Reference · current as of June 2026
PTE score chart: PTE to IELTS, CEFR & Australia PR
The PTE Academic scale runs 10–90. Below is how it maps to IELTS bands, CEFR levels, and the Australia migration thresholds — including the per-skill cut scores that changed on 7 August 2025. Verified against the Pearson PTE Academic Score Guide.
PTE to IELTS conversion (overall)
| IELTS band | PTE overall |
|---|---|
| 9.0 | 90 |
| 8.5 | 86–89 |
| 8.0 | 79–85 |
| 7.5 | 71–78 |
| 7.0 | 63–70 |
| 6.5 | 55–62 |
| 6.0 | 47–54 |
| 5.5 | 39–46 |
| 5.0 | 31–38 |
PTE score to CEFR level
| CEFR level | PTE range |
|---|---|
| C2 | 85–90 |
| C1 | 76–84 |
| B2 | 59–75 |
| B1 | 43–58 |
| A2 | 30–42 |
| A1 | 10–29 |
Australia PR — per-skill cut scores (from 7 Aug 2025)
You must meet the score in every skill, not just on average.
| English level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior · IELTS 8 | 69 | 70 | 85 | 88 | +20 |
| Proficient · IELTS 7 | 58 | 59 | 69 | 76 | +10 |
| Competent · IELTS 6 | 47 | 48 | 51 | 54 | +0 |
Legacy rule (tests before 7 Aug 2025): a uniform 79 in each skill for Superior, 65 for Proficient, 50 for Competent.
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Frequently asked questions
At the overall level, PTE 65–70 ≈ IELTS 7.0 and PTE 79–85 ≈ IELTS 8.0. Note these are overall equivalences; per-skill conversions differ, which is why Australia's per-skill rules look uneven.
For tests on/after 7 Aug 2025, Superior English (20 points) requires Listening 69, Reading 70, Writing 85 and Speaking 88 — each skill individually. Proficient (10 points) requires L58/R59/W69/S76.
No. Australia's Department of Home Affairs requires you to meet the cut score in every one of the four skills, not just an overall average. Most retakers are stuck one skill short — usually Speaking or Writing.
Yes. From 7 August 2025 the DHA switched from a uniform cut score (50/65/79 in each skill) to different per-skill cut scores, and the exam added two new Speaking & Writing tasks. The old uniform numbers only apply to tests sat before that date.