PTE vs IELTS: Which English Test Your Student Visa Accepts
TL;DR: PTE vs IELTS is rarely a question of which test is easier. Both are accepted for student visas in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, but the version and the score matter. For a UK Student visa that needs a Secure English Language Test (SELT), only PTE Academic UKVI or IELTS for UKVI count. For Australia, Home Affairs accepts both PTE Academic and IELTS Academic. For New Zealand, the minimum scores come from NZQA rules that your provider applies. Pick the test your course page names, then the one that fits your timeline.
Most applicants choose a test by reputation or by what a friend took. The better order is the reverse: start with the destination, the course level and the deadline, then choose. The table below compares both tests side by side for the three main study destinations, and a second table matches common situations to a test. If you are applying from Sri Lanka, the local booking details are near the end.
Not sure your English scores meet your course and visa rules? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
Is PTE or IELTS accepted for a student visa?
Yes, in all three destinations, with conditions.
- UK. GOV.UK lists Pearson's PTE Academic UKVI and the IELTS SELT Consortium's IELTS for UKVI among the approved SELTs. You need a SELT at B1 for study below degree level. For degree level and above, your university can assess your English itself at B2, and may accept the standard PTE Academic or IELTS Academic. Our guides to PTE Academic UKVI and IELTS for UKVI vs IELTS Academic explain the difference.
- Australia. Since 7 August 2025, Home Affairs accepts nine tests for a Student visa, including IELTS Academic and PTE Academic. The visa minimum is IELTS Academic 6.0 or PTE Academic 47, lower when you add ELICOS. See our guide to Australia student visa English requirements.
- New Zealand. The NZQA table that providers apply lists both tests. For a degree at Level 7, it sets IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or PTE Academic 50 with no band below 42. See New Zealand English language requirements.
PTE vs IELTS: the side-by-side comparison
| PTE Academic | IELTS Academic | |
|---|---|---|
| UK Student visa (SELT needed) | PTE Academic UKVI only | IELTS for UKVI only |
| UK degree, university assesses English | Often accepted, check the course page | Often accepted, check the course page |
| Australia Student visa minimum | 47 (39 with 10 weeks ELICOS, 31 with 20 weeks) | 6.0 (5.5 with 10 weeks ELICOS, 5.0 with 20 weeks) |
| New Zealand degree (Level 7) | 50, no band below 42 | 6.0, no band below 5.5 |
| New Zealand postgraduate (NZQA table) | 58, no band below 50 | 6.5, no band below 6.0 |
| Format | Computer-based | On computer or on paper, where offered |
| Results | Typically within 2 days, per Pearson | Check your booking page |
| Retake one skill | Check Pearson's current options | One Skill Retake, computer test only, within 60 days |
| How long results count | Usually 2 years | Usually 2 years |
Universities can set higher scores than these minimums. The course page always decides.
Want someone to check which version and score your exact course asks for?
Which test should you take?
| Your situation | Choose |
|---|---|
| UK course below degree level, or a university that asks for a SELT | PTE Academic UKVI or IELTS for UKVI |
| UK degree where the course page names only one test | The test it names |
| Australia, close to your deadline | Either; PTE results typically arrive within 2 days |
| New Zealand postgraduate course | Either, at the NZQA score or the course score, whichever is higher |
| You missed one band by a small margin on IELTS on computer | Consider IELTS One Skill Retake, if your university accepts it |
| Applying to more than one country | The test every course on your list accepts |
Is PTE easier than IELTS?
No official body says either test is easier. The formats differ. PTE Academic is taken entirely on a computer. IELTS is offered on computer and, at some centres, on paper, and the speaking test is a conversation with an examiner. Choose the format you perform best in, then take a practice test before you book.
What about One Skill Retake?
IELTS One Skill Retake lets you resit one section within 60 days of an IELTS on computer test, with one retake per test. Results arrive within 3 to 5 days. IELTS advises checking that your organisation accepts it before you book. For UKVI, it is accepted for computer-delivered tests in selected locations.
How long do results stay valid?
GOV.UK says SELT results are valid for 2 years from the award date. Home Affairs generally accepts results from the 24 months before your visa application. Plan your test so the result is still in date when you lodge your visa, not just when you apply to the university.
Applying from Sri Lanka
- IDP lists IELTS on computer at LKR 70,000, UKVI IELTS on computer at LKR 78,000 and One Skill Retake at LKR 37,200, with centres in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Jaffna, Kurunegala, Matara, Malabe, Negombo, Trincomalee and Kalubowila-Dehiwala. Check the page for current fees before you pay.
- PTE Academic has centres in Colombo and other cities. Check the current fee and dates on Pearson's booking page.
- English-medium study or O/L and A/L English results may help with some universities, but waivers depend on the university. Our guide to studying in the UK without IELTS explains how they are assessed.
Frequently asked questions
Is PTE Academic accepted for a UK Student visa? Only PTE Academic UKVI counts when a SELT is required. For degree-level study, your university may accept the standard PTE Academic.
Is PTE accepted for an Australia student visa? Yes. PTE Academic is one of nine tests Home Affairs accepts. The minimum is 47.
Which scores does New Zealand ask for? For a degree, NZQA's table sets IELTS Academic 6.0 or PTE Academic 50. Your university may ask for more.
Can I use one test for several countries? Often, yes. Check each course page first, since a UK SELT requirement narrows the choice.
How fast are PTE results? Pearson says test takers typically receive results within 2 days.
PS: The right English test is the one your course page names, at the score it names, still valid on the day you lodge your visa. Check those three things before you book and you will not pay for a second test. Check your eligibility with Prosper and we will match your plan to the right test.
Sandeepani Wickramasinghe
References
- Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT), GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt (accessed 17 October 2026)
- Student visa: Knowledge of English, GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/knowledge-of-english (accessed 17 October 2026)
- New English language tests approved for Student visa applications, Study Australia, Australian Government. https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/news/new-english-language-tests-approved-for-student-visa-application (accessed 17 October 2026)
- Migration (English Language Tests and Evidence Exemptions for Subclass 500 (Student) Visas) Instrument 2025, Federal Register of Legislation. https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00906/asmade/text (accessed 17 October 2026)
- NZQA Internationally Recognised English Proficiency Requirements for International Students, as published by Whitecliffe. https://www.whitecliffe.ac.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/English-proficiency-requirements-2026-1.pdf (accessed 17 October 2026)
- IELTS One Skill Retake, IELTS. https://www.ielts.org/for-test-takers/ielts-one-skill-retake (accessed 17 October 2026)
- How long will I wait for my PTE Academic results?, Pearson PTE. https://www.pearsonpte.com/articles/how-fast-is-pte-academic/ (accessed 17 October 2026)
- IELTS test fee, IDP Sri Lanka. https://www.idp.com/srilanka/ielts/test-fee (accessed 17 October 2026)
