Whether you want to study overseas, find a job abroad or immigrate to another country, you will have to face an English test like the PTE Exam, which you take on a computer and need to complete in 3 hours. If you decide to pass the PTE test and want to succeed at it, you must first learn the PTE exam format!
In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the PTE Exam format. What is it, how long it takes, how much it cost, and much more. At the end of this article, you will have the chance to download a PDF of a detailed PTE test format you can refer to anytime during your preparation.
What is the PTE exam format?
The PTE exam format contains three parts, which includes four modules:
- speaking and writing,
- reading,
- listening,
If you are asking yourself if the PTE test format varies in each country, the answer is no; the test pattern is the same in Australia, India, elsewhere.
Below you can find one detailed table per module showing you all the type of questions you will be facing at the exam in the proper order.
Part 1) PTE Academic Speaking and Writing Test Detailed Format (77 - 93 minutes)
| Exercise | N° of questions in exam | Duration | Importance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal introduction | 1 | 10 min | 0 | 0 |
| Read aloud | 6-7 | 2 min | 5 | 3 |
| Repeat sentence | 8-10 | 1 min | 5 | 2 |
| Describe image | 6-8 | 2 min | 4 | 4 |
| Retell lecture | 2-3 | 2 min | 4 | 5 |
| Answer short question | 10-12 | 10 sec | 2 | 2 |
| Summarize written text | 2-3 | 10 min | 4 | 4 |
| Essay | 1-2 | 20 min | 2 | 5 |
Part 2) PTE Academic Reading Test Detailed Format (32 - 40 minutes)
| Exercise | N° of questions in exam | Duration | Importance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading/Writing fill in the blank | 5-6 | 3 min | 5 | 4 |
| Choose multiple answer | 2-3 | 3 min | 1 | 3 |
| Reorder paragraph | 4-5 | 2 min | 2 | 3 |
| Fill in the blank | 4-5 | 2 min | 3 | 3 |
| Choose single answer | 2-3 | 2 min | 1 | 2 |
After the reading module, you can have an optional break for 10 minutes.
Part 3) PTE Academic Listening Test Detailed Format
| Exercise | N° of questions in exam | Duration | Importance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summarize spoken | 1 | 10 min | 4 | 4 |
| Choose multiple answer | 2-3 | 2 min | 1 | 3 |
| Fill in the blank | 2-3 | 1 min | 3 | 3 |
| Highlight correct summary | 2-3 | 1 min | 1 | 2 |
| Choose single answer | 2-3 | 2 min | 1 | 1 |
| Select missing word | 2-3 | 1 min | 1 | 2 |
| Highlight incorrect word | 2-3 | 1 min | 3 | 2 |
| Write from dictation | 3-4 | 1 min | 5 | 3 |
During your preparation, make sure to pay close attention to the level of importance and the level of difficulty attributed to each exercise. You can see these criteria in the tables above.
With this in mind, you should be able to determine the amount of energy you need to put into your daily practice. The level of importance indicates the impact of the marks on your total score, and the level of difficulty speaks for itself.
What are the dates I can take the PTE Exam
You can take the PTE test all year long. Before booking for an exam, make sure to follow the steps below:
- Create a Pearson account. It might take up to 48 hours to receive an email with your verification details.
- Schedule your exam date.
- Schedule your exam time.
PTE offers two exam sessions per day listed as below:
- 9.00 am – 12.00 pm
- 12.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Important:
Make sure you book at least 48 hours in advance to avoid to incur a late fee.
Definition of late fee:
Booking within 48 hours before the test. The exam fees will be listed below.
How much more will I pay for a late exam fee?
The PTE exam fees vary from country to country. To make your life easier, I have researched the answer for you. Just remember to create an account in advance and then book your exam at least 48 hours before to avoid to pay a late fee.
| Country | Standard Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | AUD $375 | AUD $395 |
| India | INR 13,300 | INR 13,965 |
| China | USD $275 | USD $343.75 |
| Brazil | USD $160 | USD $200 |
| Japan | USD $225 | USD $275 |
| Indonesia | USD $185 | USD $231.25 |
| Philippines | USD $205 | USD $256 |
| Nepal | USD $170 | USD $212.50 |
| Nigeria | 46,370 | 57,962.50 |
| Saudia Arabia | USD $270 | USD $337.50 |
| United States | USD $200 | USD $250 |
| United Kingdom | GBP £155 | GBP £193.75 |
Is your country not on the list? You can verify on Pearson’s official website.
How is the PTE Test Scored?
When taking the PTE exam, you will receive a score that ranges between 10 and 90 marks for each communicative skills (reading, listening, speaking, and writing).
To calculate the total score of each communicative skills, Pearson uses a combination of the enabling skills, for which the score is also between 1 and 90.
If you are wondering what the list of enabling skills is, you can find it below:
- grammar,
- oral fluency,
- pronunciation,
- spelling,
- vocabulary,
- written discourse
Explanation of each individual enabling skills:
Grammar: Correct use of language with respect to word form and word order at the sentence level.
Oral fluency: Smooth, effortless and natural-paced delivery of speech.
Pronunciation: the act or result of producing the sounds of speech, including articulation, stress, and intonation, often with reference to some standard of correctness or acceptability.
Spelling: Writing of words according to the spelling rules of a language.
Vocabulary: Appropriate choice of words used to express meaning, as well as lexical range. Correct and communicative efficient production of written language at the textual level.
Written discourse: skills are represented in the structure of a written text, its internal coherence, logical development and the range of linguistic resources used to express meaning precisely.
What is a good score at the PTE Exam?
The answer to that question is it depends on what your motivation is. Are you looking to study abroad? Are you looking for a working visa or a permanent visa?
According to visa2immigration, you need:
| Motivation | Score in marks |
|---|---|
| family-stream visas | Not required |
| visa 189 or visa 190 or visa 489 | 50 / 90 |
| immigration (10 points) | 65 / 90 |
| immigration (20 points) | 79 / 90 |
Just in case you need to convert your IELTS score to the PTE score:
<a href=https://pearsonpte.com/the-test/about-our-scores/understand-your-scores>
How long is my PTE Result Valid for?
Your PTE result will be valid for at least 2 years from the date you took your exam.
Do you need to know where your PTE result is accepted? You can visit the official Pearson’s website.
Conclusion
Here is everything you need to know about the PTE format test. As promised at the beginning or the article, you can download the PDF version.
Did you find this article helpful? Do you have more questions about the PTE test format?
