Most students go for the IELTS exam, and they don’t know the importance of the PTE test. Also, they don’t know the difference between the PTE and IELTS exam patterns. We will provide you with the details of the test in an easy way.

The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is a computer-based English test for students or for immigration purposes, which was launched in 2009. It takes approximately 2 hours to complete the exam, and the result is usually available within 48 hours, but it may also take a maximum of five working days. This test is trusted for visa applications by the US, Australia, Canada, UK and New Zealand governments. This test is accepted by all Australian universities and state government departments.

Updated List of PTE Accepting Countries for Study & Immigration in 2025

  • Australia: PTE is accepted in more than 400 universities in Australia, with minimum PTE scores required as 42 for undergraduates and 65 for postgraduates. There are a few top universities in Australia for PTE aspirants named including the University of Melbourne University of New South Wales, and the University of Sydney.
  • New Zealand: To meet the English language requirements set by Immigration New Zealand, students need to score 50-57 for undergraduates and 58-65 for postgraduates. The top universities in New Zealand are the University of Auckland, the University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington, and Massey University.
  • Canada: Canadian students require 50-67 for undergraduates and 60-70 for postgraduates. Universities like the University of British Columbia and McGill welcome students from PTE approved universities.
  • United Kingdom: For the eligibility of UK visa applications, students need to score 67-76 for graduates and 70-76 for postgraduates in top universities, which are the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. For other universities, the scores may vary. Like for University College London and Imperial College London, it is 62-69 (Bachelor’s) and 67-76 (Master’s).
  • Germany: No doubt, countries like Germany are slowly accepting the PTE students, but now there are a few reputed universities which offer admissions based on scores 55-60 for bachelors and 60-65 for masters in the Technical University of Munich, Heidelberg University, Freiburg University, and many more, according to the eligibility.
  • United States of America: USA has also joined the list of countries which accept PTE, and the required scores are 65-70 for graduates and 70-76 for postgraduates. These scores are acceptable in prestigious universities like Yale University, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, and there are more on the list.
  • Ireland: Doors of Ireland universities are open to students who have satisfactory scores in PTE. The minimum scores that are required by students to get enrolled in reputed universities are 60, or it could be higher in some famous universities. To get admission to Trinity College Dublin and the University of Limerick, a minimum of 63 points is required.

The PTE test is conducted to check students’ proficiency in four skill sets:

Part 1: Speaking &writing (duration: 54-67 minutes)

Part 2: Reading (29-30 minutes)

Part 3: Listening (30-43 minutes)

Each section consists of distinct skills that reflect students’ ability to communicate and understand English effectively.

Section Number of Segments Time Duration
Speaking & Writing 6 77 – 93 minutes
Reading 5 32 – 41 minutes
Listening 8 45 – 57 minutes

Why Pearson Test of English?

There are various considerable factors responsible for choosing PTE over other tests.

  • Reliable and fast results: Results for PTE are usually available within 48 hours, whereas other tests like IELTS take 7 working days. For urgent visa processing requirements, students decide to go for the PTE instead of other exams.
  • AI scoring: This exam ensures a fair and standardised assessment for the aspirants of PTE, which is a computer-based exam. So there is no way for biased evaluations on the speaking and writing parts.
  • Flexible test dates: PTE test dates are available almost daily throughout the year worldwide. This flexibility in exam dates makes students comfortable in choosing according to their schedule.
  • Multiple attempts: The result of the PTE exam will be available within hours. Students have an option to retake the test multiple times, but there should be at least a gap of 5 days.
  • No face-to-face speaking: Unlike IELTS, speaking for this test is online, which is beneficial for those students who lack confidence.
  • Integrated skill testing: PTE offers efficiency and convenience in completing all sections in a single day, whereas in other exams, like IELTS, speaking is conducted on another day.

Difference between PTE and PTE Core

Pearson offers PTE and PTE Core tests, both are for English language proficiency, but there are some key differences in the format. To better comprehend, let us examine the differences and similarities of the test in detail.

PTE Academic PTE Core
  • Accepted worldwide for study.
  • Accepted in Canada for immigration or Canadian citizenship.
  • Related to academic materials and tasks.
  • Focuses on everyday language scenarios.
  • Speaking includes: reading aloud, repeating sentences, describing images, re-tell lectures, and answering short questions.
  • Instead of re-telling the lecture, there will be a response to questions. Other types of questions will be the same.
  • Writing includes: summarising a written text and an essay.
  • Writing includes: summarising written text and writing an email.
  • Reading section: reading & writing fill in the blanks, multiple choice questions(multiple answers), re-order paragraphs, fill in the blanks, and multiple choice questions(single answer).
  • The reading section format is the same, but there is a difference in the content and texts, which are taken from everyday situations.
  • Listening: summarise spoken text, multiple choice questions (multiple answers), fill in the blanks, highlight correct summary, multiple choice questions (single answer), select missing word, highlight incorrect words, and write from dictation.
  • The listening section format is the same, except highlight the correct summary, which is not included in the PTE core.

NOTE: From August 2025, a few changes will be observed in speaking. Two speaking tasks will be added, and those will be: “respond to a situation and summarise a group discussion”. This is to assess the student’s response in a real-world situation.

After looking into the differences between the tests, let us check if there is any similarity between the tests.

  • One similarity in both test formats is the time duration, which is 2 hours, and the validation is also 2 years for both.
  • Another similarity is in the fee structure, which is the same for both, ₹ 18,000.
  • Scores are given on the global scale of English that ranges from 10 to 90 points.

PTE vs IELTS vs TOEFL

Based on the university admission criteria, each country has its specific requirements for the English proficiency language test. So, before preparing for any exam, it is crucial to clarify which test is acceptable in the selected country and what scores, points or bands are required by that particular college or university.

Generally, there are three breakdowns in proficiency tests where all three tests are based on English proficiency tests for non-native English students, and all of them assess students based on listening, writing, reading and speaking, but there is a major difference in the format of the test.

Fee:

  • IELTS test fee is INR 18,000
  • PTE test fee is INR 18,000
  • TOEFL test fee is INR 16,900
  • Duolingo test fee is INR 6,000

Test Duration:

  • IELTS test duration: 161-164 minutes
  • PTE test duration: 154-191 minutes
  • TOEFL test duration: 170-180 minutes
  • Duolingo test duration: 60 minutes

Result Declaration:

  • IELTS result declaration: 7 days
  • PTE result declaration: within 5 working days
  • TOEFL result declaration: 10 days
  • Duolingo result declaration: 2 days

Score Range:

  • IELTS score range : 0-9 band
  • PTE score range: 0-90 points
  • TOEFL score range: 0-120
  • Duolingoscore range: 10-160

How to prepare for PTE?

  • You should be clear with the test type, whether eligible for PTE or PTE Core.
  • Select resources which you can trust, as there are a plethora of online materials available at reasonable cost, but for desired scores, students need to understand tips and reliable templates, which are offered by reputed coaching centres.
  • There should be a clear path for the test day so that preparation can be done on time. For extra practice, you can go for online resources and practice through mock tests. Real exam practice is a must before the attempt.
  • Need to select an accurate platform where students can find trainers to explain the errors and provide discussions on them.
  • For test booking, students can check the availability of dates by visiting the PTE official website, pearsonpte.com

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