Question 1

Is PTE 45 equal to IELTS band 5.5?

Accepted Answer

On the published concordance, yes. PTE 45 and IELTS band 5.5 are treated as close equivalents. A concordance is a statistical match, not a promise of acceptance, so check what your university or visa stream asks for.

Question 2

What PTE score do I need for IELTS band 5.5?

Accepted Answer

IELTS band 5.5 corresponds to PTE 39 to 46. Aiming a few points above the bottom of that range gives you room for a bad day on one skill.

Question 3

What CEFR level is PTE 45?

Accepted Answer

PTE 45 sits at CEFR B1. That is read from Pearson's own CEFR alignment rather than converted through another test, because each test owner publishes its own.

Question 4

Where do these numbers come from?

Accepted Answer

From the test owner's published concordance: Pearson: understand your PTE Academic score. Nothing on this page is interpolated between rows.

PTE Academic	IELTS Academic	Page
90	9.0	Details
86 to 89	8.5	Details
79 to 85	8.0	Details
71 to 78	7.5	Details
63 to 70	7.0	Details
55 to 62	6.5	Details
47 to 54	6.0	Details
39 to 46	5.5	Details
31 to 38	5.0	Details
24 to 30	4.5	Details

PTE 45 to IELTS

What PTE 45 is worth elsewhere

PTE to IELTS conversion chart

Scores either side

Practise for the PTE score you just looked up.

Questions people ask about PTE 45 to IELTS.