IELTS or PTE: What to Expect & How to Prepare for Them?
4 min readFor anyone wishing to study or work in English-speaking nations, choosing between the IELTS or PTE is crucial. They have different syllabi, structures, scoring systems, and practice needs, even though all tests check your level of English skills. However, your score can make a difference if you know what to expect from each exam. Also, details on how to best prepare for its format and syllabus are helpful. Here, in this article, you will review the syllabus, compare the IELTS vs PTE, and get advice on how to perform well. Let’s first learn about both the exam in detail!
Know About the IELTS and PTE
All over the world, every college, immigration official, and employers accept the most popular tests, IELTS and PTE. However, they adhere to distinct formats and deal with various testing preferences. The IELTS is a well-known computer-based and paper-based that focuses on effective communication. There are two versions of this test. These are IELTS general training for job and immigration purposes and IELTS academic for study or work purposes.
On the other hand, PTE is a fully computer-based test known for its quick AI-based scoring system. The students who are familiar with tech-driven tests may like the PTE test. But between the IELTS vs PTE, the primary difference is the syllabus and structure. Do you know about their syllabus? If not, then let’s now get the details of the IELTS test syllabus!
IELTS Test Syllabus
There are four main parts of the IELTS test. These are listening, reading, speaking, and writing sections. Here are some details of these sections:
- Listening (30 Minutes): It consists of 40 questions on four audio recordings. Further, short answers and multiple choice are two examples of question types.
- Reading (60 Minutes): There are 40 questions based on passages covering a range of topics in the academic or general training modules.
- Writing (60 Minutes): You are supposed to write a letter or explain visuals during the task of the writing section. Meanwhile, you have to write a 200-250 word essay in task 2.
- Speaking (11-14 Minutes): This would test you on coherence, fluency, and vocabulary of an interview in person or on video.
Hence, in-depth knowledge about the syllabus of the IELTS test would help to get a high score as well as manage a plan for studying on it. Now, moving ahead toward the syllabus of PTE tests!
PTE Test Syllabus
There are three parts of the PTE test. It includes speaking and writing, reading, and listening. These are as follows:
- Speaking & Writing (54-67 Minutes): This part covers tasks that assess coherence and clarity, such as explaining images, reading aloud, and writing essays.
- Reading (29-30 Minutes): It focuses on understanding tasks like rearranging phrases and filling in the blanks.
- Listening (30-43 Minutes): Checking your listening skills through audio-based tasks like writing from dictation and summarizing spoken text.
Moreover, you may ace each section with ease if you understand the PTE syllabus. It will also have an impact on your final result. However, the decision to choose between IELTS or PTE also depends on their differences. Do you want to know these? Let’s read further to know about it!
IELTS or PTE: Primary Differences
Knowing the major differences between IELTS vs PTE is important while making your decision. Moreover, to help you in choosing the exam that best meets your needs, here is a brief comparison:
1. Structure & Pattern
- IELTS: This computer-based and paper-based test includes an in-person speaking test section.
- PTE: It is a computer-based test, including speech, with AI recording and evaluating.
2. Scoring System
- IELTS: Each module scores a 9-band score; the sum of all scores is calculated.
- PTE: You will get a score in the range of 10-90. The AI scoring system gives a detailed performance report by taking into account a range of enabling and communicative skills.
3. Testing Settings
- IELTS: As it requires human interaction, mainly in the speaking part, some people feel more at ease with it.
- PTE: It is for students who are at ease with tech and AI-assisted tests, which can be less imprecise.
In short, knowing these differences between IELTS or PTE will help you choose the test that suits your interests and strengths. There are some tips to prepare well for these sections. Let’s check it now!
Tips to Prepare for IELTS and PTE
In both exams, IELTS and PTE, correct strategies for preparation are crucial, which are below:
- IELTS: To succeed in each section, prepare with mock exams and increase your syntax knowledge. Moreover, you have to work on grammar and focus on listening skills.
- PTE: To fit AI scoring standards, practice typing, and focus on multi-skills tasks. Also, you may take AI-based mock exams and focus on accuracy.
Conclusion
To sum up, the decision between IELTS or PTE depends on the test needs, your interests, and your level of comfort with technology. However, the IELTS exam is better for students who want to take tests on paper and interact with people. In contrast, the exam of the PTE may be better for tech-savvy test-takers who want quick results. With the help of expert tutor support like gradding.com, you can better prepare for these tests. Further, understanding the syllabus of PTE and IELTS, practice plan, and regular practice can help you succeed in any choice. Good luck on the journey to achieve the score you need to reach your goals!