Which English test to take, by destination
IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo — not every destination accepts all four, and two of ours do not require an English test at all. A straight answer per country.
The most expensive mistake we see is a student booking an English test before deciding where they are going. Test fees are not small, results take weeks, and not every destination reads every test.
Here is what each of the destinations we work with actually accepts.
The short version
| Destination | English test required? | Tests accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo |
| Australia | Yes | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo |
| United Kingdom | Yes | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE |
| Cyprus | Yes | IELTS, PTE |
| Singapore | No | — |
| Mauritius | No | — |
Two things in that table surprise most people.
Singapore and Mauritius do not require an English test for the programmes we place students into. If your English is fine but test day is what worries you, that is worth knowing before you spend anything.
Duolingo is not accepted everywhere. It is the cheapest and fastest of the four, which makes it tempting, and it is genuinely accepted in Canada and Australia. It is not on the list for the UK or Cyprus. If you are still deciding between destinations, taking Duolingo first can quietly close doors.
Choosing between the tests where you have a choice
If you are going somewhere that accepts several, the differences that actually matter to you are practical rather than academic.
- IELTS — 0–9 in half bands. The most widely recognised, and the one almost every university's admissions page is written around. Has a face-to-face speaking section, which some people much prefer and others much do not.
- TOEFL — now 1–6 in half points, after the scale changed in January 2026. If you are looking at older advice, be careful: it used to be 0–120. See what changed.
- PTE — 10–90, fully computer-based, results usually back quickly. The speaking section is recorded rather than in front of a person.
- Duolingo — 10–160, taken at home, cheapest and fastest. Accepted in fewer places, so check before you book.
Do not just chase the overall score
Most universities set a floor on each section as well as the overall. "6.0 overall with no band below 5.5" is a real and common requirement, and a student with 6.5 overall but 5.0 in writing does not meet it.
Look at the section minimums on the university's own page before you decide your result is good enough — and if you are retaking, you usually only need to lift the one section that is short.
Where to check
Requirements are set by each university, not by us, and they change. Your counsellor can tell you what the specific programmes on your shortlist ask for. If you already have a result, the fastest thing you can do is send it over and ask which of your options it already clears.
Last reviewed 27 July 2026. Accepted tests and minimum scores are set by individual universities and immigration authorities and can change at any time — always confirm against the university's own admissions page.