The Pearson Test of English (PTE) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are two of the most well-known assessments for demonstrating your English language competency when studying or moving overseas. Universities, immigration officials, and companies around the world accept both tests; nevertheless, each has a different format, scoring scheme, and preparation methods. To assist you in choosing the best test for you, we’ll go over the main distinctions between the PTE vs IELTS in this post.
PTE vs IELTS: An Overview
- IELTS offers both a computer-based test and a traditional pen-and-paper test, each with a different time period. As a result, a test-taker is free to select the method of assessment that best suits their needs. PTE, in contrast, exclusively provides the computer-based exam.
- The same core language skills—speaking, writing, reading, and listening—are assessed in both the PTE and IELTS exams. Except for variations in the layout and the method of testing, neither test is more difficult than the other.
- Both tests will take three hours in total. The PTE has several brief activities spread over three sections, whereas the IELTS has four sections with relatively longer assignments. Speaking and writing are given more weight on the PTE than on the IELTS.
What is the Difference?
IELTS and PTE differ primarily in that IELTS allows for both computer-delivered and paper-based exams, whereas PTE is entirely computer-based and machine-marked. Additionally, the speaking portion of the PTE requires a candidate to speak to a computer, whereas the speaking portion of the IELTS is done in person with an examiner.
PTE vs IELTS: How the Scoring System Works
- PTE Scoring: PTE assigns points to applicants. There are 10-point increments between 10 and 90 points. A minimum score of 55 to 60 is preferred by universities for admission. PTE scores are determined by your overall performance, enabling skills, and communication abilities. A thorough analysis of your performance in each area is provided to you.
- IELTS Scoring: The band score system used by IELTS ranges from 0 to 9, with a 0.5 gap between each segment. Every segment has its markings. The average of the four sections is then used to get your overall band score. Minimum scores of 6.0 and 6.5 are accepted by universities. Performance descriptions that evaluate the test-takers proficiency in task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy form the basis of the IELTS scoring criteria. For every band level, you receive comprehensive score descriptors, which will help you identify your areas of strength and growth.
The fact that PTE is entirely computer-marked is a significant distinction between the two exams. The Reading and Listening portions of IELTS are computer-marked, whereas the Writing.
PTE vs IELTS: Test Format and Timing
The order of the three test portions on the PTE is as follows:
- Speaking and Writing (54 to 67 minutes)
- Reading (30 minutes)
- Listening (30 to 43 minutes)
Thus, the duration of the PTE ranges from slightly less than two hours to two hours and twenty minutes. PTE and IELTS have different formats. The four portions of the IELTS test must be finished in the following order:
- Listening (30 minutes)
- Reading (60 minutes)
- Writing (60 minutes)
- Speaking (15 minutes)
PTE vs IELTS: Score Comparison
Universities accept minimum scores of 6.0 and 6.5 on the four portions of the IELTS, which are evaluated on a scale of 0 to 9 with a 0.5 gap for each section. In addition to an average score derived from the band scores of each section, candidates receive a band score for each portion. Universities prefer a minimum score of 55 to 60 on the PTE, which rates applicants on a worldwide English scale from 10 to 90. Candidates who take the PTE receive a thorough section-by-section breakdown, just like in IELTS.
| PTE Score | IELTS Score |
| 30 | 4.5 |
| 36 | 5.0 |
| 42 | 5.5 |
| 50 | 6 |
| 58 | 6.5 |
| 65 | €7 |
| 73 | 7.5 |
| 79 | 8.0 |
| 83 | 8.5 |
| 86 | 9.0 |
Exam Cost and Acceptance
- PTE vs IELTS Price: The fees of the PTE and IELTS exams are nearly the same. The PTE costs INR 15,900, including GST, whereas the IELTS costs INR 17,000, too.
- PTE vs IELTS Acceptance: With acceptance in 10,000 universities across 140 countries, IELTS is still significantly more widely applicable. Since its launch in 2009, the PTE has been becoming more and more well-known. According to the trends, PTE is becoming more widely accepted in Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
Conclusion
The commonly used English proficiency exams PTE vs IELTS differ significantly in terms of format, scoring, and testing procedures. PTE is solely computer-based, whereas IELTS includes both paper and computer-based choices. Your tastes, preparation method, and the needs of the institutions should all play a role in your decision between the two.