IELTS, TOEFL and PTE are the three English language proficiency tests most universities accept from international applicants whose first language is not English. All three assess listening, reading, writing and speaking, but they differ in length, scoring, cost and which visa authorities recognise them.
The right choice is rarely about which test is easier. It is about what your target university lists in its entry requirements, what your destination country accepts for a visa, and how quickly you need the result. This guide sets out the verified 2026 position for each test.
- TOEFL iBT moved to a 1 to 6 banded score scale on 21 January 2026, with a comparable 0 to 120 score also reported during a two-year transition
- IELTS will stop offering paper-based tests from mid-2026 and move fully to computer delivery, with exact timelines varying by market
- PTE Academic remains a single two-hour computer test scored 10 to 90
- For UK immigration routes, only IELTS for UKVI, IELTS Life Skills, PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home are approved secure English language tests.
What Is IELTS and How Is It Structured?
IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press and Assessment. The Academic and General Training versions run for two hours 45 minutes across Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and results are reported as bands on a nine-band scale.
IELTS Academic is taken by candidates applying for higher education, while IELTS General Training is aimed at migration and work applications. Both share the same Listening and Speaking components; the Reading and Writing components differ. A result is normally treated as valid for two years.
IELTS can be taken on computer or, until mid-2026, on paper. The total test time of two hours 45 minutes is split across the four components, with Listening, Reading and Writing taken in one sitting and Speaking held on the same day or within a few days at some centres.
- Listening: approximately 30 minutes, four recorded parts with 10 questions each
- Reading: 60 minutes including transfer time, three sections totalling 2,150 to 2,750 words
- Writing: 60 minutes, two tasks of at least 150 and 250 words
- Speaking: 11 to 14 minutes, an interview in three parts
Results for IELTS on computer are released 1 to 5 days after the test, compared with 13 days for the paper test. From mid-2026 all IELTS tests move to computer delivery, and in selected markets a Writing on Paper option lets candidates handwrite the Writing component.
How IELTS band scores are calculatedRead →What Is TOEFL iBT After the January 2026 Update?
TOEFL iBT is run by ETS and tests Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. From 21 January 2026 it reports four section scores and an overall score on a 1 to 6 scale in half-point steps, with an equivalent 0 to 120 score shown during a two-year transition period.
The overall score is the average of the four section scores rounded to the nearest half band, so an average of 5.125 is reported as 5. The updated test is adaptive, adjusting to the candidate's level as it progresses, and uses a more modern mix of academic passages and campus conversations.
ETS advises allowing about two hours at the test centre. The timed sections themselves are considerably shorter than the pre-2023 format that ran for around three hours.
- Reading: 50 items, about 30 minutes of base time
- Listening: 47 items, about 29 minutes of base time
- Writing: 12 items including Write an Email and Write for an Academic Discussion, 23 minutes
- Speaking: 11 items across listen-and-repeat and interview tasks, 8 minutes
Scores appear in the ETS account three days after the test date and remain valid for two years. There is no cap on the number of attempts, but a candidate cannot take TOEFL iBT more than once in any three-day period.
How to book an English test slot in IndiaRead →What Is PTE Academic and How Long Is It?
PTE Academic is Pearson's computer-based English test, delivered as a single two-hour session covering Speaking and Writing, Reading and Listening. It is scored from 10 to 90 on the Global Scale of English, results usually arrive within two business days, and scores stay valid for two years from the test date.
PTE Academic is fully computer delivered and computer scored, including the speaking responses, which is why results are returned faster than the other two tests. Pearson also runs PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home for UK immigration purposes, and PTE Core for Canadian economic immigration.
- Speaking and Writing: 76 to 84 minutes across nine question types
- Reading: 22 to 30 minutes across five question types
- Listening: 31 to 39 minutes across eight question types
Pearson states that PTE Academic is accepted for study by more than 4,000 universities and colleges worldwide, including institutions across Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. Results are usually available within two business days, though they can take up to five days in some cases.
How Do IELTS, TOEFL and PTE Compare in 2026?
All three test Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, but they differ in length and scoring. IELTS runs two hours 45 minutes on a nine-band scale, TOEFL iBT takes about two hours and now reports 1 to 6, and PTE Academic is a two-hour computer test scored 10 to 90.
| Factor (2026) | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owned or run by | British Council, IDP IELTS, Cambridge University Press and Assessment | ETS | Pearson |
| Total test time | 2 hours 45 minutes | About 2 hours at the test centre | About 2 hours |
| Score scale | Nine-band scale with half bands | 1 to 6 in half points from 21 January 2026, with 0 to 120 also shown for two years | 10 to 90 on the Global Scale of English |
| Section timing | Listening 30 min, Reading 60 min, Writing 60 min, Speaking 11 to 14 min | Reading 30 min, Listening 29 min, Writing 23 min, Speaking 8 min of base time | Speaking and Writing 76 to 84 min, Reading 22 to 30 min, Listening 31 to 39 min |
| Results turnaround | 1 to 5 days on computer, 13 days on paper | 3 days in the ETS account | Usually 2 business days, up to 5 in some cases |
| Score validity | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Test fee in India | INR 19,000 Academic and General Training | INR 15,254 registration fee on the ETS India fee page | Not published as a fixed figure; shown by Pearson at booking |
| UK visa (SELT) status | IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills approved | Not on the approved SELT list | PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home approved |
| Retake rule | Full retest, plus One Skill Retake on computer | No limit, but not more than once in a 3-day period | Rebook subject to test centre availability |
Which Test Should You Choose for Your Destination?
Check the university and visa rules first. For UK visa routes only IELTS for UKVI, IELTS Life Skills, PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home are approved secure English language tests. Universities in the UK, Australia, Canada and the United States usually publish equivalency tables that accept all three for admission purposes.
Most universities set their entry requirement as an IELTS band and then publish an equivalency table for the other tests. The table below shows the postgraduate equivalencies published by the University of York, including the separate column now needed for TOEFL iBT tests taken from January 2026.
| IELTS Band (York PG 2026) | TOEFL iBT before January 2026 | TOEFL iBT from January 2026 | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | 102 with 24 in each component | 5 overall with 5 in each component | 73 with 67 in each component |
| 7.0 | 96 with 24 in Writing and 23 in all others | 5 overall with 5 in each component | 67 with 67 in Writing and 61 in all others |
| 6.5 | 87 with 23 in Writing and 21 in all others | 5 overall with 5 in each component | 61 with 61 in Writing and 55 in all others |
| 6.0 | 79 with 17 Listening, 18 Reading, 20 Speaking, 21 Writing | 5 overall with 5 in each component | 55 with 55 in Writing and 51 in all others |
| 5.5 | 72 with 17 Listening, 18 Reading, 20 Speaking, 17 Writing | 5 overall with 5 in each component | 51 with 51 in each component |
Requirements vary by institution and by course. The University of Sheffield, for example, sets a minimum of IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each component for both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants, and notes that some academic departments require a higher score. Always confirm the figure on your own department's page.
How Much Does Each Test Cost in India?
IDP IELTS India lists INR 19,000 for IELTS Academic and General Training, INR 19,250 for IELTS for UKVI and INR 12,650 for a One Skill Retake. The ETS India fee page lists TOEFL iBT registration at INR 15,254. Pearson does not publish a fixed India price and shows the PTE Academic fee during booking.
IELTS Life Skills at A1 and B1 costs INR 18,000 in India, and the IELTS fee is the same whether the test is taken on computer or on paper. ETS lists separate charges for late registration, rescheduling, additional score reports and section score reviews on top of the base TOEFL fee.
Pearson confirms that PTE Academic fees vary by country and are displayed once you select a test centre and date, so the price you see at booking is the figure to rely on rather than any third-party listing.
Which Test Is Accepted for a UK Student Visa?
For UK immigration routes that need a secure English language test, the approved options are IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills from the IELTS SELT Consortium, plus PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home from Pearson. TOEFL is not on the current approved SELT list, so check the route before booking.
The Home Office also approves Trinity College London ISE and GESE tests, LANGUAGECERT SELT qualifications and Skills for English UKVI from PSI Services. The CEFR level you need depends on the immigration route you are applying under, so read the route guidance before you book a slot.
This matters because a university may happily accept TOEFL iBT for admission while the same applicant still needs an approved SELT for the visa. If your route requires a SELT, booking the standard version of a test instead of the UKVI version is a costly mistake.