PTE 61 to IELTS: band 6.5
A PTE Academic overall score of 61 is equivalent to an IELTS overall band of 6.5 (CEFR B2). Pearson's July 2025 concordance maps PTE 55–62 to IELTS 6.5, and 61 sits at the top of that range.
Is PTE 61 a good score?
IELTS 6.5 describes a competent user. Most undergraduate and many postgraduate programmes in the UK, Australia, Canada and Ireland accept it, often with no skill below 6.0. You are 2 points from IELTS 7.0, which is usually one weak skill away.
Skill scores that match IELTS 6.5
Universities and visa bodies often set a minimum per skill, not just overall. These are the PTE communicative-skill ranges that concord to IELTS 6.5 in each module.
| Skill | PTE range for IELTS 6.5 |
|---|---|
| Listening | 53–57 |
| Reading | 54–58 |
| Speaking | 66–75 |
| Writing | 60–68 |
What PTE 61 / IELTS 6.5 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) | in range |
| 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 61 to 63
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 mockFrequently asked questions
What is PTE 61 in IELTS?
A PTE Academic overall score of 61 is equivalent to an IELTS overall band of 6.5. Pearson's July 2025 concordance maps PTE 55–62 to IELTS 6.5.
Is PTE 61 a good score?
PTE 61 equals IELTS 6.5 (CEFR B2), which describes a competent user. Most undergraduate and many postgraduate programmes in the UK, Australia, Canada and Ireland accept it, often with no skill below 6.0.
How many more points do I need for IELTS 7.0?
2 points. IELTS 7.0 starts at PTE 63, so from 61 you need to reach 63. Most learners close a gap this size with two to four weeks of scored practice on their weakest skill.
Nearby scores
PTE 59 to IELTSPTE 60 to IELTSPTE 62 to IELTSPTE 63 to IELTSIELTS 6.5 to PTEFull concordance table
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.