PTE vs IELTS: The Differences You Must Know

Proof of language proficiency is a much-needed document for non-native English speakers who want to study or work in an English-speaking nation.

They must submit their scorecard for the English language proficiency test and their visa application.

The most commonly taken exams are IELTS and PTE to prove language proficiency. But now the question arises for those who want to study or work in English-speaking countries, PTE vs IELTS, which option will be better for them?

This blog will compare every aspect of both exams and help you choose one. Here you will also get the answer to the most asked queries of people about PTE vs IELTS. So read the complete blog to choose one exam between IELTS and PTE. 

Key Differences: PTE vs IELTS

Here, you will get the key differences in the IELTS exam based on the following mentioned criteria;

1. Definition
2. Types of Exam
3. Duration
4. Question Types
5. Test Fees
6. Result declaration
7. Test fairness
8. Score Table
9. Preparation Material
10. Test taken Authorities

Definition

What is IELTS Exam?

IELTS is an English language proficiency test that measures students’ English language proficiency in four modules:

• Reading
• Listening
• Writing
• Speaking

This test is conducted by the IDP (International Development Program). According to research in 2018, the number of IELTS test takers every year was 3.5 million. You can verify it on the official website of IELTS.

The listening, Reading, and Writing test are conducted on the same day. And the speaking is conducted after or before the listening, writing, and reading test. 

What Is PTE Exam?

PTE is an internationally accepted English language proficiency test students use for study and immigration visa applications. 

It uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) scoring, which offers objectivity and a quicker turnaround time for results. 

Types Of Exams

IELTS Academic vs General

IELTS Academics	Students who want to prove their English language proficiency to study abroad take the IELTS Academic test.
IELTS General	Those who want to prove their English language proficiency for work or PR purposes take the IELTS General exam.

PTE General Exam Vs PTE Academic Exam

PTE General	It is not applicable for immigration purposes. PTE General is suitable for higher education and works in Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine.
PTE Academics	PTE Academic is accepted for higher education in international universities and immigration purposes. It is accepted in countries like the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.

Durations

IELTS Duration

The IELTS Exam lasts approximately 170 minutes, or 2 hours and 45 minutes. The following is the IELTS exam’s section-by-section timetable:

Section	Time
Listening	40 minutes (30 minutes for listening recording and 10 minutes to transfer answers to an answer sheet)
Reading	1 hour
Writing	1 hour
Speaking	11 – 14 minutes

PTE Duration

The duration of the PTE exam is 191 minutes or 3 hours, with the following sections having different durations:

Section	Time
Writing and Speaking	54 – 67 minutes
Listening	30 – 43 minutes
Reading	29 – 30 minutes

Question Types

The question types in PTE and IELTS are quite different. Here you will get the PTE vs IELTS question types to decide which exam is best for you.

PTE Test Question Type

Speaking & Writing	Reading	Listening
Repeat sentence Describe image Re-tell lecture Answer short question Summarize written text Essay	Reading & writing: Fill in the blanks Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers Re-order paragraphs Reading: Fill in the blanks Multiple-choice, choose single answer	Summarize spoken text Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers Fill in the blanks Highlight correct summary Multiple-choice, choose single answerSelect missing word Highlight incorrect words Write from dictation

IELTS Test Question Type

Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
Multiple choice Matching information Plan, map, diagram labeling Form, note, table, flow-chart, summary completion Sentence completion Short-answer questions	Multiple choice Identifying information Identifying the writer’s views/claims Matching headings Matching features Matching sentence endings Sentence completion Summary, note, table, flow-chart completion Diagram label completion Short-answer questions	IELTS Academic Task 1Bar Chart Table-Chart Multiple Graphs Map Pie Chart Process Diagram Line Graph IELTS General Task 1 Formal letter Informal letter Semi-formal letter IELTS Academic & General Task 2 Agree or disagree Opinion Advantages and disadvantages Direct essay Cause/solution essay Positive/negative essay Discussion essay	Part 1 – Introductive question Part 2 – Cue card Part 3 – Follow-up

Test Fees

Both tests are extremely similar; however, pricing may differ based on your country. PTE and IELTS fees in India are as follows:

Country	PTE Costs	IELTS Costs
United States	USD 235	USD 245–255
India	INR 15900	INR 15,500

Result Declaration

• IELTS paper test: 13 days after your test, you can fill out a test report form.
• IELTS computer test: after your test, IELTS computer test results are available in 3 to 5 days. 
• PTE result: The results are available within 48 hours of taking the exam.

Test Fairness

PTE’s scoring system is fair Because the tests are algorithm-based and have a high predictability factor.

PTE Test Fairness

• PTE has created its proprietary automated software for PTE assessment.
• Test takers are less stressed/anxious Because no one judges their performance while trying to answer.
• There is no scope for human bias in the scoring because the question formats are standard.

IELTS Test Fairness

• IELTS encourages test-takers to respond to a simulated real-life situation.
• Test takers communicate with people, not computers.
• Specialized human examiners grade your tasks.

Score Table

Skill Level	PTE	IELTS
Expert	89-90	9
Very Good	83-85	8.5
Very Good	74-84	8
Good	73-77	7.5
Good	64-72	7
Competent	58-63	6.5
Competent	50-57	6
Modest	42-49	5.5

Preparation Material

It is essential to prepare for the exam from the best study material to achieve a good score in any exam. So for you, we have narrowed down the best study material to help you achieve your dream of migrating to an English-speaking nation for work or study.

The best preparation material for the PTE exam;

• The Official Guide to PTE Academic
• Practice Tests Plus: PTE Academic
• Expert PTE Academic Coursebook B1 & B2
• PTE Academic Official website (Click Here)
• PTE Academic Official Preparation App
• Wiley’s PTE Advantage For The Academic Module
• PTE Academic Practice Test Plus – Volume 1 and 2

The best IELTS books or preparation material to get a good score in the IELTS exam;

• The Official Cambridge Guide To Ielts
• Barron’s Ielts
• Official IELTS Practice Materials
• Cambridge IELTS 12 General Training Student’s Book
• Ace the IELTS: IELTS General Module
• Target Band 7: IELTS Academic Module
• Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS
• English Grammar in Use

Test Taken Authorities

Trustworthy institutions run both IELTS and PTE with many years of assessment experience and expertise.

PTE	Pearson PLC, the world’s top British MNC for publishing and education, runs PTE Academic.
IELTS	Jointly owned by the British Council, IDP (International Development Program)

PTE Academic

Pearson PLC, the world’s top British MNC for publishing and education, runs PTE Academic.

IELTS

The British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English jointly conducted IELTS.

Comparison Table: PTE vs IELTS

PTE computer tests include everything from multiple-choice questions to essay writing and reading, as well as the option of speaking your answers into a headset. It’s similar to taking an online test; however, it’s not recommended for slow typers.

IELTS is typically a pen-and-paper exam, although it also offers computer-based assessments.

	PTE	IELTS
Conductor	Pearson PLC Group	Jointly owned by the British Council, IDP (International Development Program)
Date	2009	1989
Acceptance	Many universities worldwide, such as Harvard Business School, INSEAD, and Yale, accept PTE academics. Australian, New Zealand, and UK governments accept PTE for migration purposes.	Many organizations in more than 140 countries accept IELTS. These include government departments and immigration authorities, universities, schools, colleges, and training organizations.
Price	₹15900 INR	Computer-delivered & Pen-paper IELTS INR 15,500 IELTS UKVI INR 15,750
Validity	It is valid for 2 years for academic purposes in Australia. It is valid for 3 years for immigration purposes in Australia.	Test Report Forms are valid for 2 years
Version	Academic	General Training and Academic
Format	Computer-based	Pen-Paper-based and Computer-based
Length	2 hours in 1 sitting	One day Listening, reading, and writing – 2 hours 45 minutes without any break. Speaking will take place before or after the exam – 11 to 14 minutes.
Results	5 working days, mostly in 24 hours	Paper-based test (13 days) and computer-based test (5 days)
Assessment Mechanism	Assessed by AI (Artificial Intelligence	Assessed by examiners (writing and speaking)
Preparation Material / Mock Test	Mock test with the same Artificial Intelligence that assesses your real test!	There is no official mock test available, only a practice test available with answers
Advantages	Quick exam result. No human bias, as AI checks your test. There are no ambiguous questions that have different meanings. The test is completed on the same day.	Globally accepted. Accepted for both study and work visas. Available in both variants: pen-paper and computer.
Disadvantages	Not accepted for immigration visa applications in Canada and some other top countries. A heavy accent may cause a score deduction. Sometimes students’ voices may not get properly captured, and they may not get scores.	Some students may find face-to-face speaking difficult in IELTS. It takes two days to complete the test.

Tips for the Exam

After knowing the PTE vs IELTS comparison, here are some of the best tips for both exams to ace the exam with a good score.

• Before taking the final exam, take many practice tests. To avoid any confusion or delays, you should be familiar with the test’s format and pattern.
• Keep an eye on each section’s time limit. To avoid missing any questions, you must use efficient time management while attempting all of the parts.
• When writing, we may get confused between American and British English. Learn to distinguish between the two and stick to one English for the exam duration. Also, make sure your grammar and spelling are in good working order.
• To improve your listening skills, go through a collection of English films and recordings while doing the listening and reading sections. Every day, read the recommended English novels and develop your vocabulary.
• Finally, read newspapers, magazines, journals, books, and online articles to immerse yourself in the English language.

Conclusion

In this blog, we have explained the differences between PTE vs IELTS. These are two of the most chosen exam by students to prove their language proficiency.

Students are mostly have confusion that which exam they should choose and why, for them, this blog is the perfect answer. After reading this blog, they can identify the best exam for them.

For example, if you are uncomfortable with face-to-face speaking, then the PTE is a good option for you, but if you are uncomfortable taking exams on the computer, you must go for IELTS. 

We hope we have cleared all your queries and questions related to PTE vs IELTS. Contact our experts if you have any queries or questions about the topic.

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