IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, PTE, Cambridge, or LanguageCert: Which English Test Do European Universities Accept

Six tests, one purpose

European universities ask for proof of English ability through one of six main tests: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Duolingo English Test, PTE Academic, Cambridge English qualifications, or LanguageCert. Each test measures the same four skills, reading, writing, listening, and speaking, but the scoring scale, format, and turnaround time differ. Your target program's admission page decides what counts, not a general ranking, so confirm before you book a seat.

IELTS

IELTS scores run from band 0 to band 9, with descriptors from "non-user" at the bottom to "expert user" at the top (IELTS scoring guide ). Universities publish a required overall band plus a minimum per skill, commonly in the 6.0-7.0 range for undergraduate study and 6.5-7.5 for postgraduate study. Book IELTS Academic for university admission, not IELTS General Training, which is built for immigration and work routes. IELTS appears on more UK, Irish, and Nordic admission pages than any other test on this list.

TOEFL iBT

TOEFL iBT scores run from 0 to 120, split across four sections scored 0-30 each. German, Dutch, and Scandinavian universities often list TOEFL alongside IELTS as an accepted option. It suits applicants who also plan to apply to US universities, since TOEFL is the default English test there.

Duolingo English Test

The Duolingo English Test runs entirely online from your own computer, takes about an hour, and returns a score between 10 and 160. It costs a fraction of IELTS or TOEFL and returns results in about two days, useful for late applications. Acceptance across Europe grew fast after 2020 but stays uneven: some universities take it for undergraduate admission only, or cap how far it can replace an in-person test. Check the specific program before you rely on it.

PTE Academic

PTE Academic scores range from 10 to 90 on the Global Scale of English (Pearson PTE Academic ). The test runs about two hours on a computer at a test center, and most candidates get results within two business days. PTE is well established in the UK and increasingly listed by universities in Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Cambridge English qualifications

Cambridge English offers separate exams tied to a fixed CEFR level rather than one sliding scale: B2 First tests B2, C1 Advanced tests C1, and C2 Proficiency tests C2. C1 Advanced runs about four hours across four papers and is accepted by more than 11,000 institutions worldwide (Cambridge English ). The certificate does not expire, unlike IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo scores, which most universities treat as valid for two years from the test date.

LanguageCert

LanguageCert issues CEFR-aligned English qualifications and sits on the UK Home Office's Secure English Language Test (SELT) approved list for student visa purposes, alongside IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, and Trinity College London tests (UK government SELT guidance ). If your course needs a UK student visa, check whether it requires a SELT specifically. A general academic IELTS or TOEFL score can satisfy university admission without satisfying the visa requirement on its own, since TOEFL and Duolingo do not appear on the SELT list.

Combining scores across sittings

ETS lets TOEFL iBT test takers combine their highest section scores from separate sittings within the last two years into one composite called "MyBest Scores," and a growing number of universities accept this composite instead of a single sitting's total. Some universities apply a similar logic informally to IELTS, taking your best band per skill across two recent attempts, though this is a university-specific policy rather than an official IELTS feature. Ask your admissions office whether they combine scores this way before you assume only your latest attempt counts.

What happens if you score just below the target level

Cambridge English exams issue a certificate for the level your performance actually reaches, not only the level you sat. If you sit C1 Advanced but your answers show consistent B2 ability, Cambridge issues a B2 First certificate instead of marking you as a fail. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo work differently: they report your exact score with no automatic downgrade, so falling short of a threshold usually means booking a retake.

Cost and speed at a glance

Duolingo costs a small fraction of the other five tests and returns results fastest, which suits students applying close to a deadline. IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE sit in a similar mid-range price band and all run at official test centers or, for some, at home under remote proctoring. Cambridge English exams and LanguageCert cost more upfront in some markets but pay off long term for Cambridge, since the certificate never expires and you never retest.

Which test to choose

Start with your university's admission page, not a general comparison. Many schools name the exact tests and score thresholds they accept, and some exclude Duolingo or PTE for specific programs even when they accept them for others. If two tests both work, weigh cost, how fast you need results, and whether you also need a SELT for a UK visa application. Book early: paper-based IELTS and Cambridge exams run on fixed dates, while Duolingo and TOEFL let you test on short notice. Factor in test center access too: IELTS and Cambridge run in more small-city locations across Europe than PTE, while Duolingo and TOEFL only need a laptop and stable internet, which helps if the nearest official test center sits hours away.