IELTS to PTE conversion
Convert IELTS bands to PTE Academic scores, including the per-skill thresholds the Department of Home Affairs uses for Competent, Proficient and Superior English.
Maintained by CD IELTS Prep Standards Desk · Not an immigration adviser; verify current requirements with IRCC · Last reviewed
IELTS 6.0 corresponds to roughly PTE Academic 50, IELTS 7.0 to about 65, and IELTS 8.0 to about 79. For Australian migration the mapping is stricter and per skill: since 7 August 2025 the Department of Home Affairs sets Competent English at PTE 47/48/51/54 and Superior at 69/70/85/88 across Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
| IELTS band | PTE Academic | Australian English level |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5 - 9.0 | 84 - 90 | Above Superior |
| 8.0 | 79 | Superior English (20 points) |
| 7.5 | 73 | — |
| 7.0 | 65 | Proficient English (10 points) |
| 6.5 | 58 | — |
| 6.0 | 50 | Competent English (0 points, minimum to apply) |
| 5.5 | 42 | Below Competent |
Why the migration thresholds differ from the general table
For visa points, Home Affairs does not use the overall PTE score at all — it names a minimum in each of the four skills, and your English level is set by your lowest one. Post-August-2025 the per-skill requirements are: Competent = Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51, Speaking 54; Proficient = 58 / 59 / 69 / 76; Superior = 69 / 70 / 85 / 88.
Note how uneven those are. PTE Speaking at the Proficient level requires 76 while Listening requires 58 — a spread that has no equivalent on the IELTS side, where Proficient is simply 7.0 in every component. Candidates whose speaking is their weakest skill often find the IELTS route more forgiving.
Which one do Australian assessing bodies accept?
Both IELTS and PTE earn identical points for General Skilled Migration, but the bodies that assess your skills have their own rules. ANMAC (nursing) accepts IELTS Academic 7.0 in each component or PTE Academic 65 in each. AHPRA's registration standard accepts IELTS Academic at 7.0 across the board — and in its April 2026 update it raised PTE Speaking to 76 while leaving IELTS unchanged.
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Start practisingCommon questions
What PTE score equals IELTS 7?
Roughly PTE Academic 65 overall. For Australian visa points, Proficient English requires PTE 58 Listening, 59 Reading, 69 Writing and 76 Speaking — or simply IELTS 7.0 in each component.
Is PTE easier than IELTS for Australia PR?
It depends on your weakest skill. PTE's per-skill migration thresholds are uneven and its Speaking bar is high (76 for Proficient), while IELTS asks for a flat 7.0 in every component. Compare against your own profile rather than general reputation.
Can I mix IELTS and PTE results?
No. Assessing authorities and the points test require all four scores from a single test provider and usually a single sitting.