Best English test for New Zealand
Which English test does Immigration New Zealand accept? Compare IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Cambridge and OET for NZ study and migration — scoring, format, acceptance.
Immigration New Zealand accepts IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge English B2 First and OET; universities and polytechnics read academic tests, with IELTS Academic the most widely accepted and OET reserved for healthcare. No test is officially easier — they differ in format, marking and scale, so choose by your route and how you test best.
New Zealand candidates meet an English requirement in two separate places: a study provider that sets its own admission band, and Immigration New Zealand, which runs the language rule for the work and residence visas. Both accept more than one test — IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge English and OET all appear on the relevant lists — so the real question is which fits your route and how you test best. This page compares what actually differs between them, and defers every pass mark to the official source.
At a glance
Every one of these five tests is on Immigration New Zealand's acceptable list, so the choice comes down to format, marking and what your study provider reads. INZ sets a minimum score for each test and reviews the list periodically — these are the fixed structural differences, not the pass marks.
| Dimension | IELTS | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT | Cambridge English | OET |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scoring scale | 0-9 bands, per skill + overall | 10-90 (Global Scale of English) | 0-120 (0-30 per section) | Cambridge English Scale, per skill + overall | Grades A-E per skill (0-500) |
| Speaking test | Live examiner, in person or by video call | Recorded to a computer | Recorded to a computer | Live examiner(s), usually in pairs | Live role-play in your profession |
| Marking method | Human examiners for Writing and Speaking | Fully automated (AI) | AI plus human raters | Human examiners | Trained human assessors |
| Results turnaround | Days (computer) to about 2 weeks (paper) | Typically within a few days | About a week | A few weeks | About 2 weeks |
| On Immigration NZ list? | Yes - General or Academic | Yes - Academic | Yes - iBT | Yes - B2 First / B2 First for Schools | Yes |
| NZ university admission? | Yes - Academic, most widely | Yes - Academic | Yes - iBT | Many, via C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | No - health registration only |
| Designed for | General academic and migration English | Academic English, computer only | Academic English, US-style tasks | General proficiency; a lasting certificate | Healthcare professionals |
| Retake options | Full re-sit, or One Skill Retake within 60 days (INZ accepts both) | Full re-sit | Full re-sit | Full re-sit | Full re-sit, or resit single sub-tests |
Immigration New Zealand lists Cambridge English B2 First specifically, while universities more often read the higher C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, so check which your route needs. Minimum scores, result turnaround and the current approved list are set by each test owner and by INZ — verify them on the official pages. All results must come from a supervised test centre (remote 'at home' versions are not accepted) and be recent when you apply.
Which should you choose?
Choose IELTS if…
- You want one result that works almost everywhere — Academic for study, and General Training or Academic for Immigration New Zealand.
- You prefer a live speaking interview with a human examiner over recording answers to a computer.
- You may also apply to Canada, Australia or the UK, where IELTS is the most widely recognised option.
- You want to practise the exact computer-delivered interface before test day.
Choose another approved test if…
- You test better in a fully computer-based, machine-scored format with fast results — PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT.
- You are a doctor, nurse or other health professional whose New Zealand regulator reads OET.
- You already hold a Cambridge English certificate, which does not expire and is on INZ's list.
- Your study provider names a test you already have a strong score in — always check its accepted list first.
Immigration New Zealand's approved list
For the work and residence visas that carry an English requirement, it is Immigration New Zealand — not your employer or university — that decides which tests count. Its approved list includes IELTS (General Training or Academic), PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge English B2 First, and OET for health professionals. INZ publishes a minimum score each test must reach, and the requirement works as a pass-or-fail gate that your result has to clear before an application can proceed.
Because those minimum scores and the list itself are set by policy and reviewed periodically, treat the exact numbers as something to confirm on the official Immigration New Zealand pages rather than memorise. Two rules are stable enough to plan around: results must come from a supervised test centre — remotely proctored 'at home' tests are not accepted — and they must be recent when you apply.
Study providers read academic tests
University and polytechnic admission is a separate decision, made by the institution, and it reads academic English tests: IELTS Academic most widely, with PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and — at many providers — the higher Cambridge English qualifications (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) also accepted. Each institution sets its own overall band, often with a floor on individual modules, so the number that matters is your programme's, published on the specific course page.
OET is the exception worth flagging: it is on INZ's list and is built for healthcare, but it is not a general university-admission test. If you are heading to study you need an academic test; if you are a nurse or doctor working towards New Zealand registration, OET or IELTS is what your regulator is likely to read. The Duolingo English Test sits the other way round — accepted for admission by some providers, but not on Immigration New Zealand's approved list.
What actually differs between the tests
No test on the list is officially easier than another — INZ and NZ institutions treat them as equivalent once each clears its required score. What differs is how they are built. IELTS and Cambridge use a live human examiner for Speaking; PTE and TOEFL record your answers to a computer and score Speaking by machine, or a mix of machine and human raters. PTE is fully computer-based end to end, IELTS offers both a computer and a paper format, and OET frames every task around clinical scenarios.
The scoring scales differ too — IELTS bands of 0-9, PTE's 10-90, TOEFL's 0-120 and the Cambridge English Scale — which is why comparing a friend's result across tests rarely helps. Pick the test whose format suits how you perform under pressure and, above all, one that your specific route and provider accept. Whichever you choose, practising in the real interface removes the software as a variable on test day.
What each test covers for New Zealand
The same test can be fine for one purpose and useless for another. This is the stable structure — verify each minimum score with Immigration New Zealand or your study provider.
| Test | Study admission | Immigration NZ | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | Academic - accepted very widely | Yes - General or Academic | Almost any route; the default choice |
| PTE Academic | Widely accepted | Yes | Fast, fully computer-based, machine-scored |
| TOEFL iBT | Widely accepted | Yes | A computer test with US-style academic tasks |
| Cambridge English | Many, via C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | Yes - B2 First | A certificate that does not expire |
| OET | Not for general admission | Yes | Doctors, nurses and other health professionals |
| Duolingo English Test | Accepted by some providers | No - not on INZ's list | A quick at-home test, study admission only |
Immigration New Zealand publishes the definitive approved-test list and the minimum score each must reach; universities and polytechnics set their own admission minimums and accepted tests. Confirm both at source. The Duolingo English Test and other remotely proctored tests are not accepted by INZ, even where a study provider takes them for admission.
Common questions
Is PTE easier than IELTS for New Zealand?
Neither is officially easier — Immigration New Zealand and NZ universities treat them as equivalent once each meets the required score. They differ in format: PTE Academic is fully computer-based and machine-scored, including a Speaking test recorded to a microphone, while IELTS uses a live examiner for Speaking. Choose the format you perform best in, not the one rumoured to be softer.
Does Immigration New Zealand accept PTE and TOEFL?
Yes. PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT both appear on Immigration New Zealand's list of acceptable English tests, alongside IELTS, Cambridge English B2 First and OET. INZ sets a minimum score for each and reviews the list periodically, so confirm the current requirement on the official INZ pages before you book.
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted for New Zealand?
It depends on the purpose. Some New Zealand education providers accept the Duolingo English Test for admission, but it is generally not on Immigration New Zealand's approved list for the visa English requirement, and INZ does not accept remotely proctored tests. If your route runs through INZ, check its acceptable-tests page — do not assume a test accepted for study also counts for immigration.
Can I use OET for New Zealand?
OET is on Immigration New Zealand's approved list and is designed for healthcare professionals, so it is a natural choice if a New Zealand health regulator reads it for registration. It is not, however, a general university-admission test — for study you will need an academic test such as IELTS Academic, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT.
Which English test do New Zealand universities accept?
Most universities and polytechnics accept IELTS Academic, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT, and many also read the higher Cambridge English qualifications (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency), each with its own minimum. IELTS Academic is the most widely recognised. The band and accepted tests are set per institution and programme, so confirm on the specific course page.
Does Immigration New Zealand accept at-home or online tests?
No. Immigration New Zealand requires results from a supervised test centre, so at-home or online-proctored versions — including IELTS Online — are not accepted for the visa English requirement. Sit the standard test-centre version, and verify the accepted formats on the official INZ pages before booking.
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