How to choose the best English test for US college admissions

Reading time: 4 minutes

Applying to a US college as an international student means proving your English language proficiency. But with so many exam providers—PTE Academic, TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo—it can be challenging to decide which one fits your goals best. 

The best test for US college admission depends on several factors: which exams your chosen university or college accept, your preferred format, budget, and how soon you need your scores. This guide walks you through each key step, helping you select the right test and prepare with confidence.

Confirm program acceptance and score requirements

Your first step should be confirming which English proficiency tests your target colleges accept. While many institutions list general requirements, individual departments—especially in competitive majors, can have different policies or higher score thresholds.

Make a master list of your target colleges, recording accepted tests and minimum scores. A minimum score or section cutoff is the lowest score required on an English test, either for the total or for specific skills like speaking or writing.

Many US colleges accept Pearson PTE Academic alongside TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo. Checking official college websites early prevents costly surprises and helps you plan effectively.

You can organize your research in a simple table:

College name Accepted tests Minimum score Notes
Example University
  • PTE Academic
  • TOEFL iBT
  • IELTS Academic
 PTE 55 overall  Engineering requires 60+ in writing

Set competitive target scores

Once you know each program’s minimum requirements, set your personal goal higher to boost your admission chances. A competitive score is one that exceeds the listed minimum, strengthening your profile and potentially supporting scholarships or honors program consideration.

Aim 5–10 points above the minimum required score on PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT, or about one band higher in band-scaled tests like IELTS Academic. This buffer protects against test-day variability and can help in competitive admissions.

Confirm if your programs require skill-specific scores for each section (speaking, writing, reading and listening). Some universities only consider applicants who meet every individual section requirement, not just overall.

Consider creating a helpful reference table:

College Minimum (overall) Target (recommended)
State University PTE 55 PTE 60–65
Tech Institute TOEFL 80 TOEFL 90+

Evaluate test formats for your strengths

Different English tests suit different learning preferences. Exploring official practice questions and preparation resources helps you find which format feels most natural.

Test design varies. Fixed-format tests , like PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT, and use academic content designed to assess the language skills needed for university study, which is one reason they remain the most widely accepted tests for university admissions. An adaptive test, such as the Duolingo English Test, adjusts question difficulty as you progress through the exam.

Here’s how the main exams compare:

Test  Format & skills Delivery Duration Key feature
Duolingo English Test Adaptive, integrated tasks Online 45–60 mins Fast, low cost
IELTS Academic 4 skills, speaking face to face Paper or computer ~2 hrs 45 mins Conversation-based speaking
Pearson PTE Academic Fully computer-based, all skills integrated Global test centers ~2 hrs Secure AI scoring and fast results
TOEFL iBT Reading, listening, speaking, writing Computer or at-home ~2 hrs Academic content focus

Frequently asked questions

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    Job opportunities for international students in the UK
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Studying abroad is rarely cheap. Even if you’ve got a scholarship, a job on the side can help you live a little more comfortably during your degree. Luckily, there are lots of jobs for international students in the UK. You just need to know where to find them.  

    Once you arrive, you’ll be able to do the traditional resumé drop-offs and ask about opportunities in the store. But you don’t have to wait until then to start your hunt. Jumping online and applying in advance is the best method for getting a job in the UK for international students. It’s also nice to know that you’ve got a casual or part-time position waiting for you.  

    This quick guide discusses a variety of jobs in the UK for international applicants including: 

    • Part-time jobs in the UK for international students

    • Summer jobs in the UK for international students 

    • Graduate jobs for international students in the UK

       

    Part-time jobs in the UK for international students

    If you’ve got strong time-management and organization skills, working a part-time job while you study can be an effective way to earn an income. On an international student visa (Student route visa), you’re able to work up to 20 hours per week during the term. 

    Common part-time jobs for international students in the UK include: 

    • Receptionist

    • Retail worker

    • Mystery shopper

    • Shelf packer 

    • Waiter/barista/bar tender

    • Student ambassador

    • Library assistant

    Would you prefer a part-time job that is more academic in nature will intellectually challenge you as much as your actual course? You might consider becoming a research assistant at your university.

    If you’re studying a postgraduate degree or PhD, you could even apply for part-time teaching jobs in the UK for international students. Sharing your experience with undergraduates in tutorials is a great way to solidify your own knowledge while earning some money.

    The UK’s largest job databases are a good place to start your hunt:

    If you’ve got a specific job in mind, try searching for a niche jobs website (e.g. C+D Jobs is a great place to find pharmacy jobs in the UK for international students).

    Most UK universities have support services that can help you find a part-time job (as well as a job after you graduate). As an example, the career center at University College London helps UCL students with all types of career-related activities – including finding part-time jobs in London for international students. Similarly, the University of Edinburgh runs a careers service where international students can get advice about part-time jobs in Scotland. Visit your chosen university’s website to see what kind of career services they provide.

    Summer jobs in the UK for international students 

    Prefer to focus all your time and energy on your studies? That’s alright – a casual job during semester breaks might be a good alternative for you. A student visa allows you to work full-time during vacation periods.

    Most of the part-time jobs listed above are also great options for working during your time off. You may also find an opportunity over summer to work as a:

    • Sales representative

    • Event assistant

    • Call center operator

    • Private tutor

    The resources previously mentioned for part-time jobs are also relevant for international students finding a summer job in the UK. You should also consider talking to your university’s career support staff about any summer internships that might be available – these can provide a great experience and give you a foot in the door.

    Graduate Jobs in the UK for International Students

    As your final exam and graduation approach, you’ll naturally start thinking about your first job after university. The UK’s immigration program will allow you to transition from a student visa to a working visa if you secure a position that meets the relevant salary and time criteria.

    This is where your university’s career center will really come in handy, so make sure you’ve made appointments with them well ahead of your last class. They can help you find and apply for UK jobs for international graduates.

    Many jobsites allow you to filter your search to jobs that are marked as suitable for new graduates. Check that you’re searching in the right area/with the right filter.  

    Whether you’re looking for a part-time role while you study or a full-time job to extend your stay in the UK, you’ll find a wide range of opportunities available to you.

  • Image- Woman reading - 800px
    Reading: Self-Improvement
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    There are many ways you can improve your chances of gaining points in Part 2: Reading during PTE Academic.

    To improve your reading skills, practice increasing your reading speed and comprehension at the same time. In turn, you will improve your writing, grammar and vocabulary skills.

    To do well in this part of the test, you need to be able to read quickly, using effective reading strategies, as there is a limited time to answer all questions.

    Speed reading tasks will help improve your reading speed. Practice speed reading every day and:

    • Aim to be reading at least 220 words per minute

    • Reading short articles of around 300 words

    • Read often for short periods of time

    You can also try this as a challenge with your friends to help keep motivated. Once you are happy with your comprehension and speed, focus on chunks (groups of words) rather than individual words.

    When your reading skills reach a level you are happy with, you will feel more confident to answer the questions.

    Multiple-choice, choose single answer

    In the Multiple-Choice, Single Answer question type, some test takers make the mistake of scan reading and matching the words in the text to the words in the answer. Generally, the words in the text are not used in the correct answer, therefore it is important to learn how to use synonyms and paraphrasing as it will be used in the test.

    Learn how to improve your grammar in our Reading: Core Skills part 1 article.

    Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers

    In this question type, you will need more time than in the Multiple-Choice, Choose Single Answer question type, as you need to intensively read the stem (the part before the options) as well as the options, then scan read the text on the screen until you find the part of the text that contains information that was in the stem.

    Read the options very carefully and match the meaning of the option with the text. Do not match the words – this is something test takers may make errors with.

    You should also make sure not to choose all the options since you lose one point for each incorrect choice. However, you cannot score below zero.

    Re-order paragraphs

    To do well in the Re-order Paragraphs questions, you will need to have a strong understanding of cohesive devices and how they work. You will also need to understand how articles work, as well as the logical and chronological order of information.

    In this question type, skim-read the text to get the ideas of the topic of the text. From there, you should read all the sentences carefully.

    Fill in the blanks and reading & writing: fill in the blanks

    For both Fill in the Blanks and Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks question types, you will need to understand a range of vocabulary, collocations, grammar, pronouns, and cohesive devices, as well as being able to identify when plural nouns are needed.

    You will also need to be able to skim read to get an idea of the meaning of the text, then read intensively before and after each blank. If unsure, you should guess based on the context.

    Make sure you do not leave any spaces blank. You do not need to correctly fill in all spaces to get points.

    To go back and review the question types within the reading test, we suggest learning more about the reading questions.

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