Most comparisons of English tests ask which one is easiest. The more useful question is which score your visa officer and your university will both accept, because a cheap test that fails at the visa stage is the most expensive one you can book. This guide starts from the country, using official visa and test owner pages, then compares fees in India, scoring, results and retakes. For the general pattern of each exam, see our separate guides linked below.
- Duolingo is not on the GOV.UK list of approved secure English tests
- IRCC's study permit document list names no English test, but its post-graduation work permit list names IELTS General Training and PTE Core, not Duolingo
- Study Australia's approved list does not include Duolingo or at-home tests.
Which Test for Which Country Should You Book?
For ielts vs pte vs duolingo, start with the visa, not the test. IELTS and PTE cover visa routes in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, in the right version. Duolingo mainly works for university admission, so confirm it with your university and check whether your visa or later work permit needs something else.
| Country | IELTS | PTE | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IELTS for UKVI is an approved secure test; a university may accept IELTS Academic at degree level | PTE Academic UKVI is approved; a university may accept PTE Academic at degree level | Not an approved secure test; usable only if your university assesses your English itself |
| Canada | No test on the study permit list; IELTS General Training counts for the later work permit | No test on the study permit list; PTE Core counts for the later work permit | University decides for admission; not listed for the later work permit |
| Australia | IELTS Academic or General Training at a test centre | PTE Academic at a test centre | Not on the approved list |
| New Zealand | Accepted by Immigration New Zealand where a test is asked for | Pearson says Immigration New Zealand accepts it | Sponsored guide says popular universities accept it; confirm first |
| USA | School decides | School decides | School decides; EducationUSA calls it a popular admission test |
Can You Use Duolingo for a UK Student Visa?
Only in one situation. GOV.UK says students at degree level or above need English at CEFR B2, and a Higher Education Provider can assess this itself and may use a different test. Duolingo is not on the approved secure test list, so it fails wherever a secure test is required.
In practice, this means the answer depends on your university and your level. Below degree level you need CEFR B1 through a secure test, and that rules Duolingo out. Pearson also says the UKVI version of its test is needed for study below degree level and at providers that are not higher education institutions. The ordinary PTE Academic is meant for university applications.
If you are unsure whether your university will assess you itself, ask the admissions team in writing before you pay for any test. GOV.UK exempts nationals of certain listed countries, and India is not one of them. An English-taught degree from outside the UK can also count, but only if you apply to Ecctis and it confirms the degree is equivalent to a UK bachelor's or higher and was taught in English.
IELTS for UKVI: What It IsRead →Which English Test Works for a Canada Study Permit?
IRCC's study permit eligibility and document pages do not name an English test, so your university's admission rule usually decides. The catch comes later. The post-graduation work permit asks for proof at a set level, and IRCC lists CELPIP General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core, plus two French tests.
This is where many guides disagree, with some saying Duolingo is rejected for Canada and others saying it is fine. Both are partly right. A Duolingo score can get you admitted where your university accepts it, but it will not count when you apply to stay and work after your course. So you would need to sit another test later, and only General Training, not IELTS Academic, is on IRCC's list.
| Your programme | Level IRCC asks for | IELTS General Training | PTE Core minimums |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's, master's, doctoral or other university programme | CLB 7 in all four skills | 6.0 in each skill | Reading 60, Writing 69, Listening 60, Speaking 68 |
| College, polytechnic or other non-university programme | CLB 5 in all four skills | Reading 4.0; Writing, Listening and Speaking 5.0 | Reading 42, Writing 51, Listening 39, Speaking 51 |
IRCC says results must be less than two years old when you apply for that work permit, so a test taken before your course will usually have expired by then. Plan on sitting it again near graduation.
Which English Test Do You Need for Australia?
Study Australia says the Student visa requires proof of English, and lists approved tests including IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT for Australia. Scores must come from a secure test centre. At-home tests are not accepted, and Duolingo does not appear on the list.
A government notice says the minimum for a Student visa rose to IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. Your university may ask for more than the visa does, so treat that as a floor. We could not open the Home Affairs English pages directly, so check the exact scores for your test on the Home Affairs site before you book. Some Australian universities take Duolingo for admission, a Duolingo-sponsored guide says, but that does not settle the visa question, so ask the provider how you would meet the visa rule.
What Do New Zealand and the USA Ask For?
Immigration New Zealand says test results are not mandatory for a fee-paying student visa but can support your application, and your provider confirms your English. In the USA, the Department of Homeland Security says schools set English requirements, so the school's admission page is the rule that matters most.
For New Zealand, your university's entry requirement is therefore the first check. A Duolingo-sponsored guide says popular universities accept it, so look for the test on your own course page. For the USA, a school may ask you to prove your English before it issues the Form I-20, and EducationUSA describes TOEFL and Duolingo among the popular admission tests. Either way, be ready to speak confidently at a visa interview, because a score is only part of the picture.
How Much Does Each Test Cost in India?
IDP India currently lists IELTS at 19,000 rupees and IELTS for UKVI at 19,250 rupees. Guides put PTE at about 18,900 rupees, and Duolingo at about 70 US dollars. Pearson does not publish a fixed rupee fee on its open pages, so check both of those prices at checkout before paying.
| Test | Fee in India | Where this comes from |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training | 19,000 rupees | IDP India |
| IELTS for UKVI | 19,250 rupees | IDP India |
| IELTS One Skill Retake | 12,650 rupees | IDP India |
| PTE Academic | About 18,900 rupees | Guides say; confirm at checkout |
| Duolingo English Test | About 70 US dollars | Guides say, and they conflict; confirm at checkout |
The cheapest fee is not always the cheapest route. If a low-cost score leaves you needing a second test for a visa or work permit, you pay twice and lose time. Add score-sending charges and any extra attempts when you compare totals.
How Do Scoring and Results Time Compare?
IELTS gives bands from 1 to 9, PTE Academic scores from 10 to 90, and Duolingo reports out of 160. Computer IELTS results come in 1 to 2 days, PTE usually within two business days, and Duolingo in about 2 days. All three treat scores as current for about two years.
| Point | IELTS | PTE Academic | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score scale | 1 to 9 bands | 10 to 90 | Out of 160 |
| Results | 1 to 2 days on computer; 13 days for UKVI on paper, per IDP India | Usually 2 business days, sometimes up to 5 | About 2 days |
| Validity | Two years recommended | Two years from test date | Two years |
| Where you sit it | Test centre | Test centre | Online at home |
Score conversions you see online between these tests are mostly unofficial, so use the scores printed on your university's own page rather than a chart. If a course lists only IELTS, ask whether it accepts the other tests before you book one.
Duolingo English Test GuideRead →What Are the Retake Rules for Each Test?
IDP India says there is no limit on IELTS attempts, and One Skill Retake is available for computer tests within 60 days if you qualify. Duolingo allows three tests in any 30-day period, once earlier results arrive. Pearson's PTE page sets no attempt limit, but check its handbook for booking gaps.
Before paying for One Skill Retake, ask your university and check your visa route, because acceptance can differ. Plan your booking backwards from your deadline, and leave time for one retake in case you fall short.
Which Universities Accept These Tests?
Pearson says PTE Academic is accepted by more than 4,000 universities and colleges, including virtually all in Australia, Canada, the UK and New Zealand. Duolingo acceptance varies far more by country and course. Owner figures are marketing claims, so always confirm the test on your own course page before you book it.
A guide sponsored by Duolingo names Imperial College London, Southampton, Liverpool, Warwick and York among UK universities accepting it. Even so, acceptance can differ between undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the same university.
Best Universities Accepting IELTS ScoresRead →Which English Test Should You Choose?
Choose PTE Academic or IELTS if Australia is on your list, IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI for UK routes needing a secure test, and any accepted test for US admission. If you are applying to two countries, pick the test both accept, even if it costs a little more.
- Applying to the UK and Australia: an IELTS or PTE route is the safer overlap, because Duolingo is not on either official list.
- Applying only to US universities that accept it: Duolingo can save money and travel.
- Going to Canada and hoping to work afterwards: budget for IELTS General Training, PTE Core or CELPIP near graduation.
- Still undecided on a country: choose a test-centre exam rather than one you may have to replace.
AdmitKard counsellors can check your shortlisted courses and tell you which test covers all of them before you pay a fee. Rules can change, so confirm on the official page close to your booking date.