PTE 79 in IELTS Band

Where PTE 79 sits

Losing 1 point (to PTE 78) drops the overall conversion to IELTS 7.5; gaining 7 points (to PTE 86) lifts it to IELTS 8.5.

What is special about exactly 79

• PTE 79 is exactly the score needed for Australia Superior English, test before 7 Aug 2025 (L 79, R 79, W 79, S 79).
• PTE 79 is exactly the score needed for UNSW: Bachelor of Education and Master of Teaching (overall 73; L 79, R 65, W 65, S 79).
• PTE 79 is exactly the score needed for University of Waikato: Initial Teacher Education (overall 69; L 61, R 62, W 73, S 79).

PTE 79 as an IELTS band in each skill

Each skill has its own Pearson table. Speaking converts lowest at IELTS 7.0, and Listening and Reading convert highest at 8.5, a spread of 3 half-bands. Listening (8.5), Reading (8.5), Speaking (7.0) and Writing (7.5) differ from the overall conversion of 8.0.

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

Australian English levels at PTE 79

Each skill has its own minimum, and a strong skill cannot cover a weak one. With 79 in every skill the highest level is Proficient English (test from 7 August 2025) or Superior English (earlier test). 79 did better on the old test (Superior English) than it does on the new one (Proficient English), because the new Speaking and Writing minimums sit above the old single figure. Next up is Superior English: short in Speaking (needs 88, +9) and Writing (needs 85, +6); already clear Listening (69) and Reading (70).

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 79

Pearson maps PTE 79 to CEFR C1 (PTE 76–84). C2 starts at 85, 6 points higher.

UK figures apply to each skill, so read them as 79 in every skill. New Zealand: 79 is above all three overall thresholds, the highest being 58 by 21. 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 79

Three universities' published rows closest to 79; 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 79

The nearest sourced thresholds above 79, in order. The first is 6 points away.

1. PTE 85 (+6): Pearson CEFR C2.
2. PTE 86 (+7): IELTS 8.5 overall (Pearson concordance).
3. PTE 88 (+9): Australia Superior English, test from 7 Aug 2025 (L 69, R 70, W 85, S 88).
4. PTE 90 (+11): IELTS 9.0 overall (Pearson concordance).

Scores around 79

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 79. The second makes Writing strong (87) and Reading weak (71), each 8 points from 79.

• Even profile (L 79, R 79, S 79, W 79): 8.5 + 8.5 + 7.0 + 7.5 = 31.5, divided by four is 7.875, which IELTS rounds to 8.0. That matches the direct overall conversion of 8.0.
• Uneven profile (L 79, R 71, S 79, W 87): 8.5 + 8.0 + 7.0 + 8.0 = 31.5, divided by four is 7.875, which IELTS rounds to 8.0. 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 79

1. Target Superior English: Speaking 88, 9 above 79. Moderate gap: take task types one at a time.
2. Start with Speaking: Respond to a Situation and Read Aloud. All speaking practice.
3. Then Writing (85, +6): Summarize Written Text and Write Essay. Keep Listening and Reading warm.
4. Check progress with the free mock test and the score calculator: estimates only, so confirm each threshold on the official page.