Walk into any education consultancy in Kathmandu right now, and you'll hear the same question asked in a dozen different ways: Should I do IELTS or PTE? Students who just got their Grade 12 results, students preparing to apply for Australia, Canada, or the UK, and working professionals planning a career move—everyone is trying to figure out the same thing.

The honest answer is it depends on you, your target country, and how you perform under different exam conditions. But that answer needs specifics behind it—and that's what this guide gives you.

IELTS vs PTE is not a simple "one is better than the other" question. Both are widely accepted, both cost roughly similar amounts, and both test the same four skills—listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The difference is in how they test those skills, how they're scored, and which countries and institutions prefer which test. Understanding those differences puts you in a much stronger position to make the right choice.

IELTS vs PTE — Basic Format Comparison

Before comparing difficulty and scores, you need to understand what you're actually seeing in each test.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is administered by the British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge Assessment English. The full test takes approximately 2 hours 45 minutes. Listening, reading, and writing are done in one sitting. Speaking is a separate face-to-face session with a trained human examiner — either in the same room or via video call.

PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic) is entirely computer-based from start to finish. Speaking, writing, reading, and listening are all done in a single sitting of approximately 2–3 hours. You speak into a microphone, and your responses are scored by Pearson's AI system — no human examiner is involved at any stage.

Feature	IELTS Academic	PTE Academic
Format	Paper or computer + face-to-face speaking	Fully computer-based
Speaking examiner	Human	AI (Pearson system)
Total duration	~2 hrs 45 min	~2–3 hrs
Results timeline	3–13 days	2 business days
Score validity	2 years	2 years
Fee in Nepal	NPR 26,000–30,000	NPR 28,000–32,000
One skill retake	Yes (IELTS One Skill Retake)	No—must retake full test

IELTS vs PTE Score—What Do the Numbers Actually Mean?

This is where most students get confused. IELTS uses a band score from 0 to 9. PTE uses a scaled score from 10 to 90. Converting between them is genuinely useful because universities often state requirements in one format.

IELTS vs PTE score chart — key equivalencies:

IELTS Band	PTE Score (Approx.)
9.0	90
8.0	79
7.5	73
7.0	65
6.5	58
6.0	50
5.5	42
5.0	30

This is the standard PTE vs IELTS score chart used by most universities for conversion. Keep in mind that some institutions apply their own conversion tables—always check the specific requirement of your target university rather than relying purely on this chart.

The pte vs IELTS score calculator approach: if a university requires IELTS 6.5, that approximately corresponds to PTE 58. If it requires IELTS 7.0, you need approximately PTE 65.

IELTS Academic vs. direct—which is easier?

This is the most searched question in the IELTS vs PTE debate, and the answer is genuinely different for different students.

PTE Academic tends to be easier if:

You feel nervous in face-to-face speaking situations or freeze under interview pressure
You are comfortable with computers and fast typing
You prefer predictable, structured question formats over open-ended responses
Your accent is strong, and you're worried about human examiners—PTE's AI scores on intelligibility, not accent origin

IELTS Academic tends to be easier if:

You communicate naturally in English and feel more relaxed in a real conversation than speaking to a microphone
You prefer writing by hand or on a keyboard, with more flexibility in your answers
Your English foundation is strong, and you don't need format-specific tricks
You want the option to retake only your weakest section—IELTS One Skill Retake lets you resit a single skill, not the whole test

Many Nepali students who have taken both tests report that PTE Academic feels more manageable because strategy plays a larger role. With the right format training, students with average English can achieve strong PTE scores by mastering the task types. IELTS rewards genuine language ability more directly, which makes it easier for truly fluent speakers and harder for students who rely on structured preparation.

IELTS vs. PTE—Which Is Cheaper in Nepal?

The cost difference between IELTS and PTE is small but worth knowing.

IELTS fee in Nepal 2026: Approximately NPR 26,000–30,000 for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

PTE fee in Nepal 2026: Approximately NPR 28,000–32,000 for PTE Academic. The exact NPR amount varies with the exchange rate at the time of booking.

The verdict: IELTS directly, which is cheaper in Nepal on average. But the difference is small enough that cost alone should not drive your decision. What matters more is which test you're likely to score higher on with the same amount of preparation time.

IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL — Where Does TOEFL Fit?

A significant number of students ask about TOEFL alongside the IELTS vs PTE comparison. Here's where TOEFL sits:

TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test) is primarily used for US universities and some Canadian institutions. It's administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) and is entirely computer-based like PTE. The difference: TOEFL Speaking is scored by a combination of AI and human raters.

PTE vs IELTS vs. TOEFL—quick country guide:

Country	Preferred Tests
Australia	PTE Academic and IELTS widely accepted for both study and PR
Canada (Study)	IELTS Academic, PTE Academic
Canada (PR — Express Entry)	IELTS General Training, PTE Core (different from PTE Academic)
UK	IELTS UKVI most common; PTE Academic UKVI also accepted
USA	TOEFL iBT preferred; IELTS increasingly accepted
New Zealand	IELTS and PTE Academic both accepted

Important for Canada: PTE Core is a separate test from PTE Academic. If you're targeting Canada PR through Express Entry, you need PTE Core specifically — not PTE Academic. Many Nepali students make the mistake of booking the wrong PTE version. Confirm your specific pathway before booking.

Country-by-Country — Which Test Should Nepali Students Choose?

For Australia: PTE Academic is the stronger choice for most Nepali students in 2026. It's widely accepted for both university admission and skilled migration visas, results come back in 2 business days (fast when you have visa deadlines), and many Nepali students find the AI-scored speaking less stressful than a human interview.

For a Canadian study permit, Both IELTS Academic and PTE Academic are accepted by most Canadian universities. IELTS is marginally more widely accepted at niche institutions, but PTE Academic covers the vast majority of top Canadian universities. If you're also thinking about staying on for PR after your studies, check whether your CLB target is easier to achieve on PTE Core or IELTS General.

For the UK: IELTS UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration approved version) is required for most UK student visa applications. Note this is not the same as standard IELTS Academic — make sure you book the UKVI version specifically. PTE Academic UKVI is also accepted by the UK Home Office for visa purposes.

For the USA: TOEFL iBT is traditionally preferred. IELTS is increasingly accepted by US universities, but if you're targeting top American universities, check their specific requirements carefully — many still list TOEFL as primary.

One Advantage IELTS Has That Most Students Overlook

IELTS has one feature that PTE genuinely cannot match: IELTS One Skill Retake. If you're unhappy with your score in one particular skill—say, your writing band was 6.0, but you needed 6.5—you can retake only that section without sitting the entire test again.

With PTE, if you need to improve any single skill, you must retake the full exam and pay the full fee again. This is a meaningful practical difference, especially for students who are strong in three skills and weak in one.

If you're the kind of student who suspects you'll need multiple attempts to hit your target score, the IELTS One Skill Retake significantly reduces both the cost and time burden of that process.

How to Decide — A Simple Decision Framework for Nepali Students

Answer these four questions honestly:

1. What country are you targeting?
If Australia leans on PTE. If in the UK, lean towards IELTS UKVI. If Canada studies—either works; if Canada PR—PTE Core. If USA—lean TOEFL.

2. Are you comfortable with computers?
If you type quickly, don't mind speaking into a microphone, and prefer structured tasks, PTE suits you better. If you prefer writing on paper and real conversation, IELTS may feel more natural.

3. How is your speaking confidence?
If you freeze during live interviews or are self-conscious about your accent in front of human examiners, PTE's AI-scored speaking removes that pressure. If you communicate naturally in English, the IELTS speaking interview may actually be your strong point.

4. What is your timeline?
If you need your score within 48–72 hours for a visa deadline, PTE wins easily. IELTS takes 3–13 days for results.

FAQs — IELTS vs PTE for Nepali Students

Which is easier—IELTS Academic or PTE Academic—for Nepali students?
PTE Academic tends to be easier for students who are comfortable with computers, prefer structured tasks, and feel nervous in face-to-face speaking. IELTS Academic tends to be easier for students with strong English foundations who communicate naturally. Neither is objectively easier—it depends on your personal learning style.

What is the IELTS vs PTE score equivalent for IELTS 6.5?
IELTS 6.5 is approximately equivalent to PTE 58. Always verify with your specific target institution, as some apply their own conversion tables.

Is IELTS cheaper than PTE in Nepal?
Slightly. IELTS costs approximately NPR 26,000–30,000, and PTE approximately NPR 28,000–32,000 in Nepal. The difference is small and shouldn't be the primary factor in your decision.

How long does it take to get IELTS vs PTE results in Nepal?
PTE results are typically available within 2 business days. IELTS results take 3–13 days, depending on whether you take the paper-based or computer-delivered version.

Which is better for Australia — IELTS or PTE?
PTE Academic is widely accepted for both Australian university admission and skilled migration visas and is generally preferred by Nepali students targeting Australia due to faster results and AI-scored speaking.

What is the difference between PTE Academic and PTE Core?
PTE Academic is for study applications (university admission, Australian PR, UK visas). PTE Core is specifically for Canadian PR and immigration applications through Express Entry. They are separate tests — do not book PTE Academic when you need PTE Core for Canadian immigration.

The IELTS vs PTE question doesn't have a universal answer — it has an answer that's right for your situation. Both are globally recognised, both are accepted across the countries most Nepali students target, and both will get you where you need to go if you achieve the required score. The test you choose should be the one where your preparation time translates most efficiently into the score you need.
Or you can just directly consult with the best consultancy in Kathmandu: UTC