Best English test for a Canada study permit
With the Student Direct Stream gone, your institution sets the English test for a Canadian study permit. Compare IELTS Academic, TOEFL, PTE and DET.
There is no single best test. Since the Student Direct Stream ended, no fixed English-test band applies at the study-permit stage for most applicants — your Designated Learning Institution sets the test and the score. IELTS Academic and TOEFL are accepted almost everywhere; PTE widely; the Duolingo English Test at many institutions, but not all.
Applicants often ask which English test is "required" for Canada, expecting a single government answer. Since the Student Direct Stream closed, the general study-permit stream applies to everyone, and the language requirement is set by the programme and institution you apply to — not by a national band. This page compares the four tests those institutions most commonly accept on the facts that do not change: how each is scored and marked, the speaking format, results speed, retakes and how widely each is recognised.
At a glance
Every cell is a fixed structural fact — how each test is built, not how hard it is. Acceptance and any minimum score are set by your institution and, where it applies, by IRCC; always confirm on the official source.
| Dimension | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score scale | 0–9 bands, half-bands, per skill and overall | 0–120 total, 0–30 per section | 10–90 (Global Scale of English) | 10–160, in 5-point steps |
| How it's marked | Human examiners mark Writing and Speaking | AI and human raters score Speaking and Writing | Fully computer-scored | Computer-adaptive, AI-scored, remotely proctored |
| Speaking format | Live one-to-one interview with a certified examiner | Recorded into a microphone | Recorded into a microphone; integrated tasks | Recorded responses; no live examiner |
| Where you sit it | Test centre (computer-delivered or paper) | Test centre or at-home edition | Test centre (computer) | At home, on your own computer |
| Results speed | Computer-delivered: typically within a few days | About a week | Typically within a few days | Typically within a couple of days |
| Retakes | No limit; single-skill retake in some markets | No limit; short gap between sittings | No limit | Capped number of certified tests per period |
| Canadian DLI acceptance | Essentially all institutions | Very widely accepted | Widely accepted and growing | Many institutions, but not all |
| Beyond study admission | Also covers PR (General Training) and many regulators | Mainly study; not used for Canadian PR | PTE Core is accepted by IRCC for Express Entry | Not accepted by IRCC for immigration |
IRCC recognises specific tests for immigration routes, and these differ from study admission — the Duolingo English Test and TOEFL are not accepted for Express Entry, where IELTS General Training or PTE Core apply. Verify current requirements on the official IRCC pages and your institution's admissions page.
Which should you choose?
Choose IELTS Academic if…
- You want one result that can also serve a later step in Canada — permanent residence or professional registration — since IELTS is the most widely recognised of the four.
- You would rather sit a live, one-to-one speaking interview with a certified examiner than record answers into a microphone.
- Your programme, or a regulated profession you are heading into, names only IELTS or TOEFL.
- You want a test that essentially every Canadian institution accepts without having to check first.
Choose PTE, TOEFL or DET if…
- Your institution's admissions page clearly lists the test you are considering — that listing, not reputation, is the deciding factor.
- You are comfortable speaking into a microphone and want fast, largely automated scoring (PTE, DET).
- You need an at-home option with minimal booking logistics (the Duolingo English Test, or TOEFL's home edition) and your institution accepts it.
- Your plan is study only, with no Canadian immigration or licensing step where these tests fall short.
The study permit no longer sets the test — your institution does
The Student Direct Stream, the fast-track that once fixed an IELTS Academic 6.0-per-skill requirement for many applicants, has been discontinued. Every study-permit application now runs through the general stream, and for most applicants IRCC does not impose a single national English-test band at the visa stage.
That moves the decision to your Designated Learning Institution (DLI). The programme you are admitted to sets which tests it accepts and the minimum score, and admission is what you need before you can apply for the permit. Requirements differ by level and field — an undergraduate diploma and a master's often ask for different bands — so the only reliable source is the programme's own admissions page, alongside IRCC for the permit itself.
In other words, choosing a test starts with choosing a programme. Read exactly what it lists, then book — verifying on the official IRCC and institution pages rather than a general comparison, including this one.
Which tests Canadian institutions accept
IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT are accepted by almost every Canadian university and college, and have been for decades. PTE Academic acceptance is broad and continues to widen. The Duolingo English Test is accepted by many DLIs, but it is the least universal of the four — some institutions, and some programmes within institutions that otherwise accept it, do not.
Because acceptance is set institution by institution, the safe order is to pick your programme first, read exactly which tests and scores it lists, then book. Choosing a test before checking the programme is how applicants end up sitting a paper their institution does not take.
If any part of your longer plan involves staying in Canada — a post-graduation work permit leading to permanent residence, or a regulated profession — note that immigration and licensing bodies accept a narrower set of tests than admissions offices do, covered in the table below.
How the four tests differ, and who each suits
The tests are built differently, and none is easier as a rule — the right one depends on your strengths and logistics. IELTS uses human examiners for Writing and a live, one-to-one speaking interview; TOEFL and PTE record your speaking into a microphone and score it with automated marking (TOEFL also uses human raters); the Duolingo English Test is a shorter, computer-adaptive test you sit at home under remote proctoring.
IELTS Academic suits candidates who prefer speaking to a person and who want one result that can also serve a later immigration or registration step. PTE and TOEFL suit those comfortable with a microphone who value fast, largely automated scoring, with TOEFL's at-home edition and PTE's centre delivery as the venue trade-off. The Duolingo English Test suits applicants who want a low-logistics, at-home option — provided every institution on their list accepts it.
Compare the formats against your own profile rather than reputation. Someone whose speaking is strongest in conversation may prefer the IELTS interview; someone who freezes with an examiner present may do better recording answers. The structural table above lays out the differences that hold true regardless of who is marking.
How the four scores line up
Approximate concordance ranges at the levels Canadian programmes commonly ask for, drawn from the test owners' published studies. Treat them as a guide only.
| IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test | Typical study use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 60–78 | 50 | 110 | Undergraduate minimum at many DLIs |
| 6.5 | 79–93 | 58 | 120 | Common undergraduate; some graduate |
| 7.0 | 94–101 | 65 | 130 | Most graduate programmes |
| 7.5 | 102–109 | 73 | 140 | Competitive and selective programmes |
Concordances are statistical mappings, not rules an institution must follow — some map the same Duolingo score to a different band. Each programme sets its own minimum, sometimes per skill; read its admissions page.
Common questions
Do I still need IELTS for a Canadian study permit after SDS ended?
Since the Student Direct Stream closed, the general study-permit stream applies to everyone, and IRCC does not set a fixed English-test band at the visa stage for most applicants. Your Designated Learning Institution decides which test and score you need for admission. Confirm on the official IRCC pages and the institution.
Is PTE easier than IELTS for Canadian universities?
Neither is easier as a rule — they differ. PTE is fully computer-scored with recorded speaking; IELTS uses human examiners and a live speaking interview. Compare the formats against your own strengths, and check which test your specific programme accepts before booking.
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted for a Canada study permit?
Many Canadian institutions accept the Duolingo English Test for admission, but not all, and IRCC does not accept it for immigration routes such as Express Entry. Check the programme's admissions page; if any immigration or licensing step is in your plan, IELTS or TOEFL is the safer choice.
Which English test do most Canadian colleges and universities accept?
IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT are accepted almost everywhere; PTE Academic acceptance is broad and growing; the Duolingo English Test is accepted by many but is the least universal. Always verify on the specific programme's admissions page rather than a general list.
Can I use my study test score for permanent residence later?
Not directly. Express Entry and most PR routes require IELTS General Training (or PTE Core) — not the Academic test, TOEFL or the Duolingo English Test. If staying in Canada is part of your plan, factor the immigration test in early rather than sitting two different tests later.
Does a Canadian study permit require a minimum IELTS band?
There is no single national band set by IRCC for the general study-permit stream. The minimum comes from your programme and institution, and can differ by level (undergraduate versus postgraduate) and field. Read the admissions requirement for the exact programme you are applying to.
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