PTE or IELTS for New Zealand: which test should you take?

INZ's table for the Skilled Migrant Category and other skilled residence visas sets an overall score only: IELTS 6.5 or PTE Academic 58 for the principal applicant, with no per-skill minimum for either test (INZ). The result must be no more than two years old when you apply, and at-home tests are not accepted.

On Pearson's own concordance, PTE 58 falls in the 55–62 range it links to IELTS 6.5 (Pearson), so the two bars are aligned. Because INZ uses the overall score, one weak skill does not sink you on either test; the question is only which format gets your overall higher. Details: IELTS for the Skilled Migrant Category.

INZ sets no English score for the Fee Paying Student Visa; your provider must declare you have the English to pass the course (INZ). NZQA's rules set the floor for international students at levels 3 to 10, and the universities we checked use the level 7 and level 8 figures above. NZQA wants IELTS from a single Test Report Form (One Skill Retake can be accepted) and PTE from a single score report.

Choose PTE Academic if you are applying for study or skilled residence, you are comfortable with computer-scored speaking, and you want results in about two days. In India its fee is INR 100 lower.

Choose IELTS if nursing registration is anywhere in your plans (the Nursing Council accepts IELTS Academic and OET only), if you want the option of One Skill Retake, which INZ and NZQA both accept, or if you do better speaking with an examiner. Inside New Zealand, IELTS is NZD 15 cheaper.