IELTS VS PTE Exam Analysis

IELTS and PTE both are among the widely accepted English proficiency tests throughout the world. So, it becomes very challenging for students and professionals to decide which test to opt for. There are various parameters that one can consider for deciding which test to opt for. These include test format, scoring system, availability of test centres etc. Let’s compare these basic parameters of both tests to understand this in a better way.

1. Understanding Test Format 

   Those individuals who are planning to appear for English language proficiency tests need to understand the format of IELTS and PTE. Both exams serve the same purpose but still have a difference in structure and assessment methodologies. Let’s understand each of the exams.

   IELTS is a globally recognised assessment exam which has four main sections i.e. Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. The exam is undertaken for 2 hours and 45 minutes. The listening section has 4 recorded monologues and conversations. Test takers need to answer 40 questions based on audio content. This helps to assess their ability to comprehend spoken English.

   After the listening section candidate needs to proceed to a reading component in which the understanding of written English is assessed. The reading section has three passages which have a certain set of questions that need to be answered.

   After reading comes the writing section which is divided into Task 1 and Task 2. In Task 1 candidate needs to interpret the visual information. Whereas in Task 2 candidate needs to write an essay. Finally comes the speaking section of IELTS in which the candidate needs to face an interview. It is divided into three parts and assesses test takers’ vocabulary, grammar and overall communication.

   Now let’s come to the PTE exam part. PTE is a technology-driven approach to language assessment. The exam has three main sections: Speaking & Writing, Reading and Listening. The exam is concluded within a two-hour timeframe. 

   The speaking & writing section in PTE is a combination of both speaking and writing tasks. The tasks here include summarization of spoken text, answering the prompts and giving written responses. After this comes the reading section where the ability to comprehend written English is tested of an individual.

   The listening part of the PTE exam has an assessment of the candidate’s spoken English. This is done with the help of audio recordings. Test takers need to answer the questions based on the audio content.

   Both IELTS and PTE differ significantly in their format and structure. Understanding the difference is necessary for the test takers.

2. Comparing the Scoring System 

   When we speak about the scoring system there is a difference between PTE and IELTS. Both the tests serve the same purpose but still differ in the scoring system. This can influence a lot the candidate’s preference and preparation strategies.

   IELTS has a band score system that ranges from 0 to 9. Each band represents a different level of proficiency. The test assesses 4 language skills which are listening, reading, writing and speaking. Each skill is given individual scoring and the final band score is the average of all.

   Whereas the PTE exam has a point-based scoring method. Here the score can range from 10 to 90. PTE also assess 4 skills like IELTS which is Speaking & Writing, Reading and Listening. The overall score is the some of each section.

   One of the major differences between the IELTS and PTE is the method of assessment. This is seen in the Speaking and Writing section. In the IELTS exam, the speaking section has face-to-face interviews and the writing section has essay writing, letter composition etc. But PTE Speaking and Writing are computer-based. Candidate has to speak into a microphone and type their responses.

3. Difficulty Level 

   Both PTE and IELTS differ a bit when it comes to difficulty level. Both tests are for assessing your language proficiency at various levels from beginner to advanced. However, for some candidates, certain parts of the test become more challenging due to differences in the format and question types.

   Some candidates who have a fear of interaction can find the IELTS face-to-face speaking test a bit tough. Furthermore, writing test requires essay writing and letter composition. These may be found challenging for those who are not good at writing.

   PTE is an online exam so it may be difficult for those who are still not used to technology. The speaking section of the exam requires a candidate to record the response. This can be challenging for some in terms of pronunciation and fluency assessment.

4. Global Acceptance 

   There is a widespread acceptance of both IELTS and PTE exams by employers, academic institutions, and immigration authorities. IELTS is a very trusted English proficiency test accepted globally by 11000+ organizations in more than 140 countries.

   PTE, too has widespread global recognition and acceptance since its inception. The test is taken at 300 test centres in more than 50 countries. PTE is accepted by thousands of universities, colleges, governments and employers globally.

   Both exams give test takers flexibility to choose from multiple test dates, locations etc. This helps the candidates to schedule the exam at their convenience.