PTE – Pearson Test of English
What is PTE – Pearson Test of English Academic?
PTE Academic is an English test for anyone who wishes to study or work abroad, or apply for a visa, and needs to prove their level of English proficiency.
Teachers around the world have enjoyed making the switch to PTE Academic preparation because it focuses on real-life academic skills, like skimming, scanning and note-taking – all of which are important for development in the classroom.
Four-skills, two hours
We test a person’s skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing over the course of a two-hour test.
Objective scoring
PTE Academic is machine-scored to give an accurate, objective picture of a test taker’s skills – and tests takers get their results within typically 48 hours.
Recognized globally
PTE Academic opens doors to 3,000 universities, colleges, and professional bodies, and is approved by the UK, Australian, and New Zealand governments.
How PTE Academic works
PTE Academic is taken on a computer in a secure and friendly test center environment. It tests your skills in speaking and writing, reading, and listening.
- Taken in a test center
- Computer-based with headset
- Two hours long
- Assesses real-life English
- 20 question types
- Single test session
The three parts of the test
There are 20 different question types in the test, ranging from multiple choice through to essay writing. Make sure you review the different question formats ahead of your test, as each part has different types of questions.
Part 1: Speaking & Writing
This part of the test is 54–67 minutes long and it contains seven different question types. It is the longest section of the test. You will be tested on your speaking and writing skills, using English you might hear in an academic environment.
Understand each question type
Use the menu to learn about the question types and how to answer each one.
1. Personal Introduction
The Personal Introduction is an opportunity for you to get familiar with PTE test technology and to help you prepare for your speaking and listening questions. This question does not contribute to your score and is for familiarization purposes only.
You will have 25 seconds to read the prompt and prepare your response, and then 30 seconds to record your response. You are only able to record your answer once.
2. Read Aloud
- Task: Text appears on the screen. Read the text aloud.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 60 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and speaking
- Time to Answer: Varies by item, depending on the length of text.
How to answer this question
For this item type you need to read a written text aloud.
The recording status box displays a countdown until the microphone opens. You have 30–40 seconds to read the text and prepare. You will then hear a short tone. After the tone, start speaking immediately. Do not start speaking before the microphone opens because your voice will not be recorded.
You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.
You are only able to record your response once.
TIP: If you remain silent for longer than three seconds, the recording will stop.
3. Repeat Sentence
- Task: Text appears on the screen. Read the text aloud.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 60 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and speaking
- Time to Answer: Varies by item, depending on the length of text.
How to answer this question
- For this item type, you need to repeat the sentence you hear.
- The audio begins to plays automatically. When the audio finishes, the microphone opens and the recording status box shows “Recording”. Speak into the microphone immediately (there is no short tone) and repeat exactly what you heard.
- You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
- Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.
- You are not able to replay the audio. You are only able to record your response once.
4. Describe Image
- Task: An image appears on the screen. Describe the image in detail.
- Prompt Length: Not applicable
- Skills Assessed: Speaking
- Time to Answer: 40 seconds
How to answer this question
- For this item type, you need to describe an image.
- The recording status box displays a countdown until the microphone opens. You have 25 seconds to study the image and prepare your response. You hear a short tone. After the tone, start speaking immediately. Do not start speaking before the microphone opens because your voice will not be recorded.
- You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
- Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed’’.
- You are only able to record your response once.
5. Re-tell Lecture
- Task: After listening to or watching a lecture, re-tell the lecture in your own words.
- Prompt Length: Up to 90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and speaking
- Time to Answer: 40 seconds
How to answer this question
- For this item type, you need to re-tell what you heard.
- The audio begins to play automatically. You may also see an image related to the audio. After the audio finishes, you have 10 seconds to prepare.
- The recording status box displays a countdown until the microphone opens. You hear a short tone. After the tone, start speaking immediately. Do not start speaking before the microphone opens because your voice will not be recorded.
- You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
- Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed’’.
- You are only able to record your response once.
- Note: While the audio is playing, you can take notes on the erasable noteboard provided.
6. Answer Short Question
- Task: After listening to or watching a lecture, re-tell the lecture in your own words.
- Prompt Length: Up to 90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and speaking
- Time to Answer: 40 seconds
How to answer this question
- For this item type, you need to re-tell what you heard.
- The audio begins to play automatically. You may also see an image related to the audio. After the audio finishes, you have 10 seconds to prepare.
- The recording status box displays a countdown until the microphone opens. You hear a short tone. After the tone, start speaking immediately. Do not start speaking before the microphone opens because your voice will not be recorded.
- You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
- Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed’’.
- You are only able to record your response once.
7. Summarize Written Text
- Task: After reading the text, write a one-sentence summary of the passage.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and writing
- Time to Answer: 10 minutes
How to answer this question
- For this item type, you need to write a summary of the text in one sentence.
- You have 10 minutes to write your summary. Make sure to include the main points of the reading passage in a full, single sentence of no more than 75 words.
- The word count at the bottom of the screen counts the number of words you write. There are also cut, copy and paste buttons which you may use while constructing your summary.
- Cut: Select text from your answer that you wish to remove and left-click “Cut”.
- Copy: Select text from your answer that you wish to copy and left-click “Copy”.
- Paste: Place the cursor where you wish to paste the cut/copied text and left-click “Paste”.
8. Essay
- Task: After reading the text, write a one-sentence summary of the passage.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and writing
- Time to Answer: 10 minutes
How to answer this question
- For this item type, you need to write a 200–300 word argumentative essay in response to a prompt.
- You have 20 minutes to write your essay.
- The Word Count at the bottom of the screen counts the number of words you write. Make sure to write a minimum of 200 words, but no more than 300 words.
- There are also cut, copy and paste buttons, which you may choose to use while constructing your response.
- Cut: Select text from your answer that you wish to remove and left-click “Cut”.
- Copy: Select text from your answer that you wish to copy and left-click “Copy”.
- Paste: Place the cursor where you wish to paste the cut/copied text and left-click “Paste”.