Both PTE and TOEFL are English language proficiency tests that are widely recognized by thousands of institutions, companies, and organizations. However, they differ in aspects like test structure and individual test section duration.
PTE question types are a mix of individual and multiple English language skills, with different tests like PTE Academic, PTE Core, and UK visa tests. Meanwhile, TOEFL assesses your individual skills in separate sections, and it offers 5 TOEFL test types such as TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL ITP Assessment Series, TOEFL Junior, and TOEFL Primary.
PTE uses AI to score your responses on a scale of 10-90. Conversely, TOEFL tests sections utilize a combination of AI and certified human raters to grade you on a range of 0-120 overall.
PTE and TOEFL have similar test sections including Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing, but they differ in duration, question types, structure, and number of tasks.
PTE and TOEFL significantly contrast in the aspect of scheduling like advance booking required, test frequency, session times, test centers, and flexibility.
Take the PTE test if you prefer computer-based testing and need faster results. Likewise, choose the TOEFL test if you excel with traditional academic question formats and need flexible section scoring.
How Do PTE and TOEFL Exam Compare?
PTE and TOEFL are both English language proficiency tests that are accepted worldwide by thousands of institutions, companies, and organizations. Despite numerous similarities, they differ in aspects like test structure and individual test section duration.
PTE is a fully computer-based test that takes approximately 2 hours to finish. It has 20 different item types including some questions that integrate different skills together. It has three parts which include Speaking and Writing, Reading, and Listening, all evaluated purely by AI.
Meanwhile, TOEFL offers an Internet Based Test and a Paper Based Test, consisting of 54 different questions and tasks which should be completed in 2 hours. It evaluates your English skills based on individual components such as Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, scored by a combination of AI and certified human raters.
What are the Main Ways PTE and TOEFL Tests Are Different?
PTE question types are a mix of individual and multiple English language skills. Some questions require only reading the passage, while others demand you to use both your abilities to read and write. It offers different tests such as PTE Academic, PTE Core, and UK visa tests.
On the other hand, TOEFL assesses your individual skills in separate sections. It uses traditional academic tasks like multiple choice, listening comprehension, and other question types to measure your English ability individually. Moreover, there are 5 TOEFL test types such as TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL ITP Assessment Series, TOEFL Junior, and TOEFL Primary.
How to Convert PTE scores to TOEFL Scores?
In terms of scoring, PTE uses an automated scoring system on a scale of 10-90. Conversely, TOEFL tests sections have a score range of 0-30 each, combining to 0-120 overall.
To convert your scores from PTE to TOEFL, use the conversion table below.
| PTE Academic Score | TOEFL iBT Score |
| 85-90 | No data |
| 84 | 120 |
| 83 | 119 |
| 82 | 118 |
| 81 | 117 |
| 80 | 115-116 |
| 79 | 114 |
| 78 | 113 |
| 77 | 112 |
| 76 | 110-111 |
| 75 | 109 |
| 74 | 107-108 |
| 73 | 106 |
| 72 | 105 |
| 71 | 103-104 |
| 70 | 102 |
| 69 | 101 |
| 68 | 99-100 |
| 67 | 98 |
| 66 | 97 |
| 65 | 95-96 |
| 64 | 94 |
| 63 | 93 |
| 62 | 91-92 |
| 61 | 90 |
| 60 | 89 |
| 59 | 87-88 |
| 58 | 86 |
| 57 | 85 |
| 56 | 83-84 |
| 55 | 82 |
| 54 | 81 |
| 53 | 79-80 |
| 52 | 78 |
| 51 | 76-77 |
| 50 | 74-75 |
| 49 | 72-73 |
| 48 | 70-71 |
| 47 | 67-69 |
| 46 | 65-66 |
| 45 | 63-64 |
| 44 | 60-62 |
| 43 | 57-59 |
| 42 | 54-56 |
| 41 | 52-53 |
| 40 | 48-51 |
| 39 | 45-47 |
| 38 | 40-44 |
| 10-37 | No data |
How Do PTE and TOEFL Test You Differently?
PTE and TOEFL assess you based on the same 4 English language skills such as Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing, but they vary in duration, question types, structure, and number of tasks.
How Do PTE and TOEFL Test Your Speaking Differently?
For the PTE Speaking assessment, it is combined with the Writing section to form Part 1. There are tasks like reading aloud, repeat sentence, describe image, and answer short questions. You will speak into the microphone, which will record your response and be evaluated by AI.
Conversely, TOEFL Speaking lasts for 16 minutes and has 4 questions which include independent speaking task and integrated speaking tasks. It follows a natural conversation flow with clarification opportunities.
How Do PTE and TOEFL Test Your Listening Differently?
PTE Listening has a duration of 30-43 minutes where it evaluates your English skills through audio or video clips. These are played only once but note-taking is allowed.
TOEFL Listening takes 36 minutes to complete 40 items across four sections. It consists of 3 lectures of 3-5 minutes each and 2 conversations of 3 minutes each. Similar to the PTE Listening test, note-taking is allowed too.
How Do PTE and TOEFL Test Your Reading Differently?
With regards to the PTE Reading section, it lasts for 29-30 minutes where you will answer 13-18 total questions. The question types are reading and writing fill-in-the-blanks, multiple choice, and re-order paragraphs.
By comparison, TOEFL Reading takes 35 minutes to complete 2 reading passages, each approximately 700 words long, with 10 questions per passage. The good thing about it is that all the information you need to answer the questions will be included in the passage.
How Do PTE and TOEFL Test Your Writing Differently?
PTE Writing is integrated within Part 1: Speaking and Writing section. It includes tasks like summarizing written text, essay writing, and email writing.
TOEFL Writing has a duration of 30 minutes, with two distinct tasks such as an integrated writing task and a writing for an academic discussion task. You will type your responses on a computer keyboard.
How Easy Is It to Book PTE vs TOEFL Tests?
PTE and TOEFL tests have significant differences in many aspects like advance booking, test availability, scheduling hours, and flexibility.
| Aspect | PTE | TOEFL |
| Advance Booking | Last-minute bookings available | Pick a test date at least 2 to 3 months before your earliest admissions deadline to ensure your scores will be reported in time |
| Test Availability | Available most days | At home testing is available 24 hours a day, 4 days a week |
| Scheduling Hours | Extended hours including evening sessions | To take the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, you’ll need to meet the Equipment and Environment Requirements for at home testing |
| Flexibility | More flexible scheduling options | Limited by advance booking requirements |
Which Test Is Right for You: PTE or TOEFL?
Consider picking the PTE test if you prefer computer-based testing and need faster results. Similarly, consider picking the TOEFL test if you excel with traditional academic question formats and need flexible section scoring.
Choose the PTE test if you:
- Prefer computer-based testing
- Need faster results
- Perform better with automated scoring
- Favor integrated skills assessment
Choose the TOEFL test if you:
- Excel with traditional academic question formats
- Need flexible section ordering
- Prefer separate skill evaluation
- Target American universities specifically
How Much Do PTE and TOEFL Tests Cost?
The PTE costs USD 250-300, depending on the type of test you take. It allows you to reschedule your test for free if done more than 14 days before the exam date. You will also not need further payments for score reports as it is free and unlimited.
Meanwhile, the TOEFL test is USD 275 in Singapore. It also includes additional fees like a rescheduling fee for USD 69 and additional score reports for USD 29. In addition, TOEFL offers features requires extra payments.
- Express registration (within 7 days of the test date): US$49
- Reinstatement of canceled scores: US$20
- Speaking or Writing Section score review: US$80
- Speaking and Writing Section score review: US$160
- Returned payment: US$30
- Express Scoring: US$129