How are PTE and IELTS different? Here’s what you need to know

PTE Author
PTE Author
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Read Time: 6 minutes

PTE Academic is a real-world English test. This means it uses authentic source materials and a range of accents to assess natural real-world English proficiency. The test format is clearly structured, but students still need to understand the tasks in each section and know what they have to do to succeed on test day. 

The good news is that if you’re already used to preparing candidates for IELTS Academic, you’ll easily be able to adapt to help prepare them for their PTE Academic test. 

Let’s have a look at the similarities and differences between both tests and explore how you can adapt your test preparation classes for success in PTE Academic. 

The structure of the tests

The structure of PTE Academic and IELTS Academic is broadly similar. Both tests assess students on all four language skills: speaking, writing, reading and listening. The biggest difference in structure is that for PTE Academic there is just one two-hour computed-based test for all four skills. Whereas with IELTS Academic you need to book a separate face-to-face speaking test. More on that below. The order that skills are tested in, and the way the tasks are timed and organized, is also different:

Overall test structure

PTE Academic IELTS Academic
Listening: 30 - 43 minutes Listening: 30 minutes
Reading: 29 - 30 minutes Reading: 60 minutes
Speaking and Writing: 54 - 67 minutes (tested together) Writing: 60 minutes
  Speaking: 11 - 14 minutes
Test duration: Approximately 2 hours Test duration: Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes

The speaking sections of PTE Academic and IELTS Academic are quite different. Firstly, PTE Academic tests the integrated skills of speaking and writing, whereas with IELTS Academic these skills are tested separately.  

Secondly, the PTE Academic speaking section is completed on a computer (and is machine scored). This is in contrast to the IELTS Academic speaking section, which is done face to face with a human examiner. Many students taking PTE Academic report feeling less nervous about completing the speaking section on a computer. This is because they feel confident that it is their English skills that are being scored, and nothing else.

What’s more, because the PTE Academic speaking section is computer-based, the whole test can be completed on the same day in a single test session. In IELTS Academic, students may have to complete the speaking section on a different day – up to a week later.

Task types 

While some of the tasks within the tests might seem quite different, they often test the same skills. Let’s take a look:  

1. Writing 

In both PTE Academic and IELTS Academic, the 'Essay' tasks are very similar. This means you won’t need to adapt your preparation techniques much at all.

For the other writing task, the main point of difference between the tests is that PTE Academic asks students to summarize a written text, using a single sentence. For IELTS Academic, test takers must write a description/summary of a chart or graph: 

Writing

PTE Academic IELTS Academic
Speaking and Writing: 54 - 67 minutes Writing: 60 minutes
  • Task 1: Summarize Written Text - up to 75 words. Summarize a passage of text in one single sentence. Testing reading and writing.
  • Task 2: Essay - 20 - 40 minutes - 200- 300 words. Argumentative or persuasive essay.
  • Task 1: Written description or summary of a chart or graph - 150 words.
  • Task 2: Essay - 250 words. Point of view, argument or problem response.

There is also a great deal of overlap in the skills tested here. In order to score well in either test, students will need to: 

  • organize their sentences and paragraphs in a logical way

  • synthesize information for writing a summary

  • support an opinion with details, examples, and explanations

  • use correct grammar, spelling, and mechanics

  • use appropriate language for the context of their writing. 

2. Speaking  

The 'Describe Image' task in PTE Academic tests the same language abilities as the first writing task in IELTS Academic, where students are asked to describe a graph or chart. So you’ll be able to adapt your preparation technique for this task very easily. Students find it helpful to practise the 'Describe Image' task, so that they can become comfortable with the skill.

Speaking

PTE Academic IELTS Academic
Speaking and Writing: 54 - 67 minutes Speaking: 60 minutes

Multiple input texts - integrated tasks and skills tested.

5 item types - 25 - 33 questions:

  • Read Aloud
  • Repeat Sentence
  • Describe Image
  • Retell Lecture
  • Answer Short Question
Interview style in 3 parts. Number of questions may vary.
  • Task 1 - Introduction and interview
  • Task 2 - Long turn - speaking about a topic for 2 minutes
  • Task 3 - Discussion about task 2 topic, where examiner will ask questions related to the topic.

Both tests require students to speak fluently and use correct pronunciation, stress, and intonation. They’ll need to be capable of organizing an oral presentation in a logical way, and supporting their analysis of the image with details, examples, and explanations.

3. Reading 

The reading sections of IELTS Academic and PTE Academic differ in terms of structure and timing. In PTE Academic, students answer fewer questions over a significantly shorter time. There are more individual texts, but they’re shorter. Moreover, test takers are only asked one question per text. So, if they aren’t sure about the meaning of a text, they can move on to the next one, with more opportunities to demonstrate their proficiency. They won’t be asked five questions about one single text.

Learners will need to focus on the meaning of the text and be able to identify the main theme, purpose, and tone of the text. Skimming and scanning for information are also important skills, as is the ability to infer meaning. The best way to ensure success in this section is to make sure your students are reading widely and regularly.

Reading

PTE Academic IELTS Academic
Reading: 29 - 30 minutes Reading: 60 minutes

Multiple input texts - 13 - 18 questions

One reading text per question

Task types:

  • Multiple Choice (single and multiple answer)
  • Fill in the Blanks (two different types)
  • Reorder Paragraphs

3 input texts - 40 questions

One reading text, multiple questions

Task types:

  • Multiple choiceIdentifying information or writers' views or claims
  • Matching information or headings, features or sentence endings
  • Sentence completion or summary completion
  • Note or table, flow chart or diagram completion
  • Short answer

4. Listening  

The Listening sections in IELTS Academic and PTE Academic are significantly different. 

Listening

PTE Academic IELTS Academic
Listening: 30 - 43 minutes Listening: 30 minutes + 10 minutes

8 item types - 12 - 20 questionsIntegrated tasks (multiple skills tested).Recordings all from authentic academic sources.

Task types:

  • Summarize Spoken 
  • TextMultiple Choice (single and multiple answers)
  • Fill in the Blanks
  • Highlight Correct Summary
  • Select Missing Word
  • Highlight Incorrect Word
  • Write from Dictation

4 recordings - 40 questions

  • R1 - a conversation - two people set in an everyday social context
  • R2 - a monologue set in an everyday social context
  • R3 - a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context
  • R4 - a monologue on an academic subject

Task types include:

  • Multiple choice
  • MatchingPlan, map or diagram labelling
  • Form, note, table, flow chart or summary completion
  • Sentence completion
  • Short answer questions

IELTS Academic has conversations and monologues set in social contexts. In contrast, seven out of the eight PTE Academic recordings are from authentic academic sources. Similar to the Reading section, IELTS Academic has fewer recordings but more questions.

What’s more, the task types are quite different. Some of the IELTS Academic tasks require students to complete the sentence, label a map or diagram, and match answers. Some of the PTE Academic tasks ask students to highlight correct summaries, highlight incorrect words, and write from dictation.

Whether your students are working towards PTE Academic or IELTS Academic, you’ll be teaching them broadly similar skills. To score well in the Listening section, your learners will have to be able to listen for gist and for detail. They’ll need to identify words and phrases appropriate to the context. Note-taking skills can also contribute towards a student’s success. Therefore it’s important to make sure your learners are getting plenty of practice at taking notes of key, relevant information, while also listening for overall comprehension.

Smart Preparation resources

Smart Prep is a one-stop preparation portal where you can find everything you need to be confident and test ready for PTE Academic, PTE Core and PTE Home tests.

For PTE Academic this includes more information and links to:

  • Scored Practice Tests ($35.99 USD) — the closest you can get to the real test and scored in the same way, these five scored practice tests are perfect for giving an accurate indication of how you'll perform in the test.

  • Question Bank ($19.99 USD) — the Question Bank features 300 test questions, split by task type, as well as sample answers for the Speaking and Writing sections of the test.

  • The Official Guide to PTE Academic ($39.99 USD) — your official guide to PTE Academic with in-depth information and robust, practical advice on sitting each part of the test, along with an online practice bank of questions and additional online resources.

View our full range of free and paid preparation materials for PTE Academic.

Teacher resources

We also offer a huge number of helpful resources for teachers who are preparing students for the PTE Academic test. These include:

  • Our Teacher Preparation Pathway - A guide to all of our resources and a way for you to become more familiar with the test.

  • Classroom resources - Official coursebooks, free lesson plans, and our free PTE Academic preparation course outline are just some of the resources available to support your planning and teaching.

  • Teacher courses - We offer six, self-paced courses which can be accessed across devices, to support you anytime, anywhere.

View all PTE resources for teachers.

Ready to book?

Find a date and test center to suit you.

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    Speaking: Core English Skills
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    In Part 1 of the PTE Academic test, you require certain skills to answer the questions within the test to the best of your ability.

    We’ve put together some tips and advice on how to practice and improve your core skills.

    Oral Fluency

    Oral fluency applies to the Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image and Re-tell Lecture question types.

    To improve your oral fluency before your test, we recommend that you speak English as often as you can. If you don’t have anyone you can speak English with, join an English-speaking club or take a short course.

    As soon as you’ve booked the test, we suggest that you try to read, listen and write in English as much as you can.

    If you’re having trouble with speaking too slow or too fast, record yourself and listen back to identify where you need to improve.

    You can also use Tiny Texts to help improve your speaking. Read the text silently to yourself, then listen to a recording while you read and have a try afterward to read at a similar pace.

    Pronunciation

    Pronunciation skills are required for the Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image and Re-tell Lecture question types.

    In PTE Academic you do not have to speak like a fluent speaker of English to do well. However, you do need to use a pronunciation that can be understood by a regular speaker of English.

    This means you need to make sure your vowel and consonant sounds are pronounced in a fluent-like way with the correct words. You also need to use the correct sentence stress to convey meaning.

    Luckily, there are many online tools that can help with your pronunciation, such as:

    Vocabulary

    The only question type in the speaking section that will require strong vocabulary skills is Answer Short Question.

    The easiest way to improve your vocabulary is to keep a vocabulary notebook to use as your own personal dictionary. When you hear or see new words, add them along with the meaning and put them in a sentence.

    Want more prep ideas?

    Explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.

    • Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

    • It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

    • Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.

    Ready to get started?

  • Image- Students at library- 800px
    Part 3: Listening Test Introduction
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    Part 3 of PTE Academic will take 45-57 minutes to test your listening skills.

    This section is designed to test your ability to listen, read and write. PTE Academic is an integrated skills test, therefore, this test contains multiple question types that test up to 2 skills each.

    There are eight question types in the listening section. A breakdown of these question types is as below.

    Summarize Spoken Text

    The first question type you will need to complete is Summarize Spoken Text, which will tests listening and writing skills.

    To complete the task, a recording between 60-90 seconds long will be played for you to listen to. As you listen, try to use the Erasable Noteboard Booklet to take notes of key points to help you understand the context.

    After the recording, you will have 10 minutes to write a summary of what you heard.

    To answer this question type, you must write a minimum of 50 words but no more than 70 words.

    You can receive a maximum of 2 points for content, 2 for form, 2 for grammar, 2 for vocabulary and 2 for spelling.

    Multiple-choice, multiple answer

    The second question type, Multiple-Choice, Multiple Answer will test listening skills.

    First, you will be given information to help answer the question. You only have 7 seconds to read this. A recording will then play that is between 40-90 seconds long.

    Select all the response options that you think are correct.

    In this question type, you can receive 1 point for each correct option, but will lose -1 point for each incorrect option. You cannot score below 0.

    Fill in the blanks

    In the third question type, Fill in the Blanks, listening and writing skills will be tested.

    Similar to the previous task, you will be given 7 seconds to read some information before hearing the recording.

    A recording between 30-60 seconds will play. As you listen, type each word in the blank spaces as you hear them so that you do not miss any.

    Do not leave any spaces blank, you can review them at the end.

    You receive 1 point for each correct word which is spelled correctly.

    Highlight correct summary

    The fourth question type, Highlight Correct Summary, will test listening and reading skills.

    You will be given 10 seconds before the recording starts to read the options. A recording will be played that is between 30-90 seconds long.

    To complete the task, select only one correct response. If unsure, choose the one you think is correct as you cannot lose points in this question.

    Your response will either be marked as correct or incorrect.

    Multiple-choice, single answer

    The fifth question type, Multiple-Choice, Single Answer will test listening skills.

    To complete this task, you will be given information to read for context, you will then need to listen to a recording between 30-60 seconds long.

    Choose the option that best suits.

    Your response to this question type will be marked as correct or incorrect.

    Select missing word

    In the sixth question type, Select Missing Word, will test your listening skills.

    A recording between 20-70 seconds long will be played and you will need to predict the last word or words of the text to complete the task.

    You will be marked on this question type as either correct or incorrect.

    Highlight incorrect words

    In the seventh question type, Highlight Incorrect Words, your listening and reading skills will be tested.

    In this question type, you will be shown information and have 10 seconds to read it before a recording starts.

    A recording between 15-50 seconds will play and you will need to select the words that are incorrect and do not match the recording.

    You can receive 1 point for each correct word and lose -1 point for each incorrect word. You cannot score below 0.

    Write from dictation

    The eighth and final question type, Write from Dictation, tests listening and writing skills.

    You will have 7 seconds to read the instructions before the recording starts. The recording is between 3-5 seconds long and once it starts, listen and type the sentence in the response box.

    You can receive 1 point for each correct word you write. Write the words in the right order and spell them correctly in order to receive 1 point. Points are not lost for incorrect words.

    What's next?

    We recommend reviewing the core listening skills required for PTE Academic.

    Want more prep ideas?

    Plus, explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.

    • Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

    • It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

    • Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.

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    Australian post-study work visas
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Are you an international student in Australia who has recently completed your degree? Congratulations! With your studies complete it is now time to think about your future in Australia. Did you know you can apply for a post-study work visa (also known as a Temporary Graduate visa or subclass 485) following the completion of your studies? This enables you to work, live and travel in Australia. Find out more about this visa below.

    What is the post-study work visa and what does it mean for you?

    Depending on the qualification you graduate with, this visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to 8 years following the completion of your studies, depending on your field of study and degree level. Recent changes have extended work rights for graduates in areas of workforce need. The Australian government currently estimates application processing times to range from 3 to 6 months. 

    Eligibility requirements  

    Before you apply, check to see if you meet the Australian government’s study requirements to ensure you meet eligibility requirements. A post-study work visa is only available if you successfully applied for your first student visa on or after November 5th, 2011. In order to ensure your application for this visa is processed by the Australian government, you’ll need to have held an Australian student visa for a period greater than 6 months before your application date and currently hold a substantive visa.

    Eligibility Requirements   

    Before you apply, check to see if you meet the Australian government’s study requirements to ensure you meet eligibility requirements. A post-study work visa is only available if you successfully applied for your first student visa on or after November 5th, 2011. In order to ensure your application for this visa is processed by the Australian government, you’ll need to have held an Australian student visa for a period greater than 6 months before your application date and currently hold a substantive visa. 

    Please note that you are not eligible for a post-study work visa if you have previously held a Temporary Graduate visa or a Recognised Graduate visa as a primary visa holder. However, graduates who studied at regional institutions may qualify for a second Post-Study Work visa. This second visa allows an additional 1–2 years of stay, provided that the applicant lived, worked, or studied in a regional area throughout their first PSW visa period. This initiative is part of the Australian government’s efforts to attract skilled graduates to regional areas and promote economic growth outside major cities. 

    Check your eligibility in full on the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website. 

    The application process 

    The Australian government provides a useful step by step visa guide so students have a simple resource to follow once they’re in the position to apply for their Temporary Graduate visa.

    1. When should you start the application process? 

    It’s important that you start the application for your post-study work visa as soon as you receive confirmation from your education provider that you’ve successfully completed your studies. You must apply for this visa within 6 months of completing your eligible course.

    2. Ensure you have the required documents and paperwork 

    As with any application, you’ll need to provide documented evidence to support your application. It’s important that you thoroughly review all required documentation so you do not accidentally miss items essential to your application. Given that some documents may be harder to source than others, it’s important to get started on your application as soon as you receive notice of your successful completion. Please ensure you check the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website to make sure you have up to date advice and a detailed list of required documentation.

    One of the most important documents to provide with your application is your English language test results to prove your proficiency. PTE Academic is accepted by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs for all visa categories, including post-study visa applications.

    To use PTE Academic to apply for an Australian visa, you need to select ‘Australia’ on the country dropdown menu and ‘work’ on the current goal options. You can choose to have your scores allocated to the DHA when you register or simply provide the Score Report Code on your visa application form so they can access your result.

    Find out more about PTE Academic and the test centers near you.

    3. Applying for your post-study work visa 

    Once you’ve gathered the required documentation, you’ll apply for your visa through your Immi account. If your student visa features a ‘no further stay’ condition (either 8534 or 8503), you’ll need to apply for your visa via the paper form. It’s at this point of the process that you’ll pay the required fee for your visa, and it’s also from this point that the processing of your application actually commences.

    4. What happens after you file your application? 

    As is the case when applying for a student visa, the Australian government will notify you of any additional required documentation through your Immi account. It’s important to note that if you choose to leave Australia once you’ve filed your post-study work visa application, you’ll need to inform the government. If you’re not in Australia when the government makes the decision about the status of your application, you may run the risk of your visa expiring.

    5. Visa outcome 

    If you’re successful with your application, the Australian government will notify you of your new visa status as a Temporary Graduate visa holder in writing. It’s important to remember that all updates will be received through your Immi account and as such, there’s no need to call for updates regarding your application.

    Are you currently waiting to find out if your visa application has been successful? Whilst it can be stressful waiting for confirmation when professional opportunities are on the line, remember to keep an eye on your Immi account and stay on top of updates. Good luck!

    Last updated 20 December 2024.