IELTS or PTE? Choosing the Right English Language Test

As a result of increased globalization, people, especially students, are seeking educational opportunities in foreign countries, especially the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking countries. As a non-native speaker, one needs to prove his/her proficiency in the English language, and tests like IELTS and PTE are the ways to go. Both these ways are pursued by people across the world, however, there is a difference between IELTS and PTE that one should be aware of before planning to take any of these exams.

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System and PTE stands for Pearson Test of English. Both of these tests can be taken by a candidate aiming to study or work in an English-speaking foreign country, based on the requirements of the concerned institution. There are some basic points of difference between IELTS and PTE, and it is up to the candidate to decide which test to go with.

S. No.	Criteria	IELTS	PTE
1	Pattern	Two versions: general and academic	Singular format
2	Scoring	Band score (0-9)	Scoring scale (10-90)
3	Duration and Difficulty Level	2 hours 45 minutes, difficult reading & writing section	3 hours, moderate difficulty
4	Acceptance	The IELTS test is accepted by more than 11,500 institutions in more than 140 countries.	Less acceptable than IELTS
5	Difference in Speaking Test	An interview format	Recorded format
6	Availability and Processing	Both computer-based and paper-based, results usually after 13 days	Only computer based, results usually within 1-2 days

The following articles explain the basic differences between the two tests in detail for a better understanding.

The IELTS exam is more classified. It has two versions: Academic and General, which are taken for different purposes. The Academic test, as the name suggests, is taken by candidates aspiring to visit a foreign country for educational purposes while the General test is taken by the candidates who wish to migrate to the English-speaking country or to go there for professional purposes. One common thing between these versions of the IELTS test is that they constitute four sections: Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.

Quite different from the IELTS exam, the PTE exam follows a singular pattern or format in which all the aspects of English consistency of the candidate (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) are checked in a single session.

The IELTS follows the band score scoring system. In this exam, the candidate is provided a band score between 0 and 9 in each section of the exam and the average of all those band scores form the person’s overall band score and hence, the candidate’s final score.

The scoring scale in the PTE is much wider than that of IELTS. It follows integrated score system. The candidates are scored between 10 to 90 in each skill being tested in the exam, forming the overall score of the person in the PTE.

The IELTS exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes long. The time is divided as:

Reading	60 minutes
Listening	30 – 40 minutes
Writing	60 minutes
Speaking	15 – 20 minutes

As for the difficulty level, the IELTS exam is said to be more difficult, especially in the writing section.

The PTE exam is 3 hours long with 10 minutes of optional break time. The time is divided as:

Reading	32-40 minutes
Listening	45-57 minutes
Speaking and Writing	77-93 minutes

The difficulty of the PTE is moderate, and it is observed to be much less complex than IELTS.

IELTS is a widely accepted test. It is accepted in almost all educational institutions, universities, and workspaces. IELTS is also usually accepted by immigration authorities in almost all English-speaking countries.

PTE also holds global acceptance, but it is comparatively less accepted than the IELTS. There are a fair number of educational institutions and workplaces that accept PTE so it’s better to do your research well before taking the test to confirm that PTE is an accepted

One main aspect that distinguishes the IELTS from the PTE is the format of the speaking test. In the IELTS exam, the speaking test is given by a candidate in the form of a face-to-face interview in front of an examiner.

The PTE conducts the speaking test in a different format. In the PTE, the speaking test is conducted in a recorded format using a microphone and uploaded into the provided section in the exam itself.

Since IELTS is a globally acceptable exam, the tests are available in both computer-based and paper-based formats and the testing centers are available globally. As for the results, they are typically generated 13 days after the test date.

Though PTE is globally accepted as well, the testing centers may vary from region to region and PTE is only available in computer-based format. As far as the results are concerned, they can be generated within 2 days of testing.

Both IELTS and PTE are globally accepted tests for receiving education or working in an English-speaking foreign country. Both tests are used for the same purposes, yet there is a difference between IELTS and PTE, in their kinds. While IELTS is generally accepted everywhere, the acceptance for PTE might vary from one institution to another. So, the candidate is advised to choose the test carefully by doing proper research. We here at Pinnacle Overseas Education provide you with the right path and guidance to choose successful career paths.