IELTS Vs PTE Vs TOEFL Vs Duolingo Which One To Choose to study abroad

You have decided to study abroad and belong to a non-English-speaking country, so your next step would be to appear for an English language proficiency test for university admission or visa purposes. Still, there are so many English tests available, such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo English Test, etc., and you might be wondering which one to choose, as every single test is reputable and offers so much. In this blog, we will try to understand which one to choose for study abroad: IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, or Duolingo.

First, let’s start with the basics of different English proficiency tests.

IELTS

The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is a globally recognised English proficiency test designed for individuals who want to study, work, or migrate to English-speaking countries. It has four modules: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The scoring range is from 1 to 9 bands, with 1 being the lowest and 9 the highest proficiency. The validity is for two years.

PTE

Pearson Test of English is a computer-based English language test designed for people who are looking forward to studying, working, or migrating to English-speaking countries. It assesses English proficiency in four parameters: listening, speaking, writing, and reading. PTE scoring ranges from 10 to 90. 

TOEFL

The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, is a globally recognised English language test designed for people who plan to study, work, or migrate to English-speaking countries. TOEFL has a scoring range from 0 to 120, with each section contributing up to 30 points. 

Duolingo English Test

The one English test that has gained amazing momentum in recent times is the Duolingo English Test, or DET. The most interesting facts about DET are that it is affordable, convenient, and can be taken online from the comfort of your home. 

IELTS Vs PTE Vs TOEFL Vs Duolingo Which One To Choose to study abroad

PARAMETERS	IELTS	PTE	TOEFL	DET
Conducting body	IDP IELTS	Pearson	Education Testing Service (ETS)	Duolingo
Mode of examination	Online & Offline	Computer-based	Computer-based	Compute-based
Types	Academic and General	Academic and General	Academic TOEFL	N/A
Sections	(Four Sections) Listening Reading Writing Speaking	(Three Sections) Speaking & Writing Reading Listening	(Four Sections) Listening Reading Writing Speaking	(Two Sections) Adaptive Section (reading, writing, listening, speaking) and video conference interview
Two hours & 25 minutes (paper-based)	Around USD $ 215-310	Around USD $150-220	Around USD $180	USD $65
Result	Computer-based – one to five days Paper-based—up to 13 days	Five working days	10 Days	2 days
Scoring range	0-9 bands	0-90	0-120	10-160
Time duration	Two hours & 45 minutes	Two hours & 15 minutes	Two hours & 25 minutes ( paper based)	60 minutes
Validity	Two years	Two years	Two years	Two years

IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL vs DET

The above table is enough to give a basic understanding of the different tests. and all of the English proficiency exams have their advantages and disadvantages, and selecting the right English test for you depends on the factors given below, such as –

1. Chosen study destination
2. Time
3. Cost
4. Difficulty level
5. Expectations

Chosen study destination: IELTS is the widely recognised English test exam, which is not only accepted by all famous English-speaking study destinations but also in Germany, France, Finland, etc., whereas TOEFL and Duolingo are more inclined towards USA institutions. as far as PTE is concerned, so it is more inclined towards Australian and New Zealand universities and institutions.

Time – IELTS pen and paper results get officially out on the 13th day of the exam; for TOEFL and PTE, it is 10 and 5 days, respectively, whereas for Duolingo, the time period is only two days, so if you are looking for a faster result, then go for Duolingo.

Cost: As of 2025, the cost for IELTS is around USD $215-310. PTE around USD $150-220. For TOEFL, around USD $180, and for Duolingo, it is USD $65, so if you are ok to lose more dollars from your pockets, then it is fine to choose any English exam.

Difficulty level: Since IELTS provides an opportunity to write down the essays, it involves human interference, and because of that, there is room for bias, whereas for PTE, since it is a computer-based test where a computer program rates the test, it can be considered unbiased and easier. When compared to TOEFL, it has a multiple-choice format and is considered average in difficulty. Duolingo also follows the same approach for computer rating.

Expectations: While comparing all the tests, IELTS and TOEFL are more difficult to crack; for example, in the IELTS writing section, two tasks are assigned, and unfortunately, if you fail even at one task, you will not only be disheartened by your writing task but also the overall module. For PTE, if you make a mistake in one, you still have chances to make up throughout the test since it has 20 tasks to be done. Lastly, since Duolingo is a computer-adaptive test, the difficulty of the questions will be changed based on the candidate’s performance, so the chances of scoring more increase. So, if your expectation is just to get the minimum desired score for your chosen programme, then go for PTE or Duolingo, but if you really need to check your English abilities and open a wide range of doors, then go with IELTS or TOEFL.

Since all the English proficiency exams have their own pros and cons, the selection of the test depends on one’s own preferences and choices, as suggested above, based on different parameters and factors. So choose wisely.