Compare IELTS or PTE: Which English test is best for migration

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Compare IELTS or PTE: Which test is best for migration?

If you want to study, work, and migrate to an English-speaking country, you’ll have to take a language proficiency test. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Pearson Test of English (PTE) are tests that are designed to measure your English language proficiency.

However, the IELTS is the most popular English language proficiency test, accepted by over 12,000 universities, employers, and immigration authorities in many countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA, and taken by over 3.5 million people, which makes IELTS the obvious choice for test takers worldwide.

Also, in 2023, IELTS introduced the IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) for test-takers to retake just one part of their test instead of all four parts (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking).

IELTS or PTE: Which is better?

We know you're looking for the best test to prove your English skills and get the scores you need for your visa. Therefore, let's help you choose better by comparing IELTS and PTE differences:

IELTS is considered fairer because it is evaluated by both computer and human examiners to grade your test, avoiding the bias that might come from only using a computer. [KP1]

Another big difference is that you can take IELTS on a computer or paper, while PTE is only on a computer.

IELTS is the only popular test that lets you retake just one section - Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking. On the other hand, if you don't pass PTE, you must retake the whole test.

Complete IELTS guide for success

IELTS vs. PTE – Core differences

	IELTS	PTE
Test types	More flexible as available on both, paper, and computer	Computer-based only, which means it may be not beneficial for those with low computer literacy
Acceptance	Accepted by 12,000 organisations in 150 countries for migration purposes	Accepted by 3,300 universities and organisations in 74 countries
Speaking test	Speaking test with a certified human examiner who understands different accents and emotions	Speaking test is taken in a room with other test takers which can be distracting for some participants
Test experience	In IELTS on Computer, you may skip questions and come back to them to complete or check your answer at a later time	In PTE Academic you can only navigate forward through questions, and you must correct mistakes before moving on to the next question
Marking criteria	The IELTS Writing and Speaking tests are marked by human experts. The Reading and Listening tests are auto-marked	All tests in PTE are machine scores

IELTS vs. TOEFL vs. PTE vs. Duolingo

IELTS vs. PTE - Exam pattern comparison

When you prepare for language tests, it's essential to know the details of the test format, including its modules, structure, and time needed.

For the IELTS test, there are four different sections:

Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking

For the PTE test, there are four different sections, in which Speaking and Writing sections are combined as one:

Speaking and Writing (Integrated Section)
Reading
Listening

Exam Section	IELTS	PTE
Listening	30 minutes: Answer 40 questions across four recordings.	45 to 57 minutes: Answer questions based on audio and video clips.
Reading	30 minutes: Answer 40 questions across three texts.	32 to 40 minutes: Complete objective tasks like MCQs, filling in blanks, and sequencing paragraphs.
Writing	60 minutes: Two tasks - Analysing visual data/graph and drafting an argumentative essay.	77 to 93 minutes: Combined section. Tasks include self-introduction, reading aloud, describing images, summarising texts, and drafting essays.
Speaking	11-14 minutes: 3 parts - Introduction and questions on familiar topics, individual long turn, two-way discussion, evaluated by a certified human examiner.	Combined Speaking and Writing section. The Speaking test is entirely measured by an AI.

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IELTS or PTE: Which is Best for Migration

Compare IELTS or PTE: Which test is best for migration?

IELTS or PTE: Which is better?

IELTS vs. PTE – Core differences

IELTS vs. PTE - Exam pattern comparison

IELTS vs. PTE Frequently Asked Questions