IELTS remains the most secure option for students seeking admission to several UK universities as it has wide acceptability and is an academic test format. The IELTS Academic test is widely acceptable, whereas IELTS for UKVI is accepted when a Secure English Language Test (SELT) is required.

The PTE Academic test and the Duolingo English Test are accepted by several UK universities; however, each test has varied acceptance at each university depending on the programme and levels being applied for.

For the year January 2027, verify two points before booking: the English language requirements of your university and visa pathway. Acceptance of the test at the university level does not necessarily mean the test format meets all the UK visa requirements.