Process
Which English test (IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo) does my child need to study abroad, and what score?
Most English-taught universities will accept IELTS, TOEFL, and increasingly the Duolingo English Test (DET) or PTE — but the accepted tests and the minimum score both vary by university and by program, so there is no single number that works everywhere. As a rough guide, undergraduate admission often sits around IELTS 6.0–7.0, with competitive or selective universities (UK Russell Group, top US schools) frequently asking for 7.0+ and minimum sub-scores; postgraduate study is usually higher. The only reliable answer is the requirement published on each target university's own page.
Treat the test as program-specific, not a one-time hurdle. The headline overall score is often the easy part; the hidden blocker is a minimum sub-score — many programs require, for example, a writing band of 6.5 even when the overall is 6.0, and a single weak section can sink an otherwise strong result. Some universities waive the English test entirely if the student's prior education was conducted in English, so check whether your child already qualifies before booking anything.
Two practical rules. First, verify on each university's official admissions page, because accepted tests and cut-offs change yearly and Duolingo acceptance — while it has grown fast — is still not universal. Second, build the test into your application calendar early: scores have validity windows, popular test dates fill up, and a retake to lift one sub-score needs weeks of runway before deadlines. As an independent, fee-free guide, BrightKey takes no payment from schools or test providers, so the honest takeaway is simply to confirm the real requirement at the source rather than aim at a generic number.
Reviewed by Priscilla Han. BrightKey is independent and takes no payment from schools or universities. Editorial standards.