PTE 81 to IELTS: band 8.0
A PTE Academic overall score of 81 is equivalent to an IELTS overall band of 8.0 (CEFR C1). Pearson's July 2025 concordance maps PTE 79–85 to IELTS 8.0, and 81 sits at the middle of that range.
Is PTE 81 a good score?
IELTS 8.0 describes a very good user. It meets the Superior English level for Australian skilled visas (which is set per skill) and most nursing, medical and law registrations.
Skill scores that match IELTS 8.0
Universities and visa bodies often set a minimum per skill, not just overall. These are the PTE communicative-skill ranges that concord to IELTS 8.0 in each module.
| Skill | PTE range for IELTS 8.0 |
|---|---|
| Listening | 69–74 |
| Reading | 70–74 |
| Speaking | 88–89 |
| Writing | 85–89 |
What PTE 81 / IELTS 8.0 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) | in range |
| Australia: Superior English (20 points) | 8.0 | 69 / 70 / 85 / 88 (L/R/W/S) | in range |
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 81 to 86
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 81 in IELTS?
A PTE Academic overall score of 81 is equivalent to an IELTS overall band of 8.0. Pearson's July 2025 concordance maps PTE 79–85 to IELTS 8.0.
Is PTE 81 a good score?
PTE 81 equals IELTS 8.0 (CEFR C1), which describes a very good user. It meets the Superior English level for Australian skilled visas (which is set per skill) and most nursing, medical and law registrations.
How many more points do I need for IELTS 8.5?
5 points. IELTS 8.5 starts at PTE 86, so from 81 you need to reach 86. Most learners close a gap this size with two to four weeks of scored practice on their weakest skill.
Nearby scores
PTE 79 to IELTSPTE 80 to IELTSPTE 82 to IELTSPTE 83 to IELTSIELTS 8.0 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.