Quick answer
Nepali students should take whichever of IELTS or PTE both their university and their visa route accept, then choose by format, since neither is reliably easier. Both are offered at test centres in Kathmandu. For UK study below degree level you need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI, and most Indian universities do not ask English-taught Nepali students for any test.
- A standard IELTS Academic certificate does not meet the UK SELT rule for study below degree level.
- PTE is computer-delivered and machine-scored; IELTS speaking is a live conversation with a human examiner.
- Universities set an overall score and a minimum per skill, so your weakest skill is the real target.
- Kathmandu test dates fill up before the September intake, so book early.
Short answer: pick the test your university and visa route both accept, then pick the format that suits you. IELTS and PTE measure the same skills in different ways, and both are available at test centres in Kathmandu (and some other cities). Neither is reliably 'easier'; the format is what should decide it.
Does your university and visa route accept the test?
Before you book, confirm two things: that your university accepts the test, and that your visa route accepts it. They do not always match. In the UK, study below degree level requires a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI, taken at an approved centre, and a standard IELTS Academic certificate will not do. Booking the wrong version is the most expensive mistake Nepali students make, because it means paying twice.
What the UK, Ireland and India accept
| Destination | Universities | Visa |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Most accept IELTS Academic and PTE Academic for degree-level study; some accept an English medium of instruction letter from Nepal | Degree level: the university's assessment is accepted. Below degree level: a SELT such as IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI |
| Ireland | Most accept IELTS Academic and PTE Academic, and many accept TOEFL iBT | The immigration service relies on the English evidence your college accepted |
| India | Most universities do not ask Nepali students taught in English for a test | Nepali citizens need no Indian visa, so no visa English test applies |
How they differ in practice
- PTE is computer-delivered and computer-scored, so results come back quickly and marking is consistent
- IELTS speaking is a conversation with a human examiner; PTE speaking is recorded and machine-assessed
- PTE tasks are integrated, so one task can score several skills at once
- IELTS offers a paper-based option at many centres, which suits people who read better on paper
Choose on format, not on what friends took
In Nepal, test choice often follows whatever a consultancy or friend recommends. Decide on format instead. If talking to an examiner makes you nervous, PTE removes that. If you speak more naturally to a person than to a microphone, IELTS suits you better. If you type quickly and can concentrate in a busy room, PTE plays to that.
Know your target score before you book
Universities set an overall score and a minimum for each skill. It is common to clear the overall score and miss one component, so treat your weakest skill as the real target. Test dates in Kathmandu fill up before the September intake, so book early and take a full timed practice test first.
Entry requirements for every programme, including the English score, are listed on each course page on Admission Bravo.
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