Short answer: Choose your English test by where you are going and why. For Canada PR (Express Entry) take IELTS General Training or PTE Core, not IELTS Academic or PTE Academic. For a UK visa that needs a Secure English Language Test, take IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI. For an Australian student visa, IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training and PTE Academic are all accepted. For universities in the UAE and Asia, check the university's own list; many accept IELTS and PTE.

Last checked: 29 October 2026, on the websites of IRCC, GOV.UK, Study Australia, Pearson PTE, IELTS and Abu Dhabi University.

IELTS or PTE by country

Canada

  • Express Entry (PR): IRCC accepts IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French. Results must be less than 2 years old.
  • Study: Pearson says PTE is recognised by 100% of Canadian colleges and universities; most also accept IELTS Academic. Check your college's requirement.

United Kingdom

  • Visas needing a SELT (Student, Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker and others): approved tests include IELTS for UKVI and PTE Academic UKVI, according to GOV.UK.
  • Degree-level study: universities set their own English requirement; ask whether they need a UKVI version of the test.

Australia

  • Student visa (subclass 500): accepted tests include IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training and PTE Academic, taken at a secure test centre (Study Australia).
  • Universities: Pearson says PTE is accepted for study at 100% of Australian universities.

UAE and the Gulf

  • Universities set their own lists. For example, Abu Dhabi University accepts IELTS, Pearson PTE, TOEFL, EmSAT and Cambridge results for undergraduate admission, with IELTS or TOEFL taken no more than two years before admission.

New Zealand and the rest of Asia

  • Pearson says PTE is accepted by Immigration New Zealand and all New Zealand universities. IELTS is accepted by more than 13,500 organisations in over 150 countries, according to IELTS. For universities in Singapore, Malaysia and elsewhere in Asia, check each university's own page.

How the two tests feel on the day

  • IELTS: available on paper or computer, with a face-to-face Speaking test with an examiner. Many students like the human conversation.
  • PTE: fully computer-based and scored by automated systems, including Speaking into a microphone. Students who are comfortable with timed, on-screen tasks often prefer it.

Not sure? Take one practice test of each. Our trainers can look at both results and suggest the test that suits your strengths.

Online coaching for both tests

  • IELTS Academic and IELTS General: 100% live classes with certified trainers, Writing and Speaking feedback, Saturday mock tests with review and Sunday doubt-solving.
  • PTE Academic: live classes plus an AI-scored practice platform, all 12 question types, weekend practice-test analysis.
  • All programmes include 180-day portal access and recorded sessions, and students join from India, the UAE, Asia, the UK, Canada and Australia.

Frequently asked questions

Is PTE Academic accepted for Canada PR?

No. IRCC accepts PTE Core for Express Entry, not PTE Academic.

Is IELTS Academic accepted for Canada PR?

No. IRCC accepts the IELTS General Training option for Express Entry.

Which test is easier, IELTS or PTE?

Neither is easier for everyone. PTE suits students who are quick on a computer; IELTS suits those who prefer a face-to-face speaking test.

How long are IELTS and PTE results valid?

For Canada Express Entry, results must be less than 2 years old. Universities and other authorities set their own limits, often two years.

Official sources

Get advice on the right test

Win Your Visa (formerly Win Your English; M/s Win Your English and Consultancy) is a Punjab Government licensed consultancy, Licence No. 908. Join our live online classes from anywhere, or visit our Jagraon head office (Raikot Road, above Bank of Baroda) or Ludhiana branch (SCO 13, Block-A, Model Town Extension). Call +91 76578 91191 and book a free demo for IELTS or PTE.