How IELTS & PTE can be diversified?

While preparing your mind to study abroad as an international student, you are surely eyeing to appear for an English test, and IELTS and PET are the two most common English test options that most international students appear for. The full forms of these two common English testing acronyms are IELTS (International English Language Test System) and PTE (Pearson Test of English).

While the goal of both tests is the same and is formatted around the ideology of testing students for their reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills, the major difference is the method of testing the students.

  • IELTS: Here, students can choose whether they want to go with a “Pen & Paper Exam” or a “Computer Based Exam” whereas in
  • PTE: The student has to apply for a computer-based Based Exam.

However, as an international student, you still might have many questions in your mind, such as WHICH IS A RIGHT OPTION FOR YOU? or WHICH ONE WILL NOT JUST SCORE YOU BUT PROVIDE YOU WITH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS IN AN ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY.

This blog will not just help you understand the difference between PTE and IELTS, but it will also help you understand why it is important to learn proper English when you are planning to study abroad.  We will help you understand test types, the structure of the test, rating systems, fees, and the period of validity of both tests.

Why English Testing?

As an international student, when you plan to study abroad in an English-speaking country, it comes with a lot of opportunities. However, if your language command is not good, then it can act as a barrier and lead to frustration or prolong your timeline in achieving your goals.

These testing systems were created in order to prepare students for language shock. The tests prepare students in various communication modules so that on arrival, they can understand the language differences and communicate fluently without any hesitation. However, unfortunately, the purpose of the test has been lost with time, and it has turned into techniques for passing the exam rather than understating the language. As an international student, you have a lot of pressure, and for sure, you want to succeed in your aspirations, but there is no shortcut or technique to it.

A better understanding of the language will help you achieve your goals faster, as it is said that communication is key to success; therefore, while you are already putting effort into training for one of the testing modules, using some of the following strategies will help you prepare better for language and cultural shocks.

  • Watch news channels, documentaries, and English shows
  • Start reading online news channels and magazines of countries where you would like to study
  • Listening to music
  • Reading lyrics while listening to music
  • Searching common acronyms used
  • Joining FB and Instagram pages of universities/colleges you are interested in applying and reading their posts.

About PTE and IELTS:

The English Language Testing Service (ELTS was launched in 1980 by Cambridge English Language Assessment (then known as UCLES) and the British Council. The International Development Program of Australian Universities and Colleges (IDP), now known as IDP: IELTS Australia, joined Cambridge English Language Assessment and the British Council to form the English testing system. This international partnership was reflected in the new name for the test: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and IELTS went live in 1989.

IELTS results are recognized by over 11,500 institutions in over 140 countries.

Pearson Language Tests created the Pearson Test of English Academic in the year 2009 under endorsement from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). In the first year of its release, it was nearly recognized by more than 6,000 organizations. PTE Academic scores are accepted by 3,000+ universities, colleges, and professional bodies globally, including Oxford University, Harvard Business School, and Macquarie University, and it has 350 test centers in 117 countries.

PTE Test Format and Types:

  • PTE GENERAL: Individuals who are either interested in education abroad or working overseas choose this test. Scores of the PTE General Exam are accepted worldwide.
  • PTE ACADEMIC: Those candidates who are just aiming to continue their further studies in any foreign country, go for this test. This test takes two hours and fifteen minutes. Nations like the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, France, and various other countries accept students who already appeared in PTE and have sufficient scores for admission.

IELTS Test Format and Types:

  • IELTS GENERAL: Those who want to migrate or work in a foreign land are required to appear for this exam.
  • IELTS ACADEMICS: Students who have a desire to complete their further studies in other countries must go for this examination. The time period for this test is 2 hours and 45 minutes. This academic type of IELTS is accepted globally.

Fee Structure:

For PTE and IELTS, charges vary from place to place. In India, charges for PTE are Rs.15,900, while IELTS costs Rs.16,250. If any individual desires to pre-pone or post-postpone dates, then he will have to pay extra cost.

Results and Validity of Exams:

You will get your IELTS bands in just 13 days and will be there for 28 days on the website. Your bands will be valid for 2 years, after that, you can reappear for this exam again, as per your requirements. It is advisable for you to take a break before reappearing.

On the other hand, the results of your PTE exams will take 5 days. Just like IELTS, marks for this exam will be valid for two years, but after two years, you will not be able to access your scores online.

IELTS and PTE Comparison of Test format and structure:

PTE

MODULE

IELTS

Scholars must complete objective activities such as multiple-choice questions (MCQs), filling in the gaps, and textbook-paragraph sequencing in 32 to 40 minutes.

READING

This module consists of 3 paragraphs, and their difficulty level will rise from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Candidates are required to answer 40 questions in 1 hour.

These two parts (speaking and writing) are combined in PTE and taken in between 77 and 93 twinkles. Examinees must do a number of tasks, such as reading aloud, describing film land, recapitulating essays, and writing essays. Summarising essays and writing essays are two examples of essay writing.

WRITING

 

This test is too long for one hour, and the student is required to complete two tasks in 60 minutes. This module has two tasks, which are Essay writing and report writing (Line Graph, Bar Graph, Pie chart, Map, and many more).

SPEAKING

The speaking module will take nearly 11 to 15 minutes, and the test will be divided into 3 parts. The first is introductory questions, the second will be cue cards, and the last one is general questions associated with cue cards.

This section of the test, which lasts between 45 and 57 minutes, addresses a series of questions based on audio and video segments.

 

LISTENING

In this part of the test, the Examiner will play 4 audios, in which the student has to listen and answer those 40 questions in 30 minutes carefully. At the end of the test, 10 minutes extra will be given for transferring answers to the answer sheet.

 

Band and Score Structure:

IELTS band starts from 0 and lasts till 9 bands, where obviously 9 bands are the highest. Though each institution has different IELTS requirements for admission, on average, the student should achieve below minimum bands to study in their desired program category.

Score

5

 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8

8.5

Category

 Foundation Courses – ESL/EAP programs Postsecondary – Diploma programs Degree – Postgraduate Programs Master Programs, Competitive and Health Programs

PTE scores are scored between 10 to 90, with 90 being the highest score.

Each institution has its own sore requirements. However, the student will need to achieve the following minimum scores to study their desired programs:

  • Foundation courses: minimum score of between 36–50
  • Undergraduate degrees: minimum score of between 51–60
  • Postgraduate degrees: minimum score between of 57–67

The Test’s Difficulty Level:

Both IELTS and PTE represent their own difficulties and problems that necessitate different methods. IELTS can be given either on a computer or by pen and paper. While in PTE, the exam will be online, where you will have a laptop or a computer.

There will be 20 short tasks, which you will face in your PTE exam, however, in IELTS, each module will be lengthy. You must, however, have a solid grasp of the framework and be knowledgeable about the fundamentals of English to pass both of the exams.

Which exam—PTE or IELTS—is easier?:

Relevant aspects include the test-taker’s personality, level of English proficiency, and other abilities. A candidate can pass the IELTS speaking test if they are comfortable speaking in front of the examiner. If not, PTE is a better choice since it necessitates the individual speaking into a microphone while the computer records their speech. However, having a sore throat or a cold may have a detrimental impact on your potential PTE speaking score. Therefore, this must be considered.

Students who routinely write things down using a pen are eligible to take the IELTS exam. They might race against the clock and each other, which can help them achieve a high band score. However, you can take the PTE if you have trouble writing by hand but excel at typing on a computer. It’s advisable to take sample PTE and IELTS tests to determine which test you prefer. Higher performance is achieved by increased English language proficiency and consistent practice.

As a result, when “PTE and IELTS” are compared, PTE is a machine-evaluated test with an amazingly low margin of evaluation error. If you have the ability to work through a variety of difficulties quickly, the PTE would be the ideal test for you. To ascertain which is perfect for you, it’s better to solve previous question papers of PTE and IELTS.

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