PTE

PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic

PTE Academic is a computer-based academic English language test aimed at non-native English speakers wanting to study abroad. It tests Reading, Writing, Listening and speaking skills. It is designed to measure the academic English abilities of candidates who wish to demonstrate their level of achievement to professional and government organizations and education institutions.

Questions often test 2 skills together, such as listening and reading or reading and speaking. The whole test is done in a single session, lasting 3 hours and is taken sitting at a computer in a secure test environment. The speaking part of the exam is done at the computer.

Your voice is recorded and sent for marking. There are twenty different question formats, ranging from multiple choice through to essay writing and interpreting information. PTE Academic assesses real-life, academic content, 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.

PTE Academic Test Format

Part 1: Speaking and Writing (approx 77-93 minutes)

Section 1:

Personal Introduction

• In this section, you are a given a prompt and are asked to introduce yourself orally. You speak about yourself up to 30 seconds.

Section 2:

Read Aloud

• In this section, you are given a text (up to 60 words) and are asked to read the text aloud. You do 6-7 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Repeat Sentence

• In this section, you hear a sentence. You are asked to repeat the sentence exactly as you heard it. You do 10-12 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Describe Image)

• In this section, you are given an image. You are asked to describe in detail what the image is showing. You do 6-7 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Re-tell Lecture

• In this section, you hear a lecture. You are asked to retell the lecture in your own words. You do 3-4 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Answer Short Question

• In this section, you are asked a question, the answer to which is a word or short phrase. You do 10-12 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Section 3-4: Summarize Written Text

• In these sections, you read a text. You are then asked to summarize the text in one or two sentences. You are given ten minutes to write each summary sentence.

Section 5: Summarize Written Text / Write an Essay

• This section is either a Summarize written text task or a Write essay task.

Section 6: Write an Essay

• In this section, you are given a prompt to read. You are then asked to write an essay (200-300 words). You are given twenty minutes to write your essay.

Part 2: Reading (approx 32-41 minutes)

Multiple-choice, choose single answer

• In this section, you read a text (up to 150 words). You are then given a multiple-choice question with three to five answer options. You choose the one correct answer option. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers

• In this section, you read a text (up to 150 words). You are then given a multiple-choice question with five to seven answer options. You choose all the correct answer options. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Re-order Paragraphs

• In this section, you are given a text (up to 150 words) divided into paragraphs. The paragraphs are in the wrong order. You have to drag and drop the paragraphs into the correct order. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test. 

Reading: Fill in the blanks

• In this section, you read a text (up to 80 words) which has blanks in it. You drag words from a box and drop each text. You do 4-5 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks

• In this section, you read a text (up to 300 words) which has blanks in it. You click on each blank and a drop down list appears. You choose the correct word from each list to complete the text. You do 5-6 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Part 3: Listening (approx 45-57 minutes)

Section 1: Summarize Spoken Text

• In this section, you listen to a short lecture. You are then asked to write a summary of that lecture (50-70 words) for a fellow student who was not present in the lecture. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test. 

Section 2:

Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers

• In this section, you listen to a recording on an academic subject. You are then given a multiple choice question with five to seven answer options. You choose all the correct answer options. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Section 2: Fill in the blanks

• In this section, you listen to a recording while you read a transcription of that recording. The transcription has up to five blanks in it. As you listen, you type in the missing words you hear. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Highlight Correct Summary

• In this section, you listen to a recording. You read three to five paragraphs and select the paragraph which is the best summary of the recording. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Section 2: Multiple-choice, choose single answer

• In this section, you listen to a recording on an academic subject. You are then given a multiple choice question with three to five answer options. You choose the correct answer option. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Select missing word

• In this section, you listen to a recording. The final word or group of words has been replaced by a beep. You are given three to five answer options. You choose the correct answer option t complete the recording. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Highlight incorrect words

• In this section, you listen to a recording while you read a transcription of that recording. The transcription contains up to seven deliberate errors. You click on the words in the transcription which do not match the recording. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Section 2: Writing from Dictation

• In this section, you hear a sentence. You are then asked to write the sentence exactly as you heard it. You do 3-4 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Writing from Dictation

• In this section, you hear a sentence. You are then asked to write the sentence exactly as you heard it. You do 3-4 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.