Home ›IELTS vs PTE
IELTS and PTE Academic both test Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, but IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face interview with an examiner, while PTE is taken entirely on computer and scored automatically. IELTS reports bands from 0 to 9 and PTE reports scores from 10 to 90; Pearson's July 2025 concordance places PTE 63 alongside IELTS 7.0.
The facts on this page were last checked against official sources in September 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the official source before you book or apply.
| IELTS | PTE Academic | |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | Face-to-face interview with an examiner | Recorded into a microphone and scored automatically |
| Delivery | At a test centre, on computer (paper is being phased out from mid-2026) | At a test centre, on computer |
| Score scale | Bands 0–9 in half bands | Scores 10–90 |
| Versions | Academic, General Training and IELTS for UKVI | PTE Academic, PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Core |
Pearson published an updated concordance between PTE Academic and IELTS in July 2025. It places these PTE Academic scores alongside each IELTS band:
| IELTS band | PTE Academic score |
|---|---|
| 8.5 | 86 |
| 8.0 | 79 |
| 7.5 | 71 |
| 7.0 | 63 |
| 6.5 | 55 |
| 6.0 | 47 |
| 5.5 | 39 |
| 5.0 | 31 |
Universities and immigration authorities set their own requirements for each test and do not have to use this concordance. Always check the exact score your organisation lists for the test you plan to take.
Band 9 model essays, letters and templates from the Writing library. Browse all 118 in the Learning Hub.
Daily articles on IELTS changes, visa rules and university admissions.
Cue cards, speaking questions and Writing Task 1 questions with band 9 sample answers, plus a free band score calculator.
Neither is easier for everyone. Candidates who speak confidently to a person often prefer IELTS's face-to-face Speaking test, while candidates comfortable speaking into a microphone and typing under time pressure often prefer PTE. Try a timed practice test of each before booking.
Pearson's July 2025 concordance places IELTS 7.0 alongside PTE Academic 63, IELTS 6.5 alongside 55 and IELTS 6.0 alongside 47. Organisations can set their own equivalences, so check the score they require.
Many universities and immigration authorities accept both, but not always the same version — for example, Canada's economic immigration programmes use PTE Core rather than PTE Academic. Check the exact test name your organisation lists.