Global recognition and test accuracy makes PTE Academic a perfect standardised English language test for candidates applying to reputed global universities and institutions. This test recognises the international nature of English as a language. So, you can be from any country or have any dialect - getting a good PTE score is not difficult. Many students with average proficiency in English have scored good PTE scores. All it takes is dedication and intense preparation. And it should start with a clear understanding of the PTE exam pattern and syllabus.
The Skills PTE Academic Evaluates
Pearson Test of English verifies the following essential English language communication skills a student needs in university-level academic-context.
-
How to speak with fluency
-
How to listen actively
-
How to write effectively
-
How to read meaningfully
The 3-hour test is segregated into three parts covering three skills segments:
-
Part 1 - Speaking & Writing (test duration 77 - 93 minutes)
-
Part 2 - Reading (test duration 32 - 40 minutes)
-
Part 3 - Listening (test duration - 45 - 57 minutes)
The minimum and maximum test duration for each part is indicative. It means test-takers cannot expect to get the maximum time duration for every test part or follow the minimum time limit. The duration is calculated by adding up the time to reading test prompts, preparing responses and recording the answer. PTE allocates time for each task as follows:
-
To read the test prompt for each test item,
-
To prepare the answer or response to a test item, and
-
To answer your response or record your response in case of Speaking skills test items.
Allocated time varies from item to item, depending on the question prompt’s text size or the ideal size of a response. On average, test-takers get 10 to 15 seconds to prepare or mentally construct their responses. Recording responses means saving text, recording voice or choosing options on the computer screen.
Please understand, it is not difficult to give an appropriate response to any PTE test item, even with average English language skills. What is essential is to do that within the set time limit. Failure to complete responding within allocated time amounts to a loss of marks. So, time management is the key to test success, and test-takers can achieve it through practise and practise alone.
Language Characteristics of PTE Academic Exam
Language tonality and language style of test items in PTE Speaking & Writing, PTE Reading, and PTE Listening sections ensure that test-takers get a realistic experience of lives in any international university or institution.
-
Language usage scenarios used in the PTE are authentically-sourced and based on real-life experience.
-
The test includes different English accents like British, American, or other international accents for a truly global representation.
-
PTE exam syllabus uses scenarios from a university-level academic setting like classroom interactions, writing academic papers, communicating with peers and other similar instances.
Now, let’s explore this video with meticulous details on PTE exam pattern, structure, the steps to prepare for PTE, and essential study material.
PTE Academic Exam Structure
We have outlined the PTE Academic test pattern, different types of test items in each test section as per the PTE exam syllabus, the number of items to expect from each type, and the approximate allocated time for each item. The time limits may vary for different test tasks. But the data in the table will provide a broader clarity of what to expect.
The table also hughlights the marking rules for each item type - partial credit and correct/incorrect. Out of these two rules - correct/incorrect marking is more straightforward, you get marks for a correct response only. on the other hand, Partial Credit marking system depends on factors like the answer content, forms and other criteria.
PTE Speaking & Writing
It is the most significant section in PTE Academic in terms of the test duration. Also, PTE emphasises spoken fluency skill, which earns special recognition for the test worldwide.
|
SPEAKING & WRITING |
||||
|
Test Items Types & Scoring rules |
Number of items |
Time limits |
The time you get per item |
|
|
Read aloud |
Partial credit |
6-7 items |
30-35 minutes |
1 minute per item
|
|
Repeat sentence |
Partial credit |
10-12 items |
||
|
Describe image |
Partial credit |
6-7 items |
||
|
Re-tell lecture |
Partial credit |
3-4 items |
||
|
Short questions |
Correct/incorrect |
10-12 items |
||
|
Summarise written text |
Partial credit |
2-3 items |
20-30 minutes |
10 minutes |
|
Essay writing |
Partial credit |
1-2 items |
20-40 minutes |
20 minutes |
PTE Reading
The test items in this section assess reading in relation to other skills like listening, vocabulary, grammatical correctness, writing discourse and others. The major challenge is to read quickly, comprehend and respond correctly.
|
READING |
||||
|
Fill in the blanks - Reading & Writing |
Partial credit (depending on how many blanks you filled correctly) |
5-6 items |
32-41 minutes |
2.13 minutes |
|
MCQ - multiple answers for each question |
Partial credit |
2-3 |
||
|
Re-order paragraph |
Partial credit |
2-3 |
||
|
Fill in the blanks - Reading |
Partial credit |
4-5 |
||
|
MCQ - single answer |
Correct/incorrect |
2-3 |
||
PTE Listening
This section emphasises on the ability to listen to and understand English in different accents and dialects. The time duration is 45-57 minutes and you need to listen to a lot of audio and video clips in that time.
|
LISTENING |
||||
|
Summarise text |
Partial credit |
2-3 items |
20-30 minutes |
10 minutes |
|
MCQ - multiple answers for each question |
Partial credit |
2-3 items |
23-28 minutes |
1.53 minutes
|
|
Fill in the blanks |
Partial credit |
2-3 items |
||
|
Highlight correct summary |
Correct/incorrect |
2-3 items |
||
|
MCQ - single answer |
Correct/incorrect |
2-3 items |
||
|
Select missing word |
Correct/incorrect |
2-3 items |
||
|
Highlight incorrect word |
Partial credit (depending on how many you highlighted correctly) |
2-3 items |
||
|
Write from diction |
Partial credit |
3-4 items |
||
Now you have a structural understanding of the PTE Academic exam pattern and PTE syllabus. For every test-taker, it is essential to realise that PTE intends to assess the true language abilities necessary for students to succeed in any global university. It does not ask to follow any particular accent or a regional variety of English. So, test-takers only need to learn how to respond to test items in grammatically correct and intelligible English for a good PTE score.
