IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE vs Duolingo English Test: which English test should you take?
1 November 2026 · 2 min read
In this guide
The short answer: take the test your university, employer or visa authority asks for. If they accept several, choose by format: IELTS if you'd rather speak to a human examiner, TOEFL for many US universities, PTE if you're comfortable speaking to a computer and want fast results, and the Duolingo English Test if accepted and you want something cheaper you can take at home. Always check the official site of the test and of the institution, because acceptance and formats change.
None of these is the right test if you just want to know how well you speak at work. For that, take our free English communication test. It isn't an official exam, but it's free and tells you where you stand in ten minutes.
Side by side
| IELTS Academic / General | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run by | British Council, IDP, Cambridge | ETS | Pearson | Duolingo |
| Where | Test centre (some online options) | Test centre or at home | Test centre | At home, online |
| Speaking with | A human examiner, face to face | Recorded tasks, scored by ETS | A computer | A computer |
| Common uses | UK, Australia, Canada, NZ study and visas | US and global universities | Australia, NZ, UK universities and visas | Many universities that accept it |
The speaking sections, in one line each
- IELTS: an 11 to 14 minute conversation with an examiner in three parts. IELTS Speaking guide.
- TOEFL: since January 2026, Listen and Repeat plus Take an Interview. TOEFL Speaking guide.
- PTE: short computer-recorded tasks such as reading aloud, repeating sentences and describing images.
- Duolingo English Test: short adaptive tasks, including speaking about a picture or a prompt.
Whatever the test, speaking improves the same way
Speak out loud, against a timer, every day, and get feedback. The SpeakingLab speaking rating is a free daily drill for exactly that.
Frequently asked questions
Which is easier, IELTS or PTE?
Neither is objectively easier. IELTS Speaking is a conversation with a person; PTE is recorded by a computer. Pick the format you're more comfortable with, if your institution accepts both.
Is there a free English test with a certificate?
SpeakingLab's English Communication Test is free and gives a verifiable certificate, but it's not an official exam for visas or admissions. For those you need IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or the Duolingo English Test.
How should I prepare for the speaking section?
Daily timed speaking practice with feedback, plus the official sample tasks for your test.