If you are applying for a specific visa or Higher Education probably you have heard about IELTS and PTE. And you still don’t know which one is easier? We will discuss a little bit about both tests.

Recently IELTS released computer-delivered test as well, that is already available in Melbourne and Adelaide and until the end of 2018 will be available in Sydney, Brisbane, and others.

But at the moment we still some difference between both exams, the IELTS speaking part takes the form of an interview, and in the PTE you simply speak to the computer. Also, IELTS results will be checked by the examiner, and PTE is all checked by a computer program.  

Some of the people who takes the test find the PTE Academic as a more difficult exam than the IELTS, because of the complex content and vocabulary used in the questions, as the listening and reading passages can be based on academic readings, making it difficult for someone that doesn’t have a good grasp of the language.Also, the speaking part contains a graphs and charts section where you have 25 seconds to study the image and 40 seconds to explain it, I found that pretty daunting at the beginning, but you can get used to it with practice (Available online from $39 on PTE website).

IELTS has four components:

  1. Listening (30 minutes)
  2. Reading (60 minutes)
  3. Writing (60 minutes)

4, Speaking (11–14 minutes)

PTE Academic has three main parts:

  1. Speaking and writing (77 to 93 minutes)
  2. Reading (32 to 41 minutes)
  3. Listening (45 to 57 minutes)

Price :

IELTS AUD 330

PTE AUD 330

Okay, but which one is easier?

Here’s the big question.

For most of the test-takers, IELTS tends to be more difficult in the writing section. The standards for IELTS in the writing sections is very high. On the other hand, most people find the reading section of the PTE Academic to be slightly difficult than IELTS. Most people who face issues in the reading section for both exams generally struggle because they do not have a regular reading habit.

The speaking section is a mixed bag. The IELTS includes a real person that you are speaking to vs a computer in the PTE. Some people are more comfortable speaking talking to other people, some not. With the PTE however, as it’s an automated scoring system, if you understand what the system is looking for, even an average speaker can end up with a better grade with some speaking coaching.

Here is the equivalency of grades for each test:

Also, we’ve selected a video of how IELTS test works:

https://youtu.be/vrnDRV9jRSU

https://youtu.be/WxlBrbjvpEc

Changes on IELTS tests in 2018?

As we mentioned before, in 2018 IELTS announced online version, the same IELTS test you know, delivered via computer.

Here’s a quick summary of what this new option will mean for candidates:

  • Faster results (5-7 days)
  • More test dates available
  • Reading, Writing, Listening tests will be done on the computer
  • No change to test format and timing
  • Writing will still be assessed by a human examiner, not a computer
  • Speaking will remain 1:1 with an examiner

So, in the end, this answer is completely personal and whatever the test you take, preparation is essential!