IELTS or PTE: which English test should you take?

Almost every student who comes to our Multan, Bahawalpur and Faisalabad centres asks the same question first: should I take IELTS or PTE? Both tests are widely accepted for study abroad, and both measure the same four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The right choice depends less on which test is “easier” and more on how you work best.

How the two tests feel on the day

IELTS can be taken on paper or on a computer, and the Speaking test is always a face-to-face conversation with a real examiner, lasting 11 to 14 minutes. Listening, Reading and Writing take about two and a half hours in total.

PTE Academic is completely computer-based and takes about two hours. You speak into a microphone rather than to a person, and your answers are scored by computer. Many tasks combine skills: for example, in “Summarise Spoken Text” you listen and then write, and in “Read Aloud” your reading and speaking are both assessed.

Scoring and results

• IELTS gives a band score from 0 to 9 for each skill and overall, in half bands (for example 6.5).
• PTE gives a score from 10 to 90 for each skill and overall.
• PTE results usually arrive within a few days. IELTS on computer is also quick; paper-based IELTS takes longer.

Who tends to do better in IELTS

• Students who are comfortable speaking to a person and like a natural conversation.
• Students who write well by hand or prefer the more traditional essay and letter tasks.
• Students who lose confidence when speaking to a computer with a time limit.

Who tends to do better in PTE

• Students who type quickly and accurately.
• Students who feel nervous with an examiner but can speak clearly and steadily into a microphone.
• Students who need results fast for an application deadline.

Check acceptance before you book

Universities in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and Europe accept IELTS, and most also accept PTE Academic. Visa rules are a separate matter: some visas require a specific version of a test (for example a UKVI-approved test for some UK visas). Always check the exact test and minimum score on your university’s admissions page or the official visa website before you pay.