Master the PTE Exam: Pattern Insights and Expert Guidance for Success
PTE, an English language proficiency test administered on computers, evaluates individuals’ reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Recognized by 3000+ universities, institutions, and governments globally, including the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, PTE serves academic and immigration purposes.
It’s divided into PTE Academic and PTE General. Academic suits those aiming to study abroad, while General is for demonstrating English competency for job or personal reasons. The 2-hour Academic test is scored from 10 to 90, with results available within 48 hours. Test-takers must answer 53-74 questions in a single sitting. The exam comprises four main categories: PTE-A, PTE-A UKVI, PTE Home, and PTE Academic Online.
PTE Exam Pattern – Part 1: Speaking & Writing
The Speaking & Writing segment in the PTE academic test appraises both a candidate’s writing and speaking competencies. Within this section of the PTE exam pattern, individuals are tasked with activities like reading aloud, sentence repetition, responding to queries, summarizing lectures, composing brief essays, and synthesizing provided paragraphs. Section 1 of the Speaking segment involves a non-scored personal introduction where candidates present themselves within 30 seconds, allowing them to introduce themselves. Displayed on the computer screen, candidates encounter a recording box and, following a beep or tone, are prompted to speak immediately. Various other tasks, like sentence repetition or depicting an image displayed on-screen, constitute components of the Speaking and Writing section within the PTE exam format.
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PTE Question Pattern for Speaking & Writing (54-67 minutes)
Item | Task | Skills assessed | Prompt length | Time to answer |
Personal Introduction | The introduction is an opportunity for the students to give their selected institutions some information about themselves | Speaking | 25 seconds to prepare to respond | 30 seconds to record |
Read Aloud | A text appears on the screen. Read the text aloud. | Reading and Speaking | Text up to 60 words 30-40 seconds to prepare | Varies by item, depending on the length of text |
Repeat sentence | After listening to a recording of a sentence, repeat the sentence | Listening and Speaking | 3-9 seconds | 15 seconds |
Describe Image | An image appears on the screen. Describe the image in detail. | Speaking | N/A | 40 seconds |
Re-tell Lecture | After listening to or watching a lecture, re-tell the lecture in your own words. | Listening and Speaking | up to 90 seconds | 40 seconds |
Answer short question | After listening to a question, answer with a single word or a few words. | Listening and Speaking | 3-9 seconds | 10 seconds |
Summarize written text | After reading a text, write a one-sentence summary of the passage. | Reading and Writing | text up to 300 words | 10 minutes |
Write essay | Write a 200– 300-word essay on a given topic. | Writing | 2-3 sentences | 20 minutes |
The Speaking section’s test pattern in PTE is often perceived as more challenging compared to IELTS Speaking. In PTE’s speaking pattern, computer recording is utilized, disallowing the rectification of errors. This difference contrasts with IELTS Speaking, where a human listener is present, potentially making test-takers less affected by anxiety or nervousness, impacting their final score.
PTE Exam Pattern – Part 2: Reading
The PTE Academic exam’s Reading section assesses candidates’ reading abilities within a duration of 29-30 minutes. Test-takers receive a set of instructions to adhere to before proceeding to answer the questions. Refer to the outlined PTE exam format for the reading section to gain a clearer understanding.
Item | Task | Skills assessed | Prompt length |
Multiple-Choice, Choose Single Answer | After reading a text, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the text by selecting one response | Reading | text up to 300 words |
Multiple-Choice, Choose Multiple Answers | After reading a text, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the text by selecting more than one response | Reading | text up to 300 words |
Re-order Paragraphs | Several text boxes appear on the screen in a random order. Put the text boxes in the correct order | Reading | text up to 150 words |
Reading: Fill in the blanks | A text appears on the screen with several gaps. Drag words from the box below to fill the gaps | Reading | text up to 80 words |
Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks | A text appears on the screen with several gaps. For this item type, candidates need to select the most appropriate words from a drop-down list to restore the text. | Reading and Writing | text up to 300 words |
The Speaking section’s test pattern in PTE is often perceived as more challenging compared to IELTS Speaking. In PTE’s speaking pattern, computer recording is utilized, disallowing the rectification of errors. This difference contrasts with IELTS Speaking, where a human listener is present, potentially making test-takers less affected by anxiety or nervousness, impacting their final score.
PTE Exam Pattern – Part 2: Reading
The PTE Academic exam’s Reading section assesses candidates’ reading abilities within a duration of 29-30 minutes. Test-takers receive a set of instructions to adhere to before proceeding to answer the questions. Refer to the outlined PTE exam format for the reading section to gain a clearer understanding.
Item | Task | Skills assessed | Prompt length |
Multiple-Choice, Choose Single Answer | After reading a text, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the text by selecting one response | Reading | text up to 300 words |
Multiple-Choice, Choose Multiple Answers | After reading a text, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the text by selecting more than one response | Reading | text up to 300 words |
Re-order Paragraphs | Several text boxes appear on the screen in a random order. Put the text boxes in the correct order | Reading | text up to 150 words |
Reading: Fill in the blanks | A text appears on the screen with several gaps. Drag words from the box below to fill the gaps | Reading | text up to 80 words |
Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks | A text appears on the screen with several gaps. For this item type, candidates need to select the most appropriate words from a drop-down list to restore the text. | Reading and Writing | text up to 300 words |
PTE Exam Pattern – Part 3: Listening
In the PTE Exam pattern 2023, the listening section involves various questions related to audio clips. Part 3 of the PTE exam pattern specifically incorporates questions solely derived from audio or video clips. Candidates have a single opportunity to listen to each audio or video clip and are permitted to make notes for reference.
Item | Task | Skills assessed | Prompt length |
Summarize spoken text | After listening to a recording, write a 50-70 word summary | Listening and Writing | 60-90 seconds |
Multiple Choice, choose multiple answers | After listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the recording by selecting more than one response | Listening | 40-90 seconds |
Fill in the blanks | A transcript of a recording appears on the screen with several gaps. After listening to the recording, type the missing word in each gap | Listening and Writing | 30-60 seconds |
Highlight correct summary | After listening to a recording, select the paragraph that best summarizes the recording | Listening and Reading | 30-90 seconds |
Multiple Choice, choose a single answer | After listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the recording by selecting one response | Listening | 30-60 seconds |
Select missing word | After listening to a recording, select the missing word that completes the recording from a list of options | Listening | 20-70 seconds |
Highlight incorrect words | The transcript of a recording appears on the screen. While listening to the recording, identify the words in the transcript that differ from what is said | Listening and Reading | 15-50 seconds |
Write from dictation | After listening to a recording of a sentence, type the sentence | Listening and Writing | 3-5 seconds |
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Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
- 1.How does the scoring work for the PTE Academic exam?
The PTE Academic Exam follows a scoring system ranging from 10 to 90, with 10 being the lowest score and points incrementing by 1. This score reflects an individual’s proficiency in English, encompassing reading, speaking, listening, and writing abilities.
- 2. What are the limits on taking the PTE exam?
Candidates can take the PTE exam multiple times with a minimum gap of 5 days between consecutive tests.
- 3. What is the duration of validity for PTE test scores?
Scores obtained in the PTE Academic exam remain valid for a duration of two years.
- 4. Is there a specific minimum score required for the PTE Academic exam?
The PTE Academic doesn’t prescribe a minimum score. Instead, the minimum score requirement varies based on the specific university or institution to which you’re applying.