PTE vs IELTS - Which one is Better?

Tejaswini Panigrahi
[Published 30 Dec, 2021 | 04:43 PM]
About Author - 15 min read
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IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, these tests are quite famous when it comes to immigration and the reasons are quite reasonable as most of the western countries consider English as their national language, and these tests determine the candidates’ language proficiency.

But the question arises, which one out of the various tests to take to score higher, or which test is better, PTE or IELTS?

Read on to know the differences between PTE & IELTS and decide your preference!

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PTE vs IELTS - Which Exam is Better?

There are mainly three famous language tests involved in the process of immigration:

PTE-A (Pearson Test of English – Academic),

IELTS (International English Language Testing System), and

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

The test scores of these exams are most widely accepted for overseas studies.

What is IELTS?

IELTS Test or International English Language Testing System is a standardized test that determines the language proficiency of immigration applicants, migrating to various western countries for either study, work visa, business visa, or PR visas.

The IELTS is owned and administered by British Council, IDP Australia, and Cambridge English Language Assessment, and its scores are accepted by more than 10,000 employers, universities, schools, and immigration bodies in countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States.

What is PTE?

PTE or Pearson Test of English – Academic is a famous language test that measures the proficiency of the candidate in English. The test scores of PTE are also widely accepted for student applications and immigration visas across the world. The test uses Artificial intelligence to score the papers and offers an unbiased approach and a faster turn-around time for results.

Let’s compare: PTE vs IELTS

	PTE Academic test	IELTS
Test Mode	PTE offers computerized or online modes of the test.	IELTS is a standard pen and paper-based exam but also offers computer-based tests.
Test Types	PTE Academic test is conducted in a single paper, consisting of 3 parts: speaking and writing (together), listening and reading	IELTS has two types of exams: IELTS Academic, and IELTS General Training. And both of them have the following parts: Listening, Academic Reading or General Training Reading, Academic Writing or General Training Writing, and Speaking.
Score Report	The points allocation method of PTE is as such: The overall score ranges from 10 to 90 points. Scores are allocated to each section of the paper and range from 10 to 90 And a score for each of the enabling skills. Finally, the total score is calculated by taking the average of each of the sections.	The points allocation method of IELTS is as such: The total score of the test ranges from 0 to 9. Scores are allocated to each section ranging from 0 to 9 Finally, the total score is calculated by taking the average of each of the sections.
Scoring Accuracy	As the test is evaluated by AI, the scores are automated against the Global Scale of English (Thermometer-style scale) The writing section of PTE is evaluated with much higher accuracy in comparison to the speaking module, where the scores are often low.	The tests are evaluated by humans, so manual errors might happen. The writing section assessment of IELTS involves high-scrutiny. But the candidates who were unhappy with their scores were given the option of reassessment. Thus, providing a chance of performing better and bagging better scores.
Test Fairness	High	Medium to High
Result	Thanks to the Computerized scoring, the test results are available within five business days.	IELTS Paper test: The results are announced after 13 business days of appearing in the exam. IELTS Computer test: As calculated by computers, the results are published within 3 to 5 business days of attempting the exam.
Speaking Test	Due to the online mode of the test, the candidates have to speak to a microphone for evaluation.	The candidates have to speak face-to-face with an examiner.
Price of the exam	INR 13,300 or USD 160	INR 14,000 or USD 185
Test Authority	Pearson PLC	British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.
Global Acceptance	Select universities and governments but popular in many countries around the world.	A wider range of acceptance. More universities and governments worldwide enlist this language test on their website.

1. PTE Vs IELTS Test Type Details:

PTE: The PTE Academics Test is completed in a single setting with a time limit of 3 Hours.

Test Format	Time Given	Task Types
Speaking & Writing	77 – 93 minutes	Repeat sentence Describe image Re-tell lecture Answer short question Summarize written text Essay (20 mins)
Reading	32 – 40 minutes	Reading & writing: Fill in the blanks Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers Re-order paragraphs Reading: Fill in the blanks Multiple-choice, choose single answer
Listening	45 – 57 minutes	Summarize spoken text Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers Fill in the blanks Highlight correct summary Multiple-choice, choose single answer Select missing word Highlight incorrect words Write from dictation

IELTS-A: The IELTS Academics Test has a time limit of 2 Hours 45 minutes.

Test Format	Time Given	Task Types
Listening 4 recordings	30 minutes	Multiple choice Matching information Plan, map, diagram labeling Form, note, table, flow-chart, summary completion Sentence completion Short-answer questions
Reading 3 reading passages	60 minutes	Multiple choice Identifying information Identifying 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
Writing 2 Parts	60 minutes	Part 1 –Identify information and trends in a graph, chart, table, or diagram, and explain it. Part 2 – Write an essay on a given topic
Speaking 3 Parts	11–14 minutes	Part 1 – Introduction and interview Part 2 – Talk about a particular topic Part 3 – Discussion on the topic given in Part 2

2. Scoring Methods - IELTS vs PTE:

PTE:

The total score of the PTE-A test is not the average of the sections but is allocated to different communication and enabling skills sections (10 to 90).

Communicative skills scores

This section consists of-

listening,
reading,
speaking, and
Writing

* Each one of the sections is awarded 1 point for correct answers, zero points for incorrect answers.

* Partial marking goes for the responses that are partly correct.

Enabling skills scores

This section focuses on-

grammar,
oral fluency,
pronunciation,
spelling,
vocabulary, and
written discourse.

* Each one of the sections is awarded 1 point for correct answers, zero points for incorrect answers.

* Partial marking goes for the responses that are partly correct.

IELTS:

The IELTS test scores are an average of all the sections and range from 0 to 9 points.

Listening Scores:

This section consists of 40 questions, and the correct answers are awarded one mark.

Reading

This section also consists of 40 questions, and the correct answers are awarded one mark.

Writing

Marks are awarded based on the assessment criteria for the following sub-sections:

Coherence and Cohesion
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Speaking

Marks are awarded based on the assessment criteria for the following sub-sections:

Fluency and Coherence
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Pronunciation

3. Which exam is cheaper for Indians: PTE or IELTS?

Cost of PTE- USD $160 or INR 13,300

Cost of IELTS- USD $185 or INR 14,000

Note- The price may vary depending upon the country. This price range is strictly for Indian candidates.

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Which test scores are more accepted: PTE vs IELTS?

The scores of IELTS are well accepted in more than 140 countries and more than 10,000 organizations for various purposes like study visas, work, or immigration visas. The main countries that accept the IELTS scores are the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada).
The PTE scores are similarly recognized by many prestigious universities and are also accepted for study and migration applications to the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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