The PTE Academic is a computer-based test of English. It is designed to measure the academic English abilities of candidates who wish to demonstrate their level of achievement to professional and government organizations as well as educational institutions.
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) has been developed in accordance with the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) OR Council of Europe (CEF), 2001 which is widely accepted as a standard of ability or performance in language testing.
PTE Academic is the world’s leading computer-based test of English for study abroad and immigration. Typically, PTE Academic results are available within five business days. Testing globally over 360 days of the year in over 200 test centers around the world. Test sessions are run in over 50 countries around the world. Approved for all Australian and New Zealand student visa and migration applications. Accepted for study applications by thousands of academic programs around the world.
To complete a PTE Academic test, you will need to attend a secure Pearson test center. You will use a computer and headset to listen to, read and respond to questions. During the three-hour test session there will be three main parts to the test: speaking and writing (together), listening and reading. There are twenty different question formats, ranging from multiple choice through to essay writing and interpreting information. PTE Academic assesses real-life, academic English, so you will hear excerpts from lectures and view graphs and charts. You will hear a range of accents in the test, from British and American to non-native speakers, so you will be exposed to the type of accents you will encounter in everyday life.
| Part of Test ( Introduction ) | Section | Item Type | Time allowed ( Not timed ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part I: Speaking + Writing | Section 1 | Personal Introduction | 1 Minute |
| Section 2 | • Read aloud • Repeat Sentence • Describe Image • Re-tell Lecture • Answer Short Question |
20 Minutes | |
| Section 3 - 4 | Summarize Written Text or Write Essay | 20 Minutes | |
| Section 5 | Summarize Written Text or Write Essay | 20 Minutes | |
| Section 6 | Write Essay | 20 Minutes | |
| Part 2 Reading | • Multiple Choice, Choose Single answer • Multiple choice, Choose multiple answers • Re-order Paragraphs • Reading: Fill in the blanks • Reading & Writing: Fill in the blanks |
20 Minutes | |
| Part 3 Listening | Section I | Summarize spoken text | 20 - 30 Minutes |
| Section 2 | • Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers • Fill the blanks • Highlights correct summary • Multiple- choice, choose single answer • Select missing word • Highlights incorrect words • Write from dictation |
20 - 30 Minutes |
(1). Correct or Incorrect: Some item types are scored as either correct or incorrect. If you responses to these items are correct, you will receive the maximum score points available for each item type. If your responses are incorrect, you will receive no score points.
(2). Partial Credit: If your responses to these items are correct, you will receive the maximum score points available for each item type. If you will receive same score points and if you responses are incorrect you will receive no score points
| PART OF TEST | ITEM TYPE | SKILLS ASSESSED | TYPE OF SCORING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Speaking and Writing | • Personal Introduction • Read Aloud • Repeat Sentence • Describe Image • Re-tell Lecture • Answer Short Question • Summarize Written Text • Write Essay |
• Not assessed • Reading and speaking • Listening and speaking • Speaking • Listening and speaking • Listening and speaking • Reading and Writing • Writing |
• Un-scored • Partial credit • Partial credit • Partial credit • Partial credit • Correct/ Incorrect • Partial credit • Partial credit |
| Part 2: Reading | • Multiple-Choice, Choose single answer • Multiple-Choice, Choose single answer • Re-order paragraphs • Reading: Fill in the blanks • Reading & writing: Fill in the blanks |
• Reading • Reading • Reading • Reading • Reading and writing |
• Correct/incorrect • Partial credit • Partial credit • Partial credit • Partial credit |
| Part 3: Reading | • Summarize spoken text • Multiple-Choice, Choose single answer • Fill in the blanks • Highlight correct summary • Multiple-choice, choose single answer • Select missing word • Highlight incorrect words • Write from dictation |
• Listening and writing • Listening • Listening and writing • Listening and writing • Listening • Listening • Listening and writing • Listening and writing |
• Partial credit • Partial credit • Partial credit • Correct / incorrect • Correct / incorrect • Correct / incorrect • Partial credit • Partial credit |