· 9 min read
English Language Test: IELTS, TOEFL or PTE?
By Language Lab editorial team
The main English language tests compared: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge. Formats, score scales, the new TOEFL 1–6 scale and validity.
The four main English language tests are IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and the Cambridge English Qualifications. IELTS scores you from band 0 to 9 and takes 2 hours and 45 minutes. TOEFL iBT changed on 21 January 2026: it now reports a score from 1 to 6 in half points, alongside a comparable 0–120 score during a two-year transition. PTE Academic gives an overall score from 10 to 90, with results typically within 48 hours. Cambridge exams are different: you sit the exam for one level, such as B2 First or C1 Advanced. IELTS and TOEFL scores are treated as valid for two years. Which test you need is decided by the university, employer or immigration authority, so check its list before you book.
The four tests at a glance
| IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Cambridge English Qualifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | Band 0 to 9, in half bands | 1 to 6, in half points (since 21 January 2026) | 10 to 90 | One exam per level, from A2 Key to C2 Proficiency |
| Sections | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing | Speaking and Writing; Reading; Listening | Depends on the exam |
| Where | Test centre; IELTS Academic also remotely online | Test centre or at home | Test centre | Digital or on paper |
| Results | On a Test Report Form | In your ETS account 3 days after the test | Within 5 working days, typically within 48 hours | Statement of Results and certificate |
| Validity | Recommended as valid for two years | Two years | Check with the organisation | Check with the organisation |
IELTS
IELTS comes in two main versions. IELTS Academic is for people who want to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, or who are seeking professional registration, for example as doctors and nurses. IELTS General Training is for people who want to migrate to an English-speaking country, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the UK, or to train or study below degree level. The Listening and Speaking tests are the same in both; Reading and Writing differ.
| Section | Time allowed |
|---|---|
| Listening | Approximately 30 minutes |
| Reading | 60 minutes |
| Writing | 60 minutes |
| Speaking | 11–14 minutes |
The whole test takes 2 hours and 45 minutes. You get a band score for each section and an overall band score, which is the average of the four rounded to the nearest half band. Section scores of 6.5, 6.5, 5.0 and 7.0 average 6.25, which becomes an overall 6.5.
| Band | Skill level |
|---|---|
| 9 | Expert |
| 8 | Very good |
| 7 | Good |
| 6 | Competent |
| 5 | Modest |
| 4 | Limited |
IELTS recommends that results be considered valid for two years after the test, based on research into second-language loss. Organisations can choose to accept results for longer, so check with them.
TOEFL iBT and its new score scale
TOEFL iBT measures academic English in reading, listening, speaking and writing, and can be taken at a test centre or at home. If you are reading older advice about needing a score of 90 or 100, note the change: as of 21 January 2026, score reports use a new scale from 1 to 6, in half-point steps, designed to align with the CEFR levels. You get four section scores and an overall score, which is the average of the four rounded to the nearest half.
For a two-year transition period you also receive a comparable overall score on the old 0–120 scale. ETS says institutions are updating their requirements at different times and some still list the 0–120 format, so the report carries both. ETS publishes this comparison for the total score.
| New score (1–6) | Old total (0–120) |
|---|---|
| 6 | 114 or more |
| 5.5 | 107 or more |
| 5 | 95 or more |
| 4.5 | 86 or more |
| 4 | 72 or more |
| 3.5 | 58 or more |
| 3 | 44 or more |
There is no pass or fail: each institution sets its own requirement. Scores appear in your ETS account 3 days after the test and are valid for 2 years. The fee includes up to four free official score reports, and ETS says the test is accepted by over 13,500 institutions in more than 160 countries.
PTE Academic
PTE Academic is a computer-based test in three parts: Speaking and Writing, Reading, and Listening. You receive an overall score between 10 and 90, with 90 the highest, plus individual scores for each communicative skill. Pearson says results are delivered within 5 working days and typically within 48 hours, and that you can send your score to as many organisations as you like without an additional fee. That speed matters when a visa or admission deadline is close.
Cambridge English Qualifications
Cambridge works the other way round. Instead of one test that places you on a scale, you enter the exam for a level.
| Exam | What Cambridge says it shows |
|---|---|
| A2 Key | Control of language skills to communicate at a basic level, in simple everyday situations |
| B1 Preliminary | A mastery of the basics of English and the practical language skills for everyday use |
| B2 First | Overall control of the language skills needed to communicate confidently and effectively in an English-speaking environment |
| C1 Advanced | High-level achievement in English, for students preparing for university or professional life |
| C2 Proficiency | English mastered to an exceptional level; Cambridge's highest-level qualification |
The exams can be taken digitally or on paper. Cambridge says it is the same qualification either way, and that the digital exams give faster results.
Which test should you take?
- For university: the one your university lists. IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic are all designed for academic English.
- For migration: check the immigration authority's list. IELTS General Training is the version IELTS designs for people migrating to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the UK.
- For a UK visa: the test must be a Secure English Language Test from an approved provider, and only qualifications on the approved list count.
- For professional registration: IELTS Academic is the version IELTS points doctors and nurses to. Confirm with your regulator.
- For a deadline: PTE Academic typically reports within 48 hours and TOEFL iBT within 3 days.
- For a qualification to show an employer at a set level: a Cambridge exam such as B2 First or C1 Advanced.
How long to prepare
Learning a test's format is quick compared with raising your level. Cambridge English estimates approximately 200 guided learning hours to move up one CEFR level, and says a candidate who has passed B2 First might need about 200 hours of lessons and supervised study to prepare for C1 Advanced. If your current score is a full level below the one you need, plan for months.
- Take an official sample test first. ETS offers a 40-minute self-paced TOEFL iBT sample with questions from all four sections.
- Practise all four skills. IELTS, TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic each report speaking and writing separately, and those are the skills self-study tends to neglect.
- Test yourself instead of rereading. A 2013 review of learning research rated practice testing and spaced practice as the most effective study techniques.
- Practise speaking against a timer and record yourself, so that you hear what an examiner or scoring system will hear.
Language Lab's English course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor. It does not replace official practice tests, but it gives you regular speaking practice, which is the part of exam preparation most learners skip.
Frequently asked
Which English language test is best?
The one your university, employer or immigration authority accepts. IELTS, TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic all test reading, listening, speaking and writing. They differ in score scale, format and how fast results arrive.
What is the new TOEFL score scale?
Since 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT reports section and overall scores on a scale from 1 to 6 in half-point steps. For two years, score reports also show a comparable total on the old 0–120 scale. A new score of 5 corresponds to an old total of 95 or more.
How long is an IELTS score valid?
IELTS recommends that results be considered valid for two years after the test. Organisations that accept IELTS can choose to accept results for longer.
How long does the IELTS test take?
2 hours and 45 minutes: approximately 30 minutes of Listening, 60 minutes of Reading, 60 minutes of Writing and an 11–14 minute Speaking test.
What is a good PTE Academic score?
PTE Academic gives an overall score between 10 and 90. There is no universal pass mark; the organisation you are applying to sets the score it requires.
Which English test gives the fastest results?
PTE Academic results typically arrive within 48 hours, and within 5 working days at most according to Pearson. TOEFL iBT scores appear in your ETS account 3 days after the test.
What is the difference between IELTS Academic and General Training?
IELTS Academic is for study at undergraduate or postgraduate level and for professional registration. General Training is for migration to an English-speaking country or study below degree level. Listening and Speaking are the same; Reading and Writing are different.
Sources: IELTS, IELTS Academic test, IELTS General Training test and IELTS scoring in detail; ETS, TOEFL iBT and Understanding TOEFL Scores; Pearson, PTE Academic test format, scoring and FAQs; Cambridge English, Qualifications and Guided learning hours; GOV.UK, Prove your knowledge of English; Dunlosky et al., Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2013. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: Senate House, University of Cambridge, Ben Mills / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons).
