Pearson launches shorter version of PTE Test and PTE at Home to commence from November 2021

Both IELTS and PTE are English proficiency tests required to study abroad in countries where the native language is English. However, the comparison between the two will depend entirely on the student’s preferences and purpose of taking the test. Below are a few points that can help you make clear choices.

1. Acceptance: IELTS is more widely accepted worldwide while PTE is less acceptable. However, the latter is getting increasingly accepted by more and more institutions and organisations in the world owing to its faster processing time. Both the exams are accepted for Australian student visas and migration applications. 

2. Exam Pattern: Both the IELTS and PTE exams comprise the Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking sections. However, the duration and the sequence of assessing these 4 core English language skills differ in both exams.

The IELTS exam assesses Listening (30 minutes), Reading (60 minutes) and Writing (60 minutes) skills in a sequence while Speaking (10-14 minutes) is assessed face-to-face by a real examiner. This is done on a different date from the actual IELTS exam, maybe till a week later. You may expect to get your IELTS exam results after 1 or 2 weeks of taking the exam depending on the type of exam you opted for (on-paper or computer-based).

On the contrary, the sequence of assessment of these core skills in the PTE exam is Speaking and Writing (50 - 67 minutes), Reading (30 minutes) and Listening 30-45 minutes. The total duration of the exam is 2 hours and test takers can expect to see their results within 48 hours of taking the exam. 

3. Assessment: The Speaking section in the IELTS exam is assessed separately in real-time by the English experts in a face-to-face round which is often conducted a week after your IELTS exam date. 

The Speaking section in the PTE exam is assessed along with the Writing section which is a more natural way to assess test taker’s skills. The speaking section along with all other sections are completed online, on the computer and are assessed by artificial intelligence. 

4. Release of Results: PTE releases its test results within 48 hours of taking the test. However, the IELTS exam result can take around a week's or 2 weeks' time to get relesaed. IELTS scores are generated by English experts who compare your performance with the global standards while PTE uses an automated scoring system by using AI. 

These factors may help you arrive at your decision of which exam to choose from for your academic endeavours. 

Candidates are advised to refer to PTE Academic Practice Papers available on the official PTE Academic website. Candidates are highly advised to only take information from trusted sources such as the official PTE Academic website and our preparatory guide.

Compared to other English tests like IELTS and TOEFL,   the PTE exam boasts several advantages, listed below:

1. Faster results: Ideal for tight deadlines, the PTE test results are available within 2 business days from the date of taking your exam.
2. Flexible testing: You can choose your preferred exam date and time slot almost year-round, even 24 hours before your desired exam date.
3. AI-powered scoring: Your PTE exam is scored based on computer-based evaluation for consistent results. This removes any and all chances of bias and human errors.
4. Wider question variety: Encounter diverse question types, testing your English skills in practical contexts.
5. Interactive speaking & writing: Respond to real-time prompts,  simulating natural everyday communication in an academic setting.
6. Friendly and safe test centres: The safety and convenience of the PTE test takers is of utmost importance to the exam authorities which is why multiple test centres are available across a country or even city with each one of these not accommodating more than 10 candidates at a time. 
7. Growing popularity and acceptance: The PTE test is accepted at 3500+ universities worldwide with instiotutions including the University of Oxford, Harvard University and the Yale University. 

The PTE test has evolved over the years to stay relevant to the demands of the university and students. However, rest assured the main focus of the PTE Academic test has remained the same, i.e. to assess your academic-level English speaking, writing, reading and listening skills.

The PTE Academic Exam is for students looking to apply to universities and institutions abroad. The PTE Academic UKVI is for UK visa applications requiring a 4-skill language test. The PTE Home is for UK family and work visa applications and is different from the PTE at-home exam.

Both the PTE Academic and IELTS have been designed to understand the English language proficiency of the candidate. They have been designed to test the writing, speaking reading, and listening skills of the test taker. Hence, both the tests are at par with each other and the candidate should opt for the one he is comfortable in. However, there are some points of differences that must be noted when making a decision, these are:

1. The PTE exam (2 hours) is shorter than the IELTS exam (3 hours).
2. All the segments (sections) of a PTE exam are tested within a day, in a single sitting. However, the different sections in an IELTS exam are assessed on different days. 
3. The IELTS exam tests speaking, listening, reading and writing proficiencies in the English language separately, which may not be appropriate for testing the real-life comprehension abilities of the test-taker. On the other side, the PTE exam tests all these skills simultaneously based on the belief that successful communication is developed by combining all these skills together. 
4. Your performance in a PTE exam is judged by AI, which leaves little to no room for human errors and any sort of bias. the scores awarded in this manner are mostly accurate. While, in an IELTS exam, a human examiner is present to test your overall English proficiency. 
5. Results can be expected within two days of taking the PTE exam, while the IELTS exam results are released later. 

There is no exact choice of the PTE test centre that fits the "best" for all students. Students must look for and choose a centre which is the nearest to their current place of residence and is easily accessible. For this reason, start looking for a PTE test centre within your city.

However, if there is no PTE exam centre within your city then, select the one where you can travel to easily without getting late for your PTE exam. This is because if you miss out on appearing in the PTE exam at your chosen time slot then, you will have to book your PTE exam slot again along with re-paying the PTE exam fee. 

Each of these exams - PTE (Pearson Test of English), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) - are widely accepted for studying abroad.  However, which exam will be most suitable for you depends on several conditions. Below are some parameters that you can consider to make the best decision.