What is the cheapest English B2/C1 certificate in 2026?

Duolingo English Test costs 70 USD globally — the cheapest. Aptis ESOL ranges from 80 to 120 USD depending on the country. Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced cost 230-300 USD. IELTS Academic costs 215-310 USD depending on country. TOEFL iBT is 245-255 USD. The price difference between Aptis and Cambridge can pay for several months of self-study materials.

Which English exam delivers results fastest?

IELTS computer-based delivers in 1-2 days. Aptis Advanced delivers in 48-72 hours. Linguaskill and Duolingo deliver in 48 hours. Cambridge takes 2-3 weeks digital and 4-6 weeks paper. TOEFL iBT delivers in 4-8 days. If you have a deadline (university application, scholarship, work permit), result speed can matter as much as price.

Does the Aptis or Cambridge certificate expire?

Cambridge officially states their certificate never expires. British Council says the same about Aptis. Expiration is set by the recipient: universities typically require IELTS/TOEFL no older than 2 years; many teaching qualifications and immigration processes accept older certificates. IELTS and TOEFL are explicitly designed with a 2-year validity recommendation by ETS and the British Council.

How much does TOEFL iBT cost in 2026?

TOEFL iBT costs 245-255 USD depending on country, billed by ETS in USD. Since January 21, 2026, ETS introduced a new adaptive format of about 2 hours, replacing the previous 3-4 hour format. Results in 4-8 days. It's the standard exam for US universities.

Is it worth paying double for Cambridge if Aptis is half the price?

It depends on the recipient. For UK universities, Cambridge has wider recognition than Aptis. For US universities, you need TOEFL — neither Aptis nor Cambridge replaces it. For UK or Australia visas, IELTS is the standard. If your goal is simply certifying B2 or C1 for an international application, scholarship or job search, Aptis is the most cost-efficient option with the fastest result.

Aptis vs IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge and Duolingo prices in 2026

Quick summary

If you want the cheapest and fastest B2 or C1 certificate, the short answer is: Duolingo English Test (70 USD, results in 48 h) or Aptis Advanced (~80-120 USD, results in 48-72 h). Cambridge, IELTS and TOEFL cost 215-300 USD and take 1-6 weeks to deliver.

But "cheapest" isn't always "best for your case". For US universities you need TOEFL; for UK or Australian visas, IELTS UKVI; if your specific recipient asks for Cambridge, nothing else works. Below we cross price with what each exam is actually used for.

Comparison table — official prices May 2026

Prices in USD or local equivalent. Ranges reflect differences between countries and authorised centres.

Exam	Price (USD)	Duration	Results	Validity	Used for
Aptis Advanced	~80-120	2h 35min	48-72 h	Indefinite	Teaching, scholarships, postgrad
Cambridge B2 First	230-280	3h 30min	2-3 weeks	Indefinite	UK/EU universities
Cambridge C1 Advanced	250-300	4h	2-3 weeks	Indefinite	UK/IE/AU universities
IELTS Academic	215-310	2h 45min	1-2 days	2 years	UK/AU/CA universities, visas
TOEFL iBT	245-255	~2h (new)	4-8 days	2 years	US/Canada universities
Linguaskill General	90-160	2h 40min	48 h	Indefinite	Companies, some universities
Duolingo English Test	70	~1h	48 h	2 years	US/UK/CA universities that accept it

Local pricing varies (1 USD ≈ 0.93 EUR ≈ 19 MXN ≈ 5.5 BRL in May 2026). Verify with your official testing centre before booking. Aptis Advanced retail price varies most by country since British Council sets local rates.

Per exam — detailed breakdown

Aptis Advanced (British Council)

Price: ~80-120 USD depending on country (e.g. Spain 106 EUR, Brazil R$ 603, Mexico ~1,800-2,400 MXN)
Duration: 2h 35min · Results: 48-72 hours · Frequency: ~2/month at most centres
Used for: teaching qualifications, scholarship applications, postgraduate admissions in countries that accept CEFR-aligned tests. Recognised in 85+ countries

Cambridge B2 First (FCE) and C1 Advanced (CAE)

B2 First: 230-280 USD · C1 Advanced: 250-300 USD
Duration: 3h 30min (B2) / 4h (C1) · Results: 2-3 weeks digital, 4-6 weeks paper
Used for: UK and European universities, professional prestige. Wider international recognition than Aptis but more expensive and slower

IELTS Academic

Price: 215-310 USD depending on country · UKVI version costs more (used for UK student visas)
Duration: 2h 45min · Results: 1-2 days computer / 13 days paper
Validity: 2 years
Used for: UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand universities; study and work visas to English-speaking countries. The international standard for academic mobility

TOEFL iBT

Price: 245-255 USD globally (charged by ETS in USD)
Duration: ~2h in the new adaptive format introduced January 21, 2026 (was 3-4h before)
Results: 4-8 days · Validity: 2 years
Used for: US and Canadian universities. If your goal is studying in the US, this is the default exam

Linguaskill General (Cambridge online)

Price: 90-160 USD depending on centre and modality (in-centre vs at-home)
Duration: 2h 40min · Results: 48 h
Used for: companies, some UK universities as a secondary test, certain professional certifications. Recognition below Cambridge classic but cheaper and faster

Duolingo English Test (DET)

Price: 70 USD flat globally. 2-test bundle for 118 USD
Duration: ~1h · Results: 48 h standard / 12 h premium · Validity: 2 years
Taken from home, 24/7
Used for: a growing list of US, UK and Canadian universities, especially for online or international applications. NOT typically accepted for visas or government processes

The exam is the cheap part

A 70-300 USD test fee is nothing compared to what proper preparation costs if your starting point is B1 and your target is C1.

Online English course
100-300 USD/term · 2-3 terms → 200-900 USD

Private tutor
20-50 USD/h · 2 h/wk × 16 wk → 600-1,600 USD

Writing/Speaking correction
10-30 USD per essay or feedback session

The AptisBot bot
0 USD. Speaking, Writing, question bank, mocks, AI

The bottleneck of self-study isn't the exam fee — it's feedback: knowing whether your Speaking is C1 or still B2, whether your Writing uses the right structures. That part is the expensive one, and the bot replaces it with AI.

📲 Try @AptisEnglish_bot free

How much do B2 / C1 English certificates cost in 2026