PTE for Canada Immigration: Is It Better Than IELTS?

This blog provides an overview of the PTE score requirements for Canadian immigration in 2024.

PTE Magic will show insights into the differences between PTE and IELTS scores to help test-takers identify the best option for their Canada goals.

Let’s find out now.

Key Takeaways

• A PTE score lower than 58 can affect your ability to succeed in a university setting and lead to fewer academic opportunities.
• Understanding how PTE scores compare to IELTS is important for test-takers deciding which test to take for their Canadian immigration. 
• The PTE test has certain benefits compared to IELTS. See below for more details.

Related:

• PTE Core vs PTE Academic
• PTE Core exam preparation tips

PTE Score Requirements for Canada Immigration in 2024

Understanding the PTE score requirements is crucial when planning to study in Canada. We will break down the detailed score range for you below:

• High proficiency (85-90): You are excellent at English. With this score, you can apply to any course in Canada if you meet all the requirements. Although universities and institutions rarely demand this score range, candidates who apply for majors such as law or medicine will have better opportunities if they achieve it.
• Advanced proficiency (76-84): This level shows strong English skills and is suitable for academic and professional settings. It’s equivalent to bands 7-8 in IELTS. This score range is ideal if you are applying to a post-graduate program, as it usually requires an overall score of 65, with a minimum of 50 points in each skill.
• Competent proficiency (59-75): This score range is suitable for various universities in Canada. If your goal is a diploma, this score will give you many options because the usual requirement is an overall score of 45, with a minimum of 36 for each skill.
• Limited proficiency (below 58): You might face difficulties if your PTE score exceeds 58. This is not a good score for studying abroad, as Canada requires students to have an acceptable level of English proficiency to understand the courses. A PTE score lower than 58 will affect your ability to succeed in a university setting and lead to fewer academic opportunities.

PTE vs. IELTS Score Conversion

Understanding how PTE scores compare to IELTS is important for test-takers deciding which test to take for their Canadian immigration. 

First, you must have a basic understanding of their scoring systems:

• IELTS: The score ranges from 1 to 9, with 1 being the lowest and 9 being the highest. A 7-band IELTS score is considered advanced in English and can help you access many universities.
• PTE Academic: PTE uses a different scoring system called the Global Scale of English. Its score ranges from 10 to 90, which is more detailed and shows better English-level differences. A 65 PTE score is proof of solid English, while 70 shows a slightly higher score range – instead of a big jump from a 6 to 7 band in IELTS.

Comparing PTE and IELTS is hard because the tests differ in structure and purpose. Each test uses different methods to assess test-takers’ English skills. However, relating their scores is necessary due to the need for score comparisons of the two tests from universities, governments, and even among candidates.

See this table for a detailed comparison:

PTE Academic	IELTS
N/A	9.0
89–90	8.5
84–88	8.0
76–83	7.5
66–75	7.0
56–65	6.5
46–55	6.0
36–45	5.5
29–35	5.0
23–28	4.5
10–22	No data

Is PTE Easier Than IELTS? Key Benefits

So, is PTE easier than IELTS? It depends on the test-takers’ personal experience and English proficiency. However, the PTE test has certain benefits compared to IELTS:

• Shorter test length: PTE is only two hours long, while IELTS takes up to three hours to finish. A shorter test duration can help you feel less exhausted and concentrate better. IELTS test-takers must maintain their performance for longer, especially with the last sections being writing and speaking.
• More test slots: PTE offers more test dates than IELTS. They conduct seven days a week, with four to five slots daily. You can test in the morning, afternoon, or even evening. This flexibility is more convenient for your schedule and makes it easier to retake the test if you want to. 
• Repeated questions: Because PTE has more exam dates, the questions are often repeated. So, if you practise with the questions that have appeared in past exams, you might get the same ones in your exam. Since you already know the answer, you’ll have a better chance of getting a higher score.
• Computer-based (No human examiners): The PTE test uses a computer scoring system, which could reduce the risk of bias from human examiners. This is also beneficial for easily biased tasks such as the writing and speaking sections.
• Faster results: PTE test-takers will receive their result within five days from the test date, while IELTS test-takers must wait 13 days. If you are in a rush with your visa application, the faster results process from PTE is a plus.

Conclusion

With a higher English score, you can achieve the requirements of PTE for Canada immigration in 2024 more easily. Moreover, test-takers can fulfil their migration goal with flexibility with PTE’s convenient test procedure. Check out PTE Magic resources now for better preparation!

Last updated on 30/08/2024