IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL vs Duolingo vs Oxford ELLT — Which Should You Take?

The one distinction that matters more than any other

Before comparing fees or formats, understand this: not every English test can be used for every purpose. A test can be perfectly acceptable to a university for admission and simultaneously useless for your visa application, or vice versa. Confusing the two is the single most common — and most expensive — mistake Pakistani applicants make.

Full comparison at a glance

PKR figures fluctuate with exchange rates. See the individual fee guides linked below for current city-wise and provider-specific figures.

IELTS — the default for a reason

IELTS remains the most universally recognised test, and the only one on this list with genuinely global visa acceptance across the UK, Australia, and Canada. Its biggest practical difference from the others is the live, face-to-face Speaking test with a human examiner — some candidates perform better this way, others find it more nerve-wracking than a computer-delivered format.

• Choose IELTS if: you need a visa-approved score (IELTS for UKVI), you're applying to a wide, unconfirmed spread of universities, or you simply test better in a face-to-face speaking format
• Trade-off: the most expensive option on this list, and the slowest results turnaround of the five

PTE Academic — fastest results among the visa-approved options

PTE is fully computer-based end to end, including Speaking, and AI-scored — which appeals to students who find a live examiner intimidating. Results typically land within 48 hours, considerably faster than IELTS, and it's now widely accepted across Australia, the UK, and — via PTE Core — Canadian immigration routes too.

• Choose PTE if: you want a SELT-approved score with faster turnaround than IELTS, or you specifically prefer a computer-scored format over a live interview
• Trade-off: fewer physical test centres in Pakistan than IELTS; fee is comparable to or higher than IELTS depending on the exchange rate

TOEFL iBT — the US and Canada favourite, now much shorter

TOEFL's biggest 2026 change is real: as of January 2026, ETS cut the test from roughly three hours down to 85–90 minutes, and introduced a new 1–6 scoring scale alongside the familiar 0–120 scale during the transition. It remains the dominant test for US university admissions and is entirely computer-based, including Speaking.

• Choose TOEFL if: you're applying primarily to US or Canadian universities, or your target university has a specific TOEFL preference over IELTS
• Trade-off: not typically accepted as a visa-approved SELT for UK/Australia — confirm your specific visa requirement separately if applying to those destinations

Duolingo English Test — the budget and convenience option

At roughly a third of IELTS's cost and taken entirely from home in about an hour, Duolingo has become the go-to option for students who need a fast, low-cost admissions-only score. It's now accepted by a large and growing number of US, UK, and Canadian institutions for admission — but the acceptance is admissions-only, not visa-approved.

• Choose Duolingo if: your target university explicitly lists DET as accepted, you don't need the score for a visa, and cost or convenience is the deciding factor
• Trade-off: you may still need a separate SELT-approved test (IELTS/PTE UKVI) for your visa, effectively meaning two tests instead of one for UK/Australia-bound students

Oxford ELLT — cheapest major test, UK-admissions focused

Oxford ELLT is the newest name on this list and the least expensive of the five major tests. It's fully online, with reading and listening automated and a live video-call Speaking assessment. Acceptance is growing quickly among UK universities specifically, but it remains a smaller, more UK-concentrated partner network than the other four tests, and its 18-month validity is shorter than the 2-year standard elsewhere.

• Choose Oxford ELLT if: your specific target UK university is confirmed on the ELLT partner list, you don't need the score for a visa, and cost is a real constraint
• Trade-off: not a SELT — UK visa applicants still need IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI separately; shorter validity means less planning buffer

Which test fits your situation?

Get the exact fee for your test

Each of these tests has its own detailed cost breakdown — city-wise pricing, add-on charges, payment method tips, and what's actually included in the base fee. Full guides:

Frequently Asked Questions