IELTS, PTE or TOEFL: how to choose
Start from what your university and visa accept, then compare fees and format. Here is the country-by-country picture.
Help me choose the right testLast updated 29 September 2026Figures checked against official sources, listed at the end
What each test costs in Bangladesh
PTE and TOEFL are priced in US dollars, so you pay with an international card and your bank’s exchange rate.
What each destination accepts
| Destination | Rule that matters |
|---|---|
| UK | Degree level: your university assesses English, so normal IELTS, PTE or TOEFL may be fine. Foundation or below degree: usually a SELT such as IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI. |
| Australia | Visa accepts IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1, LanguageCert Academic and others taken at a test centre from 7 August 2025. At-home tests are not accepted. Choose “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when registering. |
| Canada | No fixed IRCC score since the SDS closed; meet your school’s requirement. |
| USA | No visa test. Universities set their own rules; many take TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and Duolingo. |
| Ireland | An English test is compulsory for every study visa. |
| Malaysia | EMGS asks for a certificate from its list, such as IELTS, TOEFL or MUET. |
| Germany, Finland, Japan | Set by the university; German-taught courses need TestDaF or DSH, Japanese-taught courses JLPT and EJU. |
How to choose
- List every course and scholarship you will apply to, with the exact tests and minimum band scores each accepts.
- Check whether your visa route needs a special version, such as IELTS for UKVI for a UK foundation year.
- If all your targets accept all three, choose the format you perform best in. Take a free official practice test of each first.
- Book at a test centre, not at home, if Australia or the UK visa is involved.
A higher score than the minimum can matter for scholarships, so check award criteria too.
Official sources
- IDP Bangladesh: IELTS fees ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- Pearson: PTE test centres and fees ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- ETS: TOEFL iBT fees ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- GOV.UK: knowledge of English ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- Home Affairs: English tests ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- Embassy of Ireland New Delhi: study visa note ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
These are dated editorial checks, not a live data feed. Recheck the original page before applying or paying.
About this guide. Researched by the Student Visa From Bangladesh editorial team from the official sources listed above and last checked on 29 September 2026. We are not a university or a government agency, and admission and visa outcomes are never guaranteed. Read our editorial policy.