PTE 35 in IELTS Band
PTE 35 is IELTS 5.0 overall: Pearson's July 2025 concordance puts PTE 31–38 in that band, and 35 is the 5th of its 8 scores. Skill by skill it reads as Listening 5.0, Reading 4.5, Speaking 5.0 and Writing 5.0, sits at CEFR A2 on Pearson's scale, and with 35 in every skill meets Functional English on the new Australian test.
Checked 10 Oct 2026 against Pearson's concordance summary (PDF).
IELTS overall
5.0
Band covers PTE 31–38
Next IELTS band
5.5 at PTE 39
4 points away
Pearson CEFR level
A2
PTE 30–42
Australia, new test
Functional
35 in every skill
Where PTE 35 sits
Losing 5 points (to PTE 30) drops the overall conversion to IELTS 4.5; gaining 4 points (to PTE 39) lifts it to IELTS 5.5.
What is special about exactly 35
- Australia Vocational English, test from 7 Aug 2025 needs 36 (L 33, R 36, W 29, S 24), so 35 is 1 point short.
- Australia Vocational English, test before 7 Aug 2025 needs 36 (L 36, R 36, W 36, S 36), so 35 is 1 point short.
- New Zealand: Skilled residence visa, partner or dependent child aged 16 or older needs 36 (overall 36), so 35 is 1 point short.
- 35 is the last PTE score that still reads as IELTS 4.5 in Reading; 36 moves it to 5.0.
PTE 35 as an IELTS band in each skill
Each skill has its own Pearson table. Reading converts lowest at IELTS 4.5, and Listening, Speaking and Writing convert highest at 5.0, a spread of 1 half-band. Reading (4.5) differs from the overall conversion of 5.0.
| Skill | PTE 35 reads as | Band covers PTE | Points you can lose | Next band at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | IELTS 5.0 | 33–39 | 2 | PTE 40 (IELTS 5.5), 5 points up |
| Reading | IELTS 4.5 | 29–35 | 6 | PTE 36 (IELTS 5.0), 1 point up |
| Speaking | IELTS 5.0 | 24–38 | 11 | PTE 39 (IELTS 5.5), 4 points up |
| Writing | IELTS 5.0 | 29–40 | 6 | PTE 41 (IELTS 5.5), 6 points up |
| Overall | IELTS 5.0 | 31–38 | 4 | PTE 39 (IELTS 5.5), 4 points up |
This is the PTE Academic scale only. PTE Core has its own requirements; see the PTE Core guide.
Australian English levels at PTE 35
Each skill has its own minimum, and a strong skill cannot cover a weak one. With 35 in every skill the highest level is Functional English (test from 7 August 2025) or Functional English (earlier test). 35 lands on the same level whichever test version you sat. Next up is Vocational English: short in Reading (needs 36, +1); already clear Listening (33), Speaking (24) and Writing (29).
| Level | New test: minimum (margin at 35) | New | Old test: minimum (margin at 35) | Old |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Functional | Overall 24 (+11) | Meets | Overall 30 (+5) | Meets |
| Vocational | L 33 (+2), R 36 (short 1), W 29 (+6), S 24 (+11) | Not met | 36 each (short 1) | Not met |
| Competent | L 47 (short 12), R 48 (short 13), W 51 (short 16), S 54 (short 19) | Not met | 50 each (short 15) | Not met |
| Proficient | L 58 (short 23), R 59 (short 24), W 69 (short 34), S 76 (short 41) | Not met | 65 each (short 30) | Not met |
| Superior | L 69 (short 34), R 70 (short 35), W 85 (short 50), S 88 (short 53) | Not met | 79 each (short 44) | Not met |
Home Affairs levels, checked 9 Oct 2026. Detail: Australia PTE score guide, PR guide and student visa guide.
UK, New Zealand and Canada at PTE 35
Pearson maps PTE 35 to CEFR A2 (PTE 30–42). B1 starts at 43, 8 points higher.
| Route | Needs | PTE 35 |
|---|---|---|
| UK B1: student visa below degree level | 43 in each skill | Short by 8 |
| UK B2: student degree level and new Skilled Worker | 59 in each skill | Short by 24 |
| NZ: Accredited Employer Work Visa | Overall 29 | Clears by 6 |
| NZ: Skilled residence visa, partner | Overall 36 | Short by 1 |
| NZ: Skilled residence visa, principal | Overall 58 | Short by 23 |
UK figures apply to each skill, so read them as 35 in every skill. New Zealand: 35 clears 29 and is 1 point short of 36. Canada's tables convert PTE Core, not Academic, so none is applied: Canada guide. New Zealand guide and UK guide.
Sources: Pearson CEFR bands, Pearson UK visa table, GOV.UK student visa and Immigration New Zealand (checked 10 Oct 2026).
University examples near PTE 35
Three universities' published rows closest to 35; each university sets its own rule.
| Course | Overall / each section | PTE 35 |
|---|---|---|
| University of Waikato: foundation certificate and International Diploma | 42 / 36 | Short: overall +7, each section +1 |
| University of Waikato: undergraduate degrees (general row) | 50 / 42 | Short: overall +15, each section +7 |
| Victoria University (Australia): bachelor degrees | 52 / 52 | Short: overall +17, each section +17 |
| University of Waikato: LLB law | 56 / 46 | Short: overall +21, each section +11 |
| University of Waikato: most postgraduate programmes and BNurs nursing | 58 / 50 | Short: overall +23, each section +15 |
| Victoria University (Australia): masters degrees | 60 / 52 | Short: overall +25, each section +17 |
Sources: University of Waikato, UNSW and Victoria University (checked 10 Oct 2026). Masters in Australia guide.
What it takes to move up from PTE 35
The nearest sourced thresholds above 35, in order. The first is 1 point away.
- PTE 36 (+1): Australia Vocational English, test from 7 Aug 2025 (L 33, R 36, W 29, S 24).
- PTE 36 (+1): Australia Vocational English, test before 7 Aug 2025 (L 36, R 36, W 36, S 36).
- PTE 36 (+1): New Zealand: Skilled residence visa, partner or dependent child aged 16 or older (overall 36).
- PTE 39 (+4): IELTS 5.5 overall (Pearson concordance).
- PTE 42 (+7): University of Waikato: foundation certificate and International Diploma (overall 42, no section below 36).
Scores around 35
| PTE score | Distance from 35 | IELTS overall | Pearson CEFR | Threshold starting here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTE 30 | -5 | 4.5 | A2 | CEFR A2 starts; AU Functional (old) |
| PTE 31 | -4 | 5.0 | A2 | IELTS 5.0 starts |
| PTE 32 | -3 | 5.0 | A2 | None |
| PTE 33 | -2 | 5.0 | A2 | None |
| PTE 34 | -1 | 5.0 | A2 | None |
| PTE 35 | this page | 5.0 | A2 | None |
| PTE 36 | +1 | 5.0 | A2 | AU Vocational (new); AU Vocational (old); NZ partner |
| PTE 37 | +2 | 5.0 | A2 | None |
| PTE 38 | +3 | 5.0 | A2 | None |
| PTE 39 | +4 | 5.5 | A2 | IELTS 5.5 starts |
| PTE 40 | +5 | 5.5 | A2 | None |
Worked example: how four skills turn into one IELTS band
IELTS averages four section bands and rounds to the nearest half band. Here is that arithmetic for two profiles built around 35. The second makes Writing strong (43) and Reading weak (27), each 8 points from 35.
| Skill | Even profile (PTE) | IELTS band | Uneven profile (PTE) | IELTS band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 35 | 5.0 | 35 | 5.0 |
| Reading | 35 | 4.5 | 27 | below 4.5 |
| Speaking | 35 | 5.0 | 35 | 5.0 |
| Writing | 35 | 5.0 | 43 | 5.5 |
- Even profile (L 35, R 35, S 35, W 35): 5.0 + 4.5 + 5.0 + 5.0 = 19.5, divided by four is 4.875, which IELTS rounds to 5.0. That matches the direct overall conversion of 5.0.
- Uneven profile (L 35, R 27, S 35, W 43): at least one skill falls below the lowest row Pearson publishes (IELTS 4.5), so the four bands cannot be averaged from this table.
Illustration of the IELTS rounding rule only. Pearson works out your PTE overall score itself and prints it on your score report; this page does not model that calculation. Rounding rule: IELTS scoring guide.
A four-line plan from PTE 35
- Target Vocational English: Reading 36, 1 above 35. Small gap: fix accuracy slips.
- Start with Reading: Re-order Paragraphs and Reading Fill in the Blanks. All reading practice.
- Listening, Speaking and Writing already clear it. Keep one short set going, for example Highlight Incorrect Words.
- Check progress with the free mock test and the score calculator: estimates only, so confirm each threshold on the official page.
FAQs
Is PTE 35 equal to IELTS 5.0?
Yes. IELTS 5.0 covers PTE 31–38 and 35 is the 5th of 8. IELTS 5.5 starts at 39.
Which skill is lowest when PTE 35 becomes IELTS?
Reading at IELTS 4.5, against Listening, Speaking and Writing at 5.0.
Does PTE 35 meet an Australian English level?
Functional English on the new test, Functional English on the old one. Next up is Vocational English: short in Reading (needs 36, +1); already clear Listening (33), Speaking (24) and Writing (29).
Does PTE 35 meet UK B2 or New Zealand residence?
UK B2 needs 59 in each skill: 24 short. NZ residence needs overall 58: 23 short.
क्या PTE 35 अच्छा स्कोर है?
PTE 35 का मतलब IELTS 5.0 ओवरऑल और CEFR A2 है। अगला पड़ाव PTE 36 है, यानी 1 अंक ऊपर।
Want to convert a different score?
Use the PTE to IELTS converter, or go the other way with the IELTS to PTE guide. Full chart: PTE score chart.
Sources, each checked on the date shown:
- Pearson: PTE Academic and IELTS Academic concordance summary (July 2025) (2026-10-10)
- Pearson: understand your PTE Academic score (CEFR bands) (2026-10-10)
- Pearson: UK visa requirements for PTE Academic UKVI (2026-10-10)
- GOV.UK: student visa, knowledge of English (2026-10-10)
- Immigration New Zealand: English requirements for skilled residence visas (2026-10-10)
- Department of Home Affairs: proficient english (2026-10-09)
- University of Waikato: English language requirements (2026-10-10)
- Victoria University: entry requirements for international students (2026-10-10)
- UNSW: English language requirements (2026-10-10)
Conversions are estimates based on the published concordance (Pearson: PTE Academic and IELTS Academic concordance summary (July 2025)), not an official score report. Institutions and visa authorities set their own requirements.