Whenever a student decides to study abroad, one of the most common English proficiency exams that comes to their mind is IELTS. It isn’t because any other language proficiency exam is not that important, but the fact that IELTS is a 44-year-old test and thousands of people have taken this exam for study, work, or migration abroad. When we compare IELTS and PTE, the popularity of IELTS outranks PTE. But if we talk about the value of both exams, they are equally important for a person willing to study, work, or migrate to an English-speaking country.

If you are someone who wishes to pursue their studies abroad but is confused about which one to pick from PTE vs IELTS, then in this blog we are going to ease it for you. Hence, without further ado, let’s get started.

About IELTS

Originated in 1980, IELTS, or International English Language Testing System, is one of the oldest English proficiency exams that is highly acceptable in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and more. The IELTS test score is accepted by more than 11,000 organisations across the globe, which means not only study abroad aspirants, but people who wish to work abroad can also take this English proficiency exam.

The IELTS exam is divided into three categories; IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, and IELTS for UKVI. Where IELTS Academic is for students who wish to study abroad, IELTS GT is suitable for people who wish to migrate to an English-speaking country, and at last IELTS for UKVI is for people who wish to seek permanent residency in the UK.

The IELTS Academic, which is taken by every other study abroad aspirant, contains four different sections: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The IELTS exam is both pen-paper based and can be taken online. The IELTS band score ranges from 0 to 9 where 0 means the applicant didn’t appear for the exam and 9 showcases their expertise in the English language. The average accepted score globally is 6.

About PTE

Originated in 1982, PTE, or Pearson Test of English, is another popular English proficiency exam that study abroad aspirants and migrants take to get visa approval for studying or working in an English-speaking country. PTE is the first-ever computer-based language proficiency exam that study abroad aspirants have been taking. This English proficiency exam is widely accepted in countries like Canada, Australia, the UK, New Zealand, and more. One of the reasons why IELTS outranks PTE is that PTE is only accepted by 3,000 organisations across the globe.

Just like any other English proficiency exam, PTE is also divided into four sections; reading, writing, listening, and speaking. However, these four sections are different in each category. The PTE Academic is a test for students who wish to study abroad where they have scores ranging between 10-90 where 10 means poor and 90 means exceptional. The average passing score for students is 50-55.

Besides the PTE Academic, there are two more categories; PTE Core and UK via tests. PTE Core is the same as IELTS General Training as it is for those who wish to work and migrate to an English-speaking foreign land. Lastly, the UK via tests by PTE is an exam for those who wish to gain permanent residency in the UK.

Difference between IELTS and PTE

As you are a study abroad aspirant or someone wishing to work in an English-speaking country, it is a must for you to know what the difference between IELTS and PTE is. Hence, to simplify the difference between the English proficiency exams, we have created a table before for your reference.

PTE VS IELTS: Which is easier?

If you know everything, every exam is easy for you, but if you don’t know the basics, every English proficiency exam will seem like a big obstacle. When you are juggling PTE vs IELTS and can’t decide which one is easier, you may feel overwhelmed.

The decision to study for the right language proficiency exam depends on your dream college and country where you want to study or work. Depending upon the requirements of the university and country, only then will you be able to know which exam you have to take and for which you should take the required tension.

Well, to ease your confusion between PTE vs IELTS which is easy, below we are mentioning some quality tips that will help you prepare for your English proficiency exam effectively.

Tips to Prepare for IELTS and PTE

When you wonder about IELTS vs PTE, which exam is easy, you may fail to find the correct answer to it. As your dream destination’s requirement plays a big role in this decision, another crucial factor is knowing what the test is about. The minute you know what exam you are facing; you will not feel overwhelmed and might even crack it on your first attempt. Hence, to make the exams to study abroad easier for you, here are some effective tips.

Understand the Test Format

As you know every study abroad English proficiency exam contains the same four sections; reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It becomes crucial for you to know and completely understand the test format. If we talk about IELTS and PTE, there are various categories of these exams, but as you are a student, the Academic exam of both tests is the most suitable one for you. Now, the IELTS academic exam is both pen-paper-based and computer-based; hence, it becomes crucial for you to attentively practice for both types and at least be attentive while preparing for the selected exam.

Create a Study Plan

The next and most important tip for students like you who wish to study abroad after the 12th is to create a study plan. Having a study plan helps in stay focused on your goal and in this manner, you will not fear the study material. When you don’t know about any test, either PTE, IELTS, or TOEFL, you may find it challenging and a little too much. But with a clear study plan in your hand that is effective as well, you may easily be able to crack the exam on your first attempt. All you must do is follow the Pomodoro technique where you study effectively for one hour and then take a break. This will increase your productivity and easily blend with your 12th-class studies.

Use Practice Tests

The next step in your preparation should be doing as many practice tests as possible. Once you have decided which exam to pick between PTE vs IELTS, you should gather all the study materials and practice tests. When you work on sample papers, you understand what kind of questions there can be and how effectively you can finish each section. The 3 hours of PTE test or 2 hours 24 minutes of the IELTS exam are divided into four crucial sections and missing any of them can lead to failure. To ensure you are on the correct path, you should take as many sample papers as possible to increase your speed and be able to answer every question.

Enhance your Skillset

Talking about answering every question in your IELTS or PTE exam, you need to enhance each of your skills. As you know every English proficiency exam is divided into four sections, each of these sections is crucial as you can’t skip any of them. Hence, when you are working hard to secure a great brand score, try working on sections you are a little weak in. For instance, if you get anxious while communicating in English with someone, you can begin with that and speak English constantly to even correct your pronunciation. Besides this, you should also work on fast reading, expanding your vocabulary, and using correct grammar and punctuation.

Find a Study Partner

To ease the burden of studies and make your revision sessions interesting you should find a study partner. Now, this study partner doesn’t have to be a fellow study abroad aspirant, it can be any of your friends who can keep you focused on your studies and ensure whatever you study, you memorise it well. The best you can do is find a guide in your study partner, someone who will not only study along with you but can also correct you when you are wrong. To find the best study partner and make the most of your study sessions, you can find a guide. One such guide, tutor, and mentor for your study abroad exams you can get is at MetaApply’s TestPrep.

Enhance Your English Skills with MetaApply’s TestPrep

To fulfill your dream of studying abroad, you must pass the obstacle of English proficiency exams. As there are various great exams you can take like PTE, IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, etc., for your student visa, ensure you know everything before you take the test because you can’t miss the crucial opportunity. In this write-up, we have mentioned the exams, what are the commonalities and differences between them along with how you should prepare for your English proficiency exams. Moreover, as you may need personal assistance to clear your language test and make it a little easier and more understandable, we have got you covered. At MetaApply’s TestPrep masterclass, you get the chance to learn from the best experts and crack your language tests with four to five weeks of practice. So, to get to your dream destination without any challenges, contact our experts today.

Getting a degree from a foreign university is popular among students nowadays mostly due to the diverse options available in foreign countries whether they are of personal growth or professional. If you are one such individual then you need to be well-versed in the concept of studying abroad. To study in a foreign university where English is the primary language, one needs to provide an English proficiency score.

Passing the exam is crucial for every study abroad aspirant. There are various types of English proficiency exams one can take. Some of the most common entrance exams to study abroad a student has to take are GMAT, GRE, SAT, LSAT, IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, ACT, and MCAT. However, you must go through the university guidelines to check the eligible English proficiency exam for college admission.

In this blog, you will come across all the major study abroad tests along with the list of common assessment exams a study abroad aspirant has to take. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the ocean of knowledge.

Top Exams to Study Abroad

International students applying to foreign universities need to take certain exams to be eligible for their shortlisted universities. In English-speaking countries, students would have to take English proficiency tests along with their standardised test to get into foreign universities. Below given is the list of exams to study abroad:

1. IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the most popular English Proficiency Test for aspirants who wish to study, work, or migrate abroad. Every year, more than 3 million people take the IELTS exam. The British Council and IDP jointly own and conduct the IELTS exam.

The IELTS exam assesses the communication skills of the students in four segments such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The IELTS exam is scored from 0 to 9, with students who have a minimum score of 6 are accepted globally.

2. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

TOEFL or Test of English as a Foreign Language is another popular and globally recognised exam that is taken by the countries for admitting students to study abroad. More than 11,000 universities and 150 nations including the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada accept TOEFL scores of Indian students.

In this exam, students are required to sit for a four-hour examination administered by a computer. Also, it evaluates the mastery of the English language by scholars; this includes reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension. The TOEFL scores are only valid for two years after the result declaration when offering such tests for abroad studies. It is assessed by earning 0-30 points for each sector, leading to a 0-120 points overall. Each section gives a top score of 24-30.

3. PTE (Pearson Test of English)

Pearson Test of English (PTE) is an English proficiency test which is accepted by top universities in the USA, UK, Canada, and New Zealand. It gauges your ability to communicate by testing your writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills. The PTE test score is valid for 2 years for the students against the global scale of English.

The PTE test does not restrict candidates by age and does not restrict them from appearing for the PTE examination. You must be at least sixteen years of age; the exam fee is approximately Rs.13000, and this exam occurs several times in a year. PTE does not have any set of rules regarding the eligibility for the test or candidates. The exam takes place via computer and candidates are allowed a maximum of three hours.

4. Duolingo Test

Recently, the Duolingo Test has also been accepted in many countries such as the USA, Australia, and many more for students wishing to study abroad. The duration of the Duolingo test is 60 minutes.

The Duolingo Test is segregated into three segments: the introduction, adaptive test, and video interview. The Duolingo Test is scored between 10 to 160, 160 being the highest score for students with advanced knowledge of the English Language.

5. SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)

The Scholastic Assessment Test is also conducted for UG programmes in both Canada and the United States. The test is in the written format and its purpose is to determine the subject level expertise in English and Mathematics. This exam to study abroad is divided into two sets; the first one is three hours and the other is three hours and fifty minutes the first section contains essay-based questions and the second section is on Mathematical questions. Moreover, the SAT scores are also recognised by different universities in the UK.

Do note that the SAT entails reading, writing, as well as mathematical skills in multiple-choice questions. Maths is then divided into two: with the use of a calculator and without the use of a calculator.

6. ACT (American College Testing)

American College Testing is a standardised test for the major universities’ admissions for undergraduate programmes in the USA. It measures the college academic preparedness of native and international students. Besides this, ACT scores are also recognised by Canadian universities. The students willing to study in the USA must take the three-hour American College Testing exam. However, those students who intend to apply to a particular college, have to decide between taking the SAT or the ACT.

Like most standardised tests, ACT is divided into four sections; English, Reading, Math, and Science. Furthermore, it ranges from one to 36 points for each of the divisions that are being assessed. Apart from the four sections, ACT has an option of writing an essay; this one comes with an additional 40 minutes.

7. GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test)

The Graduate Management Admission Test is known to be one of the best MBA programmes for overseas education. The GMAT exam is used for admission into the best business and management universities across the globe. The GMAT exam is used to evaluate student’s performance in analytical, writing, quantitative, reading, and communication skills.

This examination is administered and supervised by the Graduate Management Admission Council. The duration of the GMAT is 2 hours 15 minutes and this examination is valid for studying in Canada, USA, and Germany.

8. GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

The Graduate Record Examination is also conducted and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), it is for admission to graduate school. The score of this particular study abroad exam is accepted in countries like the US, Canada and Australia. However, most European countries do not mandate GRE scores. Over 1200 business universities recognise the GRE globally.

GRE is a computer-based exam which includes students’ quantitative, writing and verbal skills. GRE consists of various sections such as analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. Furthermore, this test is scored on a scale of 130 to 173; with 160s being the highest score.

9. MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)

The Medical College Admission Test is conducted and administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). A medical entrance examination for medical schools in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean Islands. This exam is conducted 25 times in 21 different countries in a year. They mainly apply it to gauge the students’ capacities in analysis, reasoning, psychology, and systems biology. Therefore, the MCAT is one of the tests taken for foreign studies in the medical field.

This exam has four sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.

10. LSAT (Law School Admission Test)

LSAT is conducted and administered by the Law Admission Council. This exam to study abroad is of two types: LSAT Indian, and LSAT Abroad. The LSAT abroad is for admission into the best law schools in the USA, Australia and Canada. This test is administered six times a year; each session lasts three hours and thirty minutes.

There are three categories of scored LSAT; reading comprehension, logic games, and logical reasoning. In addition, there is one writing sample that is unscored throughout the test.

There are many other such study abroad exams for students wishing to gain overseas education; however, the list of exams we’ve covered are the most important ones you need to understand.

Conclusion

Choosing the right exam is crucial for students wanting to go for overseas education. Students are advised to check the country and university first before appearing for the examinations. MetaApply provides a one-stop platform for students by providing information and courses for all the study abroad examinations whether you’re looking for a standardised exam or any other English Proficiency Test.

With MetaApply’s TestPrep classes, you get an exclusive chance to connect with experts directly and crack your English Proficiency Exams within four to five weeks. So, if you are ready to study abroad and want complete assistance, then connect with us and get yourself consultations about the best university, online classes, financial aid, accommodations, and much more.