One of the most common questions we get at HS Global is: should I take IELTS or PTE Academic? Both are accepted for Australian, UK, and Canadian student visas and university applications — but they are very different tests with different difficulty levels, costs, and processing times. Here is our honest comparison based on years of guiding Pakistani students through both.
What is the Difference Between IELTS and PTE?
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a paper or computer-based test conducted by British Council, IDP, or Cambridge Assessment English. It tests Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking — with Speaking done face-to-face with a human examiner. PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English) is a fully computer-based test — including the speaking component, which is recorded and assessed by AI. Results come within 48 hours vs 1–13 days for IELTS.
Cost Comparison in Pakistan (2026)
IELTS currently costs approximately PKR 47,000–52,000 in Pakistan (British Council or IDP). PTE Academic costs approximately PKR 38,000–42,000. PTE is therefore approximately PKR 8,000–10,000 cheaper per attempt. For students who need multiple attempts, the cost difference becomes significant. Both tests are valid for 2 years.
Which is Accepted Where?
Both IELTS and PTE Academic are accepted by all major universities in Australia, UK, Canada, USA, New Zealand, and Ireland for student visa applications. For the Australian student visa (Subclass 500), both are accepted by DIBP. For UK student visa (UKVI), you need either IELTS Academic for UKVI or PTE Academic for UKVI — the standard versions are not accepted for the UK visa itself, only for university admission. Always check whether your university requires the standard or UKVI version.
Which is Easier for Pakistani Students?
Based on our experience with hundreds of Pakistani students, PTE Academic tends to be easier for students who are strong at typing and comfortable with computers. The AI scoring removes any examiner bias in the speaking component. IELTS may suit students who prefer writing by hand and feel more comfortable in a face-to-face speaking interview. Neither is universally easier — it depends on your individual strengths. We recommend taking a free practice test for both before deciding.
Our Recommendation
If you are applying to Australia: PTE Academic is very popular and well-accepted. Processing in 48 hours is a big advantage for time-sensitive visa applications. If you are applying to UK: make sure you take the UKVI version of whichever test you choose — the standard version is only for university admission, not the visa. If you are applying to Germany: neither is required for German-taught programs (you need German B2 instead). For English-taught programs, IELTS 6.0 is the standard requirement.