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| Criteria | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic | Duolingo English Test (DET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Acceptance | 🌎 Accepted in 160+ countries, incl. USA, Canada, UK, Australia, NZ, Europe | Widely accepted | Limited; not all top universities |
| Visa Acceptance | ✅ Valid for student visas in all major destinations | ✅ Valid for most | ❌ Not valid for many |
| Test Format | Online; integrated academic skills | Paper/Computer; separate sections | Online; shorter, less academic |
| Sectional Cut-off Advantage | 💪 No single low section disqualifies you — universities see full score (0–120) | ❌ Even one low band (e.g. 5.5) can reduce eligibility | ❌ Not standardized for sectional scores |
| Scoring & Fairness | AI + human scoring = more accurate & unbiased | Human scoring; may vary | AI only; less transparent |
| Result Time | 4–8 days | 5–13 days | 2–3 days (but limited acceptance) |
| Overall Advantage | ✅ Globally trusted, visa-friendly, academically rigorous | ✅ Regionally strong | ❌ Limited recognition |