Neither PTE nor IELTS is universally easier. Confirm that your university, visa route or professional body accepts the exact test and delivery mode, then compare how each format fits your skills. A score conversion table can describe broad relationships, but it cannot establish acceptance.
Compare the current Academic tests
| Feature | PTE Academic | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Total test time | Approximately two hours | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Speaking | Recorded through a headset in the test room | Three-part discussion with a certified examiner, 11 to 14 minutes |
| Writing | Short integrated responses plus one essay | Task 1 describes visual information in at least 150 words; Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words |
| Score scale | 10 to 90 overall and by communicative skill | 0 to 9 bands overall and by section |
PTE Academic is computer-based at a test centre. IELTS Academic delivery options vary by location, so check the current local booking page. PTE may suit you if you type comfortably, prefer a computer interface and can maintain focus while nearby candidates speak. IELTS may suit you if a live discussion helps you communicate naturally and you prefer two longer writing tasks. Preference is not proof of an easier scoring standard.
Do not use a score table as an acceptance table
Pearson published updated PTE Academic and IELTS Academic concordance research in July 2025. Pearson states that concordance is an approximate relationship between tests, not a list of accepted tests or requirements. Governments and institutions set their own rules.
If a course says IELTS 7.0 or PTE 65, use those published requirements. Do not convert one score yourself and assume the institution will accept the result.
Worked example: test the format, not your hunch
Fictional candidate Lucas is comfortable in conversation but makes typing errors under pressure. He assumes PTE will be easier because results are often fast. He runs a balanced trial: one speaking set, both writing tasks or their PTE equivalents, and timed reading and listening samples under each test's own instructions.
In PTE, Lucas loses accuracy while typing listening responses and finds the shared speaking room distracting. In an IELTS-style speaking practice, he answers follow-up questions naturally but struggles to plan the longer writing tasks. He then checks that his university accepts both computer-delivered IELTS Academic and PTE Academic.
Lucas chooses IELTS because the speaking format better matches his strength, then works on written accuracy. Another candidate with fast typing and anxiety in live interviews could reasonably choose PTE. The decision follows evidence, not a universal ranking.
A fair comparison checklist
Try comparable, unseen material and record:
- speaking comfort with microphone versus examiner
- typing speed and error rate
- ability to process integrated tasks
- concentration in the test environment
- local dates, travel and official fees
- score turnaround and application buffer
- exact acceptance and skill minimums
Compare the current full tests, not one easy sample. If you choose PTE, learn its sections through the PTE Academic format guide and practise current tasks in the PTE practice question hub.
