IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo: which English test for your scholarship and university?

Information checked on 2 November 2026.

IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo: the right English test is the one your scholarship and your university ask for, not the one your neighbour took. Remember three rules. The IELTS Academic and the TOEFL iBT are accepted almost everywhere. The Duolingo English Test is accepted by many universities (Toronto, Schwarzman), but not by every scholarship: Australia Awards and Korea's GKS scholarship do not list it. Finally, Chevening and the Commonwealth scholarships require no test for themselves, but the UK university that admits you often does. This guide compares the three tests, then reviews what the major scholarships ask for, the official prices and how long scores stay valid.

Preparing a file for France? There, a French test is what counts: read our article on the TCF, the DELF and Campus France instead.

IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo: the three tests side by side

Two differences matter more than the others. The Duolingo test is taken at home, with no travel, which helps when the nearest centre is a day's drive away; but you need a computer, a good connection and a valid official ID. The IELTS and the TOEFL carry more weight with government scholarships, which often list those two tests and only those.

What the major scholarships ask for

The scholarship decides, then the university. Here is what the programmes most sought by African students publish, with a link to our detailed listing (in French).

Chevening: no test, but the university wants one

Chevening removed its own English requirement in 2020. The trap lies elsewhere: you must obtain an unconditional offer from one of your three chosen universities before the deadline in the timeline. If the university admits you "subject to IELTS 6.5", the offer stays conditional until you have the score. And Chevening forbids using a preparatory language course (pre-sessional) to meet the university's English condition: you would lose the scholarship for that course. Conclusion: take your test before applying, not after.

Commonwealth: nothing for the commission

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission states that it does not require any candidate to take an IELTS test. The host university sets its own admission conditions: check them on the master's page. The 2027-2028 round of the Commonwealth master's closed on 20 October 2026.

Australia Awards: the score must be valid on a set date

For the 2027 intake, the Australia Awards Africa profile requires IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or TOEFL iBT 84 with at least 21 in each section, or PTE Academic 58 with no skill below 50. The score must be valid on 1 January 2027. Only candidates whose first language is English and who studied in English are exempt. Duolingo is not listed. Applications for the 2028 intake open in February 2027: a test taken now can count.

GKS: optional, but it earns points

The 2026 GKS guidelines (master's and PhD) make the language certificate optional: you can apply without one. But a score earns points, according to this grid:

Only the TOEFL iBT and the IELTS count for English, and the guidelines specify that a certificate of English-medium study does not replace an official test. The TOEFL thresholds are expressed on the old 0 to 120 scale. The guidelines for the next round may change these rules: reread them when they come out. Asian scholarships are compared in our article on CSC, GKS and MEXT scholarships.

Mastercard Foundation: the Toronto example

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars scholarship goes through partner universities, and each keeps its own admission rules. At the University of Toronto, for undergraduate study:

• IELTS Academic (IELTS Online included): 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0. IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted;
• TOEFL iBT taken since 21 January 2026: 4.5 overall, with 4.5 in writing and 4.0 in speaking (before that date: 89, with 22 in speaking and writing). Combined "MyBest" scores are not used;
• Duolingo English Test: 120 overall and 120 in "Production".

Scores must come from a single sitting. Toronto exempts a candidate who has studied at least four years in English in a country where English is dominant: a baccalaureate obtained in French in Senegal or Benin therefore does not exempt you.

The new TOEFL: a score from 1 to 6

Since January 2026, the TOEFL iBT gives four section scores and an overall score on a 1 to 6 scale, rounded to the nearest half band. During a two-year transition, ETS also provides a comparable score on the old 0 to 120 scale.

Why it matters for you: many scholarships still write their thresholds in points out of 120 (GKS, Australia Awards, ABE). Others already show both (Schwarzman: 100 out of 120 or 5 out of 6; Toronto: 4.5 for recent tests). Before registering, check on the scholarship's page which scale it reads and what minimum score it sets for each section.

How much the test costs, and where to take it

TOEFL iBT: one price per country

ETS publishes the registration fee country by country, in US dollars, excluding local taxes:

Add, if you need them: $49 for late registration (less than 7 days before the test), $69 to change the date, $29 per additional score report sent to an institution. Payment is made online by card, PayPal or Alipay from your ETS account.

IELTS: the centre's price

IELTS does not publish a single worldwide fee. The price depends on the country, the centre and the type of test, and it is shown in local currency when you book on the official website, after choosing your country and city. IELTS has more than 4,500 locations in over 160 countries, and IELTS Online is available in many countries.

Duolingo English Test: price at purchase

The official 2026 Duolingo English Test guide gives no amount: the price is shown at purchase on the official website, as a single test or a bundle of two. You then have 21 days to take the test, and you can only buy three per 30-day period. Sending results to institutions is free, with no limit on their number.

Always buy on the test's official website. A "centre" that sells a guaranteed score or a certificate without an exam is a scam, like those described in our article on scholarship scams.

Validity: two years, and the date that counts

All three tests speak of two years:

• TOEFL: scores are valid for 2 years;
• Duolingo: certified scores are valid for two years;
• IELTS: the organisation recommends treating a result as valid for two years, and states that an institution may accept a longer period.

But the date that counts is the one set by the scholarship. Australia Awards wants a score still valid on 1 January 2027; the 2026 GKS guidelines only accepted certificates valid on 28 February 2026. A test taken too early, in the year before the final year of secondary school for example, may expire before you apply. The right time is usually six to twelve months before the deadline of your scholarship.

Preparing for free with official resources

No need to pay for a course to get started. All three organisations publish free material:

Then practise every day: read the press in English, watch videos with English subtitles, write short texts. The Duolingo guide says it plainly: cramming the day before does not change the score, only your real level counts.

When to take your test: the suggested timeline

For a secondary school student, the English test comes late: before it come report cards, grades and the letter, detailed in our guide to preparing your file from the penultimate year of secondary school. Work on the letter in parallel, with our method for the scholarship motivation letter.

And if you are aiming for France or Germany?

For France, Campus France asks non-French-speaking candidates for a French test (TCF or DELF): our article on the French test for Campus France explains who is exempt. For Germany, a master's in English asks for an IELTS or a TOEFL, a programme in German for the TestDaF or the DSH: it is all in our guide to studying in Germany.

Preparing your test with Compatri

Start by finding your scholarship: the Compatri scholarship directory (in French) shows, listing by listing, the language and test required, with the official sources. Turn on scholarship alerts (in French) to receive the deadlines, then open an application tracker (in French) that reminds you of each step. To revise with others, join or create your class group and ask your English questions. And to talk to someone who has already obtained their IELTS and their scholarship, write to a diaspora mentor. Our overview of fully funded scholarships helps you choose where to aim.

Compatri is not linked to IELTS, ETS, Duolingo or the scholarship bodies: only their official pages are authoritative.

Official sources

• ETS: TOEFL iBT content and scoring (1 to 6 scale)
• ETS: TOEFL iBT fees by country
• ETS: understanding TOEFL scores (timing, 2-year validity)
• ETS: TOEFL iBT resources and sample test
• IELTS: IELTS Academic format
• IELTS: scoring and validity of results
• IELTS: results timing and sharing
• IELTS: booking your test
• IELTS: official preparation resources
• Duolingo English Test: official 2026 guide (PDF)
• Chevening: removal of the English requirement
• Chevening: choosing UK courses
• Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: master's
• Australia Awards Africa: Africa profile, 2027 intake (PDF)
• Australia Awards Africa: apply
• GKS: 2026 application guidelines, master's and PhD (PDF)
• Schwarzman Scholars: admissions
• University of Toronto: English language requirements