For most test-takers in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia, IELTS is the safest choice. It is recognised worldwide, accepted by almost all universities and programmes, and on every visa list we checked. TOEFL iBT and the Duolingo English Test are missing from some:
- UK: visas that need a secure English test (SELT) list IELTS for UKVI, not TOEFL or Duolingo.
- Canada: Express Entry takes IELTS General Training, not TOEFL or Duolingo.
- Australia: takes IELTS at a test centre and rejects at-home tests.
To prepare, we recommend GoPrep, our own IELTS platform: full mock tests in the computer format, Writing and Speaking scored against the official IELTS criteria, and a daily plan to your exam date.
IELTS is also the only one with a live Speaking examiner. Pick TOEFL when a US university you target lists it, and Duolingo when every place you apply to lists it and you need a fast test from home. Either way, confirm the exact test on the official page.
IELTS has versions: Academic for universities, General Training for Express Entry and other migration routes, IELTS for UKVI for UK SELT visas. One certificate won't always cover all three, so choose before you pay.
TOEFL facts come from ets.org, Duolingo facts from englishtest.duolingo.com and its help centre, all checked 29 September 2026.
Chosen IELTS? Name your goal, exam date and weakest skill in a short quiz, and get a GoPrep study plan for every day until your exam.
IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo at a glance
| IELTS | TOEFL iBT | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 2 h 45 min | About 2 hours | About 1 hour |
| Where | Test centre; IELTS Online at home in some countries | Test centre or Home Edition at home | At home, online |
| Speaking | Live talk with an examiner | Answered on a computer | Answered on a computer |
| Score scale | 0 to 9, in half bands | 1 to 6, in half bands | 10 to 160 |
| Score ready | 1 to 5 days (computer) | 3 days | Within 2 days |
| Valid for | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
The Duolingo English Test is the odd one out: a one-hour adaptive test at home, with writing and speaking samples universities can see. You need a camera, a microphone, a phone that records your screen and a room to yourself (rules).
Why some test-takers find IELTS easier to prepare for
Neither test is officially easier, but one difference keeps coming up among test-takers: speaking.
- IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face conversation with a trained examiner. TOEFL iBT is fully on a computer: you repeat sentences and answer recorded interview questions (ETS). Its Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive: questions get harder or easier as you go.
- What test-takers report. In 10 r/IELTS posts from January to September 2026 comparing both tests from experience, 5 described trouble with TOEFL's computer-recorded Speaking, and 4 of them moved to IELTS or scored higher in IELTS Speaking. On the other side, 5 found the new TOEFL easier overall or in some sections, and 1 found both equal (one post is on both sides). It is a small sample from an IELTS forum: a pattern, not a survey.
- IELTS rewards format practice. Its structure never changes: 4 Listening parts, 3 Reading sections, 2 Writing tasks and a 3-part Speaking test. You can drill each task on mock tests until it feels routine. TOEFL's current format dates only from January 2026.
What changed in TOEFL iBT in 2026
Since 21 January 2026, ETS reports TOEFL iBT on a 1 to 6 scale in half bands, linked to CEFR levels: 5 and 5.5 are C1, 4 and 4.5 are B2. Old scores out of 120 still appear during the transition.
- Overall = the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band: 5.125 becomes 5, 5.25 becomes 5.5.
- Old requirements have new equivalents. ETS recommends 5 for universities that asked for 100, 4.5 for 90 and 4 for 80.
How much each test costs in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia
| IELTS (IDP, computer) | TOEFL iBT | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | 110,250 KZT | US$175 | US$70 |
| Uzbekistan | 2,665,000 UZS | US$195 | US$70 |
| Russia | Local booking not confirmed | US$325 in ETS's fee list | US$70 published price |
- Duolingo: US$70 according to its official blog (updated February 2026). Payments are nonrefundable, so confirm the price at checkout.
- British Council: 110,250 KZT and 2,798,000 UZS (checked 28 September 2026). Booking: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.
- Russia: we have not confirmed booking, dates or card payment from Russia for TOEFL or Duolingo, or a local IELTS session.
What you pay for five applications
One attempt with results sent to five universities, plus a second attempt if a section falls short:
| IELTS (IDP) | TOEFL iBT | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 attempt, 5 universities | 110,250 KZT (5 sends free) | US$204 (4 free + 1 extra) | US$70 (unlimited) |
| Plus a second attempt | 179,750 KZT with One Skill Retake; 220,500 KZT full test | US$408 | US$140 |
- TOEFL: up to 4 score reports are free if you choose universities before test day. Each extra one is US$29 in the fee table (US$25 on the sending page), so check at checkout.
- IELTS: One Skill Retake (69,500 KZT) needs a full computer test at a centre that offers it: one skill, once, within 60 days. Not every university accepts it (see below).
- Duolingo: a second test is a new purchase.
Who accepts which test
The visa lists are the clearest reason IELTS is the default: it is on all three, TOEFL on one, Duolingo on none.
| Visa route | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK visas that need a SELT | IELTS for UKVI or Life Skills | Not listed | Not listed |
| Canada, Express Entry | IELTS General Training | Not listed | Not listed |
| Australia, tests from 7 August 2025 | Academic or General Training, at a centre | At a centre, booked as "Taking TOEFL for Australia" | Not listed |
- UK: the SELT list also has LanguageCert, Pearson PTE, PSI and Trinity. For a degree-level Student visa, the university can assess your English itself. More in IELTS for UKVI.
- Canada: Express Entry also accepts CELPIP-General and PTE Core, but not IELTS One Skill Retake.
- United States: for study, the university sets the English requirement.
Requirements of five universities and programmes
Universities vary more than visas. Five programmes popular in our region publish these minimums:
| Programme | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nazarbayev University, bachelor's | 6.0; Writing 6.0, others 5.5 | "Equivalent" score; no Home Edition | Not listed |
| Study in Kazakhstan, master's for foreign citizens | Academic 5.5 | 46 (0 to 120 scale) | Not listed |
| Edinburgh, bachelor's | Academic, by degree | By degree; Home Edition accepted | Not listed |
| Toronto, bachelor's | 6.5, none below 6.0 | 4.5; Writing 4.5, Speaking 4.0 | 120; Production 120 |
| MIT, first year | 7 | 5 | 120 |
IELTS and TOEFL are in every row, Duolingo in two. Three details matter more than any conversion table:
- Each test has its own threshold. Duolingo's table puts 120 to 125 at about IELTS 6.5, yet MIT accepts Duolingo 120 and asks for IELTS 7. Only the programme's number for your test counts.
- Retake rules differ. Toronto and Edinburgh reject IELTS One Skill Retake and TOEFL MyBest scores.
- Delivery takes time: 7 to 10 working days for a certificate to reach Nazarbayev University; 4 to 8 business days or longer for ETS reports.
If a page is unclear, email admissions:
I am applying to [programme] for [month, year]. Do you accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition and the Duolingo English Test? What overall and section minimums apply to each?
Know your target score and deadline? Turn them into a day-by-day GoPrep plan up to your exam date.
Score comparison: IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo
| IELTS | TOEFL iBT (1 to 6) | Duolingo (10 to 160) |
|---|---|---|
| 8.0 | 6 | 150 to 155 |
| 7.5 | 5.5 | 140 to 145 |
| 7.0 | 5 | 130 to 135 |
| 6.5 | 4.5 | 120 to 125 |
| 6.0 | 4 | 105 to 115 |
| 5.5 | 3.5 | 95 to 100 |
| 5.0 | 2.5 | 80 to 90 |
Use it as a rough guide: the columns come from different studies, and ETS has not done a comparison study with Duolingo.
More in IELTS and CEFR levels and what is a good IELTS score.
Which test should you take?
Start from IELTS and switch only for a clear reason. First rule out every test your goal doesn't accept. Then compare total cost, dates and the format in which you show your real level.
| If this is you | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Not sure yet, or plans may change | IELTS, in the version your likeliest goal needs | On every visa list we checked |
| A UK, Canadian or Australian visa | IELTS, in the version the visa names | TOEFL counts only for Australia, at a centre |
| A US university that lists TOEFL | TOEFL iBT, or IELTS if listed too | Check the exact test and score |
| Every place lists Duolingo; you need speed and a test at home | Duolingo | Score within 2 days; one missing school means a second test |
| You speak better to a person than to a microphone | IELTS | The only one with a live Speaking examiner |
Close deadline? A score in your account is not a report the university has received, so leave time for delivery.
Chose IELTS? How GoPrep gets you ready
The usual trap is one weak section. Many programmes, like Toronto, set a minimum for every section. Of 1,054 learners' first full mock exams on GoPrep, 279 scored at least 6.5 overall, but 121 of them (43%) had at least one section below 6.0, so they would still miss a "6.5 with no band below 6.0" requirement. First full mocks from 28 July to 26 September 2026; Writing and Speaking scored by the GoPrep AI examiner.
GoPrep, our IELTS preparation platform, is built to find that section and train it before test day. GoPrep won EdTech Project of the Year at the AI & Digital Bridge Awards 2026 in Astana and has 40,000+ users in 140 countries. On average, GoPrep scores 0.6 band stricter than the real IELTS (2,723 learners who reported their official result), so you arrive at the exam with a margin.
- Mocks in the computer format: 80+ full mock tests per skill, with Reading and Listening also by section. You see the band for every section, not only the overall.
- Writing and Speaking scored against the official IELTS criteria: Writing on all four (TA, CC, LR, GRA) in 0.5 steps; Speaking with a transcript and notes on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
- Preppy, a voice AI tutor, for speaking out loud between mocks.
- An adaptive daily plan to your exam date, with error review, vocabulary on spaced repetition and add-ons: Crusher for all skills, Grammar Maxxing for grammar.
- iPhone app and web version in any browser, with a Russian and Uzbek interface.
GoPrep's Score Guarantee: if your overall IELTS band doesn't rise by at least 1.0, you get 100% of your subscription back, provided you meet the conditions (an official TRF of 6.5 or lower, at least 3 months of subscription, and the full practice plan).
Which skill is pulling your score down? Name it in a short quiz and get a GoPrep plan that trains it first.
Before you book IELTS
- Check every section's minimum, not only the overall: how the IELTS band score is calculated.
- Pick the module: Academic vs General Training.
- Leave time for a second attempt: how long it takes to improve your IELTS score.
- Practise on a computer for a computer test: computer-delivered IELTS.
Check yourself
FAQ
IELTS or TOEFL: which is better for me?
For most test-takers IELTS is the safer choice: the UK SELT list, Canada's Express Entry and Australia all list it, while TOEFL is only on Australia's list. Take TOEFL when a US university you target lists it.
Is TOEFL easier than IELTS?
Neither is officially easier, and test-takers disagree. Some find the new TOEFL Reading easier; others struggle with its computer-recorded Speaking and switch to IELTS for a live examiner.
Can Russians take TOEFL?
ETS lists a TOEFL fee for Russia (US$325), but we have not confirmed dates or card payment from Russia, so check your ETS account first. If you can travel, non-citizens can book IELTS in Kazakhstan with a passport.
IELTS 5.5 is which CEFR level?
IELTS puts 5.5 to 6.5 at CEFR level B2, so 5.5 is the lower end of B2. ETS's table puts IELTS 5.5 at about 3.5 on the new TOEFL scale.
Next steps
Write down the accepted tests and scores from your goal's official page, then book the exact IELTS version it names. In Kazakhstan, book with IDP Kazakhstan or British Council: the test is the same. In Uzbekistan, see IELTS in Uzbekistan.
The IDP booking link is a partner link: GoPrep may earn a commission, and your price stays the same.
Then prepare with GoPrep's mocks and Writing and Speaking scoring. Less than 8 weeks to your exam? Get a plan built for the time you have.
GoPrep Team
GoPrep guide authors
We write about IELTS preparation using platform data and official exam materials.
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