Research Note - Can PTE Academic be used as an exit test for a course of academic English? - Academic English exit test evaluation

Oct 1, 2026

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The note examines whether PTE Academic can serve as an ELTU exit test for an academic English course, focusing on admissions readiness for higher education. It reviews how universities use proficiency evidence (IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson) and why score equivalences are difficult due to differing scoring scales, test content, and underlying target-domain constructs. It also highlights urgent institutional needs for valid and reliable equivalence, including UK policy requirements. The background describes collaboration among the University of Leicester, Pearson, and stakeholders, and sets up research questions on comparability of decisions and test content.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

1. Introduction

Admission requirements and recognized English proficiency tests

Challenges in score equivalence and comparability

2. Background

Study setting: ELTU Courses C, D and E

3. Objectives, Research Questions and Hypotheses

Research question focus: suitability, comparability, content

Research Note: Can PTE Academic be used as an exit test for a course of academic English? Nathaniel Owen University Of Leicester, UK July 2012 1. Introduction Universities in English-speaking countries require prospective students from those countries which do not speak English as their first language to provide evidence of their proficiency in academic English prior to the commencement of any course of study. Evidence is presented to the academic institution in the form of a test score from one of the major international test administrators (IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson) . This score is then used as part of the admissions process to determine the relative success or failure of each applicant. Also prior to the commencement of any course of academic study, a course of academic English may be undertaken to further facilitate the admissions process. At the University of Leicester, such programs take place at the English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) . The University of Leicester accepts TOEFL and Pearson PTE Academic scores in addition to IELTS in an effort to recruit students from all parts of the world. As an increasing number of foreign students are now electing to undertake PTE Academic, this has been added to the list of recognized examinations. Score equivalences between these examinations are often displayed on institutional websites, copied and distributed around the world1 . These tables are often of unknown origin and do not represent research-based findings. Score comparison is made difficult due to differing scoring systems: IELTS band scores are reported in incremental half-band increases, whereas TOEFL and PTE scores are presented on a continuous scale. In addition, a claim of comparison across the tests may be invalid due to differing content, differing conceptions of the target domain reflected indifferent item types, and potentially different claims made about students who sit the different examinations. Nonetheless, as these tests aim to make similar decisions about test takers, that is, their readiness for higher education in the medium of English, questions will always remain regarding score and content comparability. Subsequently, such research has been undertaken by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in the United States2 . The sliding scale shows that a range of scores that are concordant with a gross band score (e.g. scores between 60 and 78 on the TOEFL iBT are reported as concordant with IELTS band 6) . Equivalence of test scores has become an increasingly urgent area of research for both academic institutions and professional bodies. Increasing demand for places at UK universities by overseas students3 has resulted in increased pressure for English-language examinations to be valid and reliable. In addition, claims of equivalency between internal and external tests need to be verified due to the UK 1[http://secure.vec.bc.ca/toefl-equivalency-table.cfm](http://secure.vec.bc.ca/toefl-equivalency-table.cfm) 2[http://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/linking_toefl_ibt_scores_to_ielts_scores.pdf](http://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/linking_toefl_ibt_scores_to_ielts_scores.pdf). 3[http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/about/statistics_he.php\#table1](http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/about/statistics_he.php#table1) government’s Tier 4 legislation requiring minimum levels of competence prior to commencing academic courses4 . The industry is now particularly competitive. Against this backdrop, individual institutions that implement their own English language examinations are also aware of these pressures. The present study is therefore a result of shared concern between the researcher, Pearson, the UKBA and the higher education community in the United Kingdom, and is in direct response toa call for research advertised on the PTE external research webpage. 2. Background The present study focuses on PTE Academic in relation to the exit tests offered on ELTU Courses C, D and E. The ELTU at the University of Leicester gave permi

FAQs

Why are universities in English-speaking countries concerned with academic English proficiency before study begins?

They require prospective students to provide evidence of academic English proficiency as part of admissions decisions before the course starts.

What makes comparing scores across IELTS, TOEFL iBT, and PTE Academic difficult?

The tests use different scoring systems and may involve different content, target-domain conceptions, and item types, which can undermine direct comparability.

What is the central research question of the study?

Whether PTE Academic can perform the same function as the ELTU exit test, based on a defined and operationalized notion of suitability.

Oct 1, 2026

Uploaded by Terk