PTE Academic · Scores

PTE to IELTS score conversion

Pearson publishes one official alignment between PTE Academic and IELTS Academic scores, updated on research released in July 2025. For example, IELTS 7.0 lines up with a PTE overall score of 63–70, and IELTS 7.0 in Speaking with a PTE Speaking score of 76–82.

The table is Pearson's best estimate, not an exchange rate: Pearson says any prediction of one test's score from another contains measurement error, because the tests do not measure exactly the same thing. Universities and visa programs set their own requirements for each test.

Last reviewed 7 October 2026 against the official sources listed below.

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The official PTE Academic and IELTS Academic table

Pearson's alignment of PTE Academic scores with IELTS Academic bands (updated on July 2025 research)
IELTS score	PTE overall	PTE Listening	PTE Reading	PTE Speaking	PTE Writing
9.0	90	81–90	81–90	–	–
8.5	86–89	75–80	75–80	90	90
8.0	79–85	69–74	70–74	88–89	85–89
7.5	71–78	64–68	65–69	83–87	77–84
7.0	63–70	58–63	59–64	76–82	69–76
6.5	55–62	53–57	54–58	66–75	60–68
6.0	47–54	47–52	48–53	54–65	51–59
5.5	39–46	40–46	42–47	39–53	41–50
5.0	31–38	33–39	36–41	24–38	29–40
4.5	24–30	26–32	29–35	14–23	17–28

"–": Pearson gives no PTE Speaking or Writing range for IELTS 9.0. A PTE Speaking score of 90 lines up with IELTS 8.5.
The table starts at IELTS 4.5. Pearson publishes no alignment below that.
Pearson's disclaimer, in short: predicting a score on one test from another always contains measurement error, from each test and from the alignment itself, and the tests do not measure exactly the same construct.

Sources: Pearson: PTE Academic Test Taker Score Guide (PDF) · Pearson: PTE Academic scoring

Reading the Speaking column

The Speaking column is not the same as the overall column. IELTS 7.0 in Speaking lines up with PTE Speaking 76–82, while IELTS 7.0 overall lines up with a PTE overall score of 63–70. Bands also differ in width: IELTS 6.5 Speaking covers 66–75 on PTE (10 points), while IELTS 8.0 covers only 88–89.

So when you compare a speaking requirement, use the Speaking column. An IELTS Speaking requirement of 7.0 would line up with at least 76 in PTE Speaking, not 63.

Sources: Pearson: PTE Academic Test Taker Score Guide (PDF)

What the table is not

It is not a visa or admissions rule. Pearson's scoring page says the table does not show which tests are accepted or which scores are required: governments and institutions decide that. For Australian visas, Home Affairs publishes its own minimum for each test and each skill.

It is not a PTE to TOEFL table. Pearson says it will publish updated relationships with other tests, such as TOEFL, "over the coming months". ETS publishes its own comparison between the TOEFL iBT 1–6 scale and IELTS; the two owners' tables are separate studies and should not be chained together.

It replaces older versions. Pearson updated the table on research released in July 2025, to reflect the updated PTE Academic test. Older conversion charts you may find online are out of date.

Sources: Pearson: PTE Academic scoring · ETS: TOEFL score scale update (for institutions)

Home Affairs minimums, side by side

For Australian visas, Home Affairs sets each test's minimums itself. For PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the Speaking minimums happen to sit inside Pearson's matching IELTS Speaking bands: 54 for Competent English (IELTS 6.0 band: 54–65), 76 for Proficient English (IELTS 7.0 band: 76–82) and 88 for Superior English (IELTS 8.0 band: 88–89).

Home Affairs minimum scores in each component, tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, as of 7 October 2026
English level	IELTS (each component)	PTE Academic
Competent	6	Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51, Speaking 54
Proficient	7	Listening 58, Reading 59, Writing 69, Speaking 76
Superior	8	Listening 69, Reading 70, Writing 85, Speaking 88

For a visa, use the Home Affairs table, not the concordance. Check Home Affairs for your visa before you book.

Points, TOEFL iBT minimums and the older PTE minimums: English points for Australian PR

Sources: Home Affairs: Competent English · Home Affairs: Proficient English · Home Affairs: Superior English

How to use the table

Use the concordance for planning; use each organization's own requirement for the decision.

1
Start with the requirement
Check whether your university or visa program accepts PTE Academic and what score it sets for each skill. If it does, that is your target, not a converted number.
2
Convert skill by skill
If you only know an IELTS requirement, convert each skill with its own column. From IELTS 6.0 up, Speaking and Writing need higher PTE scores than Listening and Reading for the same band.
3
Aim inside the band, not at its edge
Pearson's ranges carry measurement error. A target at the bottom of a band leaves no margin.
4
Compare like with like
Pearson's table compares PTE Academic with IELTS Academic. Keep that in mind if your requirement is for another test.
5
Re-check before you book
Pearson updates its alignments when it publishes new research.

Common mistakes

Using the overall column for Speaking
IELTS 7 Speaking lines up with PTE Speaking 76–82, not 63–70.
Using an old conversion chart
The current table is based on research released in July 2025.
Treating the table as a visa rule
Home Affairs and other bodies publish their own minimums for each test.
Chaining PTE → IELTS → TOEFL
Pearson and ETS tables are separate studies, each with its own error. Pearson has not yet published a PTE ↔ TOEFL table.
Expecting a PTE Speaking score for IELTS 9
Pearson's table gives none; PTE Speaking 90 lines up with IELTS 8.5.

Worked example

A requirement we made up, converted the way the table is meant to be used.

Our original example, not a real test item

A program that asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with 7.0 in Speaking

Requirement

IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0 and at least 7.0 in Speaking.

Lined up with Pearson's table

Overall 6.5 → PTE overall 55–62

Speaking 7.0 → PTE Speaking 76–82

Listening, Reading, Writing 6.0 → PTE Listening 47–52, Reading 48–53, Writing 51–59

Why it works

The Speaking target (76) is far higher than the overall one (55): the gap is in the table itself.
If the program accepts PTE Academic, it will usually publish its own PTE scores. Use those; the conversion is only for planning.

Check where your PTE Speaking stands

Create a free account for a 2-minute Quick score and one full PTE Academic speaking mock, with every speaking task on the official timings and a 10–90 Speaking estimate shown as a range. No credit card needed.

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AI estimate for practice. Not an official score.

PTE and IELTS score questions

What PTE score is equal to IELTS 7?

In Pearson's table, IELTS 7.0 lines up with a PTE Academic overall score of 63–70. By skill: Listening 58–63, Reading 59–64, Speaking 76–82 and Writing 69–76.

What PTE Speaking score matches IELTS 6.5 Speaking?

66–75, in Pearson's table updated on July 2025 research.

What PTE score is IELTS 8?

Overall 79–85; Listening 69–74, Reading 70–74, Speaking 88–89 and Writing 85–89.

Is the PTE to IELTS conversion official?

The table is Pearson's own alignment, published in its PTE Academic Score Guide and on its scoring page. Pearson calls it its current best estimate and notes that every cross-test prediction contains measurement error.

Did the PTE to IELTS conversion change in 2025?

Yes. Pearson updated the table on research released in July 2025, to reflect the updated PTE Academic test. Older charts are out of date.

Can I use this table for an Australian visa?

No. Home Affairs publishes its own minimums for each test. For tests from 7 August 2025, Proficient English is IELTS 7 in each component or PTE Academic Listening 58, Reading 59, Writing 69 and Speaking 76.

Sources

Every timing, count and scoring fact on this page comes from these official pages. Last reviewed 7 October 2026. Test owners change their tests: check the official pages before you book.