PTE Academic: test format, scoring and practice
A computer-based test taken in one sitting. A computer scores every answer, and many tasks count towards two skills at once, so Repeat Sentence also scores your listening.
At a glance
| Versions | PTE Academic and PTE Core |
|---|---|
| Length | About 2 hours |
| Scoring | Scored from 10 to 90, overall and for each skill. Many universities and visa routes ask for 65 to 79. |
| Question types | 22 |
| Sections | Speaking and writing, Reading, Listening |
Speaking and writing
About 1 hour
You speak into a headset, then type two writing tasks. Speaking is scored on content, pronunciation and fluency.
- Read AloudA short text appears on screen. You get a few seconds to read it silently, then read it aloud into the microphone.
- Repeat SentenceYou hear a sentence once and repeat it exactly. It is one of the highest-value speaking tasks because it also scores listening.
- Describe ImageYou see a chart, graph, map, process or picture and describe it in detail. A clear template lets you speak without stopping.
- Re-tell LectureYou listen to a short lecture, sometimes with an image, then retell it in your own words.
- Answer Short QuestionYou hear a simple general-knowledge question and answer with one or a few words.
- Respond to a SituationYou read or hear an everyday situation and respond as if you were speaking to the person involved.
- Summarize Group DiscussionYou listen to several people discuss a topic, then summarise the discussion aloud, including each speaker's view.
- Summarize Written TextYou read a passage and write a one-sentence summary of it.
- Write EssayYou write an argumentative essay on a given topic within a word limit and a time limit.
Reading
About 30 minutes
Fill gaps, choose answers and put paragraphs in order. Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks counts for both skills.
- Reading & Writing Fill in the BlanksA passage has several gaps; you choose the best word for each from a drop-down list.
- Reading Multiple Choice, Multiple AnswersYou read a passage and choose every option that answers the question.
- Re-order ParagraphsSeveral text boxes appear in random order; you drag them into the correct order.
- Reading Fill in the BlanksYou drag words from a box into the gaps in a passage. There are more words than gaps.
- Reading Multiple Choice, Single AnswerYou read a passage and choose the one option that answers the question.
Listening
About 30 to 43 minutes
Short recordings, each played once. Write From Dictation and Highlight Incorrect Words carry a lot of weight.
- Summarize Spoken TextYou listen to a short lecture and write a summary within a word limit.
- Listening Multiple Choice, Multiple AnswersYou listen to a recording and choose every correct option.
- Listening Fill in the BlanksA transcript has gaps; you type the missing words as you hear them.
- Highlight Correct SummaryYou listen to a recording and choose the paragraph that best summarises it.
- Listening Multiple Choice, Single AnswerYou listen to a recording and choose the one correct answer.
- Select Missing WordThe end of a recording is replaced by a beep; you choose the words that complete it.
- Highlight Incorrect WordsYou read a transcript while listening and click the words that differ from the audio.
- Write From DictationYou hear a sentence once and type it exactly. It carries a large share of the listening score.
If you're just starting
- Keep talking smoothly. Stopping to fix a mistake costs more fluency marks than the mistake itself.
- Practise Repeat Sentence and Write From Dictation every day; they feed several skill scores.
- Wrong answers lose marks on multiple-answer questions, so only pick options you're sure of.