Does PTE's Human Scoring Make It Harder Than IELTS? I Tested Both
Since PTE introduced a human-scoring component to its evaluation, some students have been considering switching to IELTS, assuming it would be the easier option. So I sat both exams and compared the results directly.
Based on a direct comparison, no — human scoring doesn't appear to have made PTE harder than IELTS. On the IELTS Writing task, using genuine, unassisted English with no templates or strategies, the result was a 6.5. On PTE Writing, using a tested structure and technique, the result was 90 — the maximum score, often cited as roughly equivalent to a 9 on the IELTS scale. That gap suggests technique and preparation still matter more than which exam has human involvement in scoring.
Anyone considering switching from PTE to IELTS because PTE now involves human scoring deserves an honest, informed answer — not just a guess based on forum comments. So rather than speculating, I sat the IELTS Writing task myself, then compared it directly against a tested PTE Writing attempt.
The Comparison I Ran
For IELTS Writing, I answered the prompt using my own natural level of English — no templates, no exam-specific strategies, just a genuine, best-effort response. I used to teach IELTS years ago, so this wasn't an unfamiliar format, but I deliberately avoided leaning on any technique. The goal was to see what an honest, unassisted attempt would score.
For PTE Writing, I tested a structured, technique-based approach — the same kind of approach we test and teach — rather than an unassisted attempt.
Full IELTS Test Report Form. Personal details redacted.
Genuine, unassisted attempt — no templates or strategy
Structured, technique-based approach — the maximum score
A 90 on PTE Writing is often cited as roughly equivalent to a 9 on the IELTS band scale — the highest band possible. The unassisted IELTS attempt landed at 6.5, several bands below that.
What This Suggests About Human Scoring
If PTE's human-scoring component had fundamentally made the exam harder to score well on, a technique tested specifically for the current system shouldn't have been able to reach the maximum score. It did. That doesn't prove human scoring has no effect at all, but it does suggest the idea that "PTE is now harder than IELTS because of human scoring" isn't well supported by this comparison — preparation and technique still appear to matter more than which exam has a human involved in scoring.
The Real Question to Ask Before Switching
Before switching exams based on the assumption that one is now easier than the other, it's worth asking: is the current exam actually harder, or is the preparation approach not suited to how it's scored now? Based on this comparison, an untrained, technique-free attempt scored respectably on IELTS but well below the maximum — and a trained, technique-tested approach reached the maximum on PTE. That points toward preparation quality as the bigger factor, not the exam itself.
For more on why a single score claim shouldn't be taken as universal proof, see 3 things most students get wrong about PTE scoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on a direct comparison test, not necessarily. A technique-based approach to PTE Writing reached the maximum score of 90, suggesting that preparation and technique still matter more than the introduction of human scoring.
Not based on this comparison. An honest, unassisted attempt at IELTS Writing scored 6.5, while a tested, technique-based approach to PTE Writing scored the maximum. The difference suggests preparation quality plays a larger role than which exam is chosen.
A 90 on PTE — the highest score displayed on a score report — is often cited as roughly equivalent to a 9 on the IELTS band scale, the highest possible IELTS band.
That depends on your own circumstances, but this comparison suggests the assumption that PTE became harder due to human scoring isn't strongly supported. Before switching, it's worth evaluating whether the real issue is the exam itself or whether the current preparation approach is suited to how the exam is scored now.
No. During this particular attempt, a fire alarm triggered a full evacuation during the Reading section, and after roughly 40 minutes waiting outside and redoing check-in, the remaining questions were guessed rather than genuinely attempted. That Reading score reflects the disruption, not a fair comparison of Reading difficulty between the two exams.
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