Home · Exam Guides · Unit 03
Unit 03
IELTS, TOEFL or PTE: Which Exam Should You Take?
format, scoring, results and how to choose
At a Glance
Durations and result times are approximate and can change; check the official website of each exam.
| IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | about 2 h 45 min | about 2 hours | about 2 hours |
| Score scale | bands 0–9 | bands 1–6 (with 0–120 during the transition) | 10–90 |
| Speaking | face to face with an examiner | recorded, about 8 minutes | recorded, scored mainly by AI |
| Results | a few days (computer-delivered) | within a few days | usually within 2 days |
| Special feature | Academic and General Training versions | adaptive Reading and Listening since 2026 | integrated tasks: one answer counts for two skills |
How to Choose
- 1. Check what is accepted. Look at the exact requirements of your university, employer or visa programme. Some accept all three; some accept only one or two, and minimum scores differ.
- 2. Think about speaking. If talking to a real person relaxes you, IELTS may suit you. If you prefer speaking to a computer without an examiner watching, consider TOEFL or PTE.
- 3. Think about time. If you need results quickly, PTE usually reports fastest.
- 4. Try sample questions. Do a few tasks of each exam and see which format feels most natural.
Practise on This Site