In this article, you will learn what the Pearson Test of English PTE is, the exam format, how it’s scored, where it’s accepted, and information on exam dates and locations.
Finally, we’ll also provide you with some helpful exam preparation tips to help you ace the PTE test.
What is the PTE Test?
The Pearson Test of English Academic is a computer-based English language proficiency test that is globally accepted. It assesses and measures an individual’s language ability and proficiency in all four skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
This test is more inclined to assess one’s communication skills using the English language compared to the test-taking abilities of an individual. PTE Test is widely used and accepted for work, study, and visa applications in various countries internationally. The PTE Test is recognized worldwide by many academic institutions, government agencies, and other private organizations. And it is also accepted in more than 70 countries.
In addition to that, the PTE Test is commonly used and accepted for visa and migration purposes. It is also used for academic admissions to universities and colleges.
Aside from being internationally recognized, most candidates prefer the PTE Test because of its reliability and easy accessibility.
One of the most compelling reasons to take the Pearson PTE is that the test is fully computerized. Plus, you can take the whole PTE Test in just three hours, and AI technology also powers it for its grading system.
So it is not your typical scoring system for any language proficiency test, right? Instead, it delivers quick test results about 48 hours after taking the test.
There are three types of the PTE Test:
- PTE Academic.
- PTE General.
- PTE Young Learners Test.
We will cover more about each of these PTE tests in-depth in the upcoming sections.
How Much Does the PTE Test Cost?
The Pearson Test of English is widely used in multiple universities and colleges here and abroad. And also one of the leading computer-based English language proficiency tests.
Here are tabulated PTE Test fees in different countries worldwide.
Countries that accept PTE | PTE Exam Fee |
---|---|
Australia | AUD 375 (including taxes) Additional AUD 82.50 for bookings done 48 hours within the test schedule. |
China | USD 275 |
India | INR 13,700 (including taxes) |
Philippines | USD 210 |
Where is PTE Test Accepted?
The Pearson Language Tests (PTE) Academic is trusted by over 3,000 well-known institutions around the world. By far, this is the most reliable, fast, and accurate English language proficiency test in the market. And the best thing about the PTE Pearson English Test is that it caters to all age groups.
Besides the academic institutions that recognize this test, the PTE exam is also used by government offices, immigration, and other private sectors to prove their candidate’s English language proficiency. Thus, a very flexible and in-demand language assessment tool that is suited for everyone.
PTE Is Mainly Accepted in The Following Countries:
- Australia
- USA
- UK
- Singapore
- Canada
- New Zealand
- India
- Spain
- Russia
- South Africa
- Germany
- France
- Poland
- Argentina
- Italy
- Japan
- Czech Republic
- China
- Brazil
Some Universities and Colleges in Australia that accept PTE:
- Abbey College Australia
- Abbott School of Business
- Adelaide College of Technical Education (ACTE)
- ALTEC College
- Ashton College
- Barrington College
- Basair Aviation College
- Bedford College
- Brisbane Professional College
- Cambridge Academy of English
- Canberra Institute of Technology
- Central Queensland University
- Chisholm Institute of TAFE
- Curtin College
- Danford College
- Deakin University
- Dhurakij Pundit University
- Education Centre of Australia
- Everest Institute of Education
- Global Business College of Australia
- Griffith University
- Harward International College
- Kaplan Business School
- Melbourne City Institute of Education
- Melbourne Polytechnic
- Murdoch Institute of Technology
- The University of Adelaide
- The University of Canberra
- Torrens University Australia
- University College London – UCL Australia
- University of Notre Dame Australia
- University of South Australia – UniSA
- University of Tasmania
- University of Sydney – UTS
- University of Wollongong
- UTS College
- Victoria University – VU
- VIT – Victorian Institute of Technology
- Wentworth Institute of Higher Education
- William Angliss Institute
Some Universities and Colleges in the United Kingdom that accept PTE
- Abbey College London
- Academy of English and Business Studies
- Aldgate Business School
- American Intercontinental University – London
- Blake Hall College
- Bloomberg College
- Brit College
- Brunel University London
- Central College London
- Cranford College
- East London Business College
- EF International Language Schools London
- Global Banking School
- Greenwich London College
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- Hamilton College of Advanced College
- HULT International Business School
- Inchbald School of Design
- Kensington College of Business
- Kingston College of London
- Leyton College
- London Brunel International College
- London Empire College
- London Film Academy
- Maritime Greenwich College
- Mayfair School of English LTD
- Middlesex University
- North London College
- Oxford College International
- Park Royal College
- Pearson Example University
- Point Blank Music School
- Regents’ University London
- Royal Academy of Music
- Stanley College London
- TASMAC London School of Business
- The University of the West of England
- Tudor College London
- UK College of Business and Computing
- UK International College
- University of Greenwich
- University of Roehampton
- University of the Arts London
- University of West London
- University of Westminster
- Waltham Forest College
- Western University
- Westfield College
- Westminster College London
- Zen School of Shiatsu LTD
Some Universities and Colleges in the USA that accept PTE
- Abraham Lincoln University
- Academy of Art University
- Adams State College
- Arkansas State University
- Atlanta Metro State University
- Black Hills State University
- Bloomfield College
- Blue Mountain College
- Bridgewater State University
- Brookdale Community College
- California Northstate University
- Cambridge College
- Cameron University
- Chicago State University
- Clark Atlanta University
- Dakota State University
- Davenport University
- Dickinson State University (DSU)
- Dodge City Community College
- Dominican University of California
- Fairmont Schools
- Felician University
- Florida International University
- Hampton University
- Huntington University
- Jacksonville University
- Kent State University
- Louisiana State University
- Madison College
- Michigan State University
- Monmouth University
- National Louis University
- New York University
- University of Alabama
- University of Central Missouri
- University of Charleston
- University of Chicago
- University of Houston
- University of Memphis
- University of North Georgia
- University of San Francisco
- University of South Dakota
- University of Utah
- University of West Florida
- University of Virginia
- University of Washington
- University of West Florida
- University of Wisconsin Stout
- Valdosta State University
- Valley City State University
Some Universities and Colleges in New Zealand that accept PTE
- Abacus Institute of Studies
- Alpha Educational Institute
- Auckland Goldstar Institute
- Ara Institute of Canterbury
- Canterbury College LTD
- Cornell Insitute of Business and Technology
- Eastern Institute of Technology
- Elim Leadership College
- ICL Business School
- Imperial College of New Zealand
- International College of Auckland
- International College of New Zealand
- IPU New Zealand
- Laidlaw College
- Lincoln University New Zealand
- Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT)
- National Tertiary Education Consortium (NTEC)
- National Trade Academy
- Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
- New Zealand Institute of Studies
- New Zealand Tertiary College
- Newton College of Business and Technology
- Northland Polytechnic (NorthTec)
- Royal Business School
- Southern Institute of Technology
- Tai Poutini Polytechnic
- Tasman International Academies
- Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology
- UC International College
- Universal College of Learning
- University of Canterbury
- University of Otago
- University of Waikato
- Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ)
- Victoria University Wellington
- Vision College
- Waikato Institute of Technology
- Wellington Institute of Technology ((WELTEC)
- Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki
- Whitireia Community Polytechnic
PTE Academic Test
The PTE Academic is available throughout the year, and it is best suited for students applying for universities, colleges, and other higher-level educational institutions.
The PTE Academic is highly recognized by prestigious universities worldwide, including London Business School in the United Kingdom, Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and other universities and colleges.
This test is also used among government offices and other organizations to test the English skills of non-native speakers who wish to apply for them.
It is a computerized English language exam that mainly focuses on using the language in real-life settings, such as in an academic environment. The PTE Academic test is approximately three hours long, and the test results can be delivered within five working days.
There are three sections for the PTE (Pearson Tests of English) Academic:
- The first section of the PTE exam is the speaking and writing test, and the duration for this section is approximately 77 to 93 minutes. ,
- The following section is the reading test, and it lasts around 32 to 41 minutes.
- Then, finally, and the last section of the Pearson PTE exam is the listening test, and the duration for this part is around 45 to 57 minutes.
Below is the detailed test structure for each section.
Speaking and Writing Test
Questions Types | Number of Items | The Focused Communicative Skills and Enabling Skills |
---|---|---|
Read Aloud | 6 to 7 |
|
Repeat Sentence | 10 to 12 |
|
Describe an Image Presented | 6 to 7 |
|
Re-tell Lecture | 3 to 4 |
|
Answer Short Questions | 10 to 12 |
|
Summarize Written Text Given | 2 to 3 |
|
Write an Essay | 1 to 2 |
|
- The first few sections (Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe an Image Presented, Re-tell Lecture, Answer Short Questions are provided a combined total of 30 to 35 minutes.
- Summarize Written Text Given section is allotted 20 to 30 minutes.
- Write an Essay section is alloted 20 to 40 minutes.
Reading Test
Questions Types | Number of Items | The Focused Communicative Skills and Enabling Skills |
---|---|---|
Multiple-Choice Answer | 2 to 3 |
|
Multiple-Choice Answer | 2 to 3 |
|
Re-order of Paragraphs | 2 to 3 |
|
Reading: Fill in the Blanks | 4 to 5 |
|
Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks | 5 to 6 |
|
- The time allotted for this entire section is 32 to 41 minutes.
Listening Test
Questions Types | Number of Items | The Focused Communicative Skills and Enabling Skills |
---|---|---|
Summarize Spoken Texts | 2 to 3 |
|
Multiple-choice Answers | 2 to 3 |
|
Fill in the Blanks | 2 to 3 |
|
Highlight the Correct Summary | 2 to 3 |
|
Multiple-Choice and Choose Single Answer | 2 to 3 |
|
Select the Missing Word | 2 to 3 |
|
Highlight the Incorrect Words | 2 to 3 |
|
Write from a Dictation | 3 to 4 |
|
- Summarize Spoken Texts section is alloted 20 to 30 minutes.
- All the other sections (Multiple-choice Answers, Fill in the Blanks, Highlight the Correct Summary, Multiple-Choice ad Choose Single Answer, Select the Missing Word, Highlight the Incorrect Words, Write from a Dictation) are alloted a combined total of 23 to 28 minutes.
PTE General Test
The PTE General, known before as the London Test of English or the Pearson English International Certificate declared last December 2020, is a subtype of the PTE exam. This test is an international English language proficiency examination suited for those speakers of English as a foreign language.
It is a consistent theme-based exam designed to test how well one can communicate using the English language in a realistic setup. Therefore, it does not solely focus on grammar and other vocabulary structures.
The test uses real-life scenarios to test four English skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. There are five levels in the PTE General tests.
PTE General Scoring | PTE Exam Duration |
---|---|
Level 5 | 2 hours and 55 minutes |
Level 4 | 2 hours and 30 minutes |
Level 3 | 2 hours |
Level 2 | 1 hour and 35 minutes |
Level 1 | 1 hour and 30 minutes |
Level A1 | 1 hour and 15 minutes |
PTE Young Learner Test
The PTE Young Learner Test is known before as LTEFC, and this exam is an English language proficiency test suited for young children from ages 7 to 12.
It assesses those children that use English as a foreign language and evaluates the four English skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The exam is themed-based and is specially designed to be fun and motivating that are appealing to kids.
The lower levels of the PTE Young Learner Test aims to test the children’s abilities in using the English language in terms of structure. For the higher levels, it focuses mainly on the language communicative tasks. This exam also uses real-life scenarios in the test rather than giving out grammatical exercises and types of questions.
Level | PTE Young Learners | Exam Time |
---|---|---|
1 | Firstwords | 1 hour |
2 | Springboard | 1 hour |
3 | Quickmarch | 1 hour |
4 | Breakthrough | 1 hour and 15 minutes |
PTE Pearson Test of English Scoring
There are two types of PTE tests, and they are scored and interpreted differently. Check out below for the PTE Academic Scoring and PTE General Scoring.
The PTE overall scoring is the total sum and average of your enabling skills and communicative skills. All of these enabling skills have a score range of 90 to 10 and communicative skills.
To give you a clearer view about the enabling skills, these are your skills in grammar, oral fluency, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse. As for your communicative skills, these are your listening, writing, speaking, and reading skills.
Your PTE test scores report includes your overall test scores, your communication test scores, and your enabling skills test scores.
PTE Academic Scoring
The Pearson Language Test (PTE) Academic gives an overall scoring from 90 points as the highest up to 10 points which is the lowest.
Note that the PTE uses an automated scoring algorithm which means that your test will be marked accurately, consistently, and fairly. In addition, the computerized scoring is based global scale and is designed according to how experts will check your test, which gives consistent and accurate results.
You may think that the scoring will be biased, but no, it isn’t. Still, to assure you, the PTE has taken numerous data every year, with over 678,000 examiner responses inputted into their database.
They have put together millions of responses and combined knowledge of experts in the English language to give you consistent, accurate, objective, and fast results. This PTE grading system is objective and free from human errors and biases.
Below is the table for PTE Academic Scoring and its descriptors. It will give you a comprehensive look at the PTE scoring levels and what abilities and skills are in each category.
PTE Academic Scoring | Description |
---|---|
85 to 90 |
|
76 to 84 |
|
59 to 75 |
|
43 to 58 |
|
30 to 42 |
|
10 to 29 |
|
Here is a table showing the PTE scoring in comparison to CEFR levels. This table gives comprehensive details of the CEFR levels.
PTE Academic Scoring | CEFR Level Equivalent | CEFR Level | CEFR Level Description |
---|---|---|---|
85 to 90 | C2 | Mastery Level of the English Language |
|
76 to 84 | C1 | Advanced Level Proficiency |
|
59 to 75 | B2 | Upper-Intermediate Level Proficiency |
|
43 to 58 | B1 | Intermediate Level Proficiency |
|
30 to 42 | A2 | Elementary Level Proficiency |
|
10 to 29 | A1 | Beginner Level Proficiency |
|
Here is a table showing the PTE scoring in comparison to IELTS levels. This table gives comprehensive details of the IELTS levels.
PTE Academic Scoring | IELTS Band Equivalent | IELTS Level | IELTS Level Description |
---|---|---|---|
85 to 90 | Band 9 | Expert User |
|
76 to 84 | Band 7 – 8 | Very Good/Good User |
|
59 to 75 | Band 5.5 – 6.5 | Competent/Modest User |
|
43 to 58 | Band 4 – 5 | Modest User/Limited User |
|
30 to 42 | Band 3 – 2 | Extremely Limited/Intermittent User |
|
10 to 29 | Band 1 – 0 | Non-User/ Did Not Complete the Test |
|
PTE General Scoring
The PTE General scoring is in line with the CEFR level descriptors. It means that the scoring for the four English language skills in the PTE General Test is mapped out with the CEFR level. It is to ensure standardized and accurate scoring results.
PTE General Scoring | PTE Exam Duration | CEFR Level | CEFR Level Description |
---|---|---|---|
Level 5 | 2 hours and 55 minutes | C2 Proficient – Mastery Level |
|
Level 4 | 2 hours and 30 minutes | C1 – Advanced Level |
|
Level 3 | 2 hours | B2 – Upper-Intermediate Level |
|
Level 2 | 1 hour and 35 minutes | B1 – Intermediate Level |
|
Level 1 | 1 hour and 30 minutes | A2 – Elementary Level |
|
Level A1 | 1 hour and 15 minutes | A1 – Beginner Level |
|
PTE Exam Registration and Requirements
If you plan to take the PTE exam, you must be at least 16 years of age. And for those applicants below the age of 18 years old, you need to present a parental consent duly signed by your parents or guardians. You can download the consent form on their official website.
To register for the PTE exam, you need to have an official account on their website. Then, you need to complete the registration, fill in the required information, and are also asked to choose the PTE exam that you are going to take, either the PTE Academic or the PTE General.
You are to choose the testing centers that are near you and the schedule of your exam.
Note that the PTE General exam is only administered a year thrice. And for the PTE Academic, it is given once a month. Therefore, the validity of the test score is termless.
Should you wish to cancel your PTE exam schedule, you can do so and can claim a full refund for the exam fee if you processed it 14 days before your scheduled test date.
In connection with that, if you have canceled less than 14 days but at least seven days before your schedule, you can still get a 50% refund of the PTE Test Fee. However, there will be no refund for the test fee for those cancelations done in less than seven days. Again, you can process the cancellation through the PTE official website.
How to Prepare for the PTE Exam?
Like any other English language proficiency test, you also need to prepare for the PTE Pearson test. There are many ways for you to prepare for your upcoming PTE exam.
Let us help you ace the PTE test with a few but effective strategies we have come up below.
1. Explore Different PTE Practice Test
There is many available PTE practice test that you can access on their official website. Do your research on the different online practice tests. In addition, the PTE offers PTE Academic Question Bank with over 300 practice questions and sample speaking and writing tests.
They also have ebooks about the Official Guide to PTE Academic loaded with expert advice, tips in reviewing for the PTE, and more digital Pearson PTE practice tests.
Plus, they also have the PTE Academic English Booster that contains many academic English language practices and activities that you can do. It will help you boost and enhance your English skills.
Or, if you want, you may also enroll in various programs that focus on basic English language skills. Note that PTE focuses more on communicative skills, so better go for the speaking courses. You can also do self-evaluation and concentrate on your specific language skills that need more improvement.
2. Create a Study Plan
Creating a study plan that suits your schedule well is an excellent way to start your preparation. For example, you may create an outline of your schedule and plot them daily, weekly, or even on a monthly basis. Be sure that you have specific goals scheduled daily in relation to your preparation for the exam.
Like, today, you need to add five new vocabulary words, or you may also schedule a weekly speaking session. All the activities you plot are in line with the PTE test format, whichever you will take.
And also, spare an hour or more for your review per day. Make sure that you also have time to refresh the things that you have studied. It will help you assess if you have retained the lessons you took or not.
3. Take a lot of Practice Tests
Yes, you need to take as many practice tests as you can. It may sound exaggerating, but it will help you in the long run. These practice tests will help you hone your skills one step at a time.
These Pearson PTE practice tests will expose you to the test formats to know what to expect and get you comfortable answering them. For sure, you have heard the adage, practice makes perfect, right? So trust us on this one, and do not skip those practice tests.
These tips are only a few; it is made that way so you will not stress too much about what to do — what to prepare and all the crazy stuff in preparing for the test.
We do not want to burden you with a long list of to-dos. Instead, a few but comprehensive ways will always suffice.