Both IELTS and PTE are English proficiency tests, but IELTS enjoys higher recognition and is accepted in more countries, and by more universities. That makes it the obvious choice for test takers worldwide.

In 2023, IELTS launched IELTS One Skill Retake across the world. People can retake one part of the IELTS test without redoing the other three skills. With PTE, test takers must book, pay and sit a full test, risking missing out on scores again.

What are the differences between IELTS and PTE-A?

We know you want to get the best possible test to demonstrate your language skills. Also, you want to get the scores you need for your visa or study. Let’s have a look at the differences between IELTS and PTE-A.

In short, the main difference between IELTS and PTE is that IELTS offer a choice between paper or computer. The PTE test is all computer-based and marked by a machine. With IELTS the speaking part takes the form of a face to face talk with an examiner and with PTE you speak to the computer.

Test differences: PTE vs IELTS

• One of the biggest differences is that IELTS has IELTS on computer as well as paper. PTE-A is only available on a computer.

• IELTS is the only major test to offer One Skill Retake. You can now retake any component of the test; Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking. It's perfect if you want to improve on one area instead of redoing a full test. With PTE, you need to book, pay, and sit a full test again.

• Both IELTS and PTE offer an Academic test. IELTS also offers a General Training test for migration in Australia.

• IELTS is accepted by all immigration departments that require an English Language test, including Australia, Canada, UK and New Zealand.

• IELTS is accepted globally by more than 11,500 organisations, including universities, professional bodies, employers, and Australian student visa and migration applications. PTE is also accepted for study applications by thousands of academic programs globally and is approved for all Australian student visa and migration applications.

• PTE made changes to the way their scores are linked to IELTS. You can read what this means for you.

  More differences: PTE vs IELTS

• Another key difference is the Speaking test. With IELTS, you do a speaking exam face-to-face with a real human. The PTE-A test requires you to speak into a microphone with others doing the same around you.

• The test fee for IELTS is $410 in Australia. The price for the exam is the same whether you take IELTS General Training or IELTS Academic. There is no separate registration fee or payment processing fee. There is also no late payment fee. PTE-A charges $410.

• When you sit the test, in PTE there are many integrated questions such as listening and speaking in the speaking portion of the exam, reading and writing in the reading part, or reading and speaking in the speaking part. In IELTS, your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills are assessed separately. So, your reading test only looks at your reading, and not speaking at the same time.

Compare official scores between IELTS and PTE

• In December 2020, Pearson released a new report. It compared PTE-A results to IELTS, the world’s gold-standard for English language tests. The report details that at an IELTS Band 7.0 to an IELTS Band 9.0, PTE-A test-takers will need a higher score to be equivalent to IELTS. You can read what you need to know and what others have said here.

Convert PTE to IELTS scores

And, you may want to think about these differences between PTE and IELTS

• During the test, in PTE-A, you can only navigate forward through questions. You must correct mistakes before moving on to the next question. The individual questions are also timed. In IELTS on computer you can skip questions and come back to them to complete. Or you can check your answer at a later time. IELTS doesn’t time the individual questions.

• Another important difference is the marking of the test. PTE-A is automatically machine scored. With IELTS the reading and listening test are auto-marked, but the speaking and writing test are looked at by a real human. That’s because bias can occur by machine scoring some parts of the test. MIT university in the US researched how this bias can occur.