PTE or IELTS – Which English Test is Best
Are you thinking about taking English proficiency test for immigration or study purposes, but you’re unsure which test to take: the PTE or IELTS? This article will get you asking yourself questions about which test is right for you! This is most commonly asked question that everybody wants to know the answer to PTE or IELTS.
PTE or IELTS
Should I take PTE or IELTS?
Which exam shall I take? Is PTE exam easier than IELTS? Which exam is better? Which exam can get me the results that I need faster? Everyone just wants to know the answer to this. Of course, it’s a big question because you will be spending a lot of time and money preparing for the exam and then taking the exam. The exam fees is quite significant whether it’s PTE or IELTS exam.
Therefore you must consider all the factor before you decide which exam is better for you. In this article, we are going to discuss all these questions. We will talk about the important things that you should think about before you go ahead and decide PTE or IELTS. We know a lot of people are telling you about PTE or saying it is very easy. But our opinion: If you have failed in IELTS before just go ahead and take PTE exam and it will solve everything. You will get better score immediately that you need. This may or may not be the case, there are some other things that you need to consider and let’s discuss those things.
Failed before? (Taken PTE or IELTS exam already)
The very first thing we are doing to ask you about is if you fail before if you have taken IELTS before or if you have taken PTE exam before one or more times and you failed at it. Then it is a signal that you probably need to change your exam.
For example: Let’s say if you have taken IELTS five time before as we know some people who have taken IELTS 10 time or 20 times. If you have also taken IELTS before one or more times and you fail to achieve the score that you needed, despite preparing properly then it’s a sign that you can take the different exam now. In that case, PTE might be more useful.
But before you jump to that conclusion you should ask yourself that when I was preparing for IELTS, did I put in the right amount of time and effort, did I follow the right plan and strategy, did I prepare properly. If even after doing all those things, you failed one or more times then defiantly go ahead and change your exam. Defiantly go ahead and look at PTE.
Similarly, some people have taken PTE multiple time, now it’s been out for quite some time and they also fail PTE multiple times and for them, IELTS might become a suitable option. So think about it if you have failed in the exam before, then what is the thing that you need to change, a different exam or a different strategy.
PTE or IELTS
Major Difference (Speaking and Writing)
There are some of the major differences between the two exams. The basic difference is in speaking and writing. Offcourse you know that in PTE you’ll be talking into a microphone and you’ll be typing on a keyboard. While in IELTS, it’s manual but other than that there are also changes in the format in speaking and writing.
For example: In PTE you will get lesser time to write an essay. There will be a wider variety of speaking questions. So if you have taken IELTS before and you have problems with one of these sections especially speaking and writing, then yes PTE might be a better option for you.
If you think that your IELTS score was not up to mark mainly because of speaking and writing. Only because of speaking and writing, then yes, PTE is the different format, you will get the different type of questions so this can definitely give you a better option.
Computer Factor (Comfortable taking exam on a computer?)
Another factor which you can consider is what we call the computer factor. There is no point in going into PTE and thinking that you’ll go ahead and give PTE academic if you are not comfortable taking the exam on a computer. Ask yourself am I comfortable taking the exam on a computer. Am I a comfortable typing on a keyboard, am I comfortable speaking into a microphone. If yes, then of course go-ahead for PTE but if not then you will need to set aside some time to get familiar with giving exam on computer. So make sure that the computer factor, how big of a deal is it for you.
Human Factor (Ok with the IELTS human examiner?)
Similar to the computer factor, there is the human factor. You know that in IELTS you have a human examiner. In speaking, your essays are also checked by humans.
Now the IELTS examiner’s are professionally trained to judge every student every question the same way.
But still a human being is a human being and there is always the possibility of a human bias. The examiner might just in a bad mood that day, he might not like the person for whatever reason and that can play into it.
If you think that you have suffered from a human bias or you have suffered because of the IELTS human examiner before. Then PTE is a better option because there are no humans involved there. You will be giving your exam on a software. This software will judge your responses So the human bias will be removed. If you think in the past you have suffered because of the human bias because of the IELTS examiner, then look at other options.
But be fair, when you answer these questions. Like if you will ask yourself you will get the answer. What you need to change, you want to change the exam or do you need to change the strategy.
Resources available to you
Another thing which is very important is “What are the resources available to you.” Do you have the right materials, the right guidance the right preparation resources available to you or not. If you don’t have that then you know “just think that.” I’ll read some articles and that will be fine with PTE, but that wouldn’t help. If you don’t have the right resources for PTE or rather shall we say that if you only have the resources for IELTS? We are talking here about good resources available for IELTS, then you just go for IELTS. There is no point taking another exam if you don’t have the right resources available to you.
An exam is no magic
As we have told you earlier that exam is no magic bullet. A lot of people who are selling PTE sources they would like you to believe that PTE is a magic bullet. Magically you will solve all your problems. If you have failed in IELTS many time before, then just come and give PTE once. And you’ll immediately get your desired score that’s not true.
PTE as we said, it is not an easy type of IELTS. They are two different exams, they both require time and effort and the right approach that will make the difference.
Offcourse PTE has some features which will be an advantage for some students which will make a lot of difference to some students. But without the right approach without putting in the right time and effort. It’s difficult to do very well in the exam.
So if you decide to go ahead with PTE academic, don’t take it lightly. Don’t depend on the random material which you find here and there. Don’t just think I’ll put in a weekend or some hours and I’ll be ready for the exam. You need to put in the right amount of time and effort. Clearing PTE English exam requirement? It is very important for your career, so give proper time and effort that it deserves going with the right approach and that will make all the difference.
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