TOEFL vs IELTS vs PTE vs Duolingo in 2026: Which English Test Should You Take?

For years the choice was simple: TOEFL for the US, IELTS for almost everywhere else. That is no longer true. On January 21, 2026, ETS replaced the TOEFL iBT's familiar 0–120 score with a 1–6 scale and cut the test to about 90 minutes. IELTS now lets you retake a single section. The Duolingo English Test and PTE Academic are accepted by far more universities than five years ago.

Meanwhile visa rules, not universities, often decide which test you can use. This guide compares the four main tests as they stand in late 2026 and helps you pick the one that fits your destination, your timeline and how you perform under pressure.

What changed in the TOEFL in 2026?

The new TOEFL iBT is shorter and partly adaptive, meaning the difficulty adjusts to how you are doing. The base time for the four sections is about 90 minutes: Reading 30 minutes, Listening 29, Writing 23 and Speaking 8. Task types are new too, with shorter everyday reading and listening items, an email-writing task and a speaking interview with no preparation time.

The biggest change is the score. Each section is now scored from 1 to 6 in half-band steps, and your overall score is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band. ETS says the scale is designed to line up more closely with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) that many universities and governments use. For two years after the change, score reports also include a comparable 0–120 score, so universities can adjust.

How the old and new TOEFL scores compare

If a university still lists a requirement such as 90 or 100 on the old scale, ETS's table suggests you would be aiming for roughly 4.5 to 5 on the new scale. Always check the university's own conversion, as some have published new minimums.

How do TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and Duolingo compare?

Which English tests count for student visas?

This is where many students get caught out. A university may accept a test for admission while the immigration authority does not accept it for the visa.

United States

There is no government list of approved tests for the F-1 visa. Each university sets its own policy, and most accept TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo, with PTE increasingly common. Your test score is part of the admission decision, and the visa officer may ask about it.

United Kingdom

For a Student visa you need English at CEFR level B2 for degree-level study, or B1 below degree level. If you are studying at degree level with a university, the university can assess your English itself and may accept tests such as TOEFL, PTE Academic or Duolingo. For courses below degree level, or if the university asks for one, you need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider, such as IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI. Nationals of a list of majority English-speaking countries are exempt.

Australia

The Department of Home Affairs accepts a set list of tests, including IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, OET, LanguageCert Academic and the Michigan English Test. Tests must be taken at a secure test centre: at-home tests such as TOEFL Home Edition are not accepted. Duolingo is not on the visa list, though some universities accept it for admission. If you take the TOEFL for Australia, register carefully using the Australian option ETS provides.

Canada

Canada closed the Student Direct Stream on November 8, 2024. That fast-track route required a set IELTS or equivalent score. Now most applicants apply through the regular study permit process, where your university or college sets the English requirement. A strong score still helps show you can succeed in your programme.

How do I choose the right English test?

1. List every university and every visa you might need. Check each one's accepted tests and minimum scores, including minimums for each section, not only the overall score.
2. Rule out tests that do not work for all of them. If Australia or a UK course below degree level is on your list, a Duolingo score alone will not be enough.
3. Take a free practice test for your top two options. Many students score noticeably differently on computer-scored speaking than with a human examiner.
4. Consider timing. If your deadline is close, a test with quick results, such as PTE or Duolingo, may matter more than anything else.
5. Plan for a retake. Book your first attempt at least two to three months before your earliest deadline. IELTS on computer lets you retake one section within 60 days.

Which test suits which kind of student?

• You prefer speaking to a person: IELTS, where the speaking test is a face-to-face conversation.
• You type quickly and are comfortable with computer-based tasks: TOEFL or PTE.
• You need a result fast or cannot reach a test centre: Duolingo, if every university and visa on your list accepts it.
• You are applying to Australia or need a UK SELT: IELTS, PTE or TOEFL taken at a test centre, depending on the visa's list.

How Pave helps

Pave keeps each university's requirements, deadlines and tasks in one place, so you can see which English test works for your whole list and when you need your score. Counselors can track every student's testing plan alongside their applications.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert my old TOEFL score to the new 1–6 scale?

ETS publishes a comparison table. Roughly, a total of 114 or more is a 6, 107 or more is 5.5, 95 or more is 5, 86 or more is 4.5 and 72 or more is 4. Until about January 2028, new score reports also show a comparable 0–120 score.

Is the TOEFL shorter now?

Yes. Since January 2026 the four sections take about 90 minutes of base time (Reading 30, Listening 29, Writing 23, Speaking 8), down from close to two hours. ETS still advises allowing about two hours in total.

Is the Duolingo English Test accepted for a UK student visa?

It is not an approved Secure English Language Test. But for degree-level study, UK universities can assess your English themselves, and some accept Duolingo for admission. Check with the university before you book.

Can I use TOEFL Home Edition or IELTS Online for an Australian student visa?

No. Australia's Department of Home Affairs accepts tests taken at a secure test centre only. ETS confirms Home Edition scores are not accepted for Australian visas.

What is IELTS One Skill Retake?

If you took IELTS on computer and fell short in one section, you can retake just that section within 60 days instead of the whole test. In India it costs INR 12,650 in 2026. Check that your university accepts it.

Written by

Kareena Chawla

Marketing & Outreach Manager, Pave

Kareena Chawla is a Marketing Strategist with an MBA from Nottingham Trent University and 5+ years of growth, brand, and performance marketing experience across the UK and UAE. She excels at building structured, data-driven marketing engines in fast-moving environments.