IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL: Which English Test Should You Take?

Picking an English test feels like a big decision, and it is. The wrong test can mean a score that your university or visa office will not accept, however good it is. The right test is the one that is accepted for your purpose and that suits the way you speak.

This guide compares IELTS, PTE Academic™ (and PTE Core) and the TOEFL iBT® test. It starts with acceptance, because that rules options out, and then looks at how the speaking sections differ. Rules change, so treat every acceptance fact below as a starting point and check the latest requirements on the official page before you book.

Step 1: Start with who will read your score

Studying at a university

Universities set their own English requirements, often per programme. Many accept all three tests, but the minimum scores and the accepted versions (for example, whether an at-home edition counts) differ. The only reliable source is the admissions page for your programme. If it lists several tests, you have a real choice and can move on to Step 2.

Migrating to Australia

The Australian Department of Home Affairs lists the tests it accepts. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the list includes IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT, along with several others. Two details matter:

For TOEFL iBT, Home Affairs says you must select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when you register, or your result may not be accepted.
The test must be taken at a secure test centre. Home Affairs names at-home versions it does not accept, including IELTS Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition.

The score you need depends on your visa subclass, so check the visa’s own eligibility page too.

Migrating to Canada (Express Entry)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts three English tests for Express Entry: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core. IELTS Academic, PTE Academic and TOEFL are not on that list. IRCC also says results must be less than two years old when you create your profile and when you apply. If Canada is your goal, the choice is between IELTS General Training and PTE Core (or CELPIP).

Moving to the UK

For most UK visas that need a Secure English Language Test (SELT), the UK government lists the approved tests. The list includes IELTS for UKVI and PTE Academic UKVI. TOEFL is not on it. For a Student visa at degree level, GOV.UK says your university can assess your English its own way, to at least CEFR level B2, so check what your university asks for.

Work and professional registration

Employers and registration bodies (nursing, medicine, engineering and so on) set their own rules, and they are often stricter than universities. Find the body’s published requirement before you look at anything else.

Quick summary. Canada narrows you to IELTS General Training or PTE Core. A UK visa usually points to IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI. Australia and most universities leave you a choice. That is when the speaking section becomes the deciding factor.

Step 2: Compare the speaking sections

The three speaking tests measure the same skill in very different ways.

	IELTS	PTE Academic	TOEFL iBT (2026 format)
Who you speak to	A human examiner, face to face (or by video call for IELTS Online)	A computer, at a test centre	A computer (recorded prompts)
Length	11–14 minutes, 3 parts	Part of a longer combined section with several task types	About 8 minutes, 11 items
Task style	Conversation, a 1–2 minute talk, discussion	Read aloud, repeat, describe images, retell, summarise, respond to situations	Listen and Repeat, then a short interview
Scored by	The examiner	AI, with human review of Content on some tasks	AI scored, according to ETS’s 2026 test specifications
Scale	Bands 0–9	10–90	1–6

Sources: IELTS Speaking format, Pearson’s PTE scoring page, ETS TOEFL iBT content.

IELTS suits you if…

You talk more easily to a person than to a screen.
You can keep going in a conversation, give reasons and examples, and recover when you lose a word.
Long, unscripted answers do not frighten you. Part 2 asks you to talk alone for up to two minutes.

For the details, see our IELTS Speaking test format guide.

PTE suits you if…

You are comfortable speaking to a microphone with other candidates talking around you.
You like short, predictable tasks with strict timers.
Your pronunciation and rhythm are clear, and you can keep speaking smoothly without long pauses. Pearson’s pronunciation and oral fluency traits are scored by AI only.

TOEFL iBT suits you if…

You can hear a sentence once and repeat it precisely.
You can give a clear, organised answer to an interview question in a short, fixed time.
You prefer a short speaking section, and your target universities accept TOEFL.

Step 3: Try each format before you decide

Reading about a test tells you less than one honest attempt at it. Before you commit:

Do one timed sample of each format you are considering. Note where you froze. Was it the long turn, the beep, or the repeat task?
Record yourself. Listen for long pauses, unclear words and answers that trail off. These cost points in every test.
Check the logistics. Test dates near you, how fast results arrive, and whether the version you can book (centre or at-home) is accepted for your purpose.
Think about retakes. If you may need two attempts, the cost and availability of test dates matter as much as the format.

There is no “easiest” test. A format can suit you better, though, and finding out early saves weeks.

Common mistakes when choosing

Choosing by reputation instead of acceptance. A friend’s success with one test does not mean your visa office accepts it.
Booking the wrong version. IELTS Academic vs General Training, PTE Academic vs PTE Core, and the UKVI versions are separate products. Our sibling guide explains PTE Academic vs PTE Core.
Assuming at-home is accepted everywhere. It often is not, especially for migration.
Switching tests late. Each format rewards different habits. If you must switch, plan extra practice time for the new task types.

Try the format before you commit

Lingo Copilot has a separate practice area for each exam, built on that test’s tasks and timings: IELTS, PTE Academic, PTE Core and TOEFL iBT. Your first full speaking mock for each exam is free, so you can try two formats and compare how each one feels. Results are AI estimates for practice, not official scores. Start on the Lingo Copilot home page or create a free account and take a mock test.

IELTS, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT are trademarks of their respective owners. Lingo Copilot is an independent practice tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.