IELTS vs PTE: Which English Test Should You Take for Australian University Admission

Almost every Australian university accepts both IELTS and PTE Academic for English language admission requirements, so the choice usually isn't about which one a particular university prefers. It's about which test format works better for how you actually take exams, and how quickly you need a result back.

The core format difference

IELTS Academic is split across four sections (listening, reading, writing, speaking), and the speaking section is a face-to-face or video interview with a real examiner. PTE Academic is fully computer-delivered, including the speaking section, where you speak into a microphone and your response is scored by an automated system alongside human review. This single difference drives most of what makes each test feel easier or harder to different students.

If speaking to a live examiner makes you noticeably more nervous than typing or speaking into a microphone alone in a room, PTE often feels more comfortable. If you find a computer-graded speaking section unnerving because you can't read a human reaction or ask for clarification, IELTS may suit you better.

Turnaround time

PTE results are typically available within 1 to 2 business days. IELTS results generally take 3 to 13 days depending on whether you sat the paper-based or computer-delivered version. If you're applying close to a deadline, this gap can matter more than any other factor on this list; a fast PTE turnaround can be the difference between submitting an application on time and missing an intake entirely.

How Australian universities actually score them

Universities publish equivalency tables mapping PTE scores to IELTS bands, and these are broadly consistent across institutions, though not identical. A commonly cited benchmark is that an IELTS overall band of 6.5 corresponds to a PTE score of roughly 58 to 64, though the exact figure depends on the specific university's published equivalency table. Always check the specific program's own English requirements page rather than relying on a general conversion chart, since some professional accreditation bodies (particularly in nursing, teaching, and some engineering fields) set their own minimum band scores per skill area that don't map cleanly onto a single overall score.

Which one is easier to prepare for

This depends heavily on your existing study habits. PTE's format rewards familiarity with its specific question types (there are more than 20 distinct task types across the test), and doing timed practice on the actual PTE platform tends to improve scores meaningfully, since a large part of the test is about pacing and format familiarity rather than raw English ability. IELTS preparation benefits more from general practice with academic reading and writing, and from mock speaking interviews with another person, since the skills the test measures map more directly onto everyday academic English use.

Cost and test center availability

Both tests cost a broadly similar amount, though exact pricing varies by country and occasionally by testing center. Availability differs more meaningfully: PTE test centers tend to have more frequent testing dates in major cities, since the test is entirely computer-based and doesn't require scheduling live examiners, which can matter if you're trying to book a slot close to an application deadline.

If you've already sat one and want to switch

There's no rule against submitting a different test type than you've used in previous applications. If your IELTS speaking score consistently underperforms your other sections and you suspect nerves around the live interview format are the cause, sitting PTE instead for your next application is a completely reasonable strategy, provided the specific programs you're applying to accept it (which the overwhelming majority of Australian universities do).