What is the PTE exam?
The PTE test is a computer-based English language exam that assesses a candidate’s ability to read, write, speak, and listen to English. The global recognition of PTE is continuing to grow, and there are test centres all over the globe. The exam is available in three forms, Academic, General and Home. Here, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the PTE exam.
While you prepare for PTE, get started with your application to your dream university.
What is PTE exam full form?
PTE stands for Pearson Test of English, a computer-based English language proficiency test accepted by many universities and institutions worldwide. It evaluates your skills in speaking, listening, writing and reading in a single session.
Table of Contents
- What is the PTE exam?
- PTE exam: An overview
- Types of PTE exam
- PTE exam eligibility
- PTE syllabus & exam pattern 2024
- PTE speaking & writing section breakdown
- PTE Academic Reading section breakdown
- PTE Academic Listening section breakdown
- PTE score chart 2024
- PTE registration & booking
- PTE Preparation Tips
- On exam day: PTE rules and regulations
- Receiving your PTE score
- Frequently asked questions
- What is the PTE exam full form?
- What are the eligibility criteria for PTE Academic?
- How many times can I attempt the PTE exam?
- Can I get my test rescored if I think I did better?
- How long is the PTE certification valid?
- How many days does it take to prepare for the PTE exam?
- Is the PTE exam easier than IELTS?
- Can you attend the PTE exam in Maldives?
- What is the PTE test fee in Pakistan?
- What is the UKVI PTE score chart?
PTE exam: An overview
| PTE full form | Pearson Test of English |
| Conducted by | Pearson PLC Group |
| PTE exam eligibility | Academic: Candidates over the age of 16 General: No eligibility |
| PTE exam types | Academic, General |
| No. of sections | Academic: 3 General: 2 |
| No. of questions | Varies |
| PTE exam duration | Academic: 2 hours 15 minutes General: 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours 55 minutes |
| Score range | Academic: 10-90 |
| PTE exam fee | $220 |
Note: The PTE exam fee varies with every location.
What is PTE exam meaning?
The Pearson Test of English is a standard assessment that determines your English fluency through basic language skills like reading, writing, listening and speaking. The PTE exam is accepted various educational institutions across the world as proof of English proficiency.
Types of PTE exam
There are three types of PTE exams.
- PTE Academic
- PTE General
- PTE Home
PTE Academic (PTE-A)
The PTE Academic test is structured for international students to determine their level of proficiency in the English language. Several educational institutions accept PTE as proof of English fluency.
The Australian and New Zealand governments also accept the test as proof of English proficiency for immigration purposes.
PTE General
Also known as The International Certificate, PTE General consists of a written paper and an interview. The exam is designed for vocational purposes, to reward positive achievement in English language study. On the other hand, immigration authorities do not recognise this test.
PTE Home
PTE Home is a UK Home Office-approved speaking and listening test. People applying for family or settlement visas in the UK mainly take this test.
Which PTE exam should international students take?
International students should take the PTE Academic exam.
PTE exam eligibility
Candidates who wish to take the PTE Academic Exam must meet the following criteria:
- Candidates must be at least 16 years old to take the PTE Academic test.
- Before taking the test, candidates under 18 must have a parental consent document signed by a parent or guardian. This consent form can be found on the official website.
- There is no eligibility requirement for the PTE General exam.
PTE syllabus & exam pattern 2024
The PTE syllabus and exam pattern for the Academic version consists of the following four sections: listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
PTE exam pattern 2024
| Section | No. of questions | Duration (in minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking and Writing | 28-36 | 54-67 |
| Reading | 13-18 | 29-30 |
| Listening | 12-20 | 30-43 |
Also read: PTE exam pattern 2024
What is the PTE exam duration?
The PTE exam duration for the Academic version is 2 hours 15 minutes. The duration for the PTE General version varies between 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours 55 minutes.
Questions to expect in the PTE Academic exam
Speaking and Writing
- Personal introduction based on a prompt
- Reading text aloud
- Listening to & repeating sentences
- Describing image
- Listening to & re-telling a lecture in your own words
- Answering a short question
- Summarizing a written text in one sentence
- Essay writing (200-300 words based on a prompt)
Reading
- Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers
- Re-order paragraphs
- Fill in the blanks
- Multiple-choice, choose single answer
Listening
- Summarise spoken text
- Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers
- Fill in the blanks
- Highlight correct summary
- Multiple-choice, choose single answer
- Select missing word
- Highlight incorrect words
- Write from dictation
Also read: PTE exam syllabus 2024
While you prepare for PTE, get started with your application to your dream university.
PTE speaking & writing section breakdown
No. of questions: Varies
Total duration: 77-93 minutes
The PTE Speaking and Writing section examines your verbal and written communication abilities.
PTE Academic speaking and writing syllabus
| Patterns in the section | Breakdown |
|---|---|
| Personal introduction | 55 seconds: 25 seconds for the prompt and 30 seconds for recording the prompt |
| Read aloud | 30-40 seconds to prepare for reading out 60 words |
| Repeat sentence | A prompt lasts between 3 and 9 seconds; recording takes 15 seconds in total |
| Describe image | Your response must be prepared in 25 seconds |
| Re-tell lecture | 90 seconds for prompt length, 10 seconds to prepare, and 40 seconds to answer |
| Answer short question | 3-9 seconds for the prompt, 10 seconds for the response |
| Summarise written text | Response time of 10 minutes to a 300-word text prompt |
| Essay | 20 minutes to reply to a text prompt of 2-3 sentences |
PTE Academic Reading section breakdown
No. of questions: Varies
Total duration: 32-41 minutes
The Reading section analyses your ability to read and comprehend written instructions. Here's a detailed breakdown of the section.
| Patterns in the section | Breakdown |
|---|---|
| Reading & writing: Fill in the blanks | 300-word text |
| Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers | 300-word text |
| Re-order paragraphs in the correct order | 150-word text |
| Reading: Fill in the blanks | 80-word text |
| Multiple-choice, choose single answer | 300-word text |
PTE Academic Listening section breakdown
No. of questions: Varies
Total duration: 45-57 minutes
The listening section tests your ability to understand spoken English through different audio clips. The section is separated into eight segments, and each task is given a certain amount of time.
PTE Academic Listening section pattern 2024
| Section Pattern | Breakdown |
|---|---|
| Summarise spoken text | 60-90 second prompt, 10 minutes to write a 50-70 word summary. |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer | 40-90 prompt |
| Fill in the Blanks | 30-60 seconds prompt. Fill in the blanks on the transcript. |
| Highlight Correct Summary | 30-90 second prompt. Select the best summary paragraph. |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 30-60 second prompt |
| Select Missing Word | 20-70 second prompt |
| Highlight Incorrect Words | 15-50 second prompt. Choose incorrect words on the transcript. |
| Write From Dictation | 3-5 second prompt. Type the sentence. |
PTE score chart 2024
The PTE Academic test is machine-scored using Pearson’s automated scoring system. Some questions are scored based on simple criteria of correct or incorrect, while others are judged as partially correct (for example, in multiple-choice and multiple answers). In other cases, scores are awarded for the quality of response for spoken and longer-form written answers. You get one point for every correct response, while incorrect answers get zero points.
Your total score for all of the sections is 90. Here is a breakdown of the factors that lead to each scoring band:
Also read: PTE Score Chart 2024
PTE score chart 2024
| PTE Score | Assessment Factors |
|---|---|
| 85+ |
|
| 76 - 84 |
|
| 59 - 75 |
|
| 51 - 58 |
|
| 43 - 50 |
|
| 30 - 42 |
|
| 10 - 29 |
|
PTE registration & booking
You can register for the PTE exam by following these simple steps.
Step 1: Create an account on the official PTE website.
Step 2: Fill out your personal profile, including test preferences, exam histories, and past score reports (if applicable). Make sure that your personal details match the ones on your passport.
Step 3: Select your convenient or nearest PTE test centre.
Step 4: Choose an available test date.
Step 5: Review your preferences before making the payment.
Details about the type of PTE exam, your test centre, the price, and the tax will be included in your order. You will receive an email regarding the order confirmation.
If you wish to change the test date or location, you can do so at this point without any additional costs. However, PTE will deduct a small amount for these adjustments after payment has been made.
Step 6: Make payment once order confirmation has been received.
Candidates have the option of printing out their acknowledgement receipt. Account dashboards allow them access to these data.
What is the PTE exam fee?
The PTE exam fee is $220. Note that the price varies with every location, so it is important to check the fee details before registering for the test.
PTE Preparation Tips
The PTE exam may look challenging, but with ample practice and preparation, you can ace the test. Here’s how you can prepare for the PTE exam.
- Start preparing at least 6-8 weeks before your test day. This will give you plenty of time to practice and study without stress
- Familiarise yourself with the structure of the test
- Create a study routine and follow it for a seamless preparation process
- Make use of study guides and online practice tests to get a better understanding of the format
- Read new words and sentences you come across aloud for pronunciation.
- When reading texts, think about the difference between the “main idea” and “detailed information”
- Describe images you see when scrolling social media. Start in general terms before going into more details
Also read: The best PTE tools that will make studying a breeze
On exam day: PTE rules and regulations
- The only things you must bring on the day of the exam are your passport, as well as a copy of it. If you do not have a passport, contact your test centre to find out about alternative forms of identification.
- Make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before your test so that you have time to check in and go over the rules and procedures. The staff will also take your photograph, get your signature, scan, and your palm for security purposes.
- You’ll then be able to store your possessions in a locker before proceeding to sit your test.
Also read: The top 6 books for PTE to score HIGH!
Receiving your PTE score
PTE results are usually announced within five days of the test. You’ll receive an email alert as soon as your scores are available. You can also log into your PTE account and check your results. You can also use the dashboard to send your score to any educational institution of your choice.
While you prepare for PTE, get started with your application to your dream university.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PTE exam full form?
PTE stands for Pearson Test of English. The PTE exam determines the candidate’s level of English proficiency by testing their fundamental language skills in English.
What are the eligibility criteria for PTE Academic?
PTE Academic is open to students above the age of 16.
How many times can I attempt the PTE exam?
There is no restriction on the number of times a candidate can take the PTE Exam. You can book a test date five days after receiving the result.
Can I get my test rescored if I think I did better?
You can request a test rescore by contacting Pearson customer services. Remember that you should request reevaluation within 14 days of receiving your results.
The rescore does come at a fee, but if you get a higher score than graded initially, this fee will be refunded to you in full.
However, there are some things you should consider before requesting a rescore for your PTE exam:
- As a computer-graded test, the likelihood of any change is minimal.
Only your spoken responses and open-ended written answers will be re-evaluated. There is no chance of computer error in closed-answer tasks like multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blanks, and others. - Your score can increase or decrease upon rescoring. This new score, even if lower, will be reflected in your official results.
How long is the PTE certification valid?
PTE Academic scores are valid for two years.
How many days does it take to prepare for the PTE exam?
It is advisable to start preparing for the PTE exam at least 6-8 weeks before the test day.
Is the PTE exam easier than IELTS?
The PTE exam’s difficulty level depends on your language skills and familiarity with the format. So the difficulty level between competitive exams is based on the test taker’s ability to crack the test.
Can you attend the PTE exam in Maldives?
Only the PTE Academic Online exam is currently available in the Maldives. PTE is yet to offer other versions of their exams in the country.
What is the PTE test fee in Pakistan?
| PTE exam | PTE test fee in Pakistan |
|---|---|
| PTE Academic | $215 |
| PTE Academic Online | $215 |
| PTE Academic UKVI | $220 |
What is the UKVI PTE score chart?
| PTE score | CEFR level |
|---|---|
| 10-29 | A1 |
| 30-42 | A2 |
| 43-58 | B1 |
| 59-75 | B2 |
| 76-85 | C1 |
| Above 85 | C2 |
