PTE Academic Test Format and Types of Questions

PTE Academic Test Format: Learn What to Expect

The PTE Academic test is meticulously structured into three main parts, assessing your integrated English language skills. Pearson provides comprehensive resources, including videos, detailed descriptions, and expert test tips for every question type, to help you prepare effectively.

Part 1: Speaking & Writing

• Duration: This integrated part will take between 54–67 minutes to complete.
  
  
• Skills Assessed: This section evaluates your ability to produce spoken and written English in an academic context. Question types typically include:

1. Personal Introduction: (Does not contribute to score; for familiarization only).
2. Read Aloud: Read a passage displayed on the screen.
3. Repeat Sentence: Listen to a sentence and repeat it exactly.
4. Describe Image: Describe an image (graph, chart, picture) in detail.
5. Re-tell Lecture: Listen to a short lecture and retell it in your own words.
6. Answer Short Question: Listen to a question and answer with a short phrase or a few words.
7. Summarize Written Text: Read a passage and summarize it in one sentence.
8. Essay: Write an essay on a given topic.

Part 2: Reading

• Duration: This part will take around 29–30 minutes to complete.
  
  
• Skills Assessed: This section focuses on your comprehension of written English. Question types may include:

1. Multiple-choice, Choose Single Answer: Read a text and select one correct answer.
2. Multiple-choice, Choose Multiple Answers: Read a text and select all correct answers.
3. Re-order Paragraphs: Arrange jumbled paragraphs into a coherent order.
4. Reading: Fill in the Blanks: Complete a text by dragging words from a box.
5. Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks: Complete a text by selecting words from dropdown menus.

Part 3: Listening

• Duration: This part will take approximately 30–43 minutes to complete.
  
  
• Skills Assessed: This section evaluates your ability to understand spoken English in various academic and general contexts. Question types include:

1. Summarize Spoken Text: Listen to a lecture and write a summary.
2. Multiple-choice, Choose Multiple Answers: Listen to an audio and select all correct answers.
3. Fill in the Blanks: Listen to an audio and type missing words into a transcript.
4. Highlight Correct Summary: Listen to an audio and choose the best summary from options.
5. Multiple-choice, Choose Single Answer: Listen to an audio and select one correct answer.
6. Select Missing Word: Listen to an audio with a bleep and select the missing word.
7. Highlight Incorrect Words: Listen to an audio and click on words in the transcript that differ.
8. Write from Dictation: Listen to a sentence and type it exactly.

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Preparation: New! Smart Prep for Test Day Confidence

Pearson PTE is committed to helping you succeed. Their new Smart Prep platform combines all practice materials in one convenient place, making it easier for you to stay on track and prepare effectively for your test.

With Smart Prep, you can:

• Start with Scored Practice Tests: Access 5 mock tests that are marked using the same AI scoring engine as the real exam. These come with a full Score Report, providing an accurate indication of your performance and areas for improvement.
  
  
• Access Free and Paid Prep in One Single Place: Seamlessly navigate between a wide range of official study materials.
  
  
• Buy in Packages and Save: Benefit from bundled offers, saving up to 45% on comprehensive preparation packages.
  
  
• Get Free Resources: Utilize valuable free tools like Guided Practice Tests and a structured Study Plan.
  
  
• Practice Tasks Split by Skill: Focus your practice on specific skills (Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening) to target your weaker areas efficiently.
  
  
• No Test Booking Required: You can access Smart Prep and begin your preparation journey whether you have a test booked or not, by simply creating a free myPTE account.

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Scoring: Understanding Your PTE Academic Results

Your PTE Academic score is reported on the Global Scale of English (GSE), ranging from 10 to 90, offering a precise and detailed assessment of your English proficiency.

• Overall Score: This score represents your general English language ability.
  
  
• Communicative Skills Scores: You receive individual scores for Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing, allowing you to see your performance in each core skill.
  
  
• Enabling Skills Scores: For speaking and writing tasks, you also get scores for "enabling skills" such as grammar, oral fluency, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse, providing deeper insights into your performance.
  
  
• AI-Powered and Human Expertise: The majority of the test is scored by AI, ensuring objectivity. In cases of complex responses or anomalies, human experts also contribute to the scoring process, maintaining accuracy and fairness.
  
  
• Score Validity: PTE Academic scores are typically valid for two years from the test date.

Always remember to verify the specific PTE score requirements of the institutions or immigration authorities you are applying to, as these can vary significantly.

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