If you’re considering taking the IELTS or PTE English language proficiency test or have already taken it, you might be wondering how your score translates to the other test. This guide aims to help you understand the correlation between IELTS and PTE scores and how you can use this information to choose the best test for your requirements and goals.
Converting Overall PTE scores to IELTS band scores
| IELTS Overall Bandscore | PTE-A Score |
| 5.0 | 40.8 |
| 5.5 | 45.4 |
| 6.0 | 51.6 |
| 6.5 | 58.5 |
| 7.0 | 66.3 |
| 7.5 | 74.6 |
| 8.0 | 82.3 |
| 8.5 | 88.1 |
This table gives you a good indication of your score on the other test based on your overall IELTS band score or vice versa. However, it’s important to note that this table is only useful for test takers who have achieved an overall PTE score between 40 and 90 or an overall IELTS band score between 5.0 and 8.5.
Converting PTE Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking scores to IELTS band scores
The study also highlighted the correlation between overall band scores on the IELTS Academic and scores on the reading, listening, reading, and writing sections of PTE Academic. Understanding these score differences and how they match against one another can be helpful to test takers, especially if they excel or struggle on a particular section of IELTS or PTE tests.
| IELTS | PTE-A (overall) | PTE-A (listening) | PTE-A (reading) | PTE-A (speaking) | PTE-A (writing) |
| 5 | 40.8 | 40.2 | 43 | 40.2 | 43.1 |
| 5.5 | 45.4 | 42.7 | 47.9 | 42.2 | 51 |
| 6 | 51.6 | 48.1 | 53.5 | 46.2 | 62.2 |
| 6.5 | 58.5 | 56.8 | 60.6 | 53.5 | 74.1 |
| 7 | 66.3 | 66.2 | 67.6 | 65.3 | 82.3 |
| 7.5 | 74.6 | 73.9 | 73.7 | 75.3 | 87.5 |
| 8 | 82.3 | 79.4 | 78.4 | 80.9 | 89.4 |
| 8.5 | 88.1 | 84.7 | 83.7 | 85.5 | 89.5 |
How to use the IELTS and PTE Score Conversion Tables
To gauge how you may score on IELTS or PTE, you must first know your actual or indicative score of at least one test. From here, you can use the table to find the closest matching value and then read across to find the equivalent score.
For example, if you have previously sat a PTE-A test and are now aiming to achieve an IELTS band score of 7.0, then the table above indicates that you would need to have a minimum PTE-A overall score of 66, with a minimum of 66 in Listening, 67 in Reading, 65 in Speaking, and 82 in Writing to likely achieve an IELTS overall band score of at least 7.
Likewise, if you’re aiming to achieve a PTE score of 58 with a minimum of 48 in Listening, 53 in Reading, 46 in Speaking, and 62 in Writing, then you would need to have previously achieved an overall IELTS band score of at least 6.5.
Will comparing IELTS and PTE scores help me achieve a better result?
In short, converting your IELTS or PTE score into the other won’t help you achieve a better result. However, understanding the correlation and equivalent scores between IELTS and PTE can help you choose the best test for your requirements and goals.
This is particularly useful if you’re considering taking another PTE or IELTS test in the future, as it can help you choose which one is best for you based on your current score and the requirements you are trying to meet.
Additionally, comparing scores can help ensure that your English language skills are up to the necessary standards for your intended purpose, helping you prepare and build confidence before the test and setting you up for success in your academic or professional pursuits.
Check out some of our helpful preparation materials here for PTE Core, IELTS, TOEFL, and more!
Study sourced from: ielts.org/-/media/research-reports/ielts-pte-comparisons.ashx
