Three tests, three prices, one question: which one gets you into the UK university you want with the least cost and stress? The answer depends on a distinction most students miss. The university and the visa office are asking two different questions.
Two questions, not one
The university asks: can you follow lectures and write essays in English? It sets its own entry requirement and chooses which tests it will accept.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) asks: do you meet the English level the Immigration Rules require? For a degree-level course that is CEFR B2; below degree level it is B1. Here is the part that matters. As of November 2026, for degree-level study at a licensed higher education provider, the university may assess your English itself. It does not have to be a “secure English language test” (SELT). That is why IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test are all widely accepted for bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
For courses below degree level, such as foundation years or some pre-sessional English courses, you need a SELT from an approved provider. The approved tests for applicants outside the UK are IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, LanguageCert’s SELT exams and Skills for English UKVI. Duolingo is not a SELT.
So the first thing to do is read the “English language requirements” page of the course you want. It will list the tests and the scores. Nothing in this guide overrides that page.
The three tests compared
| IELTS Academic | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Listening, reading, writing on computer; speaking face to face with an examiner | Fully computer-based, including speaking into a microphone | Online at home, adaptive, about one hour |
| Cost in India (November 2026) | ₹19,000; the UKVI version ₹19,250, per IELTS centre listings | Set in rupees by Pearson and shown at booking; third-party listings put it at about ₹18,900 including GST. Check the official fee page | US$70, about ₹6,600 at early November 2026 rates |
| Results | Usually within a few days for the computer test | Usually within a few days | Typically within 48 hours |
| Validity | Two years recommended by IELTS; universities may accept longer | Two years from the test date | Two years |
| UK acceptance | Universal for degrees; UKVI version doubles as a SELT | Very wide for degrees; UKVI version is a SELT | Many universities for degrees, with exceptions; never a SELT |
| Best for | Students who want the safest, most widely recognised option | Students comfortable with computers who want fast results | Students far from a test centre or on a tight budget |
Costs change. Every figure above carries its date; confirm on the official page the day you book.
Typical scores
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for an IELTS overall of 6.0 with no component below 5.5. Most taught master’s courses ask for 6.5 overall with no component below 6.0. Competitive courses, law, journalism and some business schools ask for 7.0. On the PTE scale, universities usually publish an equivalent in the high 50s to high 60s; on Duolingo, in the range of about 110 to 125. Each university prints its own conversion table, and those tables differ, so compare your score against the table of the university you are applying to, not a general one.
A practical point: component scores fail more applicants than the overall does. If writing is your weak paper, practise writing, not everything.
Taking the test from Bihar
IELTS: IDP lists Patna among its IELTS test locations in India, as of November 2026, with the computer-delivered test and a face-to-face speaking session. Use IDP’s or the British Council’s official centre finder for live dates and the exact venue, because centres move and fill.
PTE: Check Pearson’s test centre finder for current locations. We could not confirm a Patna centre at the time of writing; students in Bihar sometimes travel to Kolkata or another city, so book early and plan the journey.
Duolingo: Taken at home with a webcam, a quiet room, stable internet and your passport. For many students in Bihar this is the strongest argument for the test. Read the rules first: looking away from the screen or having someone in the room can void the result.
Whatever you choose, book the test six to nine months before your course starts. That leaves time for a retake and still meets a July or August CAS deadline for a September start.
When a university waives the test
Many UK universities accept alternatives, usually for postgraduates. They include:
- Class 12 English marks. A good mark in English from CBSE, ISC or a state board, often around 70 per cent or higher, satisfies some universities. Each publishes its own list of accepted boards and minimum marks.
- A degree taught in English. For some master’s courses a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter from your Indian university is enough, though fewer universities accept this than students hope.
- A previous UK qualification.
For the visa, a university that waives the test is making its own assessment under the B2 rule, so you still need to be able to speak English at your credibility interview. Waivers do not change what happens in a seminar room either. If your English is below the course level, take a pre-sessional course rather than a waiver.
How to choose
- List the universities you will apply to and open their English requirement pages.
- Cross off any test that one of them does not accept.
- If your course is below degree level, you need a SELT: IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI.
- Among what remains, choose by access and cost. Patna-based IELTS, computer-based PTE in a nearby city, or Duolingo at home.
- Take one official practice test before you book, and book a date with time for a retake.
Avoid these mistakes
- Paying a coaching centre to “book on your behalf” at a markup. Book yourself on the official site.
- Trusting a leaked paper or a “proxy” offer. Both are fraud and both end careers.
- Letting a score expire. Two years passes quickly when you defer a course.
What to do next
If you would like a shortlist of universities that accept the test you can realistically take, with the exact scores they ask for this year, Start your application. Bihar Scholars’ guidance is free for students.