PTE (Pearson Test of English) is a popular standardized test of fluency in English. Candidates across the world use PTE scores to gain admission to more than 3,000 of the highest ranked Universities globally, and for immigration purposes. Test takers can choose between the offline computer-based test format, and an online on-demand examination.
Similar to other tests of English proficiency, PTE tests four main skills: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. The test makes extensive use of audio recordings and multiple choice questions, with 20 different formats. The exam uses Artificial Intelligence to ensure that all question sets are of similar difficulty, and the AI algorithm is responsible for grading performance as well, thereby ensuring that a similar standard is used for all candidates, with no possibility of human error. It is also highly flexible, with candidates allowed to sign up until one day before their desired test date; results are made available within two days of giving the exam.
| Exam Name | PTE (Pearson Test of English - Academic) |
| Governing Organization | Pearson plc |
| Official Website | https://www.pearsonpte.com/ |
| Registration Fee | India: INR 15,900 (varies by country) |
| Registration Date | (For exam date 15 October 2023) 14 October 2023 |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test Online |
| Accepted in | 3,300 Universities in 70+ Countries |
| Exam Frequency | Online: Throughout the year |
| Exam Duration | 113 - 140 minutes |
| Total Questions | 20 Question Types |
Most candidates prefer to register for Pearson PTE Academic in the online mode. A few test takers prefer to travel to a test center and register in person.
If a candidate wishes to appear for the PTE in the online mode (rather than at a test center), the registration process is similar; however, there is no test center choice step.
The vast majority of candidates register for the PTE online. However, if a candidate is not comfortable with online payments, he/she may travel to the nearest Pearson PTE test center (the full list is available on their website), and fill up a hard copy of the form, and pay the exam registration fee to complete the process. Offline registrations are not available for the online version of the test.
There are very few conditions restricting eligibility to appear for Pearson PTE. All genders and nationalities are welcome. If a test taker's age is lower than 18, he/she must submit a consent form signed by legal guardians in order to be allowed to appear for the exam. If a candidate does not live near a test center and has a weak internet connection, it may be necessary to travel to the nearest exam venue.
There are three sections in the Pearson PTE. Together, they test the four fundamental English proficiency components: Reading, Speaking, Listening, and Writing. The duration of the exam is between 113 and 140 minutes, depending on the time taken for each section.
| Sections | Time (Minutes) | # of Question Types |
| Speaking & Writing | 54 to 67 | 7 |
| Reading | 29 to 30 | 5 |
| Listening | 30 to 43 | 8 |
| Total | 113 to 140 | 20 |
The main skills needed to achieve a high score on the Pearson PTE exam are related to English comprehension (both while reading and listening), knowledge of grammar, and the ability to form clear and coherent sentences while presenting points in favor or against an overarching argument.
The longest section of the Pearson PTE examination is also the most complex. The Speaking and Writing section has seven challenging question types, ranging from a short personal introduction to assignments where candidates must paraphrase a portion of a lecture that they hear, in both spoken and written formats. There are also unique formats like image descriptions and essay writing. Overall, this section is a test of the candidate’s ability to communicate in simple yet eloquent English. The best way to master the syllabus is to work with a coach and speak or write for at least an hour every day, and then receive detailed feedback.
The PTE Reading Section contains five question types that test the candidate’s ability to correctly interpret textual information in a short period of time. This is the shortest section of the test. The question types include filling in the blanks in a 300 word passage, answering multiple choice questions based on a short sentence, putting paragraphs in the correct order so as to make a coherent whole, and identifying multiple correct answers. Most questions require the candidate to understand the context of a sentence or paragraph and use their vocabulary skills to complete the passage or rectify errors in it.
The PTE Listening Section aims to test the candidate’s ability to listen, understand, synthesize, and act on auditory information in English. Both video and audio recordings are played during this segment, in an attempt to simulate real life classroom scenarios. There are eight different question types in this PTE section, more than in any other.
Each audio and video clip is played exactly once, and candidates may take notes during this. The different tasks include writing a coherent 50-70 word summary of an audio recording, answering multiple choice questions based on facts in a video recording, picking out the current summary of an audio clip, filling in missing words, and transcribing an audio recording accurately.
The Pearson PTE website allows candidates to view available exam dates, and use their location to find the nearest test centers. This allows them to streamline the booking process, and create a registration myPTE account only after they are sure that there is a convenient date and location available. The PTE Online examination does not depend on choice of center, and time slots are always available instantly.
Most Pearson PTE test centers in India offer the examination four times every month. These are invariably on a Friday unless there is a public holiday on that day, in which case that week’s exam date is shifted to Wednesday. Therefore, there are approximately 48 dates per year during which candidates can take part in the computer based offline version of PTE.
Pearson PTE Academic Online is held throughout the year. Test takers may sign up and immediately appear for the test, usually on the same day or within 24 hours. However, most candidates prefer to visit a test center, if possible, given the greater availability of academic and technical support.
PTE has a large number of test centers across the world, with more than 400 exam venues spread across 117 countries. India is one of the most popular PTE testing countries, with 35 test centers. Most large cities have 2-3 locations, ensuring that candidates do not have to travel far.
The Pearson PTE fees vary slightly by country, with the average amount being $200, with local variations of up to 20%. India is one of the top five PTE countries by number of test takers.
| Service | PTE Exam Fees |
| Registration Fee (PTE Academic) | INR 15,900 |
| Registration Fee (PTE Online) | INR 15,900 |
| Cancel Registration (More than 14 days before test date) | 0 |
| Cancel Registration (8-13 days before test date) | INR 7,950 (50% of the test fee) |
| Cancel Registration (Less than 7 days before test date) | INT 15,900 (100% of the registration fee) |
| PTE Home Immigration (Visa) tests | INR 13,500 |
The best way to prepare for PTE Academic is to purchase and attempt the five Scored Practice Tests from the Pearson website. These are exactly like the final exam in terms of question format, topic weightage, and difficulty. They also provide valuable information to the candidate regarding test interface features and how to manage time in different sections.
Applicants can also purchase a set of PTE Sample Questions from the Pearson website. These have seventy questions in all the formats that candidates can expect to encounter in the PTE, and can be attempted multiple times.
PTE Academic allows students to send their scores to any number of universities for free; this is in contrast to most other universally accepted tests of English proficiency, which introduce a per-University charge after the first five. Given that most candidates apply to eight or more colleges, this is a significant saving. The large network that PTE boasts - its scores are accepted in more than 3,300 institutions across the world - ensures cost saving on a large scale.
To make this decision, the candidate should visit the websites of all the Universities to which he/she wishes to apply, and note down the language proficiency criteria, and which test scores are accepted. After the complete matrix is built, the student should use the exam which is accepted by all the colleges on the list. In general, institutions in Australia and Europe all accept PTE, though most of them accept others as well. IELTS is very common in the UK and several other countries. TOEFL is the #1 option for US Universities. Finally, the choice comes down to whichever test is accepted by all target schools.
In addition to the Overall Score and the Communicative Skills evaluation, the Skills Profile gives test takers detailed feedback and a series of actionable recommendations to improve their English listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. This is especially useful for candidates who wish to appear for the PTE again in order to improve their score, because it gives them a clear blueprint for success. Test takers who are satisfied with their PTE Academic performance are nevertheless encouraged to read this section as well to improve their communication skills.
Pearson recommends that candidates choose to appear for the PTE at a test center, if possible. This is preferred because there are qualified personnel who can assist test takers in case of any difficulty. The same assistance is not available for technical issues for candidates appearing for the test at home, even though there is constant online proctoring and phone-based support.
Four steps are to be completed before the candidate can start the PTE session:
After this, candidates may deposit their personal items in a locker, and start the test. Due to the large number of tasks involved, test takers should reach the venue at least half an hour before the scheduled time given.
Candidates may easily reschedule the PTE exam date two weeks or more before the day chosen earlier. To do this, they can simply log in to their myPTE account, and click on the “Reschedule” button on the main page. This feature is available at no additional charge.
If there are between one and two weeks left for the chosen test date, candidates cannot see the Reschedule button on their dashboards. In this case, they must cancel their registration, and 50% of the initial amount paid will be refunded.
If there is less than one week left, candidates will not receive any refund upon canceling the test. Therefore, they should either attend the PTE exam on the chosen date if possible, or cancel it and start the registration process again.
