PTE, known as the Pearson Test of English, is an internationally accepted and standardized test designed to assess the English language of non-native English speakers to understand their ability to use the language. It is recognized by universities, colleges, governments, and employers throughout the world.
In this article, our expert tutors will guide you through the PTE exam and all its relevant details, including the format, sections, scoring system, and tips for a better PTE score.
PTE Success Online has been chosen as the go-to platform for preparing for PTE examinations by students around the globe. Our 10+ instructors with 10+ years of experience have achieved 98% success, having assisted over 1000+ students. We guarantee your dream PTE score.
PTE exam format overview
The Pearson Test of English assesses its test-takers on four major language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing, through different sections of the test. The tasks and questions are as follows:
- Speaking and writing
• Personal Introduction
• Read Aloud
• Repeat Sentence
• Describe Image
• Re-Tell Lecture
• Answer a short question.
• Summarize Written Text
• Essay - Reading
• Multiple-Choice Questions
• Re-Order Paragraphs
• Reading Fill in the Blanks
• Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks - Listening
• Summarize Spoken Text
• Multiple-Choice
• Fill in the blanks.
• Highlight the correct summary.
• Select Missing Word
• Highlight incorrect words.
• Write from Dictation
How long is the PTE exam?
Pearson has recently shortened the timeframe of the PTE examination to approximately 2 hours based on the competency of the student. Previously, the test took nearly 3 hours. A 33% decrease in test time has changed the fundamentals of the PTE exam.
In short, the PTE examination can be completed within approximately 114–141 minutes.
The PTE Examination Test is divided into four major parts:
- Introduction
- Part 1 (Speaking and Writing)
- Part-2 (Reading)
- Part-3 (Listening)
According to the new test module, the introduction takes 1 minute. Part 1, which consists of speaking and writing, takes approximately 54–67 minutes. Part 2 of the test, which consists of reading, takes approximately 30 minutes, whereas Part 3 of the test takes approximately 30–43 minutes.
PTE exam sections
The PTE examinations have three parts with four sections. The time allocated for each section is as follows:
Part-1
- Introduction: 1 Minute
- Read Aloud: 6-7 Minutes
- Repeat Sentence: 10–12 Minutes
- Describe Image: 3–4 Minutes
- Retell Lecture: 1-2 Minutes
- Answer a Short Question: 5–6 Minutes
- Summarize Written Text: 1-2 Minutes
- Write an essay in 1-2 minutes.
Part 2
- Fill in the Blanks: Reading and Writing (5–6 minutes)
- Multiple Choice and Multiple Answers: 1-2 Minutes
- Re-Order Paragraph: 2-3 Minutes
- Fill in the Blanks: Reading: 4-5 Minutes
- Multiple Choice and Single Answers: 1-2 Minutes
Part-3
- Summarize Spoken Text: 1-2 Minutes
- Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers, 1-2 Minutes
- Fill in the blanks: 2-3 minutes
- Highlight the Correct Summary: 1-2 Minutes
- Multiple Choice, Single Answer: 1-2 Minutes
- Select Missing Word: 1-2 Minutes
- Highlight the incorrect word for 2-3 minutes.
- Write from Dictation: 3–4 Minutes
PTE exam scoring system?
The PTE Exam Scoring System is as follows:
Task Type | Scoring Method | Prompt Length | Communicative Skills Scored |
---|---|---|---|
Reading Section | |||
Multiple Choice – Single Correct Answer | Correct/Incorrect | Up to 300 words | Reading Comprehension |
Multiple Choice – Multiple Correct Answers | Correct/Incorrect | Up to 300 words | Reading Comprehension, Scanning |
Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks | Partial Credit | Up to 300 words | Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar |
Fill in the Blanks | Partial Credit | Up to 80 words | Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar |
Re-order Paragraphs | Partial Credit | Up to 150 words | Reading Comprehension, Text Organization, Logic |
Listening Section | |||
Multiple Choice – Single Correct Answer | Correct/Incorrect | 30-90 seconds | Listening Comprehension |
Multiple Choice – Multiple Correct Answers | Correct/Incorrect | 40-90 seconds | Listening Comprehension, Detail Identification |
Fill in the Blanks | Partial Credit | 30-60 seconds | Listening Comprehension, Spelling, Vocabulary |
Highlight Correct Summary | Correct/Incorrect | 30-90 seconds | Listening Comprehension, Summarization |
Write from Dictation | Partial Credit | 3-5 Seconds | Listening Comprehension, Spelling, Grammar |
Select Missing Word | Correct/Incorrect | 20-70 seconds | Listening Comprehension, Vocabulary |
Highlight Incorrect Word | Correct/Incorrect | 15-50 seconds | Listening Comprehension, Reading |
Summarize Spoken Text | Partial Credit | 30-90 seconds | Listening Comprehension, Summarization, Conciseness |
Speaking & Writing Section | |||
Read Aloud | Partial Credit | Up to 60 words | Pronunciation, Fluency, Reading |
Describe Image | Partial Credit | N/A | Vocabulary, Grammar, Cohesion, Relevance |
Repeat Sentence | Partial Credit | 3-9 Seconds | Pronunciation, Listening, Speaking |
Answer Short Question | Partial Credit | 3-9 Seconds | Spoken Expression, Vocabulary, Listening |
Re-tell Lecture | Partial Credit | Up to 90 Seconds | Speaking Skills, Listening, Retention |
Summarize Written Text | Partial Credit | Up to 300 words | Reading Comprehension, Summarization, Conciseness |
Essay | Partial Credit | 2-3 Sentences | Writing |
How to register for PTE?
Here is a Step-by-Step Guide for registering for PTE:
- Visit the Official PTE Website: Start by going to the official website of PTE, which is pearsonpte.com.
- Create an Account: If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to create an account on the website. Look for the “Sign Up” or “Create an Account” option and provide the required information like your name, email address, and password.
- Select Test Type: Once you’re logged in, select the type of PTE test you want to take. There are different versions of the test available, such as PTE Academic, PTE General, and PTE Young Learners. Choose the one that suits your needs.
- Choose Test Location: After selecting the test type, you’ll need to choose the location where you want to take the test. PTE test centers are located in various cities and countries around the world. Pick the one that is most convenient for you.
- Select Test Date and Time: Once you’ve chosen the location, you’ll be able to see available test dates and times. Select the one that fits your schedule best.
- Review Test Fee: Take a look at the test fee for your chosen test type and location. Make sure you’re aware of how much you need to pay and any additional fees that may apply.
- Make Payment: Proceed to make the payment for the test. You can usually pay online using a credit or debit card. Follow the prompts to complete the payment process securely.
- Receive Confirmation: After successfully completing the registration and payment, you’ll receive a confirmation email with details of your test registration. Make sure to keep this email safe as you may need it for future reference.
- Prepare for the Test: Now that you’re registered for the PTE test, it’s time to start preparing! Familiarize yourself with the test format, practice sample questions, and consider taking preparation courses if needed.
- Arrive on Test Day: On the day of the test, make sure to arrive at the test center on time. Bring along any required identification documents as specified in the test guidelines.
- Take the Test: Follow the instructions of the test administrators and complete the test to the best of your ability. Stay calm and focused throughout the test.
- Receive Scores: After completing the test, your scores will be available within a few days. You’ll receive an email notification when your scores are ready, and you can view them by logging into your account on the PTE website.
PTE exam fees
Test Center Name | Address | Phone |
---|---|---|
Pearson Professional Centers – Melbourne | Level 14, 300 La Trobe Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 | (03) 9670 4899 |
Pearson Professional Centers – Sydney, Australia | Level 2, 10 Bridge Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia | +61 2 9247 6072 |
Victoria University | Level 17, 300 Flinders Street Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia | N/A |
Swinburne University of Technology | TD building, Room TD132, John Street Hawthorn, Victoria 3122 Australia | N/A |
Pearson Professional Centers – Box Hill VIC | Level 3, 990 Whitehorse Road Box Hill, Victoria 3128 Australia | N/A |
Gordon Institute of TAFE | 2 Fenwick St, T BUILDING – BASEMENT LEVEL ROOM TB.12 Geelong, Victoria 3220 Australia | N/A |
RMIT Training Pty Ltd | Level 10, RMIT Building 108, 235-251 Bourke Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 | (03) 9657 5800 |
Melbourne Polytechnic | Melbourne Polytechnic Preston Campus, Room 315 Building E, 77 St Georges Road, Preston 3072 Melbourne | +61 3 9269 1200 |
Melbourne Polytechnic – Room 313 | 77 St Georges Road Building E Room 313 Preston, Victoria 3072 Australia | N/A |
Pearson Professional Centers – Perth WA | Ground Floor, 1 William Street, The Quadrant Perth, Western Australia 6000 | N/A |
Edith Cowan College | Building 80, Joondalup Campus West 10 Injune Way Joondalup, Western Australia 6027 Australia | N/A |
Pearson Professional Centers – Adelaide SA | Ground Floor, 76 Waymouth Street Adelaide, South Australia 5000 Australia | N/A |
PLT at Cliftons Canberra | 2/10 Moore Street Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia | N/A |
Canberra Institute of Technology | Library, Block E Ground Floor 37 Constitution Avenue Reid Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601 | N/A |
International Education Services Ltd | Leichhardt Street Campus Ground level, 88 Leichhardt Street Spring Hill Brisbane, Queensland 4004 Australia | N/A |
Pearson Professional Centers – Brisbane QLD | Level 9, 333 Adelaide Street Brisbane, Queensland 4000 Australia | N/A |
The University of Queensland (UQ) | 213: Level 2, Sir Llew Edwards Bld (#14) Cnr University Drive & Campbell Road St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia | N/A |
Pearson Professional Centers – Parramatta NSW | Level 5, 31 Macquarie Street Parramatta, New South Wales 2150 Australia | N/A |
Western Sydney University – The College | Level 3, 8 Australia Avenue Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales 2127 Australia | N/A |
Navitas English Test Centre – Sydney | Level 3, 255 Elizabeth St Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia | N/A |
Navitas English Test Centre – Sydney (Room 2) | Level 8, 255 Elizabeth St Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia | N/A |
Navitas English Test Centre – Perth | 211 Newcastle St Northbridge Perth, Western Australia 6003 Australia | N/A |
Navitas English Test Centre – Brisbane | Ground Floor, East Tower, 410 Ann Street Brisbane, Queensland 4000 Australia | N/A |
Griffith University | Griffith English Language Institute Level 3, G52 International Building Southport, Queensland 4222 Australia | N/A |
UNSW Global Pty Ltd | Shop 1, 159-171 Anzac Parade Kensington, New South Wales 2033 Australia | N/A |
Central Queensland University, Campus Sydney | 400 Kent St, Sydney NSW 2000 | (07) 4930 9000 |
University of Southern Queensland | 487/521-535 West St, Darling Heights QLD 4350 | 1800 269 500 |
Educational Enterprises Pty Ltd | 16-20 Coglin Street, Adelaide, 5000 | 1300 739 585 |
Tips and Strategies for the PTE Examination
These are the secret tips, tricks, and strategies for a better PTE examination:
- Focus on weak areas.
- Use authentic resources.
- Join PTE Success Online for Preparation (Wink)
- Learn to manage time.
- Learn keyboard shortcuts.
- Mastering time management
- Develop Fluency
- Improve listening skills.
- Review and analyze mistakes.
- Simulate test conditions.
Conclusion
PTE Success Online provides a complete PTE Exam Pattern 2024 to crack the PTE academic exam with language proficiency in reading, listening, speaking, and writing the English language.