What is the PTE equivalent of IELTS 7?

An IELTS 7.0 overall maps to roughly PTE Academic 63 to 70. That band is the Proficient English level, the threshold for +10 migration points and most professional registrations, including AHPRA and nursing boards. Aim for the upper end, around PTE 65 to 70, so a slightly low section score does not drop you under the line.

What is the PTE equivalent of IELTS 6.5?

IELTS 6.5 overall lines up with about PTE 55 to 62. That is the common entry score for most master's degrees and Group of Eight admission. It sits just below the Proficient level, so if you need migration points you usually have to push one band higher.

What does PTE 79 mean in IELTS?

PTE 79 and above corresponds to IELTS 8.0, the Superior English level worth +20 migration points. It is the highest score most visa and registration pathways ever ask for, which is why so many candidates target PTE 79+ rather than a perfect score.

What PTE score do I need for PR points?

It depends on how many points you want. PTE 65 (about IELTS 7.0, Proficient English) earns +10 points. PTE 79 (about IELTS 8.0, Superior English) earns +20 points. Home Affairs assesses these levels on each of the four sections, not on your overall score, so every section has to clear the threshold.

Is PTE easier than IELTS?

Neither is objectively easier; they reward different strengths. PTE Academic is computer-marked and unforgiving on pace and clear pronunciation, so fluent, well-timed speakers often score higher on it. IELTS Speaking is a live conversation with a human examiner, which suits candidates who think on their feet. Many students sit a timed mock of each and let the results decide.

Can I use PTE instead of IELTS for my visa or university?

In almost all cases, yes. The Department of Home Affairs accepts PTE Academic for skilled, partner and student visas, and the large majority of Australian universities take both tests. Always confirm the exact score your specific course or visa subclass requires before you book, since thresholds differ by program.

How is PTE scored compared to IELTS?

PTE Academic reports a single overall score from 10 to 90, along with scores for each communicative skill. IELTS reports bands from 0 to 9 in half-band steps, both overall and per section. The conversion table above lines the two scales up using the official IDP concordance.

IELTS ↔ PTE Academic

IELTS to PTE conversion, band by band.

Sitting one test but quoted a target in the other? This is how IELTS bands line up with PTE Academic scores, and what each one opens for Australian university entry and migration. The table uses the official IDP concordance, updated for 2026.

IELTS bandPTE AcademicWhat it typically opens

6.0
PTE-A47–54
Competent EnglishUndergraduate entry · skilled-visa floor
6.5
PTE-A55–62
Most master's degrees · Group of Eight entry
7.0Most aim here
PTE-A63–70
Proficient English+10 PR points · AHPRA, nursing & most boards· most students aim here
7.5
PTE-A71–78
Competitive postgrad · teacher registration
8.0
PTE-A79–85
Superior English+20 PR points · the English ceiling

IELTS 8.5 · PTE 86–89 / IELTS 9.0 · PTE 90Source: IDP · ielts.com.au · 2026

PTE shown as overall equivalents; use the upper end of each range for a conservative threshold. Migration English levels (Competent / Proficient / Superior) are assessed on each band, not overall.

How to read the conversion

PTE Academic reports an overall score from 10 to 90; IELTS reports bands from 0 to 9 in half-band steps. The table pairs each IELTS band with its PTE range, so an IELTS 7.0 is roughly a PTE 63 to 70, and an IELTS 8.0 is a PTE 79 to 85.

When a fixed threshold matters, such as a visa or a course cut-off, aim for the upper end of the PTE range. A score near the bottom of a range can read as the band below once each section is assessed on its own.

The migration English levels, Competent, Proficient and Superior, are set by Home Affairs on each of the four sections, not on your overall score. Proficient (around IELTS 7 or PTE 65) is worth +10 points; Superior (around IELTS 8 or PTE 79) is worth +20.

Common questions

What is the PTE equivalent of IELTS 7?: An IELTS 7.0 overall maps to roughly PTE Academic 63 to 70. That band is the Proficient English level, the threshold for +10 migration points and most professional registrations, including AHPRA and nursing boards. Aim for the upper end, around PTE 65 to 70, so a slightly low section score does not drop you under the line.
What is the PTE equivalent of IELTS 6.5?: IELTS 6.5 overall lines up with about PTE 55 to 62. That is the common entry score for most master's degrees and Group of Eight admission. It sits just below the Proficient level, so if you need migration points you usually have to push one band higher.
What does PTE 79 mean in IELTS?: PTE 79 and above corresponds to IELTS 8.0, the Superior English level worth +20 migration points. It is the highest score most visa and registration pathways ever ask for, which is why so many candidates target PTE 79+ rather than a perfect score.
What PTE score do I need for PR points?: It depends on how many points you want. PTE 65 (about IELTS 7.0, Proficient English) earns +10 points. PTE 79 (about IELTS 8.0, Superior English) earns +20 points. Home Affairs assesses these levels on each of the four sections, not on your overall score, so every section has to clear the threshold.
Is PTE easier than IELTS?: Neither is objectively easier; they reward different strengths. PTE Academic is computer-marked and unforgiving on pace and clear pronunciation, so fluent, well-timed speakers often score higher on it. IELTS Speaking is a live conversation with a human examiner, which suits candidates who think on their feet. Many students sit a timed mock of each and let the results decide.
Can I use PTE instead of IELTS for my visa or university?: In almost all cases, yes. The Department of Home Affairs accepts PTE Academic for skilled, partner and student visas, and the large majority of Australian universities take both tests. Always confirm the exact score your specific course or visa subclass requires before you book, since thresholds differ by program.
How is PTE scored compared to IELTS?: PTE Academic reports a single overall score from 10 to 90, along with scores for each communicative skill. IELTS reports bands from 0 to 9 in half-band steps, both overall and per section. The conversion table above lines the two scales up using the official IDP concordance.

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IELTS to PTE conversion, band by band.

How to read the conversion

Common questions

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