FROM INDIA · CHAPTER 5
IELTS, TOEFL, PTEor Duolingo?
IELTS Academic is the safest single choice: every university and visa authority in our seven destinations accepts it. PTE Academic is equally accepted for Australian and UK university entry and gives results in about two days. TOEFL iBT is strongest for the USA and was redesigned in January 2026. Duolingo is cheap and taken at home, but Australian visas do not accept it. For French- or German-taught programmes you need DELF/DALF or TCF, or TestDaF, DSH or Goethe C1.
Published by Althéa Consulting · Adviser: Harshita Kohli
Source review: · How to use our guides
- Safest all-round
- IELTS Academic
- Fastest result
- PTE Academic
- Typically 2 days
- Score validity
- 2 years
- IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo
- DELF / DALF
- Valid for life
Which test each country accepts
| Destination | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Yes | Many universities | Yes | Many universities | Degree-level: the university decides. Below degree level: a Home Office SELT (e.g. IELTS for UKVI) |
| USA | Yes | Yes | Most | Most | No visa test; the university decides |
| Canada | Yes | Yes | Yes | Many | Post-study work permit needs CELPIP, IELTS General, PTE Core, TEF or TCF Canada |
| Australia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Universities only | The student visa list excludes Duolingo |
| Ireland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Many | University sets the score |
| Germany (English-taught) | Yes | Yes | Some | Some | German-taught: TestDaF, DSH, Goethe C1/C2, telc C1 Hochschule |
| France (English-taught) | Yes | Yes | Some | Some | French-taught: DELF B2/DALF C1 or TCF |
Fees and booking in India
| Test | Fee in India | How to book | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (paper or computer) | ₹19,000 reported from April 2026 (was ₹18,000) | IDP India website; test centres in 75+ cities | 3–5 days (computer), 13 days (paper) |
| TOEFL iBT | About ₹16,900–₹18,000 (sources differ) | ETS account; centre or Home Edition | About 4–8 days |
| PTE Academic | ₹18,900 reported from March 2026 | Pearson PTE website; centres in major cities | Usually within 2 days |
| Duolingo English Test | USD 70 (about ₹6,000) plus applicable tax | Online, at home, any time | About 2 days |
| DELF / DALF | Roughly ₹5,000–₹16,000 by level (unverified range) | Alliance Française centres, set sessions | 4–8 weeks |
| TCF (TP / DAP / Canada) | Roughly ₹14,000–₹20,000 (unverified range) | Alliance Française centres | 2–4 weeks |
| Goethe-Zertifikat | Roughly ₹8,000–₹22,000 by level (unverified range) | Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan | 4–6 weeks |
How to choose
- 01
Start from your visa
If your country's visa or post-study route names specific tests (Australia, UK below degree level, Canada's work permit), pick from that list first.
- 02
Check every university on your shortlist
Pick the test all of them accept. IELTS Academic almost always qualifies.
- 03
Match the format to you
PTE and computer IELTS suit fast typists; paper IELTS suits those who prefer writing by hand; TOEFL and PTE score speaking by recording rather than a live examiner.
- 04
Book 6–8 weeks ahead
Leave time for one retake before application deadlines. Summer slots in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chandigarh fill early.
IN DEPTH · TAP A TOPIC TO OPEN
What changed in 2025–26
TOEFL iBT changed on 21 January 2026: a shorter, adaptive test with section bands from 1 to 6 aligned to the Common European Framework (CEFR). Score reports show both the new 1–6 band and the familiar 0–120 scale during the transition. If a university still lists a 0–120 requirement, the old-scale score on your report applies.
Canada: since November 2024 all post-graduation work permit applicants must show language results: CLB 7 for university bachelor's, master's or doctoral graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates, with CELPIP, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada. These are not the academic tests you used for admission, so plan a second test before graduating.
Australia accepts IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, OET, Michigan and LanguageCert Academic for the student visa; the test must be taken within the previous two years.
French and German tests
France: DELF B2 or DALF C1 never expire and are the strongest proof for French-taught degrees. The TCF is valid for two years; the TCF DAP is required for first-year licence applications through the DAP procedure. Many English-taught French master's ask for IELTS 6.0–6.5 or equivalent.
Germany: German-taught degrees ask for TestDaF (level 4 in each part), DSH-2, Goethe-Zertifikat C1/C2 or telc C1 Hochschule. Even for English-taught programmes, A1–A2 German makes daily life and part-time work much easier.
Can I skip the test?
Some UK, Irish, US and French universities waive English tests for Indian students with high Class 12 English marks (often 70–80% on CBSE or ISC) or an MOI letter. A waiver from the university does not always satisfy the visa officer, especially for Australia and for UK courses below degree level, so read both requirements.
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
Yes for UK universities and the UK student visa when the university confirms your level. In the USA most universities accept PTE Academic, but a few still list only TOEFL or IELTS, so check each programme.
No. Some Australian universities accept it for admission, but the Department of Home Affairs does not list it for the student visa. Take IELTS, PTE or TOEFL instead.
Two years from the test date. DELF and DALF diplomas do not expire; TCF results are valid for two years.
Academic for university admission and student visas. General Training is for work and migration, including Canada's post-graduation work permit language requirement.
Same content and scoring, taken at a Home Office-approved centre with extra identity checks. You need it only when the visa requires a SELT, for example for UK courses below degree level.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
FRANCE GUIDE
IELTS, TOEFL & French tests
IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, DELF, DALF and TCF scores needed for English-taught and French-taught programmes in France, and when to book them.
UK GUIDE
IELTS, TOEFL & PTE
IELTS, PTE, TOEFL and Duolingo scores UK universities ask for, the B2 visa rule and when you can use a waiver based on Class 12 English.
FROM INDIA
Month-by-month timeline
Month-by-month study abroad plan from India for a September 2027 start: tests, applications, scholarships, loans, visa, flights and a document checklist.
ADMISSIONS
Admissions process
How applications work, from shortlist to offer, and where students go wrong.
YOUR OWN PLAN
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studying abroad from India?
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