IELTS vs TOEFL vs Duolingo English Test: How the Speaking Sections Compare
The three big English tests assess speaking very differently. Here's how IELTS, TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test compare, and which might suit you.
IELTS, TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test are all accepted for study and immigration in many places, but their speaking sections feel completely different. Here's a side-by-side so you can pick the one that suits how you speak.
| Test | How you speak | Speaking format | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | To a real examiner | Interview + cue card + discussion (3 parts) | Band 0-9 |
| TOEFL iBT | Into a microphone (recorded) | 4 tasks: 1 independent + 3 integrated | 0-30 |
| Duolingo English Test | Into mic / webcam (recorded) | Several short tasks (describe a photo, read/listen then speak) | 10-160 |
Which speaking section is easiest?
It depends on your strengths. IELTS feels the most like a natural conversation, which suits people who think on their feet. TOEFL is the most time-pressured and needs quick note-taking and summarizing. The Duolingo English Test is short and taken at home, but talking to a screen against a countdown unsettles some people. None is truly easy without practice.
The one thing all three reward
Every one of these tests rewards the same thing: fluent, clear, organized speech that keeps going. You can't fake that from grammar drills, you build it by speaking out loud, a lot. Here's why speaking beats flashcards.
Prep the skill, not just the format
Learn each test's format from its official site, but spend most of your time actually speaking. That's what moves every one of these scores.
Dig into each one: the IELTS Band 7 roadmap, the TOEFL Speaking roadmap, and the Duolingo English Test speaking guide. Or just start practising out loud with an AI tutor.
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