IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE vs Duolingo: Which Test to Take

If you need an English test for university or a visa, the four names you'll see most are IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and the Duolingo English Test. No one of them is officially easier. Each measures English in a different way and is accepted by different institutions. The right choice depends on where you're applying, which visa or admission route you need, and which format suits you. This guide compares them, then gives a simple way to choose.

Which English test is easiest?

There's no official answer, and a single "easiest" claim will mislead you. Difficulty depends on your strengths:

PTE Academic is one computer-based test of about 2 hours. Pearson says its scores combine AI scoring with human expertise. It suits people comfortable with typing and speaking into a microphone.
TOEFL iBT covers reading, listening, speaking and writing, and now reports section and overall scores on a 1–6 scale (half-point steps) since 21 January 2026. ETS also gives a comparable 0–120 total during a two-year transition.
IELTS reports bands from 0 to 9. Each of the four sections gets its own band, and the overall band is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band.
Duolingo English Test is a shorter, adaptive online test that many students find convenient. Confirm its current format and score scale on its official website.

Take a practice test in each format you're considering. Whichever one gives you a higher score in practice is usually the better fit.

Which test for which goal?

Your goal	Start with	Why
Australia study, work or PR visa	PTE Academic	Home Affairs English levels list PTE Academic scores.
Canada PR (Express Entry)	PTE Core	IRCC accepts PTE Core for economic immigration.
UK visa that needs a SELT	PTE Academic UKVI or another SELT	Check gov.uk for the approved list.
University admission, abroad	The institution's own list	Acceptance varies by school and course.
US university	PTE Academic or TOEFL, depending on the school	Many US schools list several tests.

Always check the requirement on the institution's or government's official page before you book. Requirements change.

Side-by-side comparison

	IELTS	TOEFL iBT	PTE Academic	Duolingo English Test
Score scale	Bands 0–9	1–6 (since Jan 2026); comparable 0–120 shown for a two-year transition	10–90	Check Duolingo's official site
Sections	Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking	Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing	Speaking & Writing, Reading, Listening	Check Duolingo's official site
How overall score is made	Average of four bands, rounded to nearest half	Average of four section scores, rounded to nearest half band	Pearson's scoring (AI with human expertise)	Check Duolingo's official site
Validity	Two years recommended	Check ETS	Two years from test date	Check Duolingo's official site
Where taken	Test centres (see IELTS.org)	Test centre or at home (see ETS)	Test centre, about 2 hours	Online, at home

Cells marked "check official site" are ones we could not confirm from official pages at the time of our last review. We left them out rather than guess.

How scores compare

The tests use different scales, and TOEFL institutions may still quote the old 0–120 numbers or the new 1–6 bands, so read each requirement carefully. ETS says your report shows both during the transition. The tests use different scales, so there is no exact conversion between them. Universities and visa authorities set their own minimum score for each test. Use these pages to explore the numbers:

PTE to IELTS converter uses Pearson's published PTE Academic and IELTS concordance.
PTE score chart shows how PTE scores map to the common English levels.
PTE vs IELTS compares the two tests in more depth.

Admission vs visa: which test is accepted where?

Admission and visa rules are different:

University admission: The institution decides. Each university sets its own list of accepted tests. Check your target course's page.
Visa: The government decides, and the list is fixed. For example, Canada's economic immigration uses PTE Core, and UK SELT routes need an approved test. See PTE accepted countries for the country-by-country overview.

A test that works for admission may not work for a visa, and the reverse is also true. Check both before you book.

Three steps to pick the right test

List your targets. Write down the universities or visa route you're aiming for.
Check acceptance. Confirm each target's accepted tests and minimum scores on its official page.
Try a practice test. Choose the format where your practice scores are highest, then book the earliest date you can prepare for.

If you're preparing for PTE, start with the PTE exam overview and the free practice tests. If you're still deciding, the PTE mock test is a good way to see the format before you commit.

Answers are based on official sources as of 9 October 2026. Requirements change, so confirm with the institution or government before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Which is easier, IELTS, TOEFL or PTE?

No test is easy for everyone, and none is officially easier than the others. The best test for you is the one whose format suits your strengths. PTE is a computer-based test of about 2 hours with AI scoring and human review, so it suits people comfortable typing and speaking into a microphone. Check each test's format on its official site before you decide.

Is Duolingo easier than PTE?

Some students find the Duolingo English Test quicker and more convenient, but that doesn't make a high score easier to reach. Acceptance is the deciding factor. Check whether your university or visa authority accepts Duolingo, and confirm its current score scale on Duolingo's own website.

Is PTE accepted for Canada PR?

For Canada's economic immigration programmes, IRCC accepts PTE Core rather than PTE Academic. Check the current IRCC language test list before you book.

Is PTE accepted for a US university?

US universities set their own English requirements, and the accepted tests differ by school. Check the English requirement on each university's official admissions page.

How long is an IELTS, TOEFL or PTE score valid?

PTE Academic and PTE Core scores are valid for two years from the test date. IELTS recommends that results are considered valid for two years after the test. For TOEFL iBT and Duolingo, check the issuer's site. Check the validity rule of the university or visa authority you're applying to, because some use a shorter period.

Can I convert my IELTS score to PTE or TOEFL?

Only approximately. Each test uses its own scale (TOEFL iBT is now 1–6, with 0–120 shown during a transition), and no official one-to-one conversion exists for all four. Pearson publishes a PTE Academic to IELTS concordance, which our converter uses. For other tests, use the score your institution publishes.

IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo mein kaunsa test easy hai?

None of them is officially easier. PTE and Duolingo are computer-based, IELTS and TOEFL have different formats. Pick the test your university or visa route accepts and the format you're most comfortable with, then practise that format.

Which English test is best for studying abroad?

The best test is the one your target university accepts for your course. Most universities list which tests they accept and the minimum score. Start with the institution's official requirement, then choose the test you can prepare for and book in time.

Which test should I take for an Australian student or PR visa?

Australia's Home Affairs English levels use PTE Academic, among other tests. If your target is Australia, check the current English levels and the test list on the Home Affairs website before you book.