IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo Score Validity: How Long Each Lasts
Key Takeaways
- IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Duolingo English Test scores are each valid for two years from the test date.
- ETS will not report or send TOEFL iBT scores after two years, and Pearson's PTE scores expire so they can no longer be assigned to an institution.
- IELTS's two years is a recommendation from the IELTS partners to institutions, not an expiry printed on the Test Report Form.
- After two years, Duolingo ends certificate viewing and sharing for both the test taker and institutions holding the result.
- A university, scholarship body or visa office can ask for a more recent score than the test's own two-year limit, so check each requirement.
Table of Contents
- How long are IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo scores valid?
- How long is an IELTS score valid?
- How long is a TOEFL iBT score valid?
- How long is a PTE Academic score valid?
- How long is a Duolingo English Test score valid?
- Can a university or visa office ask for a more recent score?
- What should I do if my English test score is about to expire?
IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Duolingo English Test scores are each valid for two years from your test date. What changes from test to test is who sets that limit and what happens once it passes. ETS and Pearson stop sending your scores, Duolingo removes certificate access, and the IELTS partners recommend that institutions stop relying on the result.
The validity rules on this page come from the IELTS partners’ verifying IELTS results page, ETS’s understanding your TOEFL iBT scores page, Pearson’s PTE scoring help centre and the Duolingo English Test help centre, all checked on 28 October 2026.
How long are IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo scores valid?
| Test | Validity | Who sets it | What happens after two years |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 2 years | The IELTS partners (British Council, IDP and Cambridge), as a recommendation to institutions | Institutions are asked to accept an older Test Report Form only with proof you have kept up or tried to improve your English |
| TOEFL iBT | 2 years from the test date | ETS | ETS will not report or send your scores |
| PTE Academic | 2 years from the test date | Pearson | The score expires and you can no longer assign it to an institution |
| Duolingo English Test | 2 years from the test date | Duolingo | You can no longer share the result or view the certificate, and institutions lose access to the certificate too |
Source: ielts.org (IELTS), ETS (TOEFL iBT), Pearson PTE help centre (PTE Academic) and the Duolingo English Test help centre, all checked 28 October 2026.
How long is an IELTS score valid?
Two years, as a recommendation rather than an expiry printed on your Test Report Form. The IELTS partners recommend that a result is treated as evidence of your English for a maximum of two years, because language skills fade without use. They ask institutions to accept a Test Report Form more than two years old only if it comes with proof that you have actively kept up, or tried to improve, your English.
An institution can still check an older result: the IELTS partners say a Test Report Form more than two years old can be verified online, but they will not investigate one that is more than three years old. In practice, most universities and visa offices apply the two-year limit as a firm rule, so plan your test date so the result is still inside two years when you apply. You can estimate where you stand today with our IELTS band calculator, and our guide to the IELTS exam covers the test types and format.
How long is a TOEFL iBT score valid?
Two years from your test date. ETS states that it will not report or send TOEFL iBT scores after two years, so an expired score cannot be renewed; you would need to take the test again. Additional score reports can be ordered only while your scores are still valid. Our post on TOEFL score validity explains what to do when your score is close to expiring.
How long is a PTE Academic score valid?
Two years from your test date. Pearson’s help centre says your Score Report is valid for two years, that you should assign your scores to institutions within those two years, and that you cannot assign them afterwards because they expire. If you plan to apply to more universities later, send your scores to all of them before the two years run out. Our PTE score chart shows how a PTE score compares with IELTS bands.
How long is a Duolingo English Test score valid?
Two years from your test date. Duolingo’s help centre says that after two years you can no longer share your result or view your certificate, and institutions also lose the ability to view the expired certificate. An institution that already received your result will still see it listed on its dashboard, but without the certificate. Duolingo administers, delivers and certifies its own test, so unlike the other three there is no separate testing body involved. Our Duolingo score chart compares Duolingo scores with IELTS and TOEFL.
Can a university or visa office ask for a more recent score?
Yes. Two years is the longest each testing body will stand behind a score; a university, scholarship body or visa office can require a more recent one. Some count the two years up to your application date and others up to the start of your course or your visa decision, which can be months later. Always check the requirement on the admission or visa page you are applying to, rather than assuming the test’s own limit is the one that applies.
The GRE works differently: ETS keeps GRE scores reportable for five years, as our post on GRE score validity explains.
What should I do if my English test score is about to expire?
Send the score to every institution you are applying to while it is still valid, and book a retake early enough that the new result arrives before your deadlines. Check where you stand first with our free IELTS mock test, free TOEFL practice test or free PTE practice test. If you are booking from India, see the voucher options for your English test.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an IELTS score valid?
Two years. The IELTS partners (British Council, IDP and Cambridge) recommend that a result is treated as evidence of your English for a maximum of two years, and that an older Test Report Form is accepted only with proof you have kept up or tried to improve your English.
Is the IELTS two-year validity a fixed expiry?
No. It is a recommendation to institutions rather than a date printed on the Test Report Form. Most universities and visa offices still apply it as a firm rule, so plan for your result to be under two years old when you apply.
Can an institution verify an IELTS result older than two years?
Yes. The IELTS partners say a Test Report Form more than two years old can still be verified online, but they will not investigate one that is more than three years old.
How long is a TOEFL iBT score valid?
Two years from your test date. ETS states that it will not report or send TOEFL iBT scores after two years, so an expired score cannot be renewed.
How long is a PTE Academic score valid?
Two years from your test date. Pearson says you should assign your scores to institutions within those two years; after that the scores expire and can no longer be assigned.
How long is a Duolingo English Test score valid?
Two years from your test date. After that you can no longer share your result or view your certificate, and institutions lose access to the expired certificate, although they still see the result listed on their dashboard.
Which English test has the longest score validity?
None of them. IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and the Duolingo English Test all use two years. The GRE, which is not an English test, is reportable for five years.
Can a university ask for an English test score less than two years old?
Yes. Two years is the longest each testing body will stand behind a score. A university, scholarship body or visa office can ask for a more recent result, and some count the two years up to the course start or visa decision rather than the application date.
Can I still use an expired IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo score?
Usually not. ETS and Pearson will not send an expired score, and Duolingo removes the certificate. For IELTS, institutions are asked to accept an older result only with proof you have kept your English up, which few universities or visa offices do.
What should I do if my English test score is about to expire?
Send the score to every institution on your list while it is still valid, and book a retake early enough that the new result arrives before your deadlines.
