IELTS vs PTE Academic: Which Test to Choose for a Visa

Choosing between IELTS and PTE Academic is one of the first decisions you make when preparing a migration application. Neither test is “better” — the one that suits you is what matters.

Comparing the format

	IELTS	PTE Academic
Mode	Paper or computer	Computer
Speaking	With a real person	Spoken into a computer (AI-scored)
Test length	~2h 45 min	~2 hours
Results	13 days (paper), 3–5 days (computer)	2–5 days
Test dates	Limited sittings per year	More flexible

Equivalent scores for Competent English

For Competent English (the most common minimum requirement):

IELTS: 6.0 in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
PTE: 50 in each skill

Note: this is not an overall score — each band/skill must reach the threshold.

Who should choose IELTS

IELTS suits you if:

You feel more confident speaking with a real person (rather than into a computer)
You are already familiar with the IELTS format (from study or work)
You want both Academic and General Training (IELTS offers both)
Your migration agent or institution is familiar with and prefers IELTS

Who should choose PTE Academic

PTE Academic suits you if:

You feel anxious speaking with a stranger but more comfortable in front of a computer
You want flexible test dates and fast results
You have sat IELTS several times but cannot reach the required Speaking or Writing band
Your PTE practice scores are better than your IELTS scores

A practical strategy

Take a practice test for both (many centres offer free or low-cost practice tests) to see which one gives you the higher score
If you are only short of one specific band (for example, Writing), look at which test makes that skill easier to improve
PTE is often chosen by people who want to sit the test multiple times in a short period (more available test dates)

OET: a third option for healthcare

If you are a nurse, doctor, or work in a healthcare profession, OET is a specialised option. See the comparison of IELTS and OET for more.