PTE Academic vs IELTS: Choosing the Right English Test for Australian Applications

Australia's student visa English requirement

The minimum English score for a Student visa rose from an IELTS overall 5.5 to 6.0 , with no individual band below 5.5. If you plan to complete an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) before your main program, that pathway's minimum rose from IELTS 4.5 to 5.0. Both PTE Academic and IELTS Academic sit on the Department of Home Affairs' approved test list alongside TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, the Occupational English Test, CELPIP General, LanguageCert Academic and the Michigan English Test (MET), a list expanded to 9 tests from 7 August 2025, so neither one gives you an advantage on visa approval alone.

PTE Academic and IELTS score equivalence

For the main student visa pathway, a PTE Academic overall score of 50 matches the IELTS 6.0 requirement. Pearson publishes its full concordance table on pearsonpte.com, so confirm the exact figure before you book if your course sets a score above the visa floor.

Many degree programs set an entry score above the visa minimum. Pearson's published concordance also maps IELTS 6.5 to a PTE Academic score near 58, IELTS 7.0 to near 65, and IELTS 7.5 to near 73, so use these as a rough guide when your course page lists only an IELTS figure.

Test format and results speed

PTE Academic runs as one computer session of about two hours, machine-scored, with most results back within 24-48 hours. IELTS Academic splits listening, reading and writing from the speaking test, which you take face-to-face or by video call with a trained examiner. IELTS results typically arrive within 3-5 days for the computer-delivered version and up to 13 days for the paper-based version. If your visa application is close to a deadline, the faster PTE turnaround gives you more room to fix a low score with a retake.

IELTS Academic vs IELTS General Training

IELTS General Training does satisfy the Student visa English requirement, since it sits on the Department of Home Affairs' approved test list. Universities, however, require IELTS Academic for admission, so book Academic if your score also needs to clear your course's entry bar. Double check you book the Academic version when you register, since the two run on different dates at some centers.

Cost comparison

PTE Academic and IELTS Academic sit in a similar price range across most ASEAN countries, though your exact fee depends on your test center and the current exchange rate. Check pearsonpte.com and your chosen IELTS provider's local page for the current fee before you book, since neither test publishes one fixed global price.

Neither test is accepted online for the visa

The Department of Home Affairs does not accept scores from at-home or online versions of any English test for a Student visa application, including PTE Academic and computer-delivered IELTS taken remotely. You need to sit your test at an official test center to use the result for your visa, even though some universities accept an at-home score for admission alone.

The Genuine Student requirement sits apart from your English score

From 23 March 2024, the Genuine Student requirement replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement for Student visa applications. Meeting the IELTS or PTE Academic minimum satisfies the English language criterion only. The Genuine Student assessment separately looks at your study plans, ties to your home country and financial capacity, so a strong English score does not guarantee visa approval on its own.

Retake strategy before your visa lodgement date

Work backward from your visa lodgement deadline when you decide which test to book. PTE Academic's 24-48 hour turnaround leaves room for a retake even if you book close to your deadline, while IELTS needs more buffer given its longer results wait, especially for the paper-based version. If your first attempt lands slightly below your target, booking a retake immediately after your results post is usually faster than waiting for a full new preparation cycle.

Documents you still need beyond your English score

Your English test result forms only one part of your Student visa application. You also need a Confirmation of Enrolment from your university, evidence you meet Australia's financial capacity requirement, health insurance, and answers to the Genuine Student questions. Gather these alongside your English score rather than treating the test as the last step before you apply.

Booking your test in an ASEAN country

Book PTE Academic directly through pearsonpte.com, choosing from test centers in major cities across the region. Book IELTS through one of its official providers, IDP or the British Council, both of which run centers across Southeast Asia and let you choose between the paper-based and computer-delivered formats. Either way, book at an official test center rather than an at-home option if your result needs to satisfy the Student visa requirement.

Which one to choose

• Choose PTE Academic if you want your result within two days and prefer typing over a live interview.

• Choose IELTS Academic if you prefer speaking to a real examiner rather than a microphone.

• Check both your university's course page and the Department of Home Affairs' current minimum, since course requirements often run higher than the visa floor.

• Book your test at an official center well before your visa lodgement date, since results must sit within the validity window your visa application needs.