Know Why and How to Convert PTE Score into IELTS Band Score!

Many people appear for IELTS or PTE every year. This is because these two are the most standardized tests to know the proficiency in the English language. However, there is a huge difference between the PTE and IELTS. So, there are limited countries that accept PTE score to grant a visa. This is because of the paper pattern.

So, in this article, let’s learn the difference between IELTS and PTE and how to convert PTE scores in bands score.

Understand The Difference Between IELTS and PTE

There are some similarities and differences between both exams. This is because of the marking system, the number of questions, and many more.

Let’s know in detail and then compare them both.

IELTS

The full form of IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It is a pen-and-paper or computer-based exam. It has 4 sections that test the English language proficiency of aspirants. These sections are

• Listening
• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking

There are several tasks of different types in all these sections. Test takers only get a time of 2 hours and 44 minutes approx to complete this test.

PTE

Pearson’s test of English, or the PTE, is famous in the UK. It is a completely computer-based exam. Aspirants get a PTE score between 0 and 90 on the basis of their performance in 3 sections, which are

• Speaking and writing
• Listening
• Reading

However, aspirants only get 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the test.

Understand the major differences

There are some major differences and similarities between both exams. So, you must read this to know all about the IELTS and the PTE.

1. Conducted by – The British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge Assessment English together conduct the IELTS, whereas PTE is conducted by Pearson PLC group every year.
2. Test types – There are 2 types of IELTS (Academic and General training). Similarly, PTE also has 2 types which are known as PTE Academic and General.
3. Duration – IELTS test takers get a time of 2 hours and 45 minutes, which is further divided according to section. On the other hand, PTE aspirants get only 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the test.
4. Scoring – IELTS test takers get a band score of 0 to 9 whereas, the PTE score comes in between 0 to 90 according to performance in each section.
5. Result – It takes 13 days to get the result of the paper-based IELTS exam and 3-5 days for the computer-based IELTS exam. On the other hand, PTE is an online exam that is taken on a computer. So, it takes only two days to get the result.

How to Calculate IELTS Band Score

IELTS overall score is the average of your scores in all sections.

Let’s understand it with an example,

If a test taker has got

1. Listening- 6
2. Speaking-6.5
3. Reading-7
4. Writing-6

Now, add all the marks of the different sections first to get the overall score. After adding the marks, the result is 25.5. So now, divide the sum by 4 to get the average. The answer is 6.375.

Hence, the average score is 6.375. So, the overall score will be 6.5 bands. This is because the IELTS score is rounded off.

How To Calculate PTE Score

Calculating the PTE score is a bit tricky. This is because you can not get your marks by just rounding off the overall score. So, see the below example to learn how to calculate the PTE marks.

PTE marks are given on the basis of your communicative skills and enabling skills. So, look at the example to get the overall score of the PTE.

For example, an aspirant has scored

Communicative-

• Listening-80
• Reading-84
• Speaking-85
• Writing-89

Enabling-

• Grammar-88
• Oral Fluency-87
• Pronunciation-81
• Spelling-89
• Vocabulary-90
• Written Discourse-90

Now, to calculate the overall score of PTE first, add all the marks in the enabling section. You will get 525. Now, take the average of the sum 525 by dividing it by 6. The final answer that you will get is 87.5

Now, add the scores of all the communicative skills and also add the average of enabling skills. I.e. 80+84+85+89+87.5.

The answer you will get is 425.5.

Now take the average of answer 425.5. You will get the answer 85.1

Hence the overall score in the PTE exam is 85. This is because it is rounded off to the nearest zero.

How and Why to Convert PTE Score in IELTS Band Score

PTE aspirants need to convert their PTE score in bands score of IELTS. This is because there are many institutes that accept the admission application on the basis of IELTS score. So, test takers who have taken only the PTE exam have to convert their scores into bands to get admission. However, there is no procedure to convert the score of PTE into an IELTS band, so consider this table:

Conclusion

Lastly, there are no requirements for PTE exam and IELTS exam. So, anyone who wants to migrate for work or study purposes can appear in this exam. However, They both are language proficiency tests so it is difficult for the aspirants to decide the best exam.

Aspirants who take the IELTS exam get more benefits than test takers who take the PTE exam. This is because IELTS is acceptable in more institutes than PTE, so PTE test takers have to convert their PTE score into an IELTS band to get admission.