This is the question we are asked more than any other, and it is usually asked in the form “which one is easier?” That framing is the problem. The required level of English is the same in both. What differs is the format, and format decides which students score closer to their true ability.
Below is the honest comparison, then a decision method that takes an afternoon and settles it properly.
The differences that matter
| IELTS Academic / UKVI | PTE Academic / UKVI | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Paper or computer. Speaking is a face-to-face interview with a human examiner | Fully computer-based, about two hours in one sitting |
| Speaking assessed by | A trained human examiner | Algorithm, scoring fluency, pronunciation and content |
| Scoring | Bands 0 to 9, in half bands | Scaled 10 to 90 |
| UK visa B2 requirement | 5.5 in every component | 59 in every component |
| Results | 1 to 5 days computer-delivered | Typically 2 to 5 days, often faster |
| Approximate fee in Pakistan | PKR 71,300 to 71,900; UKVI about PKR 72,000 | USD 230 to 250; UKVI about USD 275 |
| Retake one skill only | Yes, One Skill Retake within 60 days | Not offered |
| Score sending | Per institution | Free and unlimited |
| Integrated question types | Few; skills tested separately | Many; one task can score across two skills |
| Acceptance | Around 12,500 institutions worldwide | Wide, but narrower. Oxford and Cambridge do not accept it |
Who each test genuinely suits
Take IELTS if…
You speak more naturally to a person than a screen. You are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, where PTE is not accepted at all. You want the option of retaking a single weak skill. Your shortlist is not final and you want a certificate no institution will query. Or you are applying to the United States or for Canadian permanent residency, where IELTS has the deeper track record.
Take PTE if…
You type quickly and think clearly at a keyboard. You have sat IELTS twice and keep falling short in Speaking, which usually means the examiner setting is costing you marks rather than your English. You need a result fast, or you need to send scores to many universities without paying each time. Test slots run daily in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.
The integrated-task warning
PTE deliberately blends skills. Summarise Written Text is scored on reading and writing. Re-tell Lecture is scored on listening and speaking. This is efficient, and it is also why a single weakness spreads. A student with weak speaking will see their listening score drop too, which does not happen in IELTS.
The AI-scoring warning
PTE rewards steady pace, clear articulation and completed sentences. It penalises long pauses and self-correction. Students who ramble score worse than students who say less, well. If your habit is to think aloud and circle back, that habit costs you marks in PTE and costs you nothing in IELTS.
How to decide properly, in one afternoon
Take a full practice test of both without preparing specifically for either. The one you score higher on cold is the one whose format suits how your mind already works. This single step settles the question better than any article, including this one.
Open the English requirements page for each university on your list. Confirm the test is accepted and note the per-skill minimum, which is where most students get caught. If Oxford or Cambridge appear, the decision is made for you.
If your route needs a SELT, you need IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI, not the standard versions. The fee is not transferable between them.
Whichever you choose, plan your date so a resit still lands before your application deadline. For a September intake that means testing by roughly mid-June.
What we would tell you in the room
There is no easier test. There is a test that fits you, and a test that fights you. Most students who insist PTE is easier have simply discovered that they perform better without a human examiner in the room, which is a real and legitimate reason to choose it. Take both mocks, look at the two numbers, and stop asking the internet.
Test fees, formats and acceptance rules were checked in August 2026 and change without notice. Fees are planning figures, not quotes. Always confirm the current price on the official booking page, and confirm with your university in writing which test and which version it accepts before you pay. Compare every option on our English preparation page.
Keep reading
More on English preparation.
Next step
Find out which test suits you.
The first assessment is free. We test all four skills under real conditions, tell you your current level honestly, and say how many weeks it should take to reach the score your university needs.