Picking the right English test can save you weeks of preparation, thousands of taka and prevent your visa from being delayed. This guide compares IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic and Duolingo head-to-head from a Bangladeshi student's perspective in 2026 — with real cost figures, test centres in Chattogram and Dhaka, country acceptance, and prep tips.
1. Overview of All 4 Tests
IELTS Academic (and IELTS for UKVI)
The most widely taken English test in Bangladesh and the safest choice for almost any destination. Run by the British Council and IDP. Format: Listening (30 min) + Reading (60 min) + Writing (60 min) + Speaking (11–14 min face-to-face interview). Score: bands 1–9.
TOEFL iBT
Run by ETS. Originally American, still strongest for the USA but widely accepted elsewhere. Format: Reading (35 min) + Listening (36 min) + Speaking (16 min, recorded) + Writing (29 min) — all on computer. Score: 0–120.
PTE Academic
Run by Pearson. Fully computer-based with AI scoring — no human examiner for speaking. Massive popularity gain for Australia and UK. Format: Speaking + Writing (54–67 min combined) + Reading (29–30 min) + Listening (30–43 min). Score: 10–90.
Duolingo English Test (DET)
Online, taken from home with webcam monitoring. Cheapest and fastest of all four. Accepted by hundreds of universities in US, Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland and beyond. Score: 10–160. About 1 hour total.
2. Cost Comparison in BDT (2026)
| Test | Fee (BDT) | Result Time | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | ৳22,500 | 3–5 days (computer) / 13 days (paper) | 2 years |
| IELTS for UKVI | ৳25,500 | 3–13 days | 2 years |
| TOEFL iBT | ৳22,000–24,000 | 4–8 days | 2 years |
| PTE Academic | ৳20,500 | 2 working days | 2 years |
| Duolingo English Test | ৳5,500–6,500 (USD 65) | 2 days | 2 years |
3. Test Centres in Chattogram
IELTS in Chattogram
- British Council Chattogram — main official IELTS centre, both Academic and UKVI. Computer-delivered available, multiple dates monthly.
- IDP Chattogram — alternative official IELTS provider, both versions available.
PTE Academic in Chattogram
Available through Pearson VUE test centres. Book at pearsonpte.com for current Chattogram availability.
TOEFL iBT in Chattogram
Available at authorised ETS centres. More limited availability than IELTS — book several weeks ahead. Check ets.org/toefl.
Duolingo in Chattogram
Taken from home — no test centre needed. Just a quiet room, a laptop with webcam/microphone, and stable internet. Instantly accessible from anywhere in Chattogram Division.
4. Test Centres in Dhaka
IELTS in Dhaka
- British Council Dhaka — multiple computer-delivered dates per week, both Academic and UKVI.
- IDP Dhaka — similar schedule, both versions.
PTE Academic in Dhaka
Multiple Pearson VUE centres with several time slots per week. Popular for its 48-hour result turnaround.
TOEFL iBT in Dhaka
ETS-authorised centres available. Book at ets.org/toefl.
Duolingo in Dhaka
Same as Chattogram — taken from home at englishtest.duolingo.com.
5. Score Requirements by Country (2026)
| Country | IELTS (Bachelor's) | IELTS (Master's) | TOEFL iBT | PTE | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 UK | 6.0–6.5 | 6.5–7.0 | 78–95 | 59–65 | 110–125 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 6.0–6.5 | 6.5–7.0 | 79–94 | 58–65 | 105–125 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada (SDS) | 6.0 each band | 6.5 | 83–86 | 60 | 120 (varies) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada (Non-SDS) | 6.0–6.5 | 6.5 | 80–90 | 60–63 | 110–120 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | 6.0–6.5 | 6.5–7.0 | 79–100 | 58–66 | 105–125 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 6.0–6.5 | 6.5 | 79–90 | 59 | 110–115 |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 6.0–6.5 | 6.5 | 80–90 | 59–63 | 110–120 |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 6.0 | 6.5 | 80 | 50–58 | 105–115 |
6. Which Test is Easiest to Score High In?
If you're strong at structured answers — try PTE
PTE rewards clarity, structure and consistent pronunciation. The AI scoring helps if you find face-to-face speaking exams stressful. Bangladeshi students who plateau at IELTS speaking 6.0 often jump to PTE 65 (≈ IELTS 7.0) within weeks of switching.
If you're strong at essay writing — try IELTS
IELTS reading and writing reward developed answers, vocabulary range and clear paragraph structure. The face-to-face speaking section is conversational — comfortable for some, intimidating for others.
If you're strong with American accents — try TOEFL
TOEFL uses American English with longer listening passages. If your English exposure has been mostly through Hollywood, Netflix and US YouTube, you may find TOEFL listening easier than IELTS.
If you have limited budget — try Duolingo
Duolingo is much shorter (~1 hour), cheapest, and you can retake after just 3 days. The downside is acceptance — not every university takes it, and it's not accepted for UK visa-stage English requirements.
Not sure which test to take?
Our counsellors give free, no-obligation advice on which English test fits your target country, your strengths and your budget. Walk in to Chattogram or Dhaka.
Get Free Test Advice →7. IELTS Preparation Tips (Bangladesh-specific)
Sections ranked by what Bangladeshi students struggle with
- Writing — the hardest. Task 1 (graph/process) and Task 2 (essay) need a learned structure, not just good English.
- Speaking — second hardest. Students often over-rehearse Part 1 and freeze in Part 3 (discussion).
- Listening — accent variation (British, Australian, North American) catches some students out.
- Reading — usually the easiest for academically strong students.
Specific tips
- Use Cambridge IELTS practice tests 1–18. The only past papers that closely match the real test.
- Time yourself ruthlessly. Reading: 60 min for 40 questions = 90 seconds per question.
- Learn the writing task structures. Task 1 has 5–6 set structures. Task 2 has 4 essay types. Memorise the structures, not the content.
- Speaking — record yourself. Use your phone, answer Part 1 questions, listen back.
- Don't pay for expensive coaching first. British Council and IDP free resources cover 80% of what you need.
How long does prep take?
For most Bangladeshi students with HSC-level English: 0 to 6.5 takes about 6–10 weeks (1–2 hours/day). 6.5 to 7.5 takes another 8–12 weeks. 8.0+ is a multi-month commitment needing structured feedback.
8. PTE Preparation Tips
- Don't pause. The AI penalises long pauses heavily. Paraphrase rather than stay silent.
- Speak loudly and consistently. The AI measures volume. Consistent > beautiful but quiet.
- Use official Pearson scored practice tests. Same AI scoring as the real exam.
- Repeat sentence and read aloud are huge. They feed into multiple sub-scores. Practise these heavily.
- Write essays in clear paragraphs with topic sentences. The AI rewards structure even more than IELTS.
9. Computer vs Paper IELTS — Which is Better?
| Feature | Computer-Delivered | Paper-Based |
|---|---|---|
| Result time | 3–5 days | 13 days |
| Test dates | Multiple per week | 4 per month typically |
| Listening | Headphones, individual audio | Speakers, shared audio |
| Reading | Highlight and copy/paste tools | Pen-on-paper underlining |
| Writing | Type on keyboard, easy to edit | Handwrite, harder to revise |
| Word count | Auto-counted on screen | You count manually |
| Speaking | Same — face-to-face | Same — face-to-face |
10. How Many Times Can You Retake?
- IELTS: No limit. Take it as many times as you want, as often as you want.
- TOEFL iBT: No limit. Retake after 3 days.
- PTE Academic: Retake as soon as you receive your previous score (typically 2 days).
- Duolingo: Up to 3 certified tests within any 30-day period.
11. Score Validity
| Test | Validity | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 2 years | Universities and visa offices won't accept older scores |
| IELTS for UKVI | 2 years | UK visa requires test taken within last 2 years |
| TOEFL iBT | 2 years | ETS provides score reports for 2 years |
| PTE Academic | 2 years | Pearson holds score for 2 years |
| Duolingo | 2 years | Standard 2-year validity |
The 2-year validity is from the test date, not the application date. Plan accordingly — many universities need 3–4 months from application to enrolment.