IELTS vs PTE for Australia? Find Out Which English Test Is Right for You

Both IELTS and PTE are widely accepted across Australian visas and universities. Your pick should match your purpose (immigration, study, work), your strengths (typing vs handwriting, computer vs face-to-face speaking), and the score you realistically need. We’ll map it out cleanly—plus give you a score conversion table, visa acceptance notes, and quick scenarios to decide with confidence.

Introduction

English scores aren’t just paperwork in Australia—they decide visa eligibility, uni entry, scholarships, and sometimes job registration. Among the options, two names come up in nearly every counselling call at PickMyUni: IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and PTE (Pearson Test of English).

This guide puts them side-by-side so you can choose the test that fits your goal, your style, and your timeline. Our team helps thousands of students and graduates each year move between courses and providers on PickMyUni, so we’ve pulled what actually matters on decision day.

Overview of IELTS and PTE

What is IELTS?

IELTS measures English for study, work, and migration. There are two versions:

• Academic – used for university/college entry.
  
• General Training – used for migration and some training/work pathways.
  

Format: four sections—Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking. Speaking is a live interview with an examiner (either in-person or by secure video call), which many test-takers find more natural for back-and-forth communication. 

Format: four sections—Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking. Speaking is a live interview with an examiner (either in-person or by secure video call), which many test-takers find more natural for back-and-forth communication. 

Scores: reported on Bands 0–9.

What is PTE?

PTE Academic is the Pearson test designed for higher education and migration.

Format: three parts—Speaking & Writing, Reading, Listening—all on a computer. Responses are AI-scored with human-led quality controls, which helps with fast results and consistency. 

Scores: reported on a 10–90 scale.

IELTS vs PTE Score Comparison Chart

The latest Pearson–IELTS concordance places approximate matches between IELTS bands and PTE Overall scores. Use it to set a target and to understand what “IELTS 7” or “PTE 65” really mean.

How it’s used in real life: many universities publish entries in either IELTS or PTE. If your course asks for IELTS 7.0, you’re usually aiming for PTE ~63–70 as an overall guide. Always check the exact requirement on your course page. 

“Calculator” style example

• Scenario: You need IELTS 6.5 overall for a Master’s.
  
  
• PTE target: ~55–62 overall.
  
  
• Note: Some courses want minimum subscores too (e.g., Writing must hit a certain level). That’s where reading the fine print matters.
  
  

⚠️ For Australian migration, Home Affairs doesn’t use this table directly. They set per-component minimums by test and by English level (Competent / Proficient / Superior).

Which Test Is Easier?

It depends on you.

Why some choose PTE

• Fully computer-based, no face-to-face interview.
• Fast, AI-assisted scoring; results are typically quick.
• Typists and digital note-takers often feel at home. 

Why others choose IELTS

• Human Speaking interview—great if you perform better with a real listener and like asking for clarification.
• Paper or computer for LRW, but Speaking stays human-led in a secure setting. 

Format and time pressure

• PTE blends skills (e.g., speaking affects listening/reading scores) and keeps a brisk pace across a two-part Speaking & Writing section, then Reading, then Listening.
• IELTS separates the four skills; Speaking is scheduled with an examiner. Some test-takers prefer the clear boundaries between sections.

From our counselling calls at PickMyUni, patterns are pretty consistent:

• If you think in outlines, type fast, and get stage-fright, PTE feels smoother.
  
  
• If you gesture, clarify, and build answers conversationally, IELTS Speaking can be a strength.
  
  

Bottom line: “easy” is the test that fits your habits and matches the score method your goal needs.

IELTS vs PTE for Australia Immigration

The Department of Home Affairs accepts IELTS (Academic/General Training) and PTE Academic (among other tests) for Australian visas. They publish English levels—Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient, Superior—each with per-component minimums that differ by test. Online/at-home versions are not accepted for visas.

IELTS vs PTE Academic for Australian study visas

For the Subclass 500 Student visa, English testing settings were also updated in Aug 2025. The visa accepts multiple secure centre-based tests; minimums and packaging rules (e.g., ELICOS weeks) vary by case. Use the official student-visa page and the Document Checklist Tool to confirm your evidence. 

University acceptance: Australian universities commonly accept both IELTS Academic and PTE Academic for admission; check the exact band/score per course on your target uni’s pages (you’ll often see “IELTS 6.5 (no band <6.0) or PTE 58–65”). 

PTE vs IELTS vs TOEFL: How Do They Stack Up?

Visa note: Home Affairs does not accept at-home versions (e.g., TOEFL Home Edition, IELTS Online) for visa evidence. TOEFL tests taken 26 Jul 2023–4 May 2024 weren’t accepted for visas; centre-based iBT is accepted again under current settings. Always check your subclass page.

Alternative Tests: OET vs PTE vs IELTS

OET (Occupational English Test) is purpose-built for healthcare. Test tasks mirror clinical communication—referrals, handovers, patient interaction. For visas, OET is accepted for some pathways and is central for many registration bodies. 

For migration English levels, Home Affairs publishes OET equivalence with numeric scores from Aug 2025 (the old A/B grades have a new numeric scale). Check the visa level you need (Competent/Proficient/Superior) and match the per-component OET scores.

Compare in one line:

• OET = best fit if you’re a health professional targeting registration and visas.
  
  
• PTE/IELTS = more general; used across degrees and non-health visas.

Conclusion

Key differences in one sweep: IELTS uses human interview for Speaking and bands 0–9; PTE is fully computer-based with AI-assisted scoring and a 10–90 scale. For visa use, Australia accepts both (centre-based), but sets per-component minimums by level rather than using general equivalence tables. For uni entry, most providers list both options and sometimes specific subscores. 

Our take at PickMyUni: let your goal and strengths choose for you. If you want a quick, digital flow and don’t love live interviews—go PTE. If you think best talking to a human and like clear section boundaries—IELTS feels natural. Either way, set your target with the chart above, confirm visa or course subscores, and work backwards from there.

Need help switching tests or shortlisting unis that match your target band? Chat with a counsellor on PickMyUni —we’ll map your plan, course options, and test dates in one go.

FAQs on IELTS vs PTE for Australia?