PTE vs IELTS vs TOEFL: Which English test is right for you?

Reading time: 7 minutes

If you’re applying to study, work or migrate abroad, you may need to prove your English level with an accepted test. PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic are three of the most widely used English proficiency tests, and all assess speaking, writing, reading and listening.

Short answer: start with acceptance. Choose a test your university, employer or visa authority accepts for your exact application. If more than one option works, compare the test format, speaking style, result speed, score requirements and available test dates before you book.

See who accepts PTE

PTE vs TOEFL vs IELTS: quick comparison

Factor PTE Academic TOEFL iBT IELTS Academic
Format Fully computer-based Computer-based, at a test center or home where available Computer-delivered in many markets; speaking is typically with an examiner
Approximate length About 2 hours About 2 hours About 2 hours 45 minutes
Speaking section Recorded by microphone Recorded by microphone Live speaking test with an examiner
Scoring scale 10–90 0–120 0–9 bands
Result speed Usually within 2 days Available in your ETS account 3 days after the test date Often 1–5 days for computer-delivered testsaper where still available

1. Which test is accepted where you are applying?

Before comparing test features, check whether each test is accepted by the university, college, employer or visa authority you are applying to.  

This will help you narrow it down your search as the most important thing is that an English test meets your application requirements.

Headline acceptance numbers can be helpful, but they are not always directly comparable. Some providers count organizations, while others focus on academic institutions. The more useful question is: which test is accepted for your exact course, country and visa route?

PTE Academic is accepted by thousands of universities and colleges worldwide and is recognized for study and migration routes in major destinations including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada and the US.

TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic are also widely accepted globally. Always confirm the accepted test type and minimum score directly with the institution or official visa authority before you book your test.

Who accepts PTE?

2. Which test format suits you best?

Format matters because the way you are assessed can affect how confident and comfortable you feel on test day.

  • PTE Academic: a single computer-based test taken at a test center in one session across all four skills. Speaking responses are recorded through a microphone.

  • TOEFL iBT: a computer-based test, with recorded speaking responses.

  • IELTS Academic: listening, reading and writing may be computer-delivered, while the speaking test is usually a live interview with an examiner.

If you prefer a fully computer-based experience and would rather speak into a microphone than sit opposite an examiner, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT may feel more natural. If you prefer a conversational speaking test with a person, IELTS Academic may suit you better.

3. How does the speaking section differ between PTE, IELTS and TOEFL?

The speaking section is often where test-takers feel the biggest difference between PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic.

  • PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT: you speak into a microphone and your responses are recorded.  
  • IELTS Academic: you usually complete a live speaking test with an examiner. Some people find recorded speaking less stressful because there is no face-to-face interaction. Others prefer the rhythm of a live conversation.

There is no right or wrong preference. The best option is the one that lets you show your English clearly under your preferred test conditions.

4. Which test provides the fastest results?

If you are working toward an application or visa deadline, result turnaround can be one of the biggest deciding factors.

PTE Academic results are typically available in two business days, TOEFL iBT scores are available in your ETS account 3 days after the test date, and IELTS on computer results are available in 1–5 days.

Test Typical result turnaround  
PTE Academic 2 days  
TOEFL iBT Available in your ETS account 3 days after the test date  
IELTS Academic Often 1–5 days for computer-delivered tests; paper-based results may take longer where still available
  

5. How do PTE, IELTS and TOEFL scores compare? 

Each test reports scores differently, so you should not compare numbers directly without checking the relevant score guidance from your institutio or test provider.

  • PTE Academic: scored on a 10–90 scale.
  • TOEFL iBT: scored from 0–120, with each section scored out of 30.
  • IELTS Academic: scored on a 0–9 band scale, usually reported in half-band increments.

If you are close to a required threshold, pay particular attention to the score your chosen institution asks for in each section. Some applications require both an overall score and minimum scores in speaking, writing, reading and listening.

Learn more about how PTE Academic is scored compared to other tests

6. What practical considerations should you check before booking your English proficiency test?

Once you know which tests are accepted, compare the practical details in your location:

  • Available test dates
  • Distance to the nearest test center
  • Total cost in your country
  • Whether at-home testing is available and accepted for your purpose
  • Retake rules and how quickly you can book again if needed
  • How scores are sent to institutions

A test with faster results or more frequent booking may be a better fit if your deadline is close. If your timeline is more flexible, format and preparation style may matter more.

So, which English proficiency test is right for you?

PTE Academic may suit you if...

  • You want a fully computer-based test.

  • You are comfortable speaking into a microphone.

  • You need results quickly.

  • You prefer a single test session.

  • You are applying somewhere that accepts PTE Academic for your course, job or visa route.

TOEFL iBT may suit you if...

  • You are applying to institutions that specifically request or strongly recognize TOEFL iBT.

  • You are comfortable with academic-style tasks and recorded speaking.

  • You want a test that is widely used for university admissions, especially in the US and other international study destinations.

IELTS Academic may suit you if...

  • Your target institution or visa authority asks for IELTS Academic.

  • You prefer a live speaking test with an examiner.

  • You are comfortable with the IELTS band score system.

  • You want broad recognition across study, work and migration contexts.

How to choose between PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic

  1. List your target institutions and visa authorities. Note the accepted tests and minimum scores for each one.

  2. Shortlist the tests accepted by every place you are applying to. If one test covers all your requirements, it may be the simplest choice.

  3. Compare format fit. Decide whether you prefer recorded speaking, a live interview, fully computer-based testing or a more traditional format.

  4. Check timelines. Look at available test dates, result speed and retake options.

  5. Try official practice materials. Complete a timed practice section before you commit, so you know how the test feels.

  6. Book the test that best matches your deadline, strengths and application requirements.

Related Content

  • Image - Woman reading- 800px
    Reading: Core English skills part 1
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    In PTE Academic Part 2: Reading, you will be required to read a text in each question to understand what it means in order to answer the question.

    To identify and develop your reading skills we’ve put together some information to help you.

    Grammar

    Grammar skills are important as they help you understand what you are reading. In Part 2: Reading you need to understand the meaning of the tense system, how articles work and how to use pronouns.

    Tense

    The tense system refers to the way in which you write about situations in the past, present or future. It’s important to be able to understand how time is expressed in reading texts in order to understand the meaning of the text.

    To learn more about the tense system view the Anglo-Link’s video on tenses.

    Articles

    In the reading section, you will also need to understand how articles work in English. Articles are words such as ‘the’, ‘a’ and ‘an’.

    Knowing how articles work will help you to understand the topic sentence in a paragraph and that will help locate an answer in a reading passage. This will help you with the Re-order Paragraphs question types in the test.

    Indefinite articles (a or an) usually come before the definite article (the) before the same noun.

    For example, An eminent scientist worked for years trying to find a new species of exotic bird. She led a team of three field researchers. One of the team members found the bird in a tropical forest. Two years later the same team found another new species in the forest.

    You can learn how to use the correctly in this Oxford Online English video.

    Pronouns

    It’s important to also know what pronouns are to better understand the text you are reading. Pronouns are used to replace nouns so we do not have to keep repeating the same noun.

    Knowing how to use pronouns will help in the test, particularly in the Re-order Paragraph questions, as they help you identify the correct position of sentences within a paragraph.

    For example, Dr Gomez felt he needed to spend more time with his students when they were new to his faculty. There was so much information that he wanted to give them that he needed to spend more than a whole day with them, which surprised even himself.

    To learn more and practice using pronouns, visit Ginger Software’s pronoun page.

    Vocabulary

    Having a wide vocabulary will help you succeed in the PTE Academic test as you will not need to slow down for as many words that you do not understand.

    To widen your vocabulary you should:

    • Choose reading texts across a wide range of topics. Tip: Do not choose difficult texts.

    • Try to read the text and find words you do not understand, then try to work out the meaning from the context first. If you are still not sure, look the words up in a

       

    Word families

    When it comes to learning vocabulary, make sure to learn the word family of a word.

    For example, progress (noun/verb), progressive (adjective), progression (noun). To learn the words, use it ten times, in different ways, such as writing, speaking and reading within a short time.

    In PTE Academic you will need to know and demonstrate how to read a word, pronounce it correctly and how to spell it. You will also need to know if it is an academic or informal word and how to use it in a sentence.

    Learn more about three aspects of academic vocabulary in the Griffith University’s Learn English- Academic Vocabulary video.

    Context

    Another important skill to improve vocabulary is inferring unknown vocabulary from context. You should be able to guess the meaning of new words or phrases based on the words around it (the context).

    For example, you can guess the meaning of profligate from this sentence: The young man who spent all his money on expensive cars and holidays was so profligate that he wasted his whole fortune.

    Sometimes you will be unable to work out the meaning of a word from the context and will need to look it up in a dictionary.

    Collocations

    Lastly, you will need to understand collocations. Collocations are words that often go together. You will need to have a good understanding of collocations in order to answer the Reading: Fill in the Blanks and Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks questions.

    The more you read and listen to English, the more collocations you will learn. The PTE Academic Collocation List will also help you to learn these.

    You’ll also need to learn reading methods and styles of writing in order to do well in this part of the test. Read some helpful tips on how to improve these skills.

  • Image - Australian city hall- 800px
    How to find work in Australia
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Have you ever dreamt of migrating to Australia for work or study? As one of the world’s most attractive places to both work and live, you’re not alone, however, there are a number of things to keep in mind before you start planning to apply for jobs in Australia.

    Let’s explore some of the major things that you need to keep in mind when looking to find work in Australia.

    Organizing your visa

    In order to legally apply for work in Australia, you’re going to need a visa that gives you permission to enter the country with a view to seeking employment.

    It’s important to remember that the appropriate visa depends on your career type and industry that you’re applying to. To understand what visa applies to your specific skills, use the visa finder on the government’s Home Affairs site.

    Learn the culture

    The workplace culture in Australia is unique for many reasons. Whilst Australian’s are known to be laid-back, this isn’t to be confused with their approach to hard work. Australian’s work hard though also have strict workplace laws that protect the health and wellbeing of all employees.

    Australian’s like to keep things casual in the workplace and it is common that everyone is encouraged to speak up during meetings. This can cause culture shock for those that migrate from countries where the workplace hierarchy dictates your ability to speak up.

    In-demand skills

    As with all countries, certain professions are in demand in Australia. It’s important to remember that seasonality can impact the demand for certain jobs at different times of the year so it’s important to do your own research to understand job availability in your specific area of expertise.

    To learn more about careers in demand in Australia, visit the government’s Job Outlook site.

    Choosing where to work in Australia

    If you’re looking to migrate to Australia for work, you’ve probably done some research on where you’d like to live. The major capital cities in Australia are:

    • Adelaide, South Australia

    • Brisbane, Queensland

    • Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

    • Darwin, Northern Territory

    • Hobart, Tasmania

    • Melbourne, Victoria

    • Perth, Western Australia

    • Sydney, New South Wales

    Whilst Sydney is best known for tourism, each capital city has a unique look and feel and all have unique attributes. The major Australian universities are largely spread across Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne and the two most dominant cities for professional careers are Sydney and Melbourne.

    Writing a resume and cover letter

    It’s a common misconception that applying for a job in a new country requires a unique resume and cover letter style. Whilst there isn’t a specific formula when applying for a job in Australia, it’s important to consider that an employer in Australia may not have any context around the businesses that you’ve worked with in your home country. As a result, it’s a good idea to ensure that this context is shared in your cover letter to ensure that key skills aren’t overlooked.

    Applying for jobs in Australia

    As is the case in virtually all major job markets, applying for jobs in Australia is largely an online experience. The Australian market has a number of major job listing sites and it’s on these sites that you’ll also be required to file job applications. In addition to the major job listing sites, LinkedIn is commonly used in Australia for connecting with recruiters and applying for jobs too, however, this can vary depending on your job category and what you’re hoping to apply for.

    The most appropriate site to apply for jobs really depends on what industry you’re applying for, so it’s best to do your own research to find what job site best suits your needs.

  • Image- Study group - 800px
    Speaking: Core English Skills
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    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?