Language certificates: which test, what score, when

• IELTS Academic is accepted almost everywhere. Scores run from 0 to 9 in half bands, for each of the four skills and overall. The IELTS partners recommend a 2-year validity, which most universities apply as a rule. Results come 1–5 days after a computer test. ¹ Some universities do not accept IELTS Online or IELTS General Training: book the Academic test at a test centre. ²
• TOEFL iBT changed on 21 January 2026. Tests taken from that date are scored on a 1–6 scale (in half bands) instead of 0–120; until January 2028 the score report also shows a comparable 0–120 score. As a rough guide, the old 90 is about 4.5 and the old 80 about 4. ³ Some universities paused acceptance of the new test while they review it: Oxford does not currently accept TOEFL tests taken on or after 21 January 2026, and Cambridge applies an extra check. ^{2 4} If your child is applying to the UK, IELTS or Cambridge English is the safer choice for 2027 entry.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency are scored on the Cambridge English Scale (C1 Advanced: a certificate at C1 for 180–199). The certificates do not expire, though a university may ask for a recent one. ⁵ Oxford and Cambridge ask for 191 / 193 overall. ^{2 4}
• Duolingo English Test is taken online at home, scored 10–160 (C1 ≈ 130–150) and valid 2 years. It is widely accepted by US and Canadian universities, much less by UK, Dutch or German ones. ⁶
• PTE Academic is accepted by most UK, Irish and Australian universities. ⁷

Usual minimums (bachelor's, overall IELTS; course pages may ask more, especially for law, medicine and humanities):

UK student visa: for a degree, the university can assess English itself and record it on the CAS (B2 in all four skills); a separate visa test (IELTS for UKVI) is usually not needed. Nationals of majority English-speaking countries are exempt. ⁸

• DELF and DALF are diplomas of the French ministry of education: DELF covers A1–B2, DALF C1–C2. They are valid for life. ⁹
• TCF (test de connaissance du français) gives a level from A1 to C2; the result is valid 2 years. ⁹
• Non-EU applicants to a first year of licence (and PASS, L.AS, architecture) apply through the DAP on Études en France: B2 minimum, shown by the TCF DAP (the TCF with the written part), DELF B2/DALF, or TEF 400/699; some universities ask for C1. The DAP closes on 15 December; exemptions exist for nationals of countries where French is the only official language and for some students schooled in French. A second TCF is possible only 30 days after the first. ¹⁰
• EU applicants (and French bac holders) apply on Parcoursup with no certificate required by the platform, but courses can ask for B2/C1. ⁷

• German-taught degrees require C1, usually shown by TestDaF with 4 in all four parts (TDN 4×4) or DSH-2 (taken at the university). Also widely accepted: Goethe-Zertifikat C2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, the school-based DSD II. ¹¹ Some universities ask for a result less than 3 years old. ¹¹
• When: the certificate usually has to be uploaded with the application (uni-assist or the university, 15 July for the winter semester). Plan the test for the school year before. DSH is only offered at universities, often shortly before the semester. ⁷
• English-taught degrees in Germany ask for English (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) and sometimes basic German. ⁷

• Spanish: the DELE (Instituto Cervantes, Spanish ministry of education) is valid indefinitely; the SIELE certificate is valid 5 years. Public universities usually expect B2 from non-native speakers; some ask for a DELE B2 specifically. ^{12 7}
• Italian: Italian-taught degrees expect B2; the university checks it with its own test unless the student holds a recognised certificate (CILS DUE-B2 from Siena, CELI 3 from Perugia, PLIDA, Roma Tre's Cert.IT). Non-EU students pre-enrol on Universitaly. ¹³
• Dutch: Dutch-taught bachelor's degrees ask for NT2 programma II (B2) or an equivalent university test; the exam costs €50 a part (€200 for all four). Each university sets its own rule. ¹⁴

• Schooling in the language. Most universities exempt students whose full secondary education (or the last 2–3 years) was taught in that language. Ask the school for a letter confirming it.
• The IB. The IB Diploma taught in English (or English A, or English B at HL with a good grade) is accepted as proof of English by many universities, including Oxford. ² The same holds for French A or German A at a French or German university. ⁷
• School-leaving diplomas. A good grade in English in the Abitur, French bac (with suitable English options) or other EU diplomas is accepted by some universities, Cambridge among them. ⁴
• Nationality. Citizens of majority English-speaking countries are usually exempt for English (and for the UK visa). ⁸

1. List the teaching language of every course on the shortlist.
2. Check the exemptions first (schooling, IB, diploma, nationality).
3. Pick one English test accepted by every university on the list (IELTS is the safe default for the UK in 2027).
4. Take it about a year before entry, with time for a retake.
5. Keep the result valid until enrolment; DELF/DALF, DELE, TestDaF and Cambridge certificates do not expire.
6. For French (non-EU) and German, start a year ahead: C1 takes time, and test dates are fewer.