Score equivalents by visa route
Skilled Worker: B2, IELTS for UKVI 5.5 each or PTE Academic UKVI 59 each; people already on the route before 8 January 2026 can stay at B1 when they extend (gov.uk). Student visa at degree level: B2, or a standard IELTS Academic or PTE Academic result if the university assesses it; below degree level: B1, IELTS for UKVI 4.0 each or PTE Academic UKVI 43 each (gov.uk). Partner routes use IELTS Life Skills or PTE Home for A1, A2 and B1 speaking and listening. IELTS band mapping is on ielts.org; PTE's is on Pearson.
Format and speed
IELTS for UKVI has a face-to-face speaking interview and is delivered on computer at approved centres, with results in one to five days (ielts.org). PTE Academic UKVI is entirely computer-delivered and computer-scored; Pearson says most results arrive within two business days and some take up to five (Pearson). UKVI accepts only tests taken in person, so neither IELTS Online nor a home-based test counts for these routes. Candidates who freeze in interviews tend to do better on PTE; candidates whose accent is hard for speech recognition tend to do better with an examiner.
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Cost and availability
IELTS for UKVI is priced by country: IDP charges AUD 505 in Australia and INR 19,250 in India, a little above standard IELTS. One Skill Retake is accepted for UKVI on computer tests in selected locations. PTE Academic UKVI is priced per centre through Pearson's price finder; Pearson has test centres in over 115 countries, though fewer of them run the UKVI version. Check the approved-centre list for your country before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Is PTE or IELTS easier for a UK visa?+
Neither officially. They map to the same CEFR levels and the Home Office treats them equally. Take a scored mock of each and book the one you score higher on.
What is B2 in PTE and IELTS?+
PTE Academic UKVI 59 in each skill; IELTS for UKVI 5.5 in each skill.
Can I use standard PTE Academic for a UK Student visa?+
For degree-level courses, yes, if the university assesses your English itself. Otherwise you need PTE Academic UKVI.
What PTE score do I need for a UK Skilled Worker visa in 2026?+
PTE Academic UKVI 59 in each of the four skills (B2). People already on the Skilled Worker route before 8 January 2026 can stay at B1, 43 in each skill, when they extend.
How long are IELTS for UKVI and PTE Academic UKVI results valid for a UK visa?+
Two years. gov.uk says a SELT result is valid for 2 years from the date the test was awarded, so it must be under two years old on the day you apply.
Can I take IELTS or PTE online at home for a UK visa?+
No. UKVI accepts only Secure English Language Tests taken in person at an approved test centre, so IELTS Online cannot be used for a visa.
Keep reading
Related
Verified against the linked official sources on 10 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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