IELTS vs PTE vs Duolingo: Which English Test Do Universities and Visas Actually Accept?

Choosing between IELTS, PTE and Duolingo looks like a question about which test is easiest. It isn't. The real question is who has to accept your score: the university, the visa office, and, if you plan to stay and work, the immigration department after you graduate. Those three don't always accept the same tests. Pick the cheapest one without checking, and you can end up paying for a second test later. Here is what each country accepts as of September 2026, and how to choose.

The Three Tests at a Glance

• IELTS (Academic / General Training): ₹19,000 in India (₹19,250 for IELTS for UKVI). Taken at a test centre, on computer or paper. The most widely accepted test for visas and immigration.
• PTE Academic: ₹18,900 including GST, the same for PTE Core and PTE Academic UKVI. Taken on computer at a centre and scored by AI, with results usually in 1–2 days. Popular for Australia.
• Duolingo English Test (DET): US$70, taken at home, about an hour long, with results in roughly two days. Accepted by most US universities and many in the UK and Canada, but not accepted as visa evidence in Australia, and not a UK SELT.

IELTS and PTE scores are generally valid for two years. That matters if you test early and your visa or post-study work application comes later.

USA: The University Decides

The US government doesn't set an English test requirement for the F-1 visa. Your university's admission requirement is the only one that counts, and the visa officer sees your I-20, not your band score. Duolingo is accepted at most top US universities and a large share of graduate programs, so it is often the cheapest valid option for US-only applicants. Two things to check: some departments (often in engineering and business schools) set their own higher minimums or accept only TOEFL/IELTS, and graduate assistantships that involve teaching can have separate speaking requirements. Read each program's page. The general graduate admissions page isn't enough. If you are also sitting the GRE or GMAT, see our GRE vs GMAT guide to plan both tests together.

UK: It Depends on Your Course Level

For a degree-level course (bachelor's, master's, PhD) at a university, UKVI lets the university assess your English itself at CEFR B2 level. That's why many UK universities accept Duolingo or regular IELTS Academic/PTE Academic for a master's, and some waive the test for Indian students with strong Class 12 English marks. Below degree level (foundation, pre-sessional English, some pathway programs), you need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider: IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, LanguageCert SELT or Trinity. Standard IELTS or Duolingo won't do. Book the UKVI version if there's any chance your CAS will need a SELT. For fees and fund requirements, see our UK student visa 2026 update.

Canada: The Test for Admission Is Not the Test for Your Work Permit

This is the trap most Indian students fall into. Since the Student Direct Stream ended, IRCC no longer requires a specific English test for the study permit. Your university or college sets the requirement, and many accept Duolingo, IELTS Academic or PTE Academic.

But since 1 November 2024, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) needs its own language result: CLB 7 in all four skills for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates. Only IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core count, plus TEF/TCF for French. IELTS Academic, PTE Academic and Duolingo are not accepted for the PGWP. CLB 7 on IELTS General Training means at least 6.0 in each band. Because results must still be valid when you apply for the PGWP, most students take a fresh General Training or PTE Core test in their final semester. Budget for it now. Our PGWP 2026 guide covers the full rules.

Australia: No Duolingo, and No Fully Online Tests

Home Affairs accepts IELTS (Academic or General Training), PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, LanguageCert Academic, Michigan English Test, OET and CELPIP. Since 7 August 2025, tests delivered completely online are not accepted. That rules out Duolingo and at-home versions of other tests for your visa, even if your university accepted Duolingo for admission.

For the Subclass 500 student visa, the usual minimum is IELTS 6.0 overall (5.5 if packaged with an ELICOS English course), or roughly PTE Academic 50 (42 with ELICOS). Your university will usually ask for more: IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0 is typical for postgraduate courses. The test must be no more than two years old when you lodge. Full visa details are in our Subclass 500 guide.

Which Test Should You Take?

• Take Duolingo if: you are applying only to US universities (or UK degree courses) that accept it. It's the cheapest option and you can take it from home.
• Take PTE Academic if: Australia is your main target, you are comfortable on a computer, and you need results fast.
• Take IELTS Academic (or IELTS for UKVI) if: you are applying to several countries at once. It is accepted almost everywhere, and the UKVI version also covers UK SELT cases.
• Plan on IELTS General Training or PTE Core later if: you are going to Canada and want to work there after graduating. Whatever you took for admission, the PGWP needs one of these.

Test scores and fees here are as of September 2026. Verify on each university's admissions page and on gov.uk, ircc.canada.ca or immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before booking. For the full list of what else goes into your file, see our student visa documents checklist.

Book the Right Test the First Time

A ₹19,000 test taken for the wrong purpose costs you money and, worse, weeks before a deadline. Book a free consultation with Goodwind. We'll look at your shortlisted universities and countries and tell you exactly which test, which version and which score to aim for.