The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is a computer-based exam designed to evaluate the English language proficiency of non-native speakers who wish to study at universities in English-speaking countries. The PTE Academic test is structured into four key sections: Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening.
This combined section tests both speaking and writing skills through various tasks:
Duration: 54-67 minutes
This section focuses on reading comprehension and consists of the following tasks:
Duration: 30 minutes
In this section, candidates listen to various audio and video clips and respond to related tasks. The clips are played only once, so attentive listening is crucial:
Duration: 30–43 minutes
The PTE Academic test offers a thorough evaluation of essential English language skills, enabling candidates to demonstrate their readiness for academic success in English-speaking environments.
The PTE General is designed for non-native English speakers who are learners of the language and wish to study, work, or settle abroad. Unlike the PTE Academic, the PTE General is not computer-based and consists of two main sections: a written section and a spoken interview.
The PTE General is divided into six levels, aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). These levels range from beginner to advanced, catering to different proficiency levels. The entire test duration is approximately 3 hours.
PTE General scores are widely accepted by universities around the world, including in non-Englishspeaking European countries. The test serves as proof of a candidate’s English language proficiency and is valid indefinitely, meaning there is no need to retake the test for future use.
PTE Format | Details |
---|---|
Pattern | Speaking & Writing skills (54 – 67 minutes) Reading skills (29 – 30 minutes) Listening skills (30 – 43 minutes) |
Duration | 2 Hours |
Medium | Computer-based with headset |
No. Of Questions | 20 question types |
PTE Speaking and Writing Question Topics | No. of questions | Duration |
---|---|---|
Personal introduction | 1 | 55 seconds: 25 seconds for prompt, 30 seconds to record |
Read Aloud | 6-7 | 30-40 seconds to prepare for reading out the text of 60 words |
Repeat sentence | 10-12 | 15 seconds: 3-9 seconds for prompt, 15 seconds to record |
Describe image | 3-4 | 25 seconds to study the image and prepare answer |
Retell lecture | 1-2 | 90 seconds for prompt length, 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to answer |
Answer short question | 5-6 | 20 seconds: 3-9 seconds for prompt, 10 seconds to answer |
Summarize written text | 1-2 | 10 minutes to answer to text prompt of 300 words |
Write Essay | 1-2 | 20 minutes to answer to text prompt of 2-3 sentences |
Total questions | 28 - 36 | Time: 54 - 67 minutes |
PTE Reading Question Topics | No. of questions | Duration |
---|---|---|
Fill in the blanks –reading & writing | 5-6 | Read 300 words of text |
Multiple choice, multiple answers | 1-2 | Read 300 words of text |
Re-order paragraph | 2-3 | Read 150 words of text |
Fill in the blanks –reading | 4-5 | Read 80 words of text |
Multiple choice, single answer | 1-2 | Read 300 words of text |
Total questions | 13-18 | Time Allocation - 29 - 30 minutes |
PTE Listening Question Topics | No. of questions | Duration |
---|---|---|
Summarize Spoken Text | 1-2 | 60-90 seconds to retain 50-70 words, 10 minutes to write |
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | 1-2 | 40-90 seconds for prompt |
Fill in the Blanks | 2-3 | 30-60 seconds |
Highlight Correct Summary | 1-2 | 30-90 seconds |
Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 1-2 | 30-60 seconds |
Select Missing Word | 1-2 | 20-70 seconds |
Highlight Incorrect Word | 2-3 | 15-50 seconds |
Dictation | 3-4 | 3-5 seconds |
Total questions | 12 - 20 | Time Allocation: 30 - 43 minutes |