Choosing Between IELTS, TOEFL iBT and Duolingo English Test for Vietnamese Applicants
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 01, 2026 • Study in Southeast Asia
IELTS costs 4,664,000 VND per sitting in Vietnam and is the test tied to UK and Australian visa rules, TOEFL iBT is scored on a 0-120 scale and stays the most requested test for US admission, and the Duolingo English Test is the fastest and usually the cheapest but not accepted everywhere. Pick the test your target university and visa route actually list before you register.
💵 IELTS Academic in Vietnam: 4,664,000 VND per sitting through IDP.
📩 IELTS is the only one of the three tied directly to UK and Australian visa rules.
🎓 TOEFL iBT uses a 0-120 scale and stays common for US university admission.
⏱️ Duolingo English Test runs online from home and returns results the fastest.
🏠 Confirm your target university's accepted test list before you register for any of the three.
Start with what your university and visa route accept
The right test for you depends on where you are applying, not personal preference. IELTS, TOEFL iBT and the Duolingo English Test differ in cost, format and how widely immigration authorities and universities accept them, so check your target program's admission page and, where relevant, your visa route's approved test list before you commit time and money to preparation.
IELTS: the default for UK, Australia and Canada
IELTS stays the most widely required test for Vietnamese students applying to the UK, Australia, Canada and many other destinations, largely because it sits directly inside national visa systems. The UK's Secure English Language Test list and Australia's visa evidence requirements both point to IELTS specifically. In Vietnam, IDP runs the Academic and General Training versions at 4,664,000 VND per sitting, IELTS for UKVI at 5,252,000 VND, and an IELTS One Skill Retake at 2,940,000 VND for candidates who only need to improve one section, with these fees confirmed through December 2026 (IDP IELTS Vietnam ). British Council and IDP both run IELTS test centers in major Vietnamese cities, on paper and on computer.
TOEFL iBT: common for US admission
TOEFL iBT is scored from 0-120, built from four sections (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking) each worth up to 30 points, and delivered entirely on computer. It stays the most requested test for US university admission, though a growing number of US schools now accept IELTS or Duolingo as alternatives. Registration runs directly through ETS, and the fee is set in USD rather than fixed in VND the way IELTS is in Vietnam, so check the ETS site for the current rate before you book.
Duolingo English Test: fastest, taken from home
The Duolingo English Test is an online, AI-scored test taken on your own computer with a webcam, with no need to visit a test center. It returns results in about two days, faster than IELTS or TOEFL, and its fee sits below either. Acceptance has grown quickly among US, UK and Canadian universities in recent years, but it is not accepted for UK or Australian student visa applications, and some universities still ask for IELTS or TOEFL specifically, so confirm with your program before you rely on it as your only test.
Cost adds up beyond the base fee
Factor in more than the base registration fee when you compare the three tests. IELTS and TOEFL both charge extra for late registration, rescheduling or sending an additional score report to more universities. IELTS in Vietnam adds a lower-cost path through the One Skill Retake if only one section needs work, which the Duolingo English Test cannot match, since a low score on any single Duolingo section usually means retaking the entire test.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Paper or computer | Computer only | Online, at home |
| Scale | 0-9 bands | 0-120 | 10-160 |
| Tied to a visa route | Yes, UK and Australia | No | No |
| Result speed | Days for computer-delivered | About a week | Fastest, about two days |
| Vietnam test centers | British Council, IDP | ETS-authorized centers | None needed, taken at home |
How to decide
If your visa route names an approved test (UK, Australia), sit that test, not a substitute.
If your target US school lists all three, compare price and how fast you need the result.
If you need a fast result and your school accepts it, the Duolingo English Test saves the most time.
If you already prepared for IELTS or TOEFL through school or a course, stick with that test rather than switching late.