Short answer
Neither test is better in general. As of 5 November 2026, the UK Home Office lists IELTS for UKVI and PTE Academic UKVI among the approved Secure English Language Tests, and Australia’s Home Affairs accepts both at a centre but refuses any test taken at home. The numbers are different, so a PTE score of 50 is not an IELTS band of 5. Check the exact test, the exact score in each skill and the age of the result for every place you apply.
Is IELTS or PTE better for Pakistani students?
Neither wins on every count. IELTS is the older and more widely named test, and it appears in the immigration tables of the United Kingdom and Australia. PTE is a computer test, scored by software, and it appears in the same tables with its own numbers. What matters is that the exact version you book is the one the institution and the visa authority accept.
The mistake I see most often is a student who books the first test an agent recommends, scores well, and then learns that the university wanted a different version, or that the visa authority will not take it. That is a waste of a fee that is not small. A short check before booking costs nothing.
What this guide does and does not cover
It covers the English test, not the visa as a whole. It explains what the UK and Australia say on their own pages, how the scores differ, and how to choose. It does not give you a score to aim for in your case, because that depends on the course and the university. For the wider picture, the UK study guide and the Australia study guide set out the other requirements.
What are the two questions behind every English test?
Every student has two English requirements, not one. The university sets one for admission. The visa authority sets another, and the two can ask for different things.
The admission question
Each university publishes the tests it accepts and the score for each course. Some courses ask for more than the university minimum, and medicine, law and teaching often do. The university’s own English language page is the source. A website that lists scores for a hundred universities in one table is a summary, and summaries go out of date.
The visa question
The visa rule is set by the government. In the UK it can require a Secure English Language Test, and in Australia it points to a table of approved tests and scores. These pages are separate from the university page and they change on their own schedule. A university offer does not prove that your test meets the visa rule.
What does the UK accept for a Student visa?
The UK has several ways to prove English, and an approved test is only one of them. A student who qualifies another way may not need to sit a test for the visa at all.
The ways to prove English
The gov.uk page on knowledge of English for the Student visa says you can prove it with a UK school qualification, a degree from a UK institution, a degree from an institution outside the UK that was taught in English, or by passing an English test from an approved provider. A degree from outside the UK needs an assessment from Ecctis, which gives a code showing that the degree is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree and was taught in English.
The level required
As of 5 November 2026, the same page sets the level by what you are studying. Degree level or above needs the equivalent of CEFR level B2. Below degree level needs CEFR level B1. The CEFR is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and each approved test is mapped to it on the Home Office list.
Your university can assess you
There is an important exception. The gov.uk page says that if you are studying at degree level or above with a Higher Education Provider, the provider can assess your level of English itself, which means it may ask you to do a different test, and that this must still be equivalent to CEFR level B2. The Immigration Rules say the provider must state on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies that it has assessed your English and how, and that the entry must confirm B2 or above in all four components: reading, writing, speaking and listening.
In plain terms, for a degree course the question may be the university’s and not the Home Office’s. Ask the admissions office in writing whether it will assess your English and which test it will take for that purpose.
When you need a Secure English Language Test
If you have no qualification that proves your English and your university does not assess it, you must pass a Secure English Language Test, called a SELT, from an approved provider. The Home Office guidance on approved tests says that outside the UK you can take a SELT only with one of the following providers: PSI Services, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT or Pearson.
| Provider | Test names on the list | Taken outside the UK |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS SELT Consortium | IELTS for UKVI; IELTS Life Skills | Yes |
| Pearson | PTE Academic UKVI; PTE Home | Yes |
| LANGUAGECERT | International ESOL SELT; Academic SELT; General SELT | Yes |
| PSI Services | Skills for English UKVI | Yes |
| Trinity College London | Secure English Language Tests for UKVI (ISE and GESE) | Inside the UK only |
Details that catch students out
- The test must be on the approved list, sat at an approved test location, and awarded in the two years before the date of your visa application.
- Only the tests and test levels specified are approved. Booking “IELTS” is not the same as booking “IELTS for UKVI”.
- Where two or more components are awarded together, the required scores must come from the same test sitting with the same provider.
What Pearson says about its own UK test
Pearson’s website describes PTE Academic UKVI as a four-skills test for work visas and for study below non-degree level in the UK. So a student heading to a degree course should not assume that this test is what the university will ask for. It may ask for a different test, or assess your English itself. Confirm it with the admissions office first.
What does Australia accept?
Australia publishes its approved tests and the scores in tables by English level. The names of the levels are Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient and Superior. Each visa page says which level it needs, so start on the page for the visa you plan to use and then read the table for that level.
The Competent English table
On the Home Affairs page for Competent English, tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 are in one table, and tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 are in another. Competent English is a common benchmark, and the table below shows how the scores differ between the two tests. It is not a statement that every student visa needs this level, so read your own visa page.
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 48 | 51 | 54 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 57 | 60 | 64 | 70 |
| TOEFL iBT | 16 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
How long a result lasts
Home Affairs says you must have achieved the score in the three years before your visa application, depending on the visa subclass. It also says that a result from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used as evidence until 6 August 2028, again depending on the visa. Check the validity on the visa page, because a three year window can still be shorter than the time between your test and your application.
The TOEFL registration trap
The page says that for a TOEFL iBT result to be valid for Australian visa purposes, you must select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when registering. Results not registered under that pathway are not eligible. It is a small tick box with a large consequence.
Why is a PTE score not an IELTS band?
The two tests use different scales. IELTS reports bands from 0 to 9. PTE Academic reports scores out of 90. A PTE score is not the same figure as an IELTS band, so a rule written as “6” on one test is written as a different number on the other.
The numbers are not even across skills
Look at the table again. For IELTS the Competent level is 6 in every skill. For PTE Academic taken after 7 August 2025 it is 47 for listening, 48 for reading, 51 for writing and 54 for speaking. The requirement is not one flat number. It is four, and the speaking figure is the highest of the four. A student who is strong in reading and weak in speaking can do well on the overall score and still fall short of the speaking minimum.
The scores changed in August 2025
Home Affairs states that PTE Academic has the same name as the earlier version, but the test and scores are different. For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 the Competent level was 50 in each of the four components. If a friend tells you the PTE score they needed last year, that figure may be out of date. The date on the result matters as much as the number.
Always compare skill by skill
An overall score hides your weakest skill. Both the Home Office and Home Affairs tables, and most university pages, set a minimum for each component. So the first thing to read on a result is the lowest skill, and the first thing to ask a practice test is where that skill sits.
Which English tests are refused?
Some tests that students can book are not accepted for the visa, and the reason is usually the way they are delivered, not the name.
Tests taken entirely at home
As of 5 November 2026, the Home Affairs page states that the department does not accept evidence from English language tests delivered completely online, also known as remote proctored or at home. It gives examples: CELPIP Online, IELTS Online, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online, MET Digital taken at home, OET@Home and TOEFL iBT Home Edition. If Australia is on your list, book a centre sitting.
Tests that are not on the lists at all
The Duolingo English Test does not appear on the Home Office list of approved Secure English Language Tests, and it does not appear in the Home Affairs Competent English tables. Some universities accept it for admission, so it can be a route into a course, but it is not a visa test in either country. The Duolingo English Test guide explains who accepts it and what to ask.
Practice results and “mock” certificates
A practice test score is not a result and no authority accepts it. Be careful with any centre or agent that offers to “arrange” a certificate. A genuine result comes from a sitting you attended, and it can be verified with the test provider by the university or the authority. A forged result is a serious problem that can lead to a ban, not just a refusal.
Which format suits you better?
Once you know which tests are accepted, choose by format. The difference is real, and it affects the score in the skill that decides your file.
IELTS
IELTS tests listening, reading, writing and speaking. The speaking part is a conversation with an examiner. If you speak well to people but hesitate with a microphone, this suits you. The result is reported in bands, and the Home Office and Home Affairs both name it.
PTE Academic
PTE is taken on a computer in a test centre. The speaking section is recorded and scored by software, and there is no examiner in the room. Students who are quick on a keyboard and who find a live examiner stressful often like it. Others find the tasks, such as repeating a sentence or describing an image against a clock, unfamiliar and need more practice to get the speaking score up.
How to decide in one afternoon
- Take a full timed practice test of each format on the same day or on consecutive days.
- Write down the score in each of the four skills, not just the total.
- Compare the lowest skill against the minimum on your two lists.
- Book the one where the lowest skill has the most room.
What do the tests cost, and what about rescheduling?
The fee is paid to the test provider, and it is published by the provider. I am not printing a rupee figure here, because the prices move and I would rather you read them on the day you pay.
IELTS in Pakistan
British Council Pakistan publishes a price document for IELTS, and it has issued separate documents with different effective dates during 2026. The fee depends on the test type, such as paper based, computer delivered or IELTS for UKVI, and it can differ between cities. Read the latest document on the British Council Pakistan website before you book, and note the rule for moving your date. IDP also runs IELTS in Pakistan and publishes its own price.
PTE
PTE is booked on Pearson’s website. Check the price shown at the point of booking, which is set by Pearson for the test centre you choose, and read the reschedule and cancellation terms. Several websites quote a PTE fee in rupees. Treat those as approximate, because the figure depends on the exchange rate and the booking date.
What to watch for
- Pay only on the official booking site, and keep the receipt and the booking reference.
- Booking through an agent should not cost more than the published price plus a stated service charge.
- Check the deadline for a free or discounted reschedule before you pick a date close to your intake.
- Allow time for results. IELTS results can take days or weeks, depending on the format.
What about Canada, the USA and Europe?
Here the picture changes, because the English rule is often set by the institution and not by one government list.
Canada
The IRCC page for study permit documents lists a letter of acceptance, proof of identity and proof of funds as items to prepare, and describes a letter of explanation as recommended. It does not list a language test among those items. The English test is therefore the institution’s requirement. Ask the institution which tests it takes, and whether it accepts PTE, IELTS or others, and at which scores. The site gives general information on Canada and a free first consultation only, and paid advice on an application is reserved to an authorised representative under section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The USA
The F-1 visa itself is not tied to a particular test. The university sets its English requirement, and many take more than one test. Your university’s admissions page will name them. See the USA study guide for the rest of the process.
Europe
Most European universities teaching in English name the tests they accept and the scores on their own pages, and the visa authorities of countries such as Germany, the Netherlands or Sweden usually look to the admission letter. The universities’ lists often include both IELTS and PTE. Still, check each one, because a few set a higher bar for a particular programme.
How do you choose, step by step?
The order below keeps you from paying for a test twice. Settle the requirements first and the booking follows.
Write down the exact requirement of each place you will apply
For every university and for every visa, note the test names it accepts, the score in each of the four skills, and how old the result may be. Take the numbers from the university’s own English language page and the immigration authority’s own page, not from a message or a brochure.
Separate the admission test from the visa test
A university may accept a test for admission while the visa rule asks for something narrower. For the United Kingdom, check whether your course needs a Secure English Language Test or whether the university can assess your English itself. For Australia, check the visa page for the level and the test table.
Choose the format you will actually be good at
IELTS has a face to face speaking test with an examiner. PTE is taken entirely on a computer, with a recorded speaking section and automated scoring. Do a full timed practice of each. Choose the one where your weakest skill scores best, because every skill has its own minimum.
Book on the official site and read the price document
Book IELTS through the British Council or IDP, and PTE through Pearson. Read the current price and the rescheduling and cancellation terms on the official page before you pay. Prices are revised during the year, so do not rely on a figure someone sent you.
Check the result before you rely on it
When the result arrives, compare each skill against your list, not just the overall score. If one skill falls short, find out whether the rule allows a single skill retake, and whether the university or the visa authority accepts the retake.
What goes wrong most often?
Booking the wrong version of the test
IELTS and IELTS for UKVI are different bookings. PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI are different bookings. A result from the wrong one may satisfy a university and still fail the visa. Confirm the version in writing before you pay.
Taking a test at home for an Australian visa
An at-home sitting is convenient, and it is refused by Home Affairs. A good score on a refused format has to be repeated at a centre, with a second fee.
Relying on an overall score
A total that looks fine can hide a skill below the minimum. Read the four figures every time, and speak to the admissions office early about retakes.
Letting the result expire
The UK needs the test awarded within two years of the visa application, and Australia within three years, depending on the visa. A student who tests early and applies late can lose the result. Plan the order of the test, the offer and the visa so that the result is still valid on the day you apply.
Believing a promised score
Some sellers promise a score or a certificate. Nobody can guarantee a result, and a purchased certificate is fraud. The consequences reach well beyond the test, because a false document in a visa application can bring a ban. The guide to checking a visa consultant lists the warning signs.
A realistic example
This is a hypothetical illustration, not a real client. Hira, 22, from Faisalabad, has a bachelor’s degree and wants a master’s in the UK or Australia. Her friend scored well on PTE and recommends it.
- Step one. She lists three UK universities and two Australian ones. Two of the UK universities say on their English pages that they will assess English themselves for degree level study. The third asks for a named test.
- Step two. She reads the Home Affairs tables and notes that PTE Academic taken now is scored on the post August 2025 scale, with a speaking minimum higher than the others.
- Step three. She takes a practice test of each format. Her speaking is stronger with an examiner than recorded.
- Step four. She books IELTS at a centre, not at home, and checks the booking page to confirm which version the third university wants.
- Step five. She keeps the result sheet and notes the date, so she can check the two year and three year windows when the offers arrive.
Nothing in her plan is clever. She asked the right two questions before paying, and she compared skills, not totals.
The version that goes wrong
Now imagine her cousin Bilquis. She books the cheapest at-home test an agent suggests, scores a total she is pleased with, and applies to Australia. The visa authority does not accept evidence from a test delivered completely online. She sits again at a centre, loses weeks and pays a second fee, and her intake moves.
Key takeaways
- There are two English questions: the university’s for admission and the immigration authority’s for the visa. They can differ.
- As of 5 November 2026, the UK Student visa needs CEFR B2 at degree level and B1 below it, and a degree-level provider can assess your English itself.
- The Home Office SELT list names IELTS for UKVI and PTE Academic UKVI, and the result must be within two years of the application.
- Australia’s Competent English table asks for IELTS 6 in each skill and PTE Academic 47, 48, 51 and 54, so a PTE score is not an IELTS band.
- PTE Academic scores changed on 7 August 2025, and Home Affairs does not accept tests delivered completely online or at home.
- Compare skill by skill, not the overall score, and check the validity window before you apply.
- Book only on the official site, read the current price yourself, and never pay for a promised score.
Frequently asked questions
Is IELTS or PTE easier for Pakistani students?
Neither is easier in general. IELTS tests speaking with a live examiner and PTE marks everything by computer. Students who are nervous with people often prefer PTE, and students who type slowly or dislike speaking to a microphone often prefer IELTS. Take a full timed practice of each and compare your lowest skill, because the lowest skill is the one that decides.
Does the UK accept PTE Academic for a Student visa?
It depends on which PTE test and on your course. As of 5 November 2026, the Home Office list of approved Secure English Language Tests names PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home under Pearson, not the ordinary PTE Academic. Pearson’s own page describes PTE Academic UKVI as the test for work visas and for study below non-degree level. For degree-level study, the university can assess your English itself.
What is the difference between IELTS and IELTS for UKVI?
IELTS for UKVI is the version approved by the Home Office as a Secure English Language Test. It must be taken at an approved test location, and the result is what the Home Office accepts when a SELT is required. An ordinary IELTS Academic result is accepted by many universities for admission, but it is not a SELT. Check which one your university and your visa route require before booking.
How long is an English test result valid for a UK visa?
The Home Office page on approved tests says the test must have been awarded in the two years before the date of your application. It must also have been sat at an approved test location. A result that is fine for a university offer may therefore be too old by the time you apply for the visa.
Does Australia accept IELTS and PTE equally?
Both appear on the Home Affairs tables, but with different numbers. For the Competent English level, the table for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 asks for IELTS 6 in each of the four skills, and for PTE Academic 47 in listening, 48 in reading, 51 in writing and 54 in speaking. The student visa page names the level your visa needs, so read that first.
Can I use an old PTE result for Australia?
Possibly. Home Affairs says PTE Academic has the same name as the earlier version, but the test and the scores are different since 7 August 2025. A result from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used as evidence until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa. For those older tests the table asks for 50 in each skill at the Competent level.
Does Australia accept IELTS taken online at home?
No. The Home Affairs page says the department does not accept evidence from tests delivered completely online, also called remote proctored or at home. It lists IELTS Online, CELPIP Online, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online, MET Digital taken at home, OET@Home and TOEFL iBT Home Edition as examples. Book a test centre sitting.
Can I retake only one skill?
In some cases. Home Affairs says it accepts IELTS results that include One Skill Retake for eligible visas, and MET results with a Single Section Retake. Whether your visa is eligible is stated on the relevant visa page. For the UK, a Home Office page says that in certain circumstances you may be allowed to retake a failed component. Ask your university separately.
Should I pay an agent to book my IELTS or PTE?
There is no need to. You book directly on the test provider’s website and pay the published price. An agent who charges well above that, or promises a score, is selling something the test provider does not allow. Nobody can guarantee a band or a PTE score, and a person who offers a result without a sitting is offering fraud.
Is a high IELTS score enough to get a visa?
No. The English test is one requirement among several. A visa decision also looks at your offer, your funds, your documents and whether the officer believes your plan. A good score removes one reason for refusal. It does not replace the rest of the file.
Which test should I take if I have not chosen a country yet?
Choose the test your shortlist accepts most widely and take a centre sitting. IELTS is named in the tables of both the Home Office and Home Affairs, so it travels well. If your shortlist includes Australia, avoid anything taken at home. If it includes the UK at below degree level, check for a SELT first, because only certain tests count.
Can Ch. Bilal Rasheed help me choose a test?
He offers a consultation in Lahore, on WhatsApp or by phone, where your shortlist and your lowest skill can be read against the published requirements. No one can guarantee a score or a visa. He is an immigration advisor in Pakistan, and for Canada the site gives general information and a free first consultation only.
