Which test would be easier: IELTS or PTE?
The answer to this question depends on the individual, as there are some factors to be considered when deciding whether students will find PTE easier than the IELTS.
There are a few reasons to take into account before concluding that PTE is easier than IELTS. Firstly, PTE is new to the market compared to IELTS. People who have switched to PTE have previously taken IELTS one or more times before taking the PTE and have given their opinion.
PTE is often considered to be easier because the test contains several questions that a lot of people find them easy, for example, describing images and answering short questions, etc. PTE is 100% machine-scored it removes human error and moderator bias, but on the other hand, some people are of the opinion that computer bias may be an issue.
In the IELTS exam, the speaking module is conducted face to face. However, in the PTE exam, the speaking module is done online. For a lot of people, they find this to be a less stressful option.
In order to answer the question: ‘Is PTE easier than IELTS?’ we are going to take a more in-depth look at the type of questions used to assess each skill. Both tests assess four English skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
The reading section in PTE lasts for between 31-and 41 mins compared to the IELTS reading section which is for 60mins and has around 40 questions. The PTE speaking module is combined with the reading and listening assessment. The IELTS writing is of 60 minutes and consists of two question types, essay-writing and summarizing written text. Which is generally considered to be tougher than PTE. Similarly, there is a difference in every module when we compare IELTS and PTE.
The IELTS test can be either paper-based or computer-based, on the other hand, PTE is computer-based. Overall, the best way to decide on which test to take is to know more about the type of questions these exams consist of. Explore the online learning materials and take mock tests to decide which one students find easier.
Refer to the below table for more info:
| IELTS | PTE |
| This test is conducted by the British, IDP: Australia, and Cambridge assessments. | Pearson Test of English Academic: British company which is a publishing and education company headquartered in London. |
| This test is accepted by universities and governments worldwide. IELTS is accepted for both study and migration by governments such as the UK, Canada, Australia, etc. | This test is accepted by most universities and governments. PTE test is accepted for immigration visa purposes by the Australian and New Zealand governments. |
| IELTS is paper-based and computer-based. | PTE is computer-based. |
| The duration of the exam is 2.45mins and the speaking session is done on the same day or on different days.
IELTS has four components:
|
The duration of the exam is 3hrs and all the 4 modules are done on the same day.
PTE Academic has three main parts: A short optional break 10-minute break is included as well. |
| IELTS results are available 13 days after taking the test | PTE results are typically published within 5 business days. |
| IELTS test results are valid for 2-3yrs | PTE test results are valid for 2-3yrs. |
| IELTS assessment is done manually. | PTE assessment is Automated as its computer-based exam. |
Please contact us if any more information is required to make a decision.
