PTE 40 in IELTS Band

Where PTE 40 sits

Losing 2 points (to PTE 38) drops the overall conversion to IELTS 5.0; gaining 7 points (to PTE 47) lifts it to IELTS 6.0.

What is special about exactly 40

• University of Waikato: foundation certificate and International Diploma needs 42 (overall 42, no section below 36), so 40 is 2 points short.
• 40 is the first PTE score that reads as IELTS 5.5 in Listening.
• 40 is the last PTE score that still reads as IELTS 5.0 in Writing; 41 moves it to 5.5.

PTE 40 as an IELTS band in each skill

Each skill has its own Pearson table. Reading and Writing convert lowest at IELTS 5.0, and Listening and Speaking convert highest at 5.5, a spread of 1 half-band. Reading (5.0) and Writing (5.0) differ from the overall conversion of 5.5.

This is the PTE Academic scale only. PTE Core has its own requirements; see the PTE Core guide.

Australian English levels at PTE 40

Each skill has its own minimum, and a strong skill cannot cover a weak one. With 40 in every skill the highest level is Vocational English (test from 7 August 2025) or Vocational English (earlier test). 40 lands on the same level whichever test version you sat. Next up is Competent English: short in Listening (needs 47, +7), Reading (needs 48, +8), Speaking (needs 54, +14) and Writing (needs 51, +11).

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 40

Pearson maps PTE 40 to CEFR A2 (PTE 30–42). B1 starts at 43, 3 points higher.

UK figures apply to each skill, so read them as 40 in every skill. New Zealand: 40 clears 29 and 36 and is 18 points short of 58. 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 40

Three universities' published rows closest to 40; each university sets its own rule.

Sources: University of Waikato, UNSW and Victoria University (checked 10 Oct 2026). Masters in Australia guide.

What it takes to move up from PTE 40

The nearest sourced thresholds above 40, in order. The first is 2 points away.

1. PTE 42 (+2): University of Waikato: foundation certificate and International Diploma (overall 42, no section below 36).
2. PTE 43 (+3): Pearson CEFR B1.
3. PTE 43 (+3): UK visa CEFR B1: Student visa for a course below degree level, such as a pre-sessional course (43 in each skill).
4. PTE 47 (+7): IELTS 6.0 overall (Pearson concordance).
5. PTE 50 (+10): Australia Competent English, test before 7 Aug 2025 (L 50, R 50, W 50, S 50).

Scores around 40

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 40. The second makes Listening strong (48) and Speaking weak (32), each 8 points from 40.

• Even profile (L 40, R 40, S 40, W 40): 5.5 + 5.0 + 5.5 + 5.0 = 21.0, divided by four is 5.25, which IELTS rounds to 5.5 (an average ending .25 or .75 rounds up). That matches the direct overall conversion of 5.5.
• Uneven profile (L 48, R 40, S 32, W 40): 6.0 + 5.0 + 5.0 + 5.0 = 21.0, divided by four is 5.25, which IELTS rounds to 5.5 (an average ending .25 or .75 rounds up). Same overall as the even profile: the strong and weak skills offset.

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 40

1. Target Competent English: Speaking 54, 14 above 40. Large gap: rebuild basics before timing yourself.
2. Start with Speaking: Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence. All speaking practice.
3. Then Writing (51, +11): Write Essay and Summarize Written Text.
4. Check progress with the free mock test and the score calculator: estimates only, so confirm each threshold on the official page.