Before you can start a master's abroad you almost always have to prove your English — and the first decision is which test. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo all exist; the right choice depends less on the test and more on who accepts it.
Start from acceptance, not preference
The single biggest mistake is booking a test before checking acceptance. The rule of thumb:
- IELTS is the most widely accepted for UK, Commonwealth and scholarship applications — Chevening, Commonwealth and most UK universities publish IELTS‑first requirements.
- TOEFL iBT dominates US admissions and is accepted by thousands of institutions worldwide.
- PTE Academic and Duolingo are faster and cheaper, and acceptance is growing — but scholarship schemes are often stricter than universities, so confirm before booking.
Our tests guide compares all of them — score scales, providers and where each is accepted.
The scores don't map one‑to‑one
An IELTS 7.0 is not "the same number" as a TOEFL score, and TOEFL iBT itself moved to a new 1–6 band scale in 2026. Don't convert by memory — each of our per‑test pages shows the scale and the actual range programmes ask for.
Which is "easier"?
There is no universally easier test — it depends on your strengths. Computer‑delivered tests (TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo) suit fast typists; IELTS offers paper or computer and a face‑to‑face speaking interview some candidates prefer. What matters is preparing for the specific format.
Once you've picked a test, preparation is everything. Our specialist sites cover IELTS end to end — free real‑exam practice at IELTS Actual Tests, band‑calibrated essays at IELTS Writing Prep, and speaking answers built from your own stories at IELTS Speaking Prep. Start from the tests overview.