| Best for | UK/AU/CA study and many immigration routes (variant-dependent) | US universities and many graduate programs worldwide | Canadian PR, citizenship, and IRCC pathways requiring CELPIP General | University admissions; AU/NZ visas; growing UK study lists |
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| English style | Academic or General Training variants | Academic English | Everyday Canadian English and accents | Academic English (PTE Core is everyday English for Canada) |
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| Delivery mode | Paper or computer; Speaking in person or video call | Fully computer-delivered (home/center options vary) | Fully computer-delivered at approved centers | Fully computer-delivered at approved centers |
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| Typical fee range | Often roughly USD $215–$340 / local equivalent (e.g. US commonly $280–$340) | Country-based ETS fee; commonly about USD $180–$300+ before taxes/add-ons | About CAD $290 + tax in Canada (Paragon list price); higher abroad | Country-based Pearson fee; often similar mid-hundreds USD / local equivalent |
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| India pricing note | Widely available; check British Council / IDP India fees | Available in major cities; confirm ETS India fee page | Fewer centers than IELTS/PTE; confirm Paragon India availability | Strong center network in metro cities; confirm Pearson India fees |
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| Test duration | About 2h 45m for L/R/W (+ separate Speaking slot on some bookings) | ETS: allow about 2 hours (adaptive testing time ~1.5h) | About 3 hours for CELPIP General (one sitting) | About 2 hours for PTE Academic |
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| How fast results arrive | Computer typically 1–5 days (often ~1–2); paper about 13 days | Often within a few days after the test (check ETS for your delivery option) | Typically 2–4 business days online | Typically ~2 days (Pearson aim; can take up to ~5 business days) |
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| Booking availability | Very frequent dates; paper slots can fill faster | Frequent center/home availability in major markets | Canada dates usually solid; limited outside Canada | Flexible computer dates where Pearson has capacity |
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| Study abroad acceptance | Extremely wide university recognition | Especially strong for US admissions | Not the usual university admissions test | Wide and growing Academic acceptance (confirm each school) |
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| Canada PR / immigration | IELTS General Training mapped to CLB (not Academic alone) | Usually not used for Express Entry language points | CELPIP General maps 1:1 to CLB for many IRCC streams | Use PTE Core for Canada PR—not PTE Academic by default |
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| Typical score validity | Usually 2 years for most institutions/visas | Usually 2 years | Usually 2 years for immigration use | Usually 2 years (confirm program rules) |
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| Score scale | Bands 0–9 (half bands) | 1–6 section/overall (plus transitional 0–120 comparable score after Jan 2026) | Levels M–12; General levels map 1:1 to CLB | 10–90 overall and communicative skills |
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| Score comparison note | Map to CLB for Canada; use school band floors elsewhere | Match each school's published scale (1–6 and/or transitional 0–120)—not unofficial charts alone | Level equals CLB for Express Entry language points | Use official concordance / CLB tables for Core; Academic ≠ Core |
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| Speaking | Human examiner (in person or video call) | Mic tasks: Listen and Repeat + Take an Interview (2026 format) | Computer prompts with Canadian everyday scenarios | Computer mic; Speaking & Writing combined in Part 1 |
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| Listening | Accents vary; paper tests include answer-transfer time | Conversations, announcements, academic talks; adaptive path | Canadian accents and everyday contexts | Integrated items; accents often international/academic |
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| Reading | Academic passages or GT workplace/social texts | Daily-life + academic reading; adaptive difficulty (2026 format) | Everyday reading tasks for life in Canada | Academic reading with multiple item types |
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| Writing | Task 1 + Task 2 (Academic chart/graph vs GT letter) | Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Academic Discussion (no long essay) | Email and survey-response style writing | Summarize written text, essay, and integrated items |
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| Practice & mock tests | Abundant official and third-party mocks | Official practice + section sims widely available | Official samples + computer-format mocks matter most | Official scored practice + AI-scored mocks common |
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| Prep focus | Variant choice (Acad/GT) + human Speaking practice | 2026 task types (email/interview/adaptive reading) + pacing | Canadian accents + full computer stamina (~3h) | Integrated speaking/writing typing speed and mic technique |
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| Key advantage | Broadest recognition and variant flexibility | Strong US academic brand recognition | Built for Canadian immigration contexts | Fast results and flexible computer booking |
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| Watch-out | Longer overall; Speaking may be another day | Less useful for many Canada PR streams | Limited outside Canada; not for most university lists | Easy to book Academic when you need Core (or vice versa) |
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