Short answer: For NZ immigration, PTE 50 ≈ IELTS 6.0, PTE 58 ≈ IELTS 6.5 (residence minimum), PTE 65 ≈ IELTS 7.0 (max points territory), and PTE 79 ≈ IELTS 7.5–8.0 (the score most universities and employer-preferred thresholds target). This guide gives the full chart, section-by-section conversion, and the NZ visa threshold each score unlocks.
Master conversion chart
| PTE Academic | IELTS (Academic/General) | CEFR level | NZ visa threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 4.0 | B1 (lower) | AEWV skill 4–5 minimum |
| 36 | 5.0 | B1 | Partner of a Worker Work Visa |
| 42 | 5.5 | B1/B2 | Many undergrad programmes |
| 50 | 6.0 | B2 | Undergrad direct entry; some postgrad |
| 58 | 6.5 | B2 | Skilled Migrant & Green List residence minimum |
| 65 | 7.0 | C1 (lower) | Most NZ postgrad; bonus-point territory |
| 79 | 7.5 | C1 | Some occupational registration (Nursing/Teaching/Medical) & certain university programmes |
| 85 | 8.0 | C1/C2 | Regulated-profession registration (some) |
| 89–90 | 8.5–9.0 | C2 | Elite university programmes |
Conversions cross-reference the Pearson PTE concordance table against Immigration NZ's current thresholds. Always check the official page for your specific visa category — thresholds shift.
How NZ uses these equivalents in practice
Immigration NZ does not publish a single conversion chart. Instead, each visa category lists required scores for each accepted test. That can cause confusion when applicants try to compare pathways.
In practice, NZ licensed immigration advisers and our Auckland coaching team work off the equivalents above. They're consistent with Pearson's concordance study and with how Immigration NZ pitches its thresholds across test types.
The two scores that matter most
PTE 58 / IELTS 6.5 — residence entry
This is the threshold for every current NZ residence pathway — Skilled Migrant Category (6-point system), Straight to Residence, Work to Residence, AEWV renewals and new grants, Care Workforce, and Transport Sector Residence. Under the 6-point SMC, English is a gate, not a scoring category: you pass or you don't, and higher scores don't earn extra points.
Section minimums: PTE — no section below 54. IELTS — no band below 6.0.
PTE 79 / IELTS 7.5 — occupational registration and university entry
This is the threshold most NZ professional Councils set for occupational registration — Nursing Council of NZ, Teaching Council of Aotearoa NZ, Medical Council of NZ, and similar bodies. It's also where NZ universities typically require direct entry for Medicine, Law, Teaching, and some Engineering or Health Science streams. Note: PTE 79 is not required by Immigration New Zealand for any visa category.
Section minimums (body-specific): PTE — often no section below 65. IELTS — often no band below 7.0.
Section-by-section conversion
Test providers usually report overall plus four section scores. The section equivalents map roughly as follows:
| PTE section score | Approx. IELTS band |
|---|---|
| 36 | 5.0 |
| 42 | 5.5 |
| 50 | 6.0 |
| 58 | 6.5 |
| 65 | 7.0 |
| 73 | 7.5 |
| 79 | 8.0 |
| 83 | 8.5 |
| 89 | 9.0 |
Note that a high overall PTE score can mask a weak section. A PTE 79 with 62 in Speaking still fails visa categories that set a section minimum of 65. Always check section minimums alongside overall requirements.
When PTE and IELTS scores diverge
Most candidates score within half a band of equivalent scores on the two tests. Where they diverge:
- Non-native speakers with strong fluency often score higher on PTE because AI rewards rhythm and clear pronunciation that examiners sometimes dock
- Candidates with heavy accents sometimes score lower on PTE because the AI struggles with less-common accents; human IELTS examiners are more forgiving
- Strong academic writers often score higher on IELTS Writing because human examiners reward content and nuance that AI misses
- Fast, concise communicators tend to score higher on PTE speaking because it rewards efficiency over expansiveness
Take a PTE and an IELTS mock test in your first week — whichever scores higher is your test. We build this into every free assessment.
Common equivalency mistakes that cost visa points
- Using old concordance tables. Pearson has updated the PTE-IELTS mapping twice in the last five years. Old numbers from 2018 and earlier shift scores by 2–3 points.
- Treating equivalents as exact. PTE 65 and IELTS 7.0 are "approximately equivalent" — real results vary by section and by test. Always aim one band above your target to leave room.
- Assuming all sections scale together. You can be C1 in reading and B2 in speaking at the same overall score. NZ visa categories check sections individually.
- Comparing PTE Core or PTE General with PTE Academic. Only PTE Academic is accepted by Immigration NZ. PTE Core and PTE General are different tests.
FAQs
What PTE score equals IELTS 6.5?
PTE 58. This is the NZ Skilled Migrant and Green List Straight-to-Residence minimum.
What PTE score equals IELTS 7.0?
PTE 65 under Pearson's concordance. Note: IELTS 7.0 / PTE 65 is not required for any NZ residence visa — those all accept IELTS 6.5 / PTE 58. Higher scores are relevant for Councils and universities, not Immigration NZ.
Does Immigration NZ publish a PTE to IELTS conversion chart?
No single published chart. Each visa category lists required scores for each accepted test. The equivalents above reflect standard NZ migration practice.
Can I combine PTE and IELTS scores across sections?
No. Immigration NZ accepts only one test result per application. Pick one and sit all four sections.
Which is harder — PTE or IELTS?
Neither is objectively harder. Each rewards different strengths. See our PTE vs IELTS comparison for the full breakdown.
Not sure which test is giving you the higher score?
Book a free assessment and we'll run you through a PTE and an IELTS mini mock in the same session. Whichever scores higher is your test — and then we build the quickest pathway to your target band.