Exam preparation
English exam preparation: which test to take and how to prepare
Start with what your university, employer or visa accepts. Then compare format, fees and results time, and prepare for the skills each test rewards.
The short answer
Take the exam that your university, employer or visa authority accepts, in the version and at the score it asks for. If several are accepted, compare where you can sit each one, the fee in your country, how fast results arrive and how long they stay valid. Then prepare with the test's own free materials, timed practice and feedback on your speaking and writing.
How to choose in five checks
- Read the exact requirement on the official admissions or visa page: the test and version (IELTS Academic, General Training or UKVI, for example), the overall score, any minimum per skill, and how recent the result must be.
- Check how you can sit it. The Duolingo English Test is at home only, TOEFL iBT has a Home Edition, and IELTS Online covers IELTS Academic in some countries. PTE Academic and Cambridge exams are taken at a centre.
- Compare the local fee. ETS lists the TOEFL iBT at USD 164 in India and USD 425 in Israel.
- Work back from your deadline. IELTS on computer, TOEFL, PTE and the Duolingo English Test usually report within about 3 days; Cambridge takes 5 to 10 working days (digital) or 4 to 6 weeks (paper). Leave room for a retake.
- Match the format to your strengths. In IELTS you speak face to face with an examiner, and in Cambridge exams with two examiners, in pairs or threes. In TOEFL, PTE and the Duolingo English Test you speak to a computer.
The main English exams compared
From the exam boards' official sites on 25 October 2026. CEFR mappings are the boards' own: IELTS says there is no exact one-to-one match, and Duolingo calls its table provisional.
| Exam | Main use | Test time | Score scale | Official CEFR mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | Academic: study, professional registration. General Training: migration, work. IELTS for UKVI: UK visas. | 2 h 45 min | Bands 0 to 9, in half bands | 4 to 5 = B1, 5.5 to 6.5 = B2, 7 to 8 = C1, 8.5 to 9 = C2 |
| TOEFL iBT | University admission | Under 2 h | 1 to 6 in half points since 21 Jan 2026; a comparable 0 to 120 shown until Jan 2028 | 1 to 1.5 = A1, 2 to 2.5 = A2, 3 to 3.5 = B1, 4 to 4.5 = B2, 5 to 5.5 = C1, 6 = C2 |
| Duolingo English Test | Mostly university admission | About 1 h | 10 to 160, in steps of 5 | Provisional: 10 to 55 = A1 or A2, 60 to 95 = B1, 100 to 125 = B2, 130 to 150 = C1, 155 to 160 = C2 |
| Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency | Study and work; each exam targets one CEFR level | About 3.5 h (B2), 4 h (C1, C2) | Cambridge English Scale, e.g. 140 to 190 for B2 First | B2 First: 160 to 179 = B2, 180 to 190 = C1 |
| Cambridge Young Learners | Children; no pass or fail | 45 min to 1 h 15 min (paper) | Up to 5 shields per skill | Starters Pre A1, Movers A1, Flyers A2 |
| PTE Academic | Study; Australian and New Zealand visas; a UKVI version for UK visas | About 2 h | 10 to 90 | 10 to 29 = A1, 30 to 42 = A2, 43 to 58 = B1, 59 to 75 = B2, 76 to 84 = C1, 85 to 90 = C2 |
| TOEIC Listening and Reading | Workplace English | 2 h | 10 to 990 | Minimum scores per skill up to C1 (B2: Listening 400, Reading 385) |
| Exam | Fee examples (25 Oct 2026) | Results | Valid for | At home? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | USD 325 (US), GBP 260 (UK), INR 19,000 (India), AUD 490 (Australia) | Usually 1 to 2 days on computer | 2 years (recommended) | IELTS Online: Academic only, some countries, not UK visas |
| TOEFL iBT | USD 280 (US), 270 (UK), 249 (Canada), 164 (India), 425 (Israel) | About 3 days | 2 years | Home Edition |
| Duolingo English Test | USD 70 (seen from Israel) | Within 2 days | 2 years | At home only |
| Cambridge B2 to C2 | Set by centres. IH London: GBP 245 (B2 First), 250 (C1), 255 (C2) | Digital 5 to 10 working days; paper 4 to 6 weeks | Does not expire; organisations decide | No |
| PTE Academic | USD 275 (US), GBP 230 (UK), INR 18,900 (India), AUD 499 (Australia) | Usually within 2 business days | 2 years | No |
| TOEIC | Set by country. Japan: JPY 7,810 (Listening and Reading) | 7 to 21 days (Listening and Reading) | 2 years | Depends on the country |
Sources: ielts.org test-centre pages, the ETS TOEFL fee table, englishtest.duolingo.com, Cambridge English, Pearson PTE and ETS TOEIC. Fees are set by centre or country and change. Cambridge fees are from one centre (IH London, valid to 31 July 2027) and the TOEIC fee from IIBC, the office that runs TOEIC in Japan for ETS. Tax may be added.
Which exam to check first, by goal
University abroad
Usually IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or the Duolingo English Test. Cambridge says B2 First is accepted for foundation and pre-sessional courses, and C1 Advanced for university study.
A UK visa
IELTS for UKVI (in person at a UKVI centre) or PTE Academic UKVI. For family, settlement and citizenship routes: IELTS for UKVI Life Skills (speaking and listening only) or PTE Home (a two-skills test).
Australia or New Zealand
IELTS or PTE Academic. ETS says only TOEFL tests taken before 21 January 2026, and TOEFL iBT Australia, are currently approved for Australian visas.
Canadian permanent residence
IELTS General Training, or PTE Core, which Pearson says Canada's immigration department recognises. PTE Core is not for Canadian university admission; for study, Pearson points to PTE Academic.
Work and promotion
TOEIC, which ETS says 14,000+ organisations use, or Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced. See business English.
Children and teenagers
Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers and A2 Flyers, then the "for Schools" versions of A2 Key, B1 Preliminary and B2 First. See Young Learners exams.
General English first, or exam preparation?
Exam practice teaches the format and timing. It cannot replace the level the score measures. Cambridge English estimates about 200 guided learning hours (lessons plus supervised study) per CEFR level, counted from beginner as below, and calls this a guideline only: background, intensity, age and exposure outside lessons all change it (source).
| Level | Cambridge exam | Guided hours from beginner |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | A2 Key | 180 to 200 |
| B1 | B1 Preliminary | 350 to 400 |
| B2 | B2 First | 500 to 600 |
| C1 | C1 Advanced | 700 to 800 |
| C2 | C2 Proficiency | 1,000 to 1,200 |
Example: you need IELTS 7, which the IELTS chart places at C1, and you are at B1 today. On Cambridge's figures that is a gap of roughly 300 to 450 guided hours, or one to one and a half years at 6 hours a week (our arithmetic). Exam tips will not close that gap; regular study with feedback will.
By level: if you are a whole CEFR level or more below your target, spend most of your time on general English and add exam tasks in the last two or three months. If you are at the level, go straight to exam practice. Our free level test gives a rough start (grammar, vocabulary and reading only), and CEFR levels explained describes each level.
How to prepare: three layers
- Official free materials first. IELTS sample questions and a free Trial Test at some centres; two free full-length TOEFL practice tests in the 2026 format; the free Duolingo English Test practice test; Cambridge sample tests with answer keys and Write & Improve; Smart Prep in a free myPTE account; TOEIC sample tests as PDFs.
- Timed practice. One full test under real timing early on, to find your weakest skill, and one or two near the end. Most tests are now on computer, so type your essays.
- Feedback on speaking and writing. An answer key can mark reading and listening, but not an essay or a spoken answer. A teacher who knows your exam shows you what costs marks. Book a session every week or two rather than a block at the end.
Options and prices
Checked on 25 October 2026 on each provider's own pages, with the provider's own lesson length.
| Option | Format | Price basis | Good for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official free materials | Self-study | Free | The exact format and timing | Little or no personal feedback on speaking and writing |
| PTE Scored Practice Tests | Online mock test with a score | USD 35.99 each (US) | A scored check before booking PTE | One exam only |
| Preply | Live tutor, one to one; 25 or 50 min | Tutors set prices: USD 3 to 100 per 50 min. Billed every 28 days, at least 4 lessons. Paid trial. | A weekly routine with an exam specialist | Subscription per tutor; unused lessons expire |
| italki | Live tutor, pay per lesson; 30 to 90 min | italki states USD 4 to 60 an hour | Occasional feedback, no subscription | The teacher must accept each booking |
| See Guru (shares our owner) | Live teacher, one to one; 25 or 55 min | Teachers set prices. Cheapest English teacher: USD 4.63 per 25 min. 3 free trials, no card. | Low-cost feedback; lists IELTS, TOEFL, CAE and FCE preparation | Quality varies by teacher; no standard curriculum (its terms); exam specialists may cost more |
| ELSA Speak Premium | AI app, mobile only | USD 99.99 a year (US website) | Daily speaking practice; IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC and PTE courses | No human teacher; no official score |
On marketplaces such as Preply, italki and See Guru (shares our owner), teachers set their own prices and experience varies, so use the trials and ask how they will mark your writing and speaking. AI apps help with daily speaking practice, but give no official score; see AI vs human tutors.
By budget: with no budget, use official materials and the free British Council LearnEnglish and BBC Learning English sites. With a small budget, add feedback every week or two: four 25-minute single lessons cost from USD 18.52 with See Guru's cheapest English teacher, and four 30-minute italki lessons USD 16 to 40 at italki's stated range (our arithmetic). Preply's smallest plan is four 50-minute lessons, or eight 25-minute ones, every 28 days. With more to spend, take a weekly lesson with an exam specialist.
A 4-week plan and a 12-week plan
4 weeks: you are at the level already
45 to 60 minutes a day, 5 days a week
- Week 1: a full official practice test under exam timing; note your two weakest skills.
- Week 2: 30 minutes a day on the weakest skill, 15 on a mistake log; one task with feedback.
- Week 3: a second full test, timing drills, one or two feedback sessions.
- Week 4: a light mock early in the week, then rest; check ID and test-day rules.
12 weeks: half a level to a level below
About an hour a day, 5 days a week
- Weeks 1 and 2: a level test and an official practice test; a target for each skill.
- Weeks 3 to 6: general English: 30 minutes of reading or listening, 15 of grammar and vocabulary, 15 of speaking or writing; one feedback lesson a week.
- Weeks 7 to 10: exam tasks under time, a full mock every two weeks.
- Weeks 11 and 12: two full mocks, fix repeated errors, confirm the date and rules.
Twelve weeks at this pace is about 60 hours. Against Cambridge's 200 hours per level, that closes a small gap and helps you show your full level on the day; it will not usually add a whole level.
Practice: read your scores
Five quick questions using the exam boards' own rules.
- A university asks for "TOEFL iBT 90" on the old scale. Using ETS's recommended conversion, what should you aim for on the 1 to 6 scale?
- You scored 95 out of 120 on a TOEFL taken in December 2025. Which 1 to 6 score does ETS's comparison table give it?
- Your IELTS bands are Listening 6.5, Reading 6.0, Writing 6.0 and Speaking 6.5. What is your overall band?
- The Duolingo English Test practice test estimates 105 to 115. Which CEFR level is that on Duolingo's provisional table?
- You score 176 on Cambridge B2 First. Which grade and CEFR level does your certificate show?
Show the answers
- 4.5. ETS recommends converting 90 to 4.5. Each university sets its own rule, so confirm with it.
- 5. Old totals from 95 to 106 correspond to 5; from 107, 5.5.
- 6.5. The average is 6.25, and IELTS rounds an average ending in .25 up to the next half band. An average of 6.125 would give 6.0.
- B2. Duolingo puts 100 to 125 at B2, and says its CEFR studies are ongoing.
- Grade B, B2. On B2 First, 173 to 179 is grade B; from 180 you would get grade A and a C1 certificate.
Exam guides
Not sure how far you are from your target? Start with a free level estimate, or take the quiz to find a way of learning that fits.