IELTS vs PTE | IELTS or PTE which one is easier? | NextStep

IELTS vs PTE: The Differences You Should Know

IELTS and PTE both are popular English Testing system. Let’s discuss in details about IELTS vs PTE .

What is IELTS?

IELTS is one of the best English proficiency tests all around the world. More than 10,000 institutes and immigration bodies accept IELTS worldwide.

According to the research, in 2018, more than 3 million people took the IELTS exam.

Experts agree that the holistic nature of the IELTS test is the reason why it is more widely accepted than PTE and TOEFL. It has four sections Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

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?

PTE is an internationally accepted English language proficiency test used for student applications and immigration visas.

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

PTE Academic is a real-world English test. While it takes less preparation than other official English language exams, students still need to understand the timings of each section and know what they have to do to succeed on test day.

The good news is that if you’re already used to preparing candidates for IELTS, you’ll find preparing them for PTE Academic to be a walk in the park.

Advantages of taking IELTS

Here are 5 advantages of taking IELTS:

Develop English language skills
Accurate knowledge of your English skills
Vast career opportunities
Needed for all steps and stages of your life
Fulfill future goals in life

Advantages of taking PTE

Here are some reasons and advantages of taking PTE:

Global Acceptance
Quick exam results
Fair scoring
No ambiguous questions

Disadvantages of Taking IELTS

Here are some disadvantages of taking IELTS:

Face-to-face speaking assessments are stressful for many students, therefore many prefer to speak into a microphone.
Candidates have to set up two days to take the test because the speaking test is conducted on a different day.
For many students, the IELTS writing test is a more difficult test than another test.

Disadvantages of Taking PTE

Here are some disadvantages of taking PTE: It is still not accepted at many large universities Because PTE is new in comparison to the IETLS.
A heavy accent may result in a low score because the speaking test is graded by a machine.
The recording for PTE listening can be difficult to comprehend because they use real lectures in English.

Comparison Table

PTE Academic Test vs IELTS

Test Types

PTE Academic Test – Single test having 3 parts: speaking and writing (together), listening and reading

IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training – Includes Listening, Academic Reading, General Training Reading, Academic Writing, General Training, Writing, and Speaking.

Score Report

Includes overall score (10 to 90 points), a score for each communicative skill (listening, reading, speaking, and writing: 10 to 90 points), and a score for each of the enabling skills. The overall band score (0-9) is the average of the scores assigned to each of the sections: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
Overall Score The overall score is not an average calculation of the communicative scores. Average of the 4 sections’ scores, rounded to the nearest whole or half band
Scoring Accuracy Automated scoring against the Global Scale of English (Thermometer-style scale) Human assessment (subject to manual errors)
Test Fairness High Medium to High
Result Available with five business days

IELTS Paper Test: Test Report Form available 13 days after your test

IELTS Computer Test: Results available in 3 to 5 days after your test

Speaking Test
You speak into a microphone
Face-to-face speaking test with an examiner
Price USD 200 18,750 BDT
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.

PTE Vs IELTS Score:

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

Which is easier, PTE OR IELTS?

Both tests have challenging components in different sections. IELTS writing sections are difficult because of higher literary standards, as it’s a more widely accepted test. IELTS Academic Reading tests may contain texts with greater complexity as compared to the General Training Reading test.

PTE seems to be a popular choice for those who find it easier to express themselves on a digital platform. It is being accepted globally due to its automated process which is the need of the hour during a global pandemic.

Decision

The most important factors to help you choose your exam, have been outlined here with clarity and fairness in the table below. When you take the exam, let your individual preferences guide you. Believe in yourself and prepare well. Remember it is not only the test you choose but also your foundation of good English that will fetch you high scores and bring you that one step closer to realizing your dreams.