Is a PTE score of 65 good?

Yes. PTE 65 is concordant with IELTS 7.0 and meets the requirement for many competitive university programmes and professional bodies. Whether it is enough depends on your specific target, so check the stated requirement.

What is the highest PTE score?

The PTE Academic scale runs from 10 to 90, so 90 is the maximum overall and per-skill score, equivalent to CEFR C2 and IELTS 9.0.

What PTE score do I need for university?

It varies by institution and course. Many undergraduate programmes ask for around 50 to 58, postgraduate programmes around 58 to 65, and the most competitive courses 65 or higher, often with per-skill minimums. Confirm the exact requirement on the university's admissions page.

What Is a Good PTE Score? Bands Explained (10–90)

Q: What is a good PTE score?

A good PTE Academic score is the one your destination requires. As a general guide on the 10 to 90 scale, 65 and above is widely considered strong, and 79 and above is top-tier and maps to the Superior English level. Many undergraduate courses accept roughly 50 to 58. Always confirm the exact figure with your institution or visa authority.

The scale

How the PTE score works

PTE Academic scores range from 10 to 90 in one-point steps. You receive an overall score and four communicative skill scores — Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening. Because many tasks are integrated, a single task can feed more than one skill, so the overall score is not the simple average of the four.

Range10–90Overall and for each of the four skills.

Maximum90Equivalent to CEFR C2 and IELTS 9.0.

Reported5 scoresOverall plus Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening.

AveragingNot simpleIntegrated tasks feed multiple skills, so don't just average.

It depends

A good score is relative to your goal

Undergraduate study

Often around 50–58

Many bachelor programmes accept this range, sometimes with per-skill minimums. Competitive courses ask for more.

Check the equivalent

Postgraduate & professional

Often around 58–65+

Master's programmes and many professional registrations sit here; 65 is a common strong benchmark.

Plan a target

Top tier & high English levels

79 and above

The Superior English level and the most competitive courses. Every skill usually needs to hit the level, not just the overall.

Build toward it

Score bands

What each PTE band means

PTE overall	CEFR	IELTS	What it typically reflects
85–90	C2	8.5–9.0	Near-native control; top of the scale.
79–84	C1	8.0	Superior English level; competitive study and high requirements.
65–78	B2–C1	7.0–7.5	Strong; many postgraduate and professional requirements.
58–64	B2	6.5	Solid; common undergraduate and some postgraduate entry.
50–57	B1–B2	6.0	Competent; a frequent minimum for undergraduate courses.
36–49	B1	5.0–5.5	Developing; foundation and pathway programmes.

CEFR and IELTS mappings use the published Pearson concordance (see the PTE score converter). Typical-use ranges are general guidance only; requirements are set by each institution and authority and change. Confirm the exact score you need. Checked July 3, 2026.

By skill

Overall isn't the whole story

Many universities and visa routes set a minimum for every skill, not just the overall score. A strong overall with one weak skill can still fall short, so check whether your target has per-skill minimums and treat your lowest skill as the one that gates you.

Aim a few points above the stated minimum

Practice estimates vary from test-day performance. Targeting a small buffer above the requirement — in every skill — protects you against a narrow miss.

Move up

How to reach a higher band

Set the score you need and convert it with the PTE score converter.
Find your weakest skill with a format diagnostic and the target planner.
Repair one pattern at a time in the Practice Hub, then review attempts.
If your score is stuck, follow the repair map instead of adding random practice.