Is PTE 46 a good score?
IELTS 5.5 describes a modest user. Pathway and pre-sessional English programmes usually start here; direct degree entry is rare. You are 1 point from IELTS 6.0, which is usually one weak skill away.
Skill scores that match IELTS 5.5
Universities and visa bodies often set a minimum per skill, not just overall. These are the PTE communicative-skill ranges that concord to IELTS 5.5 in each module.
| Skill | PTE range for IELTS 5.5 |
|---|---|
| Listening | 40–46 |
| Reading | 42–47 |
| Speaking | 39–53 |
| Writing | 41–50 |
IELTS's own table agrees: 5.5
There are two official comparisons. Pearson published its concordance for the enhanced PTE Academic in July 2025; the IELTS Partners publish their own study on ielts.org. Both put PTE 46 at IELTS 5.5, though they still differ skill by skill, most of all in writing.
| PTE needed for IELTS 5.5 | Pearson (2025) | IELTS Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 39–46 | 46+ |
| Listening | 40–46 | 43+ |
| Reading | 42–47 | 48+ |
| Speaking | 39–53 | 43+ |
| Writing | 41–50 | 51+ |
What PTE 46 / IELTS 5.5 means for visas
Immigration bodies set their thresholds per skill, so an overall score only tells you whether you are in range. Use it to pick a target, then check each skill against the official table linked in the row.
| Country / level | IELTS (each skill) | PTE Academic (each skill) | Your overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia: Vocational English | 5.0 | 33 / 36 / 29 / 24 (L/R/W/S) | in range |
| Australia: Competent English | 6.0 | 47 / 48 / 51 / 54 (L/R/W/S) | below |
| Australia: Proficient English (10 points) | 7.0 | 58 / 59 / 69 / 76 (L/R/W/S) | below |
| Australia: Superior English (20 points) | 8.0 | 69 / 70 / 85 / 88 (L/R/W/S) | below |
Australian levels are set by the Department of Home Affairs and changed on 7 August 2025 to per-skill PTE minimums. “In range” compares your overall band to the per-skill requirement; verify each skill on the official page before relying on it.
Get from PTE 46 to 47
Take a free AI-scored PTE Academic mock, see which skill is holding the overall down, and practise that task type until the score moves.
Start a free scored PTE mock →Frequently asked questions
What is PTE 46 in IELTS?+
A PTE Academic overall score of 46 is equivalent to an IELTS overall band of 5.5. Pearson's July 2025 concordance maps PTE 39–46 to IELTS 5.5.
Is PTE 46 a good score?+
PTE 46 equals IELTS 5.5 (CEFR B2), which describes a modest user. Pathway and pre-sessional English programmes usually start here; direct degree entry is rare.
How many more points do I need for IELTS 6.0?+
1 point. IELTS 6.0 starts at PTE 47, so from 46 you need to reach 47. Most learners close a gap this size with two to four weeks of scored practice on their weakest skill.
Does IELTS agree that PTE 46 is IELTS 5.5?+
Yes. The IELTS Partners' own comparison also places PTE 46 at IELTS 5.5.
What score does your university ask for?
Nearby scores
Source: Pearson, “Establishing score concordance between the enhanced PTE Academic and IELTS Academic” (July 2025). BandLadder is an independent practice platform, not an official Pearson tool. A concordance shows close equivalents, not exact one-to-one scores; check the requirement published by your institution or visa authority.
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