IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or GRE: which test do you actually need?

Students often ask us which test is easiest. It's usually the wrong question. The right test is the one your course and your visa accept. Start there, and the choice often makes itself.

Start with the course, not the test

Every university sets its own requirements. One course may accept IELTS, TOEFL and PTE. Another may accept only IELTS, or ask for a higher score in writing. Before you book anything, check three things on your chosen course page:

• Which tests it accepts
• The overall score and any minimum per section
• The deadline for sending your results

If you are still deciding between courses, look for the test that most of your shortlist accepts.

IELTS, TOEFL and PTE all test your English

These three tests measure the same thing: whether your English is ready for a university classroom. They differ in format.

• IELTS Academic has a face-to-face speaking test with an examiner. Many students find it more natural than speaking to a computer.
• TOEFL iBT is taken on a computer and uses academic lectures and campus conversations. It is widely accepted in the USA.
• PTE Academic is fully computer-based, including speaking. Results usually come back quickly, which helps when a deadline is close.

The visa can add its own rule

For a UK Student visa, your university may assess your English itself. If you need a Secure English Language Test, it must be one the UK government approves, such as IELTS for UKVI. A standard IELTS Academic result may satisfy your university but not the visa. Our UK Student visa checklist covers this in more detail.

The GRE is a different kind of exam

The GRE doesn't test your English. It assesses verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. Some master's programmes, mostly in the USA, ask for it or consider it. It never replaces an English test. If your programme wants both, plan time for both.

Plan your test date backwards

Work back from your earliest application deadline. Leave time to prepare, sit the test, receive your score and retake it if you need to. IELTS, TOEFL and PTE scores are generally valid for two years, and GRE scores for five, so taking a test early rarely goes to waste.

How we prepare you

We train students for IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and GRE. We start with the score your course needs, find the sections holding you back and build practice around them. When your test is booked, we help you plan applications around the result.

Check official guidance from IELTS, ETS for TOEFL and Pearson for PTE before you book.