IELTS vs PTE vs Duolingo: Which Test is Best for UK Admission? (With new updates)
1. INDUCTION:
- English language proficiency is compulsory for both visa approval and university entrance in the UK.
- Important tests for 2025 will include the Duolingo English Test (DET), PTE Academic, and IELTS.
- Every test has a different structure, acceptance rate, cost, and recent changes that might impact your decision.
2. IELTS IS THE ACCEPTED BENCHMARK
- Acceptance: UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) persists in accepting it for admissions and visa objectives.
- Layout: Academic or General Training modules; covers Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking (in-person).
- Duration: Around 2 hours 45 minutes.
- Fee Update: The UKVI version of the IELTS exam in India costs INR 18,250, around INR 250 more than the standard Academic/General IELTS test.
- Availability: Paper or computer-based versions; UKVI requires in-person testing; IELTS Online is not acceptable for visas.
3. PTE ACADEMIC: QUICK AND COMPUTER-BASED
- Acceptance: Widely accepted by UKVI and universities in the UK; some even accept the version that has not been approved by UKVI.
- Layout: Completely computer-based, with combined reading, writing, speaking, and listening sessions.
- Results: Results are typically available within 24 - 48 hours.
- Ideal For: Applicants that prioritize speed, digital format, and rapid outcomes.
4. DUOLINGO ENGLISH TEST (DET) – AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE
- Layout: A one-hour adaptive online test that may be completed at home and consists of a combination of tasks, a brief recorded interview, and a sample of writing.
- Cost & Speed: The results are ready in 48 hours and are reasonably priced ($65 - $80).
- Acceptance: More than 130 UK universities, including UCL, Imperial, Edinburgh, and King's College London, have accepted it; the average score range is 105 - 135.
- Recent Updates to the List: A rising number of UK universities, including prestigious institutions like UCL, Imperial, Edinburgh, King's College London, and Manchester, as well as Royal Holloway, the University of Surrey, Aberdeen, and Loughborough, now accept the Duolingo English Test (DET). Due to its increased popularity, DET is a practical and reasonably priced alternative for PTE or IELTS for international students.
