International English Language Test System (IELTS) is an exam where your English is judged based on your speaking, writing, listening, and reading skills in the English language. British Council and IDP conduct IELTS.
The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is a test taken by the countries where English is considered a native language. PTE has three sections Reading, Writing, and Listening. Pearson PLC Group conducts PTE.
Many times candidates get confused about which test to take, IELTS or PTE? As there are countries, who accept both the tests. We would always like to opt for a test which will be easy and in which there are good chances of scoring high marks. In this blog, I will be deriving a difference between IELTS and PTE exams.
Please feel free to visit any PTE coaching classes or IELTS coaching classes before deciding which test to take, as professional guidance is always helpful.
Test Versions
IELTS and PTE both have the same test version, which is general and academic. PTE tests also have a different version, which is known as the Young Learner Test. The students give the Young Learners test between the age of 6-13 years old. Now coming to the other types for PTE and IELTS tests, the academic category exam has been given by the candidates who are applying in these countries for further studies. The general category, this test is given by the candidates applying in these countries for work VISA.
Test Structure and Content
Test structure and content in both the exams are mostly the same. Still, there are some differentiating points in both the exams: In the IELTS exam, the examiner’s communication is life for all the sections, whereas in PTE, your voice is recorded. You are required to speak in a recorder. IELTS is a paper-based exam where you are required to answer all your questions on a sheet of paper, and at the end, that sheet is to be submitted to the examiner. PTE is a computer bases test where you answer all the questions on the computer.
Exam Days
PTE exam is conducted around 360 days a year in more than 50+ countries, and there is no limit on taking the PTE test. You can appear for the test multiple times according to your convenience. For IELTS exam tests are conducted 48 days in a year, and it can be taken as many times as we want.
Time For Receiving The Results
IELTS exam is an offline exam, and the results for this test arrive within 13-15 days, whereas PTE test results arrive within 5 business days as PTE is a computer-based test, they can provide the results for the test earlier than the IELTS test.
Difficulty Level
IELTS and PTE are mostly similar in terms of scoring marks, but some sections appear to be difficult for the test takes in both the tests. The IELTS writing section is the most difficult one, and the PTE reading section is the most difficult one.
Test Pattern And Scoring System
IELTS tests are taken manually, and PTE tests are taken on a computer. The IELTS score evaluation is done based on bands where the lowest is 1 band, and the highest is 9 bands. PTE scoring is done between 10-90 points, where 10 is the lowest point and 90 being the highest point.
Conclusion
Concluding this blog, I will suggest you go through all the aspects of both the tests and then decide which one you want to take. Both the tests have their pros and cons; we need to choose the one which is more suitable for us and in which we can score high marks. As our end goal is to score high marks and keeping that in consideration, we should make our decision accordingly.
