PTE Academic vs IELTS
| PTE Academic | IELTS Academic / General Training | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Fully computer-based, about 2 hours, at a test centre | Computer-delivered in India (paper ended 2026); Speaking face to face |
| Scores | Overall 10–90, plus listening, reading, speaking and writing | Band 0–9 in half bands for each section and overall |
| Results | Usually within 2 days (up to 5 working days) | 1–5 days (computer test) |
| Marking | AI scoring; humans also review content in 7 task types (2025) | Examiner-marked Writing and Speaking |
| Australian visas | Accepted for all visa types needing English | Accepted for all visa types needing English |
| Canada PR / PGWP | PTE Core only (not Academic) | IELTS General Training only |
| Fee in India | Shown at booking on pearsonpte.com | ₹19,000 (Academic / General Training) |
Sources: Pearson PTE, IELTS scoring, IDP India fees, Home Affairs. Checked October 2026.
PTE Academic: format and scoring
A computer-based test of about 2 hours, taken at a test centre. You get an overall score from 10 to 90 and a score for each of listening, reading, speaking and writing. See our PTE coaching page →
| Part | Time | Task types |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking & Writing | 76–84 min | Personal Introduction (not scored), Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Answer Short Question, Summarize Group Discussion, Respond to a Situation, Summarize Written Text, Write Essay |
| Reading | 23–30 min | Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks, Multiple Choice (multiple and single answer), Reorder Paragraphs, Fill in the Blanks |
| Listening | 31–39 min | Summarize Spoken Text, Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blanks, Highlight Correct Summary, Select Missing Word, Highlight Incorrect Words, Write from Dictation |
| PTE version | Used for |
|---|---|
| PTE Academic | University admission; Australian and New Zealand visas |
| PTE Academic UKVI | UK visas that need a Secure English Language Test (SELT), e.g. below degree level |
| PTE Core | Canada: Express Entry, citizenship and post-graduation work permits (maps to CLB) |
Source: Pearson, PTE changes 2025 · PTE Core
IELTS: format, bands and fees
Choose Academic for university study and most student visas, or General Training for work, migration and Canadian PR. Listening and Speaking are the same in both; Reading and Writing differ. See our IELTS coaching page →
Your four section bands are averaged and rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band; .75 rounds up to the next whole band.
| Section | Time | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 min | Four recordings: conversations and talks |
| Reading | 60 min | Academic: longer academic texts. General Training: everyday and workplace texts |
| Writing | 60 min | Two tasks. Academic Task 1 describes a chart or diagram; General Training Task 1 is a letter |
| Speaking | 11–14 min | Face-to-face interview with an examiner |
| IELTS test in India (IDP, 2026) | Fee |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training | ₹19,000 |
| IELTS for UKVI | ₹19,250 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 / B1) | ₹18,000 |
| One Skill Retake | ₹12,650 |
Results: 1–5 days for computer-delivered IELTS. One Skill Retake is accepted for most Australian visas but not the 485, and not for Canada Express Entry. Sources: IDP India, IELTS results.
IELTS ↔ PTE score conversion
Based on Pearson’s official concordance study (July 2025) comparing overall scores of people who took both tests. Use it as a guide: visas set minimums for each skill.
Guide only, based on overall scores. Universities and visas may set minimums for each skill.
| IELTS overall | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 9.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTE Academic | 24–30 | 31–38 | 39–46 | 47–54 | 55–62 | 63–70 | 71–78 | 79–85 | 86–89 | 90 |
Source: Pearson PTE Academic concordance summary, July 2025.
What score does your visa need?
Australia sets English levels with a minimum for each skill. These apply to tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 at a test centre (online and at-home tests are not accepted). PTE scores are shown as Listening / Reading / Writing / Speaking.
| Home Affairs level | IELTS (each skill) | PTE Academic (L / R / W / S) | TOEFL iBT (L / R / W / S) | CELPIP | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Functional | 4.5 average | 24 overall | 26 total | 5 overall | Some family and other visas |
| Vocational | 5 | 33 / 36 / 29 / 24 | 8 / 8 / 9 / 14 | 5 | Some employer-sponsored visas |
| Competent | 6 | 47 / 48 / 51 / 54 | 16 / 16 / 19 / 19 | 7 | Skilled visas 189 / 190 / 491 (base level) |
| Proficient | 7 | 58 / 59 / 69 / 76 | 22 / 22 / 26 / 24 | 9 / 8 / 10 / 8 | Earns 10 extra points |
| Superior | 8 | 69 / 70 / 85 / 88 | 26 / 27 / 30 / 28 | 10 / 10 / 12 / 10 | Earns 20 extra points |
Tests taken before 7 August 2025 use the older PTE levels (Vocational 36, Competent 50, Proficient 65, Superior 79 in each skill) and can be used until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa. Source: Department of Home Affairs.
| Pathway | IELTS | PTE |
|---|---|---|
| Main course | 6.0 | 47 |
| With 10+ weeks ELICOS | 5.5 | 39 |
| With 20+ weeks ELICOS | 5.0 | 31 |
Overall scores; test within 2 years before applying. Study Australia
IELTS 6.5 overall, at least 5.5 in each skill.
PTE 55 overall, with L 40 · R 42 · W 41 · S 39.
Test within 1 year before applying, single sitting; One Skill Retake not accepted. Study Australia
| Study level | IELTS Academic | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Level 4–5 | 5.5 (no band below 5.0) | 42 (none below 36) |
| Level 6–7 (bachelor’s) | 6.0 (no band below 5.5) | 50 (none below 42) |
| Level 8–10 (postgraduate) | 6.5 (no band below 6.0) | 58 (none below 50) |
Universities may ask for more. NZQA
Degree level needs CEFR B2; below degree level needs B1. Universities can assess degree-level English themselves.
When a SELT is needed: IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI or another approved test.
Canada accepts only IELTS General Training, PTE Core and CELPIP-General, not IELTS Academic or PTE Academic. The post-graduation work permit needs CLB 7 (university) or CLB 5 (college) in every skill.
| CLB | IELTS General (L / R / W / S) | PTE Core (L / R / W / S) |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 4 | 4.5 / 3.5 / 4.0 / 4.0 | 28 / 33 / 41 / 42 |
| CLB 5 | 5.0 / 4.0 / 5.0 / 5.0 | 39 / 42 / 51 / 51 |
| CLB 6 | 5.5 / 5.0 / 5.5 / 5.5 | 50 / 51 / 60 / 59 |
| CLB 7 | 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 | 60 / 60 / 69 / 68 |
| CLB 8 | 7.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 | 71 / 69 / 79 / 76 |
| CLB 9 | 8.0 / 7.0 / 7.0 / 7.0 | 82 / 78 / 88 / 84 |
| CLB 10+ | 8.5 / 8.0 / 7.5 / 7.5 | 89 / 88 / 90 / 89 |
PTE Core values are the lowest score in each official range. IRCC
Spoken English, interviews and personality development
For students, professionals and homemakers who want to speak English with confidence, at home, at work, in a visa interview or abroad.
The Common European Framework (CEFR) describes English ability from A1 to C2. Approximate test equivalents are shown.
Sources: Council of Europe, Pearson Score Guide (July 2025), IELTS and the CEFR.
From diagnostic test to test day
Recent IELTS and PTE scores
Shared with our students’ permission. Every student’s result depends on their own preparation.
