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Test Preparation

Every test, set out the same way

Score scale, timing, results, validity and fees for eleven tests, with what preparation for each one concentrates on, so that you can compare them line by line.

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IELTS09TOEFL iBT16PTE Academic1090GRE260340GMAT205805SAT4001600
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Eleven tests at a glance

Choose a test to go to its details. If you are not yet sure which one you need, the Test Preparation overview has a two-question finder.

TestUsed forScore scaleLengthResultsValid forTest fee
English language tests
IELTSStudy, professional registration, migration0 to 9About 2 h 45 minWithin a few days2 years₹19,000
TOEFL iBTStudy, above all in the USA and Canada1 to 6About 1 h 30 minAbout 3 days2 yearsAbout ₹15,000 to ₹18,000
PTE AcademicStudy and visas, above all Australia, New Zealand and the UK10 to 90About 2 hoursUsually within 2 days2 years₹18,900
Duolingo English TestStudy, mainly the USA and Canada10 to 160About 1 hourWithin 2 days2 yearsAbout US$70
OETHealthcare registration0 to 500About 2 h 45 minAbout 10 daysUsually 2 yearsAUD 587
Other language tests
GermanWork, recognition and study in Germany, Austria and SwitzerlandA1 to C2About 3 hours at B1A few weeksNo expiryVaries by level
FrenchStudy in France; immigration to CanadaA1 to C2About 2 h 50 min at B2A few weeksDELF, DALF: no expiryVaries by level
JapaneseWork and study in JapanN5 to N1About 2 hours at N4About 2 monthsNo expiryVaries by level
Admission tests
GREMaster's and PhD admission260 to 3401 h 58 min8 to 10 days5 yearsAbout ₹22,550
GMATMBA and business master's admission205 to 8052 h 15 min3 to 5 days5 yearsUS$275 to US$300
SATBachelor's admission400 to 16002 h 14 minAbout 2 weeksUsually 5 yearsAbout US$111

Test fees are the test owners' own charges for candidates in India at the time of writing. They are paid to the test owner when you book and are separate from coaching fees. Fees set in US or Australian dollars move with the exchange rate. Which test each country asks for is covered by the finder on the overview page.

English language tests

Five tests of the same four skills: reading, listening, writing and speaking. They differ in who accepts them, how you give your answers and how the result is reported.

IELTS

International English Language Testing System. Owned by IDP, the British Council and Cambridge; run in India by IDP.

Most often asked for: 6.0 to 7.5 overall, with a minimum in each section

How the time is divided, in minutesSpeaking is 11 to 14 minutes and may be held at a separate time on the same day
  • Listening 30 min
  • Reading 60 min
  • Writing 60 min
  • Speaking 14 min

Who asks for it

Universities in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and across Europe, most universities in the USA, nursing and medical regulators, and immigration departments.

What sets it apart

Speaking is a live conversation with an examiner, not a recording. Writing has two tasks: a report on a chart or a letter, and then an essay.

What preparation concentrates on

  • Essays marked against the public band descriptors
  • Speaking practised as a real interview, with feedback on fluency and range
  • Reading and listening against the clock, one question type at a time
Length
About 2 h 45 min
Results
Usually within a few days
Valid for
2 years
Test fee in India
₹19,000. IELTS for UKVI ₹19,250
Where
At a test centre, on computer
Retakes
Any time. One Skill Retake repeats a single section within 60 days

Book Academic for study and professional registration, and General Training for migration. IELTS in India moved to computer delivery during 2026.

Ask about IELTS preparationBack to all tests

TOEFL iBT

Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet-based test. Owned by ETS.

Most often asked for: 4.0 to 5.0, which is about 72 to 100 on the older 0 to 120 scale

How the time is divided, in minutesApproximate. Reading and Listening adapt to your answers, so their length varies
  • Reading 30 min
  • Listening 29 min
  • Writing 23 min
  • Speaking 8 min

Who asks for it

Universities in the USA and Canada first of all, and most universities elsewhere. It is also accepted for Australian and New Zealand visas.

What sets it apart

Since 21 January 2026 the test is shorter, partly adaptive and scored from 1 to 6. For a transition period, score reports also show the equivalent on the old 0 to 120 scale, which many universities still quote.

What preparation concentrates on

  • The new task types, including the interview-style speaking section
  • Listening to lectures and campus conversations, and taking notes you can use
  • Typing speed and accuracy for the writing tasks
Length
About 1 h 30 min
Results
About 3 days
Valid for
2 years
Test fee in India
About ₹15,000 to ₹18,000. Check the price shown when you book
Where
At a test centre, or at home
Retakes
After a gap of 3 days

Books and videos made before 2026 describe the old test. Use only material written for the current format.

Ask about TOEFL iBT preparationBack to all tests

PTE Academic

Pearson Test of English Academic. Owned by Pearson.

Most often asked for: 50 to 65 overall, with a minimum in each skill

How the time is divided, in minutesApproximate. Each part varies by a few minutes from one test to the next
  • Speaking and Writing 60 min
  • Reading 30 min
  • Listening 36 min

Who asks for it

Universities in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada and many in the USA, and the visa authorities of Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

What sets it apart

Every answer is given to a computer, including speaking into a microphone. One task often counts towards two skills, so a weak area shows up in more than one score.

What preparation concentrates on

  • Speaking clearly into a microphone at an even pace
  • The combined tasks, where one answer feeds two skill scores
  • The question types added in the 2025 update
Length
About 2 hours
Results
Usually within 2 days
Valid for
2 years
Test fee in India
₹18,900
Where
At a test centre, on computer
Retakes
As often as you need, once you have your result

PTE Core is a different test, made for Canadian immigration. Do not book it for university admission.

Ask about PTE Academic preparationBack to all tests

Duolingo English Test

Owned by Duolingo. Taken online from home.

Most often asked for: 105 to 130

How the time is divided, in minutesApproximate
  • Setup 5 min
  • Adaptive test 45 min
  • Writing and speaking samples 10 min

Who asks for it

A large and growing number of universities, mainly in the USA and Canada, and some in the UK, Ireland and Australia. It helps when a test centre is far away or a deadline is close.

What sets it apart

You take it on your own computer with the camera on. Questions become harder or easier as you answer, and short writing and speaking samples are sent to the university with your score.

What preparation concentrates on

  • The question types, which are unlike those in IELTS or TOEFL
  • Working fast, since most questions allow less than a minute
  • The room, camera and identity rules, so that your result is not cancelled
Length
About 1 hour
Results
Within 2 days
Valid for
2 years
Test fee
About US$70
Where
At home, on your own computer
Retakes
Up to 3 tests in any 30 days

Most immigration departments and professional regulators do not accept it. Check that every university on your list does before you rely on it.

Ask about Duolingo English Test preparationBack to all tests

OET

Occupational English Test. Owned by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment.

Most regulators ask for grade B, which is 350 or more, in each of the four sub-tests

How the time is divided, in minutesWriting and Speaking are set for your own profession
  • Listening 40 min
  • Reading 60 min
  • Writing 45 min
  • Speaking 20 min

Who asks for it

Nursing, medical, pharmacy and other health regulators in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada, in place of a general English test.

What sets it apart

Everything is set in a clinic or a hospital. You write a referral or discharge letter from case notes, and you role-play a consultation with a patient.

What preparation concentrates on

  • Turning case notes into a clear letter in 45 minutes
  • Patient role-plays: explaining, reassuring and checking understanding
  • Listening to consultations and health talks, and noting what matters
Length
About 2 h 45 min
Results
About 10 days on computer, 17 on paper
Valid for
Usually 2 years, set by each regulator
Test fee
AUD 587, about ₹33,000
Where
At a test centre, on computer or paper
Retakes
On any test date

Each regulator sets its own grades and its own rule on combining two sittings. We check the current rule for your regulator before you book.

Ask about OET preparationBack to all tests

Other language tests

These are certificates of a level, not scores. A level takes months to reach, so the plan matters more here than anywhere else on this page.

German

Goethe-Zertifikat, telc Deutsch and ÖSD for work and visas. TestDaF and DSH for university entry.

Most often asked for: B1 or B2 for nursing and skilled work. German-taught degrees need about C1, shown by TestDaF or DSH

How the time is divided, in minutesGoethe-Zertifikat B1 shown. Times differ at other levels and with other boards
  • Reading 65 min
  • Listening 40 min
  • Writing 60 min
  • Speaking 15 min

Who asks for it

Nurses and other professionals seeking recognition in Germany, Ausbildung applicants, students entering German-taught degrees, and family members joining someone in Germany.

What sets it apart

Levels run from A1 to C2 on the European framework. You pass a level instead of collecting a score, and each level builds on the one before it.

What preparation concentrates on

  • Speaking from the first week, because interviews test it first
  • Grammar and vocabulary in the order the levels require
  • Exam practice in the format of the board you will sit
Length
About 3 hours at B1
Results
Within a few weeks
Valid for
No expiry, though many offices want a recent certificate
Test fee
Varies by level and centre
Where
Goethe-Institut and licensed exam centres
Retakes
From B1, single modules can be repeated

Allow six to nine months of steady study to go from no German to B1. Starting early matters more than studying hard at the end.

Ask about German preparationBack to all tests

French

DELF and DALF diplomas, and the TCF and TEF tests, including their Canada versions.

Most often asked for: B2 for a French-taught degree, and C1 for some. For Canada, a higher result earns more points

How the time is divided, in minutesDELF B2 shown. Speaking has 30 minutes of preparation time before it
  • Listening 30 min
  • Reading 60 min
  • Writing 60 min
  • Speaking 20 min

Who asks for it

Students entering French-taught courses in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada, hospitality students interning in France, and applicants for Canadian permanent residence.

What sets it apart

DELF and DALF are diplomas for one level each. TCF and TEF are single tests that place you on the scale, and they are the ones Canada uses.

What preparation concentrates on

  • Listening to French at natural speed, the part most learners find hardest
  • Structured speaking: presenting a point of view and defending it
  • Formal writing: letters, summaries and short essays
Length
About 2 h 50 min at B2
Results
Within a few weeks
Valid for
DELF and DALF: no expiry. TCF and TEF: 2 years
Test fee
Varies by level and centre
Where
Alliance Française and other approved centres
Retakes
At the next session

For Canada, only TEF Canada and TCF Canada count. An ordinary TCF or a DELF diploma will not be accepted.

Ask about French preparationBack to all tests

Japanese

Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic).

Most often asked for: N4 or JFT-Basic for Specified Skilled Worker roles, and N2 for professional jobs and Japanese-taught degrees

How the time is divided, in minutesJLPT N4 shown. Higher levels are longer
  • Vocabulary 25 min
  • Grammar and reading 55 min
  • Listening 35 min

Who asks for it

Workers going under the Specified Skilled Worker programme, engineers and IT professionals joining Japanese companies, and students entering language schools and universities.

What sets it apart

The JLPT has no speaking or writing paper. It tests vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening by multiple choice. Three scripts are learned on the way: hiragana, katakana and kanji.

What preparation concentrates on

  • Hiragana and katakana first, then kanji in the order the levels need
  • Listening practice at examination speed
  • Spoken Japanese for interviews, which the JLPT does not test
Length
About 2 hours at N4
Results
About 2 months for JLPT
Valid for
No expiry
Test fee
Varies by level and city
Where
JLPT in selected Indian cities, each July and December
Retakes
At the next session

The JLPT is held only twice a year. Missing a registration window can cost you six months.

Ask about Japanese preparationBack to all tests

Admission tests

These tests measure reasoning, reading and maths. They have no pass mark; universities read your score beside your marks, your statement and your references.

GRE

Graduate Record Examinations General Test. Owned by ETS.

There is no pass mark. Competitive programmes commonly see 300 to 325. Analytical Writing is reported separately, from 0 to 6

How the time is divided, in minutesVerbal and Quantitative each come in two sections
  • Analytical Writing 30 min
  • Verbal Reasoning 41 min
  • Quantitative Reasoning 47 min

Who asks for it

Master's and PhD programmes, above all in the USA, and some in Canada, Germany and Singapore. Many business schools accept it in place of the GMAT.

What sets it apart

The test was shortened to under two hours in 2023. The second verbal and quantitative sections become harder or easier according to how you did in the first.

What preparation concentrates on

  • Vocabulary in context, for the text-completion questions
  • Quantitative reasoning: school-level maths asked in unfamiliar ways
  • One essay, planned and typed in 30 minutes
Length
1 h 58 min
Results
8 to 10 days
Valid for
5 years
Test fee in India
About ₹22,550
Where
At a test centre, or at home
Retakes
Every 21 days, up to 5 times in 12 months

Many programmes have made the GRE optional. A strong score can still help with admission and funding, so decide programme by programme.

Ask about GRE preparationBack to all tests

GMAT

Graduate Management Admission Test. Owned by GMAC.

There is no pass mark. Many programmes admit in the range 555 to 655, and the most selective look higher

How the time is divided, in minutesYou choose the order. One optional break of 10 minutes
  • Quantitative Reasoning 45 min
  • Verbal Reasoning 45 min
  • Data Insights 45 min

Who asks for it

MBA and business master's programmes worldwide, including those in the USA, the UK, Canada, France and Singapore, and India's leading business schools.

What sets it apart

Three sections of 45 minutes, taken in the order you choose. Data Insights asks you to read tables, charts and several sources at once. There is no essay.

What preparation concentrates on

  • Data Insights, which has no equivalent in school or college exams
  • Pacing: you may go back and change only three answers in each section
  • Verbal reasoning through arguments and reading passages
Length
2 h 15 min
Results
Official score in 3 to 5 days
Valid for
5 years
Test fee
US$275 at a centre, US$300 online, plus GST
Where
At a test centre, or online
Retakes
After 16 days, up to 5 times in 12 months

Scores on the current scale end in 5, to tell them apart from the older 200 to 800 scale. Before you compare your score with a school's figures, check which scale it quotes.

Ask about GMAT preparationBack to all tests

SAT

Owned by the College Board. Taken on computer, in the Bluebook app.

Commonly seen: 1200 to 1500, depending on how selective the college is

How the time is divided, in minutesEach section has two modules. The second depends on how you did in the first
  • Reading and Writing 64 min
  • Break 10 min
  • Math 70 min

Who asks for it

Class 11 and 12 students applying for bachelor's degrees in the USA, and at some universities in Canada, Singapore, Europe and India.

What sets it apart

Reading passages are short, with one question each, and a calculator is allowed throughout the maths. The test is held only on set dates through the year.

What preparation concentrates on

  • Maths to Class 10 and 11 level, asked as word problems
  • Reading short passages quickly and precisely
  • Full practice tests in the official Bluebook app
Length
2 h 14 min, plus a 10-minute break
Results
About 2 weeks
Valid for
Usually accepted for 5 years
Test fee
US$68 plus a US$43 international fee, plus GST
Where
At a test centre, on fixed dates
Retakes
On any later test date

The ACT is an alternative that US colleges treat as equal. Many colleges are test-optional, while several selective ones require a score again, so check each college for your year of entry.

Ask about SAT preparationBack to all tests

Other tests we are asked about

Less common than the eleven above, but each is the right answer for somebody.

CELPIP-General

An English test made for Canadian permanent residence and citizenship, taken on computer in a single sitting.

PTE Core

Pearson's test for Canadian immigration. The format is close to PTE Academic, with everyday content in place of academic content.

IELTS Life Skills

A short test of speaking and listening only, used for UK family and settlement visas.

LanguageCert

A newer set of English tests, accepted for UK visas and by a growing number of universities.

Cambridge C1 Advanced

A Cambridge English qualification accepted by many universities in the UK and Europe. The certificate does not expire.

ACT

The alternative to the SAT for bachelor's degrees in the USA, scored from 1 to 36.

LSAT

For law schools in the USA and Canada. It tests reading and logical reasoning.

Licensing exams

NCLEX, the CBT and OSCE, PLAB, USMLE and FMGE are professional exams, not admission tests. See Work Abroad and Study MBBS Abroad.

On the day of the test

Small things cancel more results than hard questions do.

Before you leave home

Your passport

Carry your original, valid passport. It is the safest identification for every test, and the only one that some will accept. The name on your booking must match it letter for letter.

At a test centre

Arrive early

Reach the centre at least 30 minutes before your slot. Phones, watches and notes are locked away, and your photograph is taken before you go in.

At home

Prepare the room

Home tests need a quiet room, a clear desk, a working camera and a steady connection. Breaking a rule can cancel your result without a refund.

Questions about particular tests

IELTS or PTE: which should I take?

Start with what is accepted. If both are, the difference is in the format. IELTS has a live speaking interview. PTE is spoken into a microphone and marked by computer, and results usually arrive inside two days. Take a practice test of each and choose the one where you score closer to your target.

Will universities accept the new TOEFL score?

Yes. During the transition, every score report shows the new 1 to 6 score and the equivalent on the old 0 to 120 scale, so you can use whichever figure the university quotes.

GRE or GMAT for an MBA?

Most business schools accept both and say they have no preference. The GMAT makes sense if you are applying only to business schools. The GRE keeps other master's programmes open as well.

Can one test serve both my admission and my visa?

Usually, if it is the right version. The test must be on the university's list and on the visa office's list. The Duolingo English Test, for example, is accepted by many universities and by very few visa offices.

What if I miss my score in just one section?

It depends on the test. IELTS offers a One Skill Retake within 60 days. Some regulators let you combine two OET sittings. For most other tests you sit the whole test again, which is why we advise booking only when your mock scores are steady.

Do language certificates expire?

Goethe, telc, DELF, DALF and JLPT certificates carry no expiry date. In practice, employers, universities and visa offices often ask for one issued in the last year or two. TCF and TEF results are valid for two years.

Not sure which test is yours?

Tell us where you are applying and by when. We will name the test, the version and the score to aim for.

Get free test counselling Back to the overview

Important: Test formats, timings, fees, dates, score scales and retake rules are set by the organisations that own each test, and the scores required are set by each university, employer, regulator and visa office. All of these change. The figures on this page are a general guide. Confirm the current details on the test's official website and with the institution concerned before you book. Test names are trademarks of their respective owners, who are not connected with this page and do not endorse it. Revamp Consultancy provides counselling and preparation guidance and does not guarantee test scores, admissions, job offers or visas.

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