Comparing IELTS, TOEFL and PTE, which test is the easiest?

We all know English is very popular nowadays and is of great help to most students. In particular, when there is a need to study abroad, a PTE or IELTS degree becomes even more critical. Which certificate should IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE take when studying abroad, applying for a job, or applying for a foreign settlement? This article will compare IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE to help you have a more intuitive view of these three international English certificates.

General introduction to IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE

IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE are certificated with significant differences in exam format, format, and the purpose of use. Each individual will choose a different international English certificate exam based on their own needs.

PTE (Pearson Test of English): This is an exam to assess candidates’ English skills through listening, reading, writing, and speaking. This exam is entirely organized by the world’s leading Pearson organization for young people who want to study, work or settle abroad. The duration of a test is 3 hours, giving you a certificate to prove your English ability.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System): This is an international English language testing system with two academic and general training forms. This test is quite common and consists of 4 parts: Listening (30 minutes), Speaking (15 minutes), Reading (60 minutes), and Writing (60 minutes).

TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language): This is an international English proficiency test held regularly by ETS. TOEFL test format includes TOEFL iBT (computer-based test with an internet connection) and TOEFL PBT (computer-based test for areas without internet connection).

Compare the difference between IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE

As PTE Helper mentioned above, many factors differ between IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE. In the following content, we will explore these factors in more detail.

Scoring Scale

IELTS Score Scale: All four skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing are assessed on a scale of 0 to 9.0. The official IELTS score is the average of the above skills.

TOEFL Score Scale: TOEFL’s scale is from 0 to 120. But in contrast to IELTS, each TOEFL Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing skill will be divided into 0-30 points.

PTE Score Scale: The PTE scale is divided into three parts, including the total score (Overall Score) from 10 to 90. The score for each skill of listening, speaking, reading, and Writing is from 10 to 90. And finally, the scores for each skill. Relevant English skills such as Grammar, Pronunciation, Oral Fluency, Spelling, Vocabulary, and Written Discourse with a scale of 10 to 90.

IELTS	TOEFL Paper	TOEFL CBT	TOEFL iBT	PTE
0 – 1.0	0 – 310	0 – 30	0 – 8	29
1.0 – 1.5	310 – 343	33 – 60	9 – 18
2.0 – 2.5	347 – 393	63	19 – 29
3.0 – 3.5	397 – 433	93 – 120	30 – 40
4.0	437 – 473	123 – 150	41 – 52
4.5 – 5.0	477 – 510	153 – 180	53 – 64	30 – 36
5.5 – 6.5	513 – 547	183 – 210	65 – 78	42 – 58
7.0 – 8.0	550 – 587	213 – 240	79 – 95	65 – 79
8.5 – 9.0	590 – 677	243 – 300	96 – 120	83 – 86

Exam fee

The fees for 3 IELTS, TOEFL and PTE certificates are regulated as follows:

Certificate	IELTS	TOEFL iBT	PTE Academic	PTE UKVI	PTE HOME
Exam fee	$395 AUD	386.20  AUD	$385 AUD	$385 AUD	$325 AUD

Compare IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE on exam fees

We can see that the exam fee for PTE is much more reasonable for young people in Vietnam. On the other hand, your PTE test scores will be able to send you to many colleges or universities at no extra cost.

Exam format

The IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE tests and formats are significantly different.

Format of the exam

	IELTS	TOEFL	PTE
Reading	– 60 minutes – 40 sentences – 3 readings – Academic topics about problems in life – Variety of questions	– 60 – 80 minutes – The number of questions is from 36 to 56 questions. – 3-4 passages, each passage corresponds to 12-14 questions.	– 30 – 41 minutes – 5 parts – Simple topic theme
Writing	– 2 exam sections – Part 1: Description of the chart (table) – Part 2: Social discourse – 60 minutes	– 50 phút – Câu 1: đọc một đoạn văn và nghe một bài giảng, sau đó sẽ viết lại những gì vừa được nghe và được đọc. – Câu 2: viết một bài luận theo chủ đề cho trước.	– 2-3 questions – 60 minutes – 2 exam sections
Speaking	– 11 – 15 minutes – 3 part – Part 1: introduction – Part 2: Talking about a specific topic – Part 3: Two-way communication between the examiner and the candidate	– 20 phút – 6 câu hỏi: 2 câu hỏi  liên quan đến những trải nghiệm và quan điểm cá nhân của bạn trong cuộc sống, 4 câu hỏi còn lại thí sinh cần phải sử dụng thêm các kỹ năng nghe hoặc đọc để trả lời câu hỏi được đặt ra.	– 30 – 35 phút – 5 phần – 35 – 42 câu hỏi
Listening	– 30 phút – 4 phần – Hội thoại thông thường, hội thoại học thuật,… Nhiều dạng câu hỏi	– 60 – 90 minutes – Part 1 includes 4-6 lectures, each paragraph is 3-5 minutes, includes 6 questions. – Part 2 includes 2-3 conversations, each 3 minutes long, 5 questions	– 40 – 60 phút – 8 phần thi – 20 – 25 câu hỏi

Exam forms

IELTS can be tested on paper or computer. Candidates must take the test directly with the examiner for the reading test, like an interview.

TOEFL can be tested on paper, on a computer with an internet connection, and a computer without an internet connection.

PTE Academic candidates can only take the test on a computer so that the machine will accurately assess the score by the computer without any human bias, quite like the TOEFL test format. The PTE test will also use randomized and controlled data in the test. Palm vein scanning technology will help ensure the test is proper for you.

The difficulty level of the test

When comparing IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE certificates, we will quickly see that IELTS and TOEFL are more inclined towards academic English, so they have a higher difficulty level. While PTE focuses on everyday communication, it can be said that the certificate is the easiest to pass in the three categories above.

Location exam

IELTS is held regularly by IDP and BC (British Council) in 3 big cities in Vietnam: Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. HCM. When taking the exam, you must move to the offices of these organizations or licensing agencies.

For TOEFL, candidates also have to take the test directly at IIG offices, Vietnam’s official TOEFL test organizer. TOEFL test locations (about 16 places) are mainly distributed in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong and Thai Nguyen.

Meanwhile, the unit authorized by Pearson to organize the PTE exam only includes Duc Anh and EMG Education.

Validity of IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE certificates

All three IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE certificates are valid for two years from the test date. The Australian occupational skills assessment is accurate for three years, particularly for PTE.

PTE test scores are 100% recognized at Universities and Colleges in Australia and New Zealand. In addition, the Australian and New Zealand governments also approve for you to use the PTE certificate as a visa application.

Compare IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in terms of test time and results

The PTE test: Test time every day, excluding holidays and Sundays. Results will be available within 24 hours to 5 days (usually, after only 24 hours, you can have your test results).

For the IELTS test: The test time is one day/week, and the test results will be slower (within about two weeks after the test).

Test time is 4 hours for the TOEFL test, and results are received after about six days.

Compare IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE on the retest process

If the PTE test fails, the candidate will be able to retake the test 5 days after the previous test. The IELTS test will be retested after one week.

Comparing IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE, we can see that PTE’s number of available test dates is more than for IELTS and TOEFL. The results are also available earlier. This will help many low-level students to try more times or make the earliest decisions to change and adjust their skills to keep up with the deadline for submitting their English certificates. The UK to study, work, or settle in Australia and New Zealand.

Compare IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE for immigration purposes

The PTE certificate is commonly used to settle in Australia and New Zealand. IELTS and TOEFL certificates will be used to determine in Canada.

Compare IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE interactively

With the PTE test, candidates only need to interact with the computer. At the same time, the IELTS test requires candidates to interact with the examiner in the speaking section. Those who already have skills in working with computers can also consider this an advantage when taking the written exam. For those of you who are not familiar, the time to get used to it will also be quick and straightforward.

Unlike the IELTS test, when candidates are under direct pressure from the examiner, or the PTE test (if in Australia) will be subject to a test environment with many people talking simultaneously, taking the PTE test in Vietnam is very comfortable. Those afraid to communicate with the examiner can consider this an advantage. The computer will also make a more objective assessment of your speaking test and focus on whether you can display or communicate in English.

Compare IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in grading

Judges will mark candidates’ IELTS and TOEFL tests to ensure 100% objectivity. So for those who already have a good pronunciation level, good voice like native speakers, and fluency, the two parts of the test won’t have much of a disadvantage. But for those of you whose English ability is still low.

Another important thing when comparing PTE and IELTS, the speaking test of PTE will not focus on the accuracy of the content in the linguistic process. Still, the computer will evaluate the focus on the ability to speak fluently. While with IELTS, you need to have complete content, you will hardly be able to get a high score without reasonable control. Therefore, you need to focus on speaking fluently to get a high score on the test.

Reasons why PTE is possible and faster to score than IELTS and TOEFL

Since the PTE test is done on a computer, the test tips are obvious

Some sections just need to apply pre-compiled templates. But if a candidate uses a sample test in the IELTS Speaking or Writing test, the examiner can immediately recognize it and give it a low rating, leading to a bad score.

However, in the PTE test, because it is wholly scored on the computer and the machine only marks the candidate at the critical points such as correct grammar, using words in the proper context… but completely ignoring the test and whether students use samples or not.

So if Writing is the most challenging skill to score on the IELTS test, it’s much simpler than PTE. And the same goes for the Speaking test.

The skills in the PTE test resonate with each other, not separate like IELTS and TOEFL

For example, Writing is the most challenging part of the IELTS test, few of you get high scores, and you have to complete both essays to get a score for Writing. But for the PTE exam, you can get Writing scores by different types of exercises spread in 3 sections, including Reading, Listening, and Writing, not stopping at Essay writing to calculate a Writing score.

So if you are not good at writing essays, your Writing score is not necessarily underestimated like in IELTS and TOEFL tests. You can completely use other skills that you have the advantage of to supplement your score for this part of the PTE exam.

The same goes for the other sections of the PTE exam, so overall, PTE will be more likely to score high in all four skills. This is the strength of the PTE test; so many people who didn’t get scores in IELTS switched to PTE and succeeded because of that.

The score scale is more beneficial for candidates than IELTS and TOEFL

The PTE test has a 100-point scale (but only 90 is displayed on the scoreboard), and when taking the test, the system will automatically give 10 points for each skill.

Chances of meeting a high topic

Students will practice their skills in taking the test on the actual test material, so when taking the exam, students will often be lucky to see the parts that have already been practiced.

IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE?

From the above information, we can answer the question “IELTS, TOEFL or PTE?” and realize that the PTE exam will have a lot more advantages than the IELTS test as well as the TOEFL if your goal is to study abroad, work or settle in Australia or New Zealand. If you have IELTS and TOEFL skills because you have been practicing a lot with their tests, then switching to PTE will also be simple and needs a short time to catch up. Because it is an assessment of 4 skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing, the exam process only changes from paper to computer “click.”

Not simply a Yes/No option, but actually, the PTE exam is an opportunity – a solution, and you know whether to take it or not.

If you are studying for IELTS or TOEFL, but you are switching to the PTE test, you need to pay attention to the following issues:

Get into the habit of using a computer

In addition to reviewing the PTE topics, you also need to practice your typing skills or how to speak in PTE to get high results. The microphone should be placed carefully to avoid falling, and the sound quality will be better, avoiding unjustly losing points.

Notes when taking the speaking test

The skills in the PTE test complement and link each other, and the grading is also linked: Like the speaking test, listening will also be scored, or the listening test will also be tested immediately. Be confident that you have four skills relative to each other to get the maximum score.

When taking the speaking test, you need to speak clearly to avoid hesitation because the computer will not be able to catch your words. There will only be about 40 seconds for you to answer those questions, so pay close attention to this.

Vocabulary problem

For the IELTS test, candidates will need to have a wide range of vocabulary and avoid repetition. However, you just need to use it correctly; it will be very convenient.

The comparison between PTE and IELTS through the above article must have helped you to have directions and decisions to choose for yourself the appropriate test form. In addition, you also need to have a thorough and complete study plan to get a high score on the exam. Wishing you health and success!

87% of international students (including Vietnamese and international students) in Australia take the PTE exam to study abroad, work, or live. You all affirm the PTE de hon IELTS certificate about the possibility of getting a much higher score. Because PTE can add cross points between Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing skills; So if you are weak in one of the four skills, you can make up for it in another skill. Avoid the difference in scores between skills in the IELTS exam. Sometimes, just because of the 0.5 deviations, the candidates have to spend a lot of time.

The PTE certification allows you to take the exam entirely on a computer, which will be more objective. Register for the exam every day without waiting for a fixed exam schedule. Exam results are available very quickly; only after 2 to 48 hours, helping you quickly solve when you need English certification for study abroad purposes, work, or life.

Thus, above are the sharing of IELTS, TOEFL and PTE comparisons compiled and brought to you by PTE Helper. Hopefully, you can choose an English international certificate that suits your needs through this article. In addition, to better understand what the PTE exam is, how the test is structured, or the PTE test tips have helped thousands of students at PTE Helper get their scores quickly.

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