Planning to study abroad and wondering if PTE Academic is the right English proficiency test for you? This guide covers everything beginners need to know about PTE Academic in 2025, from test format to effective preparation strategies.
What is PTE Academic?
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English) is a computer-based English proficiency test that evaluates your speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills. It's designed for non-native English speakers who want to study or work in English-speaking countries.
What sets it apart? Unlike traditional tests, PTE Academic is entirely computer-based with AI scoring. This means consistent, objective evaluation every time. Your scores range from 10-90, and the test is recognized by thousands of universities and governments worldwide.
Why choose PTE Academic?
Fast Results
Get your scores in just 2 - 5 days which is much faster than other English proficiency tests.
Consistent AI Scoring
Computer-based scoring ensures objective evaluation every time. Human experts also review certain tasks for accuracy.
Flexible Scheduling
Tests are available year-round with multiple slots daily - no wait times to book a test.
Global Recognition
Accepted by over 3,300 organizations worldwide, including universities, employers, and governments in Australia, Canada, USA, New Zealand, and the UK.
PTE Academic test format & structure 2025
Important Update: Starting August 7, 2025, PTE Academic includes two new speaking question types, extending the total test duration by approximately 15 minutes (now 2 hours 15 minutes total).
The PTE test consists of 22 different question types across three main sections:
- Speaking & Writing: 76-84 minutes (now includes 9 question types instead of 7)
- Reading: 29-30 minutes
- Listening: 30-43 minutes
Here's what you can expect in each section:
Section 1: Speaking & Writing (76 - 84 minutes)
This section combines both speaking and writing tasks in one integrated session.
Speaking Tasks:
The speaking portion begins with a Personal Introduction where you have one minute to introduce yourself - this isn't scored but helps with identification. You'll then move through several core speaking tasks. Read Aloud tasks require you to read text passages clearly and naturally, while Repeat Sentence tasks test your ability to listen and reproduce sentences exactly as heard.
The Describe Image tasks challenge you to provide detailed descriptions of various images within the time limit, and Re-tell Lecture tasks ask you to summarize audio or video lectures you've just heard. Finally, Answer Short Question tasks require brief, direct responses to simple questions.
New Speaking Tasks (From August 7, 2025):
🆕 Respond to a Situation: You'll read and listen to real-life academic scenarios and provide spoken responses as if you were actually in that situation. You can take notes while listening to the prompt, then have 40 seconds to respond naturally using first-person language.
🆕 Summarize Group Discussion: Listen to three people having an academic discussion, take notes during the conversation, then provide a 2-minute spoken summary covering the main points and identifying which speaker made which contributions. You'll have 10 seconds to prepare after the discussion ends.
Writing Tasks:
The writing section includes two main task types. Summarize Written Text tasks require you to condense longer passages into single, well-crafted sentences between 5-75 words. Write Essay tasks give you the opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills through 200-300 word responses on given topics.
Section 2: Reading (29-30 minutes)
This section evaluates your reading comprehension through five distinct question types that test different aspects of your reading ability.
You'll encounter Multiple Choice questions in two formats: some require you to choose a single best answer, while others ask you to select all correct answers from the given options. Be particularly careful with the multiple-answer questions, as selecting even one incorrect choice results in negative marking.
Re-order Paragraphs tasks present you with jumbled text that you must arrange in logical sequence. These questions test your understanding of text structure and coherence. Fill in the Blanks tasks come in two varieties - standard reading blanks that focus purely on comprehension, and Reading & Writing blanks that impact both your reading and writing scores.
Section 3: Listening (30-43 minutes)
The listening section tests your ability to understand spoken English across various academic contexts through eight different task types.
Summarize Spoken Text tasks require you to listen to audio clips and write concise 50-70 word summaries that capture the main points. Multiple Choice questions appear in both single-answer and multiple-answer formats, with the latter requiring extra caution due to negative marking for incorrect selections.
Fill in the Blanks tasks test your ability to identify specific words from audio, while Highlight Correct Summary tasks ask you to choose which written summary best matches what you heard. Select Missing Word tasks play audio clips with the final word replaced by a beep, challenging you to identify the missing word from context.
Highlight Incorrect Words tasks provide transcripts that you follow while listening, clicking on words that don't match the audio. Finally, Write from Dictation tasks require you to type sentences exactly as spoken, testing both your listening accuracy and spelling skills.
Understanding PTE Academic scoring system
PTE Academic uses a scoring scale from 10-90 points, where your overall score reflects your performance across all communicative skills and represents your overall English language ability.
Communicative Skills: Your performance is measured across four main areas - Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing - each scored from 10-90 points. These scores directly reflect your ability to use English in academic contexts.
Enabling Skills: The test also evaluates six enabling skills that support effective communication: Grammar, Oral Fluency, Pronunciation, Spelling, Vocabulary, and Written Discourse. These skills are scored separately and contribute to your overall profile, helping universities understand your specific strengths and areas for development.
2024-2025 Scoring Updates
🆕 Important Update: From November 4, 2024, Pearson introduced new scoring method changes for two spoken question types: 'Describe Image' and 'Retell Lecture', where human experts now double-check the AI's score on the Content aspect of these responses.
This change ensures that only genuine responses get a valid score, as the systems are already set to spot templated responses, but now a human examiner will give an extra review to make sure everything is as authentic as it should be.
🆕 August 2025 Changes: Starting August 7, 2025, Pearson has increased human oversight for seven question types to ensure authenticity and reduce template dependency:
- Describe Image (already had human scoring)
- Retell Lecture (already had human scoring)
- New: Summarize Written Text
- New: Summarize Spoken Text
- New: Write Essay
- New: Respond to a Situation
- New: Summarize Group Discussion
Template Warning: With increased human review, templates that once worked may now be flagged as inauthentic. The scoring system is designed to reward natural, original responses over memorized content. Adapt your preparation to focus on developing flexible communication skills rather than rigid templates.
Over-reliance on memorized templates may now result in zero scores. Focus on developing genuine, original responses that demonstrate authentic language skills.
Score interpretation guide
| PTE Score Range | CEFR Level | English Proficiency Level | University Acceptance |
|---|
| 85-90 | C2 | Superior | Top universities worldwide |
| 76-84 | C1 | Advanced | Most universities |
| 59-75 | B2 | Upper-Intermediate | Required for most undergraduate (58-65) and postgraduate programs (65-75) |
| 43-58 | B1 | Intermediate | Some foundation programs |
| 30-42 | A2 | Elementary | Limited acceptance |
| 10-29 | A1 | Beginner | Generally not accepted |
PTE vs IELTS Comparison
Understanding how PTE compares to other English tests helps you make an informed decision:
PTE vs IELTS
| Aspect | PTE Academic | IELTS |
|---|
| Test Format | Entirely computer-based | Paper-based or computer-delivered options |
| Speaking Test | Speak to computer via microphone | Face-to-face with examiner |
| Scoring | Completely computer-marked using AI | Reading and Listening computer-marked, Writing and Speaking marked by trained examiners |
| Results | 2-5 days | 3-13 days |
| Score Scale | 10-90 points | 1-9 bands with 0.5 increments |
| Retake Policy | Must retake entire test | IELTS One Skill Retake available |
| Acceptance | ~3,300 organizations worldwide | 12,000+ organizations worldwide |
Score Conversion: PTE to IELTS
| PTE Score | IELTS Band | Performance Level |
|---|
| 86-90 | 9.0 | Expert User |
| 83-85 | 8.5 | Very Good User |
| 79-82 | 8.0 | Very Good User |
| 73-78 | 7.5 | Good User |
| 65-72 | 7.0 | Good User |
| 59-64 | 6.5 | Competent User |
| 50-58 | 6.0 | Competent User |
| 43-49 | 5.5 | Modest User |
| 35-42 | 5.0 | Modest User |
Note: Recent Pearson reports indicate that for IELTS bands 7-9, PTE test-takers may need higher scores than previously indicated for equivalence.
How long should you prepare for PTE Academic?
Your preparation time depends significantly on your current English level and target score. Understanding where you stand now will help you plan a realistic timeline for success.
For Strong English Users (equivalent to IELTS 7.0+), you typically need just 2-4 weeks of focused preparation. Your English skills are already solid, so you can concentrate on learning the test format and practicing specific question types. The key is mastering test strategy rather than improving language fundamentals.
For Intermediate English Users (equivalent to IELTS 5.5-6.5), plan for 6-8 weeks of preparation. This timeframe allows you to strengthen your overall English skills while simultaneously learning test techniques. You'll need to balance language improvement with format familiarization.
For Developing English Users (below IELTS 5.5), allow 3-6 months for thorough preparation. This extended timeline is essential for building strong English foundations before adding test-specific strategies. Rushing this process often leads to disappointing results.
Target Score Considerations: Most universities require 50-58 for undergraduate programs, 58-65 for postgraduate programs, and 65-79 for top-tier institutions. Plan your timeline realistically based on the gap between your current level and your target score.
Common mistakes to avoid
⚠️ Important: These common mistakes can significantly impact your score, but they're completely avoidable once you know about them.
New question type specific mistakes (August 2025 onwards)
For Respond to a Situation:
- DON'T summarize the situation - you need to respond to it naturally
- DON'T use third person - speak as "I" not "he/she"
- DON'T copy exact words from the prompt - use natural paraphrasing
- DON'T be overly polite for strong requests - match your tone to the context
For Summarize Group Discussion:
- DON'T just list chronologically what each speaker said
- DON'T confuse speakers - keep track of who said what
- DON'T add incorrect information or misattribute statements
- DON'T speak too briefly - use the full 2 minutes effectively
Template-related mistakes
Over-reliance on Templates is now significantly more risky with increased human oversight. While structured approaches are still valuable, memorized templates that don't fit the specific prompt content may be flagged as inauthentic. Focus on flexible frameworks rather than rigid templates, and always ensure your response addresses the specific prompt requirements.
Generic Responses that could apply to any prompt rather than the specific question are more likely to be identified by human reviewers. Develop skills in adapting your language to each unique prompt rather than relying on one-size-fits-all responses.
Technical issues
Equipment Problems affect over 20% of test-takers and can completely derail your performance. Before starting your test, take time to thoroughly check your headset, keyboard, and mouse. Ensure the microphone picks up your voice clearly and that you're comfortable with the keyboard layout.
Microphone Timing issues plague about 15% of candidates. When the recording begins, you have exactly 3 seconds to start speaking. Missing this window means your response won't be recorded. Practice recognizing the recording indicator and responding promptly.
Speaking errors
Speaking Too Quickly is a common mistake that actually hurts rather than helps your score. The AI scoring system values clarity and natural rhythm over speed. Maintain a steady, clear pace that allows the system to accurately process your speech patterns.
Excessive Fillers like "umm," "ahh," and "you know" are easily detected by the AI and negatively impact your fluency score. Practice speaking smoothly without these verbal crutches. Unnatural Accents also pose problems - speak in your natural voice rather than attempting unfamiliar accents that might sound forced or unclear.
Early Speaking before the recording indicator appears means your words won't be captured. Always wait for the clear signal that recording has begun.
Time management problems
Misallocating Time across question types can significantly impact your score. Questions like "Write from Dictation" and "Read Aloud" carry substantial weight in the scoring algorithm, while some multiple choice questions contribute relatively little. Focus your energy where it matters most.
Poor Pacing within sections creates unnecessary pressure. Some test-takers spend excessive time perfecting early questions, then rush through later ones where they might have scored better with proper time allocation.
Writing issues
Word Count Errors can severely impact your writing scores. Tasks have specific word requirements for good reasons - staying within these limits while maintaining quality is part of the skill being tested. Skipping Review is equally problematic. Even a quick 30-second review can catch spelling errors, grammar mistakes, or missing words that significantly affect your score.
Reading & listening mistakes
Multiple Choice Errors in questions requiring multiple answers can be particularly costly due to negative marking. If you select three correct answers but also choose one incorrect option, you may receive zero points for that question. Approach these questions conservatively.
Ignoring Available Tools like the provided notepad is a missed opportunity, especially for "Re-tell Lecture" tasks where organizing your thoughts before speaking can significantly improve your response quality.
Essential resources you need
Official Resources provide the most authentic preparation experience. The PTE Academic Official Practice App offers free practice tests that mirror the actual exam format. The Pearson Test of English Academic Official Guide serves as your comprehensive preparation manual, while PTE Academic Practice Tests Plus provides additional practice materials for thorough preparation.
Updated Resources for 2025: Ensure any practice materials you use include the new question types (Respond to a Situation and Summarize Group Discussion) if you're taking the test after August 7, 2025.
Recommended Study Materials should include academic vocabulary lists specifically designed for PTE, comprehensive grammar reference books, and pronunciation apps that help you develop clear speech patterns. Mock test platforms with AI scoring can give you realistic practice and immediate feedback on your performance.
Online Platforms offer structured learning paths and community support. LearnPTE.com provides comprehensive practice tests and extensive question banks. PTE Practice Online offers official scored practice tests that give you the most accurate assessment of your readiness. E2Language delivers preparation courses and practical tips from experienced instructors.
University score requirements by country
Australia
- Student Visa: Minimum 42 PTE score generally accepted
- Undergraduate: 50-58
- Postgraduate: 58-65
- Top Universities: 65-79
Canada
- Student Visa: 58-65 for undergraduate, 65-75 for postgraduate programs
- Immigration (Express Entry): 67+ recommended
United Kingdom
- Student Visa: 51-59 (varies by institution)
- Tier 2 Work Visa: 36-59 (depending on role)
New Zealand
- Student Visa: 50-58 for undergraduate, 58-65 for postgraduate
- Skilled Migrant Category: 65+
United States
- Requirements vary by institution: Generally 50-79
- Top universities: Often prefer 65+
Test day preparation checklist
What to Bring: You'll need your valid passport that exactly matches your registration details, along with a printed copy of your confirmation email. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early for the check-in process, which includes identity verification and brief orientation.
What's Provided: The test center supplies a computer equipped with headphones and microphone, a notepad with pen for taking notes during the exam, and an on-screen calculator for relevant mathematical tasks.
Test Day Success Tips: Ensure you get 7-8 hours of sleep before test day to maintain focus during the 2-hour exam. Eat a substantial breakfast to sustain your energy levels throughout the test. When you arrive, take time to properly test all equipment - headphones, microphone, and keyboard - to avoid technical issues during the exam. If you feel nervous, practice deep breathing exercises to stay calm and focused. Most importantly, read all instructions carefully rather than rushing into tasks, as understanding requirements is crucial for optimal performance.
