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If you’re applying to study, work or migrate abroad, you may need to prove your English level with an accepted test. PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic are three of the most widely used English proficiency tests, and all assess speaking, writing, reading and listening.
Short answer: start with acceptance. Choose a test your university, employer or visa authority accepts for your exact application. If more than one option works, compare the test format, speaking style, result speed, score requirements and available test dates before you book.
| Factor | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Fully computer-based | Computer-based, at a test center or home where available | Computer-delivered in many markets; speaking is typically with an examiner |
| Approximate length | About 2 hours | About 2 hours | About 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Speaking section | Recorded by microphone | Recorded by microphone | Live speaking test with an examiner |
| Scoring scale | 10–90 | 0–120 | 0–9 bands |
| Result speed | Usually within 2 days | Available in your ETS account 3 days after the test date | Often 1–5 days for computer-delivered testsaper where still available |
This will help you narrow it down your search as the most important thing is that an English test meets your application requirements.
Headline acceptance numbers can be helpful, but they are not always directly comparable. Some providers count organizations, while others focus on academic institutions. The more useful question is: which test is accepted for your exact course, country and visa route?
PTE Academic is accepted by thousands of universities and colleges worldwide and is recognized for study and migration routes in major destinations including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada and the US.
TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic are also widely accepted globally. Always confirm the accepted test type and minimum score directly with the institution or official visa authority before you book your test.
Format matters because the way you are assessed can affect how confident and comfortable you feel on test day.
PTE Academic: a single computer-based test taken at a test center in one session across all four skills. Speaking responses are recorded through a microphone.
TOEFL iBT: a computer-based test, with recorded speaking responses.
IELTS Academic: listening, reading and writing may be computer-delivered, while the speaking test is usually a live interview with an examiner.
If you prefer a fully computer-based experience and would rather speak into a microphone than sit opposite an examiner, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT may feel more natural. If you prefer a conversational speaking test with a person, IELTS Academic may suit you better.
The speaking section is often where test-takers feel the biggest difference between PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic.
There is no right or wrong preference. The best option is the one that lets you show your English clearly under your preferred test conditions.
If you are working toward an application or visa deadline, result turnaround can be one of the biggest deciding factors.
PTE Academic results are typically available in two business days, TOEFL iBT scores are available in your ETS account 3 days after the test date, and IELTS on computer results are available in 1–5 days.
| Test | Typical result turnaround | |
|---|---|---|
| PTE Academic | 2 days | |
| TOEFL iBT | Available in your ETS account 3 days after the test date | |
| IELTS Academic | Often 1–5 days for computer-delivered tests; paper-based results may take longer where still available |
Each test reports scores differently, so you should not compare numbers directly without checking the relevant score guidance from your institutio or test provider.
If you are close to a required threshold, pay particular attention to the score your chosen institution asks for in each section. Some applications require both an overall score and minimum scores in speaking, writing, reading and listening.
Learn more about how PTE Academic is scored compared to other tests
Once you know which tests are accepted, compare the practical details in your location:
A test with faster results or more frequent booking may be a better fit if your deadline is close. If your timeline is more flexible, format and preparation style may matter more.
PTE Academic may suit you if...
You want a fully computer-based test.
You are comfortable speaking into a microphone.
You need results quickly.
You prefer a single test session.
You are applying somewhere that accepts PTE Academic for your course, job or visa route.
TOEFL iBT may suit you if...
You are applying to institutions that specifically request or strongly recognize TOEFL iBT.
You are comfortable with academic-style tasks and recorded speaking.
You want a test that is widely used for university admissions, especially in the US and other international study destinations.
IELTS Academic may suit you if...
Your target institution or visa authority asks for IELTS Academic.
You prefer a live speaking test with an examiner.
You are comfortable with the IELTS band score system.
You want broad recognition across study, work and migration contexts.
List your target institutions and visa authorities. Note the accepted tests and minimum scores for each one.
Shortlist the tests accepted by every place you are applying to. If one test covers all your requirements, it may be the simplest choice.
Compare format fit. Decide whether you prefer recorded speaking, a live interview, fully computer-based testing or a more traditional format.
Check timelines. Look at available test dates, result speed and retake options.
Try official practice materials. Complete a timed practice section before you commit, so you know how the test feels.
Book the test that best matches your deadline, strengths and application requirements.
During 2018 students, migrants, and professionals that sat PTE Academic received their scores in even less time than ever before. In fact, during 2018, 85.7% of PTE Academic test takers received their results within just 2 days.
Learning a language is much easier when you’re enjoying yourself – which is why watching movies can be a great way to immerse yourself in the language.
What better way is there to pick up new phrases and slang terms that you would not learn in the classroom, all with popcorn in hand?
It can be hard to know which movie to choose so here are our top ten to help you get started. These films are chosen for their language clarity and cultural insights, offering a fun way to improve English skills for beginners and advanced learners alike.
If you are not feeling confident, watch with subtitles and you will soon pick things up.
A fantastic choice for beginners, this film teaches English while taking you through the heart of American history. This movie is one of the best English movies for learners as Forrest speaks so slowly throughout the entire movie. It is also an iconic 90’s movie which will make you laugh and cry in equal measure.
Perfect for all ages, these films are a treasure trove of rich vocabulary set in a magical world. Many things make the Harry Potter series great for your linguistics skills! Aside from the rich vocabulary, due to the sheer number of films in the series you will get to build up your understanding of different characters, their personalities, accents and ways of communicating.
What a great idea for learning English – watching a film where the main character – a historic British figure – is learning to speak! King George VI struggles to communicate due to a speech impediment, which means pronunciation is a very big focus in this movie.
For lovers of classic literature, this film offers a window into historical British English. The movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice will also expose you to societal norms, colloquial expressions, formal language and phrases as this movie is set in the early 19th century England.
This is one of the best English movies to watch, especially for beginners. It is full of day-to-day phrases and a slower pace, so it is easier to follow along. It is also a Christmas classic for all the family.
Great for picking up informal turns of phrases, slang and expressions used by British people. It also showcases a variety of British (and Irish) accents, so you can expose yourself to a breadth of British ways of speaking.
A charming film for mastering conversational American English.
Immerse in everyday conversational English set in contemporary America.
Animated and perfect for beginners, this film is set in Medieval Scotland so you will get to experience the Scottish accent and culture as well as learning some everyday phrases and idioms.
This movie should be on your list if you are focusing on advanced language learning. The language and the plot are both really complex. You will be exposed to advanced vocabulary and narratives which are really thought-provoking.
These films offer an immersive, engaging, and often emotionally resonant context for language learning. Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your skills, each movie is a step forward in your language-learning adventure.
Ready to prepare for your English language test? Explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.
Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test
It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account
Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.
Smart Prep brings all our free and paid preparation into one convenient place, so you can mix and match to fit your unique needs. Perfect if you have booked your test and are not sure where to start with your preparation journey.
Here are four top tips to help you get started:
All you need to do is set up your free myPTE account, and you will have access to all our free and official prep resources — so everything you need to be ready ace your test is at your fingertips.
As close as you can get to the test without taking the real thing. Our unique Scored Practice Tests are just like a mock test and are marked in the same way as your PTE test. So you can see how you score and then focus on the areas you need to improve.
With five to choose from, we recommend you use them throughout your prep journey to check your progress.
Practice makes perfect and our PTE Academic Question Bank is packed full of questions with model answers, plus samples for speaking and writing. So you have plenty of opportunity to practice before the real thing.
Finally, don’t forget to download our free PTE Academic Handbook and Score Guide.
The handbook covers everything you need to know about taking PTE Academic - from how to prepare and test day policies, to how to retake your test if necessary.
And, the PTE Score Guide helps you understand things like what you’re graded on, how automated scores work, and how our scores compare with those of other English language tests.
PTE is more than an English language test. It’s your ticket to studying abroad.
