreet Kaur

8 months ago

I am doing G.N.M (General Nursing and Midwifery)now and i want to do bsc nursing in USA and I want to ask whether I am eligible for sat exam or not and what to do IELTS ,toefl and PTE and how many marks are required in these tests

Reply to Ramanpreet Kaur

S

Sri Varsha

9 months ago

CAN U SUGGEST GOOD UNIVERSITY FOR BACHELORS BIO TECHNOLOGY

Reply to Sri Varsha

A

Aprant Agarwal

8 months ago

Hi. Kindly elaborate which country are you aiming for. You can go through these links as well: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/canada/bsc-colleges-dc" style='word-wrap:break-word;'>">https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/canada/bsc-colleges-dc , https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/usa/bsc-colleges-dc" styl...Hi. Kindly elaborate which country are you aiming for. You can go through these links as well: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/canada/bsc-colleges-dc" style='word-wrap:break-word;'>https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/canada/bsc-colleges-dc , https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/usa/bsc-colleges-dc" style='word-wrap:break-word;'>https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/usa/bsc-colleges-dc , and https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/uk/bsc-colleges-dc" style='word-wrap:break-word;'>https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/uk/bsc-colleges-dc

J

Jayesh Gurnani

9 months ago

i got 5 band in one module can i go canada

Reply to Jayesh Gurnani

A

Aprant Agarwal

8 months ago

Please refer to average IELTS score for Canada universities: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/average-ielts-scores-at-the-best-universities-in-canada-articlepage-882" style='word-wrap:break-word;'>">https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/average-ielts-scores-at-the-best-universities-in-canada-articlepage...Please refer to average IELTS score for Canada universities: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/average-ielts-scores-at-the-best-universities-in-canada-articlepage-882" style='word-wrap:break-word;'>https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/average-ielts-scores-at-the-best-universities-in-canada-articlepage-882

M

MAYURI PATIL

a year ago

I want to work only in New Zealand, which exam I should give?

Reply to MAYURI PATIL

P

Piyush KohliStudy Abroad Expert

a year ago

Hi Mayuri, at Shiksha Studyabroad, we assist you with your queries related to study abroad education. All the best!

3 years ago

hlo mam i have completed my bachelor in Business information management from Kathmandu and scored 64 in PTE and planning to go canada for higher study, whether PTE is accepted by high commission of Canada or not?

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