Is DET Cheaper Than IELTS or PTE for Indian Students Once Coaching Costs Are Included?

Students usually compare exam fees in isolation and miss that coaching cost is the bigger swing factor. Once you add the coaching layer on top of the base exam fee, DET's total cost advantage becomes much clearer, particularly against PTE's separately higher registration price.

Cost Comparison, Including Coaching

IELTS registration fees are not listed on LeapScholar's DET or PTE pages, but its IELTS self-paced coaching starts at just Rs.99, which keeps total IELTS cost competitive if your target university accepts it. DET, however, comes out lowest overall mainly because its exam fee itself is the smallest of the three, and LeapScholar's DET coaching has no separate self-paced tier to further lower the entry cost, unlike its IELTS and PTE products.

Why the Comparison Is Not Only About Price

Cost should not be the only factor, because not every university accepts DET, and some programs still require a traditional IELTS or PTE score regardless of how convenient or affordable DET prep is. Always check your specific shortlist of universities before assuming the cheaper exam is automatically the right choice for your application.

My Advice

Do not choose an exam purely on cost. DET is accepted by thousands of programs, but confirm your specific target universities accept it before committing to the cheaper route. If they do, DET's combined exam plus coaching cost, and LeapScholar's reported 80% success rate into the 140+ band, make it a genuinely budget-friendly option worth serious consideration.