International students dreaming of studying abroad need to take English language proficiency tests to prove their English language skills. The Pearson Test of English Academic, or PTE Academic, stands out among other standardized English tests because it is fast, reliable, and fully computer-based. It is also accepted by numerous universities and several government bodies worldwide.
One of the best features of the PTE Academic is that it uses artificial intelligence for scoring, which guarantees unbiased and quick results. The test is structured to evaluate real-life academic English skills. Moreover, the flexible test schedule and retake options make it attractive for candidates globally.
Here, we will discuss everything you need to know about PTE Academic, including what it is, how it differs from other tests, eligibility requirements, test format, preparation tips, scoring system, types of exams, fees, and application process, so that you can prepare for your PTE Academic exam easily.
Table of Contents
What is PTE Academic?
The PTE Academic or the Pearson Test of English is a standardized English language proficiency test that assesses the English language skills of non-native speakers. The specialty of this test is that it is a computer-based test. This test is an alternative to exams such as TOEFL and IELTS.
International students applying to universities abroad can take this test to prove their English language proficiency. The exam tests listening, reading, speaking, and writing via computer in a single three-hour test session. The exam focuses on practical English used in academic settings, including accents and academic language.
Difference Between PTE and Other English Language Tests
The main difference between PTE and other English language proficiency tests is that PTE is completely scored by a computer using AI, while other tests have some sort of human moderation. This is also the reason why PTE results are provided faster than both IELTS and TOEFL. PTE results take only two to five working days.
Other differences include the scoring system and difficulty. PTE is generally easier than IELTS or TOEFL and is scored on a 10-90-point scale. The downside is that IELTS and TOEFL are accepted by more universities than PTE, although the number of universities that accept PTE is growing.
Who Recognizes PTE Academic?
Although PTE Academic is relatively new, it is accepted by numerous countries, such as the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, France, and Ireland. Some of the universities that accept PTE include Abbey College Birmingham, Abbey College Cambridge, Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, University of Illinois, Alabama State University, California Northstate University, University of Oxford, University of Glasgow, University of Southampton, and many more.
Make sure to check the official websites of the university where you are applying to find out if that particular university accepts PTE Academic as an English language proficiency test. Not all universities accept PTE Academic, so make sure to check thoroughly.
Eligibility Requirements for the PTE Academic Test
The PTE Academic test only has two eligibility requirements, which are that candidates must be at least 16 years or older and they have to provide a valid identification document, such as a passport or birth certificate. There are no educational requirements to take the PTE academic test. Make sure to provide a passport or other valid identification documents to prove your age and credibility.
When and Where Can I Take the Test?
The PTE Academic exams are held at specific test centers that are spread all across the world. There are more than 200 test centers located in over 50 countries. You can find the full list of test centers at the official PTE website. You can also find out when the next test sessions are due to find a suitable time for your test.
How Much Does the PTE Academic Test Cost?
It costs about $200-$300, although prices may vary based on location and time. PTE Academic UKVI costs $205, PTE Core costs $205, PTE Home A1 costs $170, PTE Home A2 costs $170, and PTE Home B1 costs $170. Make sure to check the official site to get the most accurate costs.
Can I Retake the Test?
Yes, you can retake PTE as many times as you like if your previous result is not up to your liking. However, you will need to wait until your test results come out before applying to retake the exam. You can retake the test even within the same month.
Although there are no overall limits to how many times you can retake the exam, you can only retake it a maximum of 12 times in 12 months. This means that if you give the exam 12 times within 6 months, you would need to wait 6 months before applying for another retake.
How Long Will I Have to Wait for Results?
You will have to wait two to five days for your PTE results. More than 85% of the test scores are returned within 2 days. 5.6% of the results take 3 days, 3.3% of the results take 4 days, 1.7% of the results take 5 days, and only 3.7% of the results take more than 5 days.
Types of PTE Exams
There are three different types of PTE exams such as PTE Academic, PTE General, and PTE Home. They are discussed in detail in the passages below.
PTE Academic
This type of PTE exam is the most common among all the types of PTE exams. This test is perfectly structured for international students to measure their English language proficiency. Numerous universities accept this test as an English language proficiency certificate for undergrad courses. Some countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, also accept the test for immigration purposes.
PTE General
The PTE General is also known as the International Certificate. This exam includes a written paper and an interview. This exam is structured to reward positive achievements in English language study. However, this test is usually not accepted by the immigration authorities of different countries.
PTE Home
This exam is approved by the UK Home Office, which means that people applying for family or settlement visas mainly take this test. There are different types of exams for different types of UK visas.
PTE Test Format
PTE test is divided into three portions such as speaking & writing, reading, and listening. All of these parts are discussed in detail below.
Part 1: Speaking & Writing
This section of the exam tests the candidates’ speaking and writing abilities. It takes about 54–67 minutes for the overall exam. The different sections of the speaking and writing exam are discussed below.
- Personal introduction: Examinees get 55 seconds in total, where 25 seconds are for the prompt and 30 seconds to record their answer.
- Read aloud: 30-40 seconds are given for this portion, and you have read out loud 60 words.
- Repeat sentence: A prompt is given, and you have to repeat it into the microphone. It takes about 15 seconds in total.
- Describe image: An image is given, and you must describe it within 25 seconds.
- Re-tell the lecture: The computer gives you a prompt that lasts for 90 seconds. You have 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to answer.
- Answer short questions: 3-9 seconds for the prompt, and 10 seconds for you to respond to the questions.
- Summarise written text: You are given a 300-word text prompt, and you have to respond within 10 minutes.
- Essay: Examinees get 20 minutes to write an essay as a reply to a text prompt of 2-3 sentences.
Part 2: Reading
This section of the exam is designed to test your reading abilities and your ability to comprehend written instructions. This section takes about 30-40 minutes. The different sections of the speaking and writing exam are discussed below.
- Reading & writing: Examinees have to read the text and fill in the blanks. It will be a 300-word text.
- Multiple-choice: You have to choose the correct answer from multiple options. It will also be a 300-word text.
- Re-order paragraphs: In this portion, you have to re-arrange paragraphs in the correct order. 150-word text.
- Reading: This portion includes fill-in-the-blank and is about an 80-word text.
- Multiple choice: You will have to read a prompt and choose the correct answer from multiple options.
Part 3: Listening
This part of the test assesses the listening ability of the examinee to determine if they can properly understand the language upon hearing. The questions are based on audio or video clips that play automatically. You can only see or hear each video or audio clip once. Different segments of the listening test are described below.
- Summarize spoken text: You will hear a 60-90-second-long audio file and get 10 minutes to write a 50-70-word summary.
- Multiple choice, multiple answer: You will hear an audio file and then have to choose the correct answer accordingly from multiple options.
- Fill in the blanks: You will hear an audio file and have to fill in the blanks on the transcript.
- Highlight correct summary: You will hear another audio file and choose the correct summary from multiple options accordingly.
- Multiple choice, single answer: You are given another audio prompt and given multiple choices with a single question. Choose the correct answer after listening to the audio.
- Select mission word: Listen to the audio prompt carefully and notice the word that is missing. Select the word from multiple choices.
- Highlight incorrect words: You will hear an audio file and will be given a passage. Highlight the words that are incorrect according to the audio prompt.
- Write from dictation: You will listen to a recording of a sentence and then type it on the answer bar.
How to Practice for PTE Academic
The PTE Academic test is not particularly hard, but students should still prepare well for the exam. Here are some helpful tips that will ensure a respectable test score in the PTE Academic test.
Understanding the Test Format
Form a clear understanding of the test format. Visit the official website of PTE and go through the test format sections. The PTE Academic test measures a candidate’s listening, vocabulary, and pronunciation skills through the different tests. Try to develop these skills to prepare for the test.
Speaking and Writing
The PTE Academic test measures a candidate’s ability to properly speak and write in the English language. Try to speak and write on a wide range of topics to prepare for the test. To improve your speaking and writing skills, try to watch, read, and listen to a wide range of materials, such as movies, TV shows, documentaries, dramas, and so on. You should also read from various sources, such as newspapers, blogs, academic papers, and magazines.
Structuring Your Answers
The PTE Academic exam includes questions that require examinees to provide detailed answers, such as describing an image and writing an essay. Candidates should try to structure their answers to be clear and concise. This also helps students think quickly and use proper English under exam conditions. However, students should not memorize a script or template because questions will vary widely.
Practice Tests
Practicing tests is one of the best methods to prepare for the PTE Academic exam. Students can solve practice tests and PTE question banks from the official website to understand the format and the questions better. There are also vocabulary lists and an official guide to PTE Academic on the official website that can help students to prepare for the exam.
PTE Scoring System
The PTE Academic test has 20 auto-scored question types. For the multiple choice questions, answers are scored as right or wrong. However, for more complex question types, such as essay questions, a mix of criteria is used to score. Some portion of the answer is scored by an AI, and some are reviewed by a human expert.
How to Apply for the PTE Exam?
Firstly, you have to go to the official PTE exam site and click on ‘Book a test’. Secondly, find an appointment at a test center. Thirdly, you have to create a myPTE account with your details. Finally, the final step of booking the exam is paying the test fees and clicking on ‘Submit order’. Now you will have an appointment for a PTE test.
How to Get Your PTE Score
You can find your PTE score after signing in to your myPTE account on the official website. Go to “My Activity” and then “View Score” to find out your score.
Conclusion
PTE Academic is a fast, reliable, and widely accepted English proficiency test that is accepted for study, work, and immigration. This test focuses on real-world academic English and is accepted by many global universities. Flexible retake options and liberal educational requirements make it a convenient choice for international students. Make sure to check if your dream university accepts PTE scores before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Full Form of PTE?
The full form of PTE is Pearson Test of English.
What Are the Eligibility Criteria for PTE Academic?
A candidate needs to be 16 years old or above to be eligible to take the PTE Academic exam. The candidate also needs to provide a valid identification, such as a passport or birth certificate.
How Many Times Can I Attempt the PTE Exam?
You can retake the PTE Academic test up to 12 times within 12 months. You can only book a new test after getting the results of your previous PTE test, and you also have to wait at least 5 days between the exams.
Is PTE Easier Than IELTS?
Yes, PTE is generally considered to be easier than IELTS, although these two tests have several similarities and differences. IELTS is accepted by more universities than PTE, so make sure to check if the university you are applying to accepts this test certificate as proof of language proficiency.
How Long Is PTE Valid For?
PTE Academic scores are valid for two years from the test date. Some countries like Australia accept PTE test scores for up to three years.
What Is the 3 Second Rule in PTE?
The 3-second rule in PTE Academic means that you have 3 seconds after hearing the prompt to start speaking to the microphone. Otherwise, the microphone will turn off, and the question will be skipped. Make sure to answer within 3 seconds of hearing the question in the PTE test.
Which Is the Toughest Section in PTE?
The toughest section in PTE depends on the candidate, their preparation, and language proficiency. Most students find the reading section difficult as it requires critical thinking and a deep understanding of the English language. Some students also find the speaking part difficult as they struggle with pronunciation and fluency.