Which test are you preparing for?
IELTS and PTE Academic are both accepted for skilled migration to Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada. Pick the one your visa pathway requires — or the one you find easier. Both have free demo tasks.
IELTS General Training
Band scale 0 – 9
The international standard for migration to AU, NZ, UK and Canada. Paper-based or computer-delivered. Includes Writing (Tasks 1 + 2), Reading, Listening and Speaking.
Free demo · then R399 for the Career Toolkit
PTE Academic
Band scale 10 – 90
Computer-based test by Pearson. Results in 2–5 business days. Accepted by AU, NZ, UK and Canada migration. Especially popular for AU 482 / 491 / 189 visas.
Free demo · then R399 for the Career Toolkit
Not sure which test to take?
Pick IELTS if…
- • You're more comfortable with face-to-face speaking (vs computer)
- • Your employer or registration body specifically asks for IELTS (common for AHPRA, NMC)
- • You have access to a test centre but limited high-speed internet
- • You prefer paper-based writing
Pick PTE if…
- • You need fast results (usually 2–5 business days — paper-based IELTS takes about 13 days)
- • You're comfortable with computer-based testing
- • You're going for skilled migration to AU/NZ specifically
- • Your previous IELTS Writing scores have held you back (PTE's AI rubric is often kinder to non-native writers)
Australian visa minimums — PTE tests taken from 7 August 2025
| Level | IELTS (each skill) | PTE Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competent | 6.0 | 47 | 48 | 51 | 54 |
| Proficient | 7.0 | 58 | 59 | 69 | 76 |
| Superior | 8.0 | 69 | 70 | 85 | 88 |
Since August 2025, PTE minimums differ by skill — Speaking and Writing need the highest scores. Source: Department of Home Affairs. Always confirm your visa subclass requirement on the Home Affairs / Immigration NZ / UK Visas / IRCC site. Full details in the free PTE scores guide →