The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE-A) is a computer-based exam designed to assess the English proficiency of non-native speakers for academic settings. Recognized globally by universities and institutions like Harvard and INSEAD, it is widely used for admissions and visa applications. The exam, lasting up to 3 hours, includes real-life English scenarios, diverse accents, and an unmarked voice recording for identity verification. Results are delivered online within 5 days, scored on a scale from 10 to 90, aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
PTE Academic is globally recognized for both student and migration applications, offering several unique advantages. The test utilizes AI scoring, where results are graded by an algorithm rather than humans, ensuring unbiased assessment based solely on the responses, without consideration of accent. PTE Academic provides flexibility with over 250 test centers worldwide and delivers results within 5 business days. Additionally, test takers can send their scores to an unlimited number of institutions for free. The test is widely accepted by academic programs and for visa applications, particularly in Australia and New Zealand.
During the two-hour test session, there are three main parts to the test: Speaking and Writing (completed together), Reading, and Listening. During the test, you will find twenty different question formats, ranging from multiple choice to essay writing and interpreting information.
Introduction: Untimed (You are asked to introduce yourself. This section is not assessed.)
Part 1: Speaking & Writing (54 – 67 minutes)
Part 2: Reading (29 – 30 minutes)
Part 3: Listening (30 – 43 minutes)
The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is a computer-based English language test designed for non-native speakers aiming to study abroad or for immigration purposes. It assesses Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking skills, often combining multiple abilities in a single question. The test lasts 3 hours, conducted in a secure environment, with the speaking section done through a computer using noise-canceling headphones.
PTE Academic is unique in its AI-powered scoring, which ensures unbiased assessment by evaluating responses against thousands of previous answers. This AI scoring helps maintain consistency and fairness, grading only the content of what is said, not factors like accent.
The test offers flexibility, with results typically available within 5 business days and global accessibility across over 250 centers in more than 50 countries. PTE Academic also allows test takers to send their scores to an unlimited number of institutions for free.
For those preparing for PTE, understanding the test format, scoring system, and developing effective strategies is crucial. ALFA, a preparation platform, provides comprehensive support through experienced trainers, in-house materials, AI-driven feedback, and daily practice tasks. Their approach combines traditional learning with advanced technology to help students achieve high scores, especially in critical areas like Speaking. ALFA’s AI tools analyze fluency, pronunciation, and speaking pauses, offering detailed feedback to enhance performance.
In conclusion, ALFA's blend of AI technology and expert guidance creates an effective learning environment for PTE test-takers, ensuring they are well-prepared to achieve their desired scores.
Task Overview:
Description: Read a written text aloud.
Skills Assessed: Reading and Speaking
Prompt Length: Up to 60 words
Preparation Time: 30-40 seconds
Recording Status: The countdown indicates when the microphone opens; you must start speaking immediately after the tone. Silence longer than 3 seconds will stop the recording.
Test Tips - PTE:
1.Use Punctuation for Pauses: Break the text into chunks using punctuation as a guide. This helps with natural pausing and intonation, making your reading more fluent and expressive.
2. Stress Important Words: Emphasize key words and syllables to convey meaning. Use rising and falling intonation to show how ideas are linked or concluded.
Scoring Criteria - PTE:
1. Content: Includes all and only the words from the text. Errors such as replacements, insertions, or omissions affect your score.
2. Oral Fluency: Demonstrates a smooth, natural speech rate with appropriate phrasing. Hesitations, repetitions, and false starts impact your score.
3. Pronunciation: Speech should be understandable with correct vowel and consonant sounds, and stress on key words. Regional accents are accepted as long as the pronunciation is clear to most regular speakers.
Note: This question type impacts your scores in reading, speaking, oral fluency, and pronunciation. It does not test listening or writing skills.
Task Overview:
Description: Repeat the sentence you hear.
Skills Assessed: Listening and Speaking
Prompt Length: 3-9 seconds
Time to Answer: 15 seconds
Recording Status: The microphone opens automatically after the audio finishes; you must start speaking immediately. You can only record your response once and cannot replay the audio.
Test Tips:
1. Listen for Phrasing: Pay attention to the phrasing in the sentence. Understanding the structure and meaning of each phrase will help you repeat it accurately. Break the sentence into meaningful chunks.
2. Copy Stress and Intonation:Note how the speaker uses stress and intonation. Mimicking these patterns will help convey the sentence’s meaning. Speak clearly and calmly, replicating the stress and intonation from the recording.
Scoring Criteria:
1. Content: Your response must include all the words from the sentence and in the correct order. Incorrect sequences or omissions will negatively affect your score.
2. Oral Fluency: Your speech should be smooth and natural, with appropriate rhythm and phrasing. Hesitations, repetitions, and false starts will lower your score.
3. Pronunciation: Your response should be easily understandable, with correct pronunciation of vowels and consonants. Proper stress on words and phrases is crucial. Regional accents are acceptable if the pronunciation is clear to most regular speakers.
Note:
Partial credit is given based on the accuracy of your response. No credit is awarded for no response or irrelevant answers.
This item type impacts your scores in listening, speaking, oral fluency, and pronunciation. It does not test writing skills, and reading skills are only used for reading instructions.
Task Overview:
Description: Describe the image in detail.
Skills Assessed: Speaking
Time to Answer: 40 seconds
Preparation Time: 25 seconds to study the image
Test Tips:
1. Focus on Main Information:
Identify the main idea and key details of the image.
Use your erasable noteboard to jot down key ideas and phrases.
Determine what the image shows and note any implications or conclusions.
2.Organize Your Description:
Structure your response clearly to cover the main elements and details of the image.
Include logical and specific information, and discuss any implications or conclusions.
3.Preparation and Response: During the 25 seconds preparation time, plan how you will describe the image.
Speak clearly and maintain a steady pace. Avoid rushing.
Scoring Criteria:
1.Content:
Your response should thoroughly describe all aspects of the image.
Include main information, additional details, and possible developments or implications.
Disjointed or incomplete descriptions will negatively affect your score.
2.Oral Fluency:
Speak smoothly and naturally with appropriate rhythm and phrasing.
Avoid hesitations, repetitions, and false starts.
3.Pronunciation:
Your speech should be easily understandable to regular speakers.
Pronounce vowels and consonants clearly and stress words and phrases correctly.
Note:
Partial credit is given based on the accuracy and completeness of your description. No credit is awarded for no response or irrelevant answers.
Task Overview:
Description: Describe the image in detail.
Skills Assessed: Speaking
Time to Answer: 40 seconds
Preparation Time: 25 seconds to study the image
Test Tips:
1. Focus on Main Information:
Identify the main idea and key details of the image.
Use your erasable noteboard to jot down key ideas and phrases.
Determine what the image shows and note any implications or conclusions.
2.Organize Your Description:
Structure your response clearly to cover the main elements and details of the image.
Include logical and specific information, and discuss any implications or conclusions.
3.Preparation and Response:
During the 25 seconds preparation time, plan how you will describe the image.
Speak clearly and maintain a steady pace. Avoid rushing.
Scoring Criteria:
1. Content:
Your response should thoroughly describe all aspects of the image.
Include main information, additional details, and possible developments or implications.
Disjointed or incomplete descriptions will negatively affect your score.
2. Oral Fluency:
Speak smoothly and naturally with appropriate rhythm and phrasing.
Avoid hesitations, repetitions, and false starts.
3. Pronunciation:
Your speech should be easily understandable to regular speakers. Pronounce vowels and consonants clearly and stress words and phrases correctly.
Note:
Partial credit is given based on the accuracy and completeness of your description. No credit is awarded for no response or irrelevant answers.
This question type affects your scores in speaking, oral fluency, and pronunciation. Your listening and writing skills are not tested, and reading skills are only used to read instructions.
Task: After listening to or watching a lecture, re-tell it in your own words.
Skills Assessed: Listening and Speaking
Prompt Length: Up to 90 seconds
Time to Answer: 40 seconds
Instructions:
The audio starts automatically. You may see a related image. You have 10 seconds to prepare after the audio finishes. Speak clearly and continuously within the 40 seconds, without starting before the microphone opens. You can take notes while listening.
Test Tips:
Use the image to predict the topic. Include all main points in your response. Avoid repetition and hesitation.
Scoring Factors:
Content: Accuracy and thoroughness of the retell.
Oral Fluency: Smooth, natural speech with appropriate phrasing.
Pronunciation: Clear and understandable speech.
Note: Partial credit applies. No credit for no or irrelevant responses. This question affects listening, speaking, oral fluency, and pronunciation scores.
Task: Answer a question with a single word or a few words after listening to it.
Skills Assessed: Listening and Speaking
Prompt Length: 3-9 seconds
Time to Answer: 10 seconds
Instructions: The audio starts automatically. You may see an image related to the question. Speak immediately after the audio finishes and the microphone opens. There is no short tone. Provide a brief, accurate answer. Finish speaking before the progress bar ends. The status will change to “Completed” once you finish.
Test Tips:
Start your answer within 3 seconds to avoid the recording stopping. Keep your response short and to the point; additional words do not gain extra marks.
Scoring Factors:
Accuracy: Correctness of the brief response.
Appropriateness**: Suitability of the words used in the response.
Note: No credit for no or incorrect responses. This question affects listening, speaking, and vocabulary scores.
About
This question type is the fourth one in spoken English, where candidates will see a text of about 60 words and also hear an audio of the text. candidates have 20 seconds to prepare, and 40 seconds to record. The answer is only recorded once, and this question type usually has 2-4 sub questions.
Answer Time
The answer time for each RTS question in the exam is 40 seconds, and 30-35 seconds is sufficient for answering.
Task: Write a one-sentence summary of a provided passage.
Skills Assessed: Reading and Writing
Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
Time to Answer: 10 minutes
Instructions:
Read the passage and write a one-sentence summary.
Your summary must be between 5 and 75 words.
Ensure the summary includes the main points and essential details from the passage.
Use the word count feature to check your response.
Test Tips - PTE:
Form: Ensure your summary is one complete sentence with a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end.
Complex Sentences: Use compound or complex sentences to link main points with supporting details.
Grammar: Write a grammatically correct sentence with proper structure.
Vocabulary: Use appropriate and relevant words, including synonyms if needed.
Scoring Factors:
Content: Accurate summary of the passage’s main points and supporting details.
Form: Meets the one-sentence requirement and word count limits.
Grammar: Correct grammatical usage.
Vocabulary: Appropriate word choice and usage.
Note: No credit for responses that are too short, too long, or incorrect. This question type assesses reading and writing skills.
About:
In the Summarize Written Text (SWT) task, you are required to read a passage of approximately 100-200 words and then summarize the main points in 25-50 words. The exam typically includes 1 to 2 of these questions, and the task is designed to assess your ability to condense information effectively.
Exam Tips:
To excel in this task, focus on identifying and selecting sentences that contain the key information from the passage. Ensure that your summary meets the word count requirement of 25-50 words. Be mindful of grammar and spelling, as errors in these areas can reduce your score. When connecting sentences, use appropriate conjunctions, and pay attention to correct punctuation and spacing to ensure clarity and coherence in your summary.
Answer Time:
You have a maximum of 10 minutes for each SWT task. This is an individually timed task, meaning that even if you finish early, the remaining time will not be added to the next question. Therefore, take your time to carefully craft and review your summary before submission.
Task: Write a 200-300 word argumentative or persuasive essay on a given topic.
Skills Assessed: Writing
Prompt Length: 2-3 sentences
Time to Answer: 20 minutes
Instructions:
Analyze the essay prompt to identify the topic and key points.
Write a well-organized essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
Ensure your essay is between 200 and 300 words.
Test Tips:
Analyze the Prompt: Understand the topic and what is being asked. Decide whether you need to agree, disagree, or consider different perspectives.
Structure: Use multiple paragraphs. Start with an introduction, follow with body paragraphs supporting your main points, and end with a conclusion.
Development and Coherence: Develop your ideas logically with clear connections between them. Use details, examples, and explanations to support your arguments.
Form: Check the word count to ensure your essay is within the 200-300 word limit.
Language: Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures to convey your ideas clearly and effectively.
Grammar and Mechanics: Ensure correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Consistent use of one spelling convention (US, UK, AU, or CA) is required.
Scoring Factors:
Content: Address the topic fully with appropriate details and examples.
Development, Structure, and Coherence: Logical organization and clear presentation of ideas.
Form: Essay length within the 200-300 word limit.
General Linguistic Range: Effective use of language to communicate ideas.
Grammar Usage and Mechanics**: Correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
Vocabulary Range: Variety and appropriateness of vocabulary.
Spelling: Consistent use of one spelling convention.
Note: Partial credit applies. No credit for responses that are too short, too long, or irrelevant. This question type assesses writing, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse. Listening and speaking skills are not tested.
About
1.Task: write an email
2.Passage length: around 100 words.
3.Answer word limit: 50-120
4.Number of questions in the exam: 2-3
Answer Time
The maximum time given for each WE task is 9 minutes. It is an individually timed task, meaning that even if you finish this question early, say, in SEVEN minutes, the remaining TWO minutes will NOT be added to the next question. Therefore, there is no need to rush, and responses should be carefully checked before submission.
Task: Select the most appropriate words from a drop-down list to complete a text.
Skills Assessed: Reading
Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
Instructions: A passage with missing words appears on screen.
Click the drop-down button beside each gap to reveal options.
Choose the word that best fills each gap. You can change your selection if needed.
Test Tips:
Skim for Overall Meaning: Understand the general meaning of the text to help select the correct words.
Read Surrounding Context: Look at the text before and after each blank to choose the word that fits both contextually and grammatically.
Scan for Repeated Words: Identify key words or themes in the text to help make the correct choices.
Scoring:
Correct Responses: Fill all blanks correctly to receive full credit.
Partial Credit: Incorrect answers in one or more blanks result in partial credit.
Note: This question type assesses reading and writing skills. Listening and speaking skills are not tested.
Task Arrange jumbled text boxes into their original order to form a coherent passage.
Skills Assessed: Reading
Instructions:
Several text boxes appear in random order.
Drag and drop the boxes to restore the original sequence.
You can either drag a box to its new location or use arrow buttons to move it.
Test Tips:
Read All Text Boxes: Quickly review each box to understand its content and identify keywords.
Identify the Topic Sentence: Find the sentence that introduces the main idea of the passage. This sentence typically stands alone and does not refer back to other information.
Form an Overall Idea: Use the keywords and main ideas to determine the logical order of the boxes.
Scoring:
Correct Order: Full credit is awarded if all text boxes are arranged correctly.
Partial Credit: Incorrect placement of one or more boxes results in partial credit.
Note: This question type evaluates reading skills only. Listening, speaking, and writing skills are not tested.
Task: Drag and drop words from a list to fill gaps in a text.
Skills Assessed: Reading
Instructions: You have a passage with missing words.
Drag words from a provided list to fill in the gaps. There are more words than gaps; not all words will be used.
Test Tips:
Collocations: Use familiar word pairs or phrases that commonly go together.
Grammar Knowledge: Determine the part of speech needed (noun, verb, adjective, etc.) based on the context around the gaps.
Word Choice: Select words that fit both grammatically and contextually.
Scoring:
Correct Words: Full credit for correctly filling all gaps.
Partial Credit: Partial credit if one or more gaps are filled incorrectly.
Note: This question type tests only reading skills. Listening, speaking, and writing skills are not assessed.
Task: Read a passage and select the correct answer to a multiple-choice question about the content or tone.
Skills Assessed: Reading
Instructions:
Read Prompt Carefully: Focus on key words in the question to understand what information you need.
Read the Passage: Look for information related to the prompt.
Evaluate Options: Consider each option’s relevance and accuracy based on the passage.
Selecting an Option: Click on the option to select it.
Click again to deselect or choose another option if needed.
The selected option will be highlighted in yellow.
Scoring
Correct Response: Full credit if you select the correct answer.
Incorrect Response: No credit if the answer is wrong.
Note: This question type tests only reading skills. Listening, speaking, and writing skills are not assessed.
Task: Read a passage and select all correct responses from a list of options. Multiple correct answers are possible.
Skills Assessed: Reading
Instructions:
1. Read the Prompt Carefully: Understand that multiple answers are correct. The instructions will specify this.
2. Read the Passage: Focus on identifying information related to the question.
3. Evaluate Options: Select all options that correctly answer the question.
Scoring:
Correct Answers: Points are awarded for each correct option selected.
Incorrect Answers: Points are deducted for each wrong option selected.
Penalization: Be cautious as selecting incorrect options will result in a penalty. If all options are chosen and some are wrong, you will lose points.
Test Tips:
Read Options for Repeated Words: Identify key terms or phrases that appear in multiple options.
Scan for Repeated Words in the Passage: Use these to help identify the correct answers.
Note: This question type affects reading skills only. Listening, speaking, and writing skills are not assessed.
Task: Listen to an audio recording and write a 50-70 word summary.
Skills Assessed: Listening and Writing
Instructions:
1. Listen Carefully: The audio recording will play automatically and can only be heard once.
2. Take Notes: Use the erasable note board booklet to jot down key points and supporting details while listening.
3. Write the Summary:
Length: The summary must be between 50 and 70.
Content: Summarize the main idea and essential supporting points from the lecture.
Form: Stick to the word count limit to avoid penalties.
-Grammar: Ensure correct sentence structure and subject/verb agreement.
Vocabulary: Use appropriate academic language and relevant terms from the lecture.
Spelling: Follow a consistent spelling convention (US/UK/Australian/Canadian).
Tools:
Cut, Copy, and Paste: Use these to organize your summary efficiently.
Scoring Criteria:
1. Content: Accurate representation of the main and supporting points.
2. Form: Summary within the 50-70 word range.
3. Grammar: Correct and clear sentence structure.
4. Vocabulary: Appropriate word choice and variety.
5. Spelling: Consistency and correctness in spelling.
Test Tips:
Focus on Key Points: Include the main idea and essential details.
Check Your Work: Spend 1-2 minutes reviewing grammar, punctuation, and spelling before submitting.
Note: This question type affects the scoring of listening, writing, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. Reading and speaking skills are not assessed.
Overview:
In this task, test takers listen to a recording lasting 45 to 75 seconds and then write a summary of what they have heard. The summary should be between 20 to 30 words. You have 8 minutes to complete each Summarize Spoken Text question, and there are typically 1 to 2 questions in the exam.
Tips:
Focus on identifying key information in the recording to ensure the content is relevant. After capturing the main points, prioritize proper grammar and spelling to achieve a high score.
Time Management:
You have 8 minutes for each SST task, so there's no need to rush. Use the time to carefully write and proofread your summary. Always leave at least 1-2 minutes to review your answer before submitting it. Keep an eye on the timer in the top right corner of the screen.
Task: Listen to a short sentence and type it accurately in the response box.
Skills Assessed: Listening and Writing
Instructions:
1. Listen Carefully: The audio will play automatically and can only be heard once. It lasts for 3-5 seconds.
2. Take Notes: If needed, use the erasable note board booklet to jot down key words or phrases while listening.
3. Type the Sentence:
Accuracy: Type the sentence exactly as you hear it. Ensure all words are in the correct order.
Spelling: Check for correct spelling of every word.
Grammar: Ensure proper sentence structure.
Scoring Criteria:
1. Content: Full marks are awarded if all words are correct and in the correct order. Partial credit is given if one or more words are incorrect or out of order.
2. Spelling: Correct spelling is essential for full credit.
Test Tips:
Focus on Key Words**: Prioritize key words and phrases if you can't remember the entire sentence.
Review: Quickly check your sentence for spelling and grammatical errors before submitting.
Note: This question type is crucial as it contributes to both the listening and writing scores. Reading and speaking skills are not assessed in this task.
Task: Listen to an audio clip (15-50 seconds) and read a text. Identify and click on the words in the text that are pronounced incorrectly in the audio. Each task typically includes 2-3 items.
Tips:
This is one of the easiest tasks in the Listening Section. It holds significant weight, so aim to get full marks.
Practice regularly to improve accuracy.
Don't spend more than 2 minutes per task
Overview:
Test takers will hear a lecture or dialogue lasting 40 to 90 seconds. After listening, they must choose 2 or 3 correct answers from a list of 5 to 7 options. Incorrect selections result in a 1-point deduction, but your score cannot go below zero. This task usually includes 1 or 2 questions.
Strategy:
Multiple-choice-multiple-answer questions contribute only a small number of points in the Listening Section, so they should be a lower priority in your PTE preparation. Before the audio begins, read the question carefully so you can focus on key information as you listen. Select only the answers you are confident about, as wrong choices result in point deductions.
Time Management:
Given the low point value of these questions, aim to complete them quickly. Spend no more than 1.5 minutes per question, including listening time. If unsure of the correct answers, make a quick, informed choice immediately after the audio and move on to the next task.
Overview:
In this task, test takers listen to an audio clip while viewing a textual passage with missing words (blanks). The goal is to fill in each blank with the correct word based on what you hear. Typically, this task includes 2 or 3 sets of blanks to fill.
Strategy:
LFIB is a crucial question type in the Listening Section, so accuracy is essential. The intervals between blanks are usually short, so it’s important to keep up with the audio. Instead of typing the complete word as soon as you hear it, you can abbreviate or partially type it and finish after the audio ends. Use the "Tab" key to quickly jump between blanks.
Time Management:
While LFIB is significant for your overall score, try to complete each task within 2 minutes. This ensures you have enough time for other questions.
Overview:
In this task, test takers listen to a lecture or dialogue lasting 30 to 90 seconds. Afterward, they must choose the single correct summary from 3 to 5 options. Typically, this task includes 1 or 2 sets of questions.
Strategy:
Highlight Correct Summary questions carry minimal weight in the Listening Section, so they should be a low priority during PTE preparation. The key is to grasp the overall meaning of the audio without getting distracted by reading the question during playback. The answer choices will differ in their main ideas, not minor details.
Time Management:
Since HCS questions are not heavily weighted, complete them quickly, allowing more time for more critical tasks like Write from Dictation (WFD). If confident, spend no more than 1.5 minutes per question, including listening time. If unsure, make a quick choice after the audio finishes and move on to the next task.
Practice Goals:
Before taking mock or real tests, practice with a full set of HCS questions to become familiar with the format. Focus on efficient time management during these practice sessions.
Overview:
In this task, test takers listen to a lecture or dialogue lasting 60 to 90 seconds and then choose the correct answer from a set of options. Typically, this question type consists of 1 or 2 tasks.
Time Management:
MCQ-SA questions are not heavily weighted in the Listening Section, so complete them quickly to allocate more time to more critical tasks like Write from Dictation (WFD). If you are confident about your answer, spend no more than 1.5 minutes on each question, including the audio. If unsure, make a quick choice immediately after the audio and proceed to the next task.
Practice Goals:
MCQ-SA questions are of low priority in PTE preparation. Before listening to each audio, read the question to focus on key information. This targeted listening will help in selecting the correct answer.
Practice Task:
Before the mock or real tests, practice with a full set of MCQ-SA questions to become familiar with the format and improve time management.
Overview:
In this task, test takers listen to a lecture or dialogue lasting 20 to 70 seconds. The audio ends with a beep that blanks one or more words. You must choose the correct word to fill the blank from 3 to 5 given options. Typically, this question type consists of 1 or 2 tasks.
Tips:
SMW questions have low significance in the Listening Section, so they require minimal preparation. Pay close attention to the end of the audio when the beep occurs. Focus on the final part of the sentence, as it helps identify the missing word.
Time Management:
Since SMW questions contribute a small number of points, complete them quickly to allocate more time to more valuable tasks like Write from Dictation (WFD). Spend up to 1.5 minutes on each question, including the audio. If unsure, make a quick decision after the audio and move on to the next task.
Practice Task:
Before taking mock or real tests, practice a full set of SMW questions to become familiar with the format and improve time management.
