The Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic is a computer-based English language proficiency test that evaluates the four key skills of language: Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening. Designed for non-native English speakers who want to study or work in an English-speaking environment, PTE Academic is recognized by universities, governments, and organizations worldwide. In this article, we’ll break down the test structure, question types, scoring system, and the differences between PTE Academic and other popular English proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL.
Overview of the PTE Academic Test
The PTE Academic test is divided into three main parts:
- Speaking & Writing (together in one section)
- Reading
- Listening
1. Speaking & Writing Section
The Speaking & Writing section is the first part of the PTE Academic test, and it typically takes 54 to 67 minutes to complete. This section assesses both your spoken and written English skills through a series of tasks.
Types of Questions:
- Personal Introduction: A short, non-scored prompt where you introduce yourself. This is used by institutions reviewing your results.
- Read Aloud: You’ll see a passage on the screen and be required to read it aloud. This assesses your pronunciation, fluency, and reading skills.
- Repeat Sentence: You’ll hear a sentence and must repeat it exactly as you heard it. This tests your listening and speaking abilities.
- Describe Image: You are presented with an image (graph, chart, picture) and must describe it in detail. This evaluates your ability to speak clearly and organize your thoughts.
- Re-tell Lecture: You listen to or watch a lecture and then summarize the key points. This combines listening and speaking skills.
- Answer Short Questions: You are asked simple questions, and you must provide brief spoken answers.
- Summarize Written Text: You’ll read a short passage and must summarize it into one sentence, testing both your reading comprehension and writing skills.
- Essay Writing: You are given a topic and must write an essay (200-300 words) on it. This assesses your ability to express complex ideas in writing, focusing on grammar, vocabulary, and coherence.
2. Reading Section
The Reading section lasts for 29 to 30 minutes and assesses your ability to understand written English. This section contains multiple question types that test comprehension, vocabulary, and the ability to analyze written information.
Types of Questions:
- Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer: You read a passage and select the correct answer from a list.
- Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers: Similar to the single-answer version, but more than one answer may be correct.
- Re-order Paragraphs: You are presented with several sentences in a random order. Your task is to rearrange them to form a coherent paragraph.
- Fill in the Blanks: In this task, you’ll complete a text by filling in missing words from a list.
- Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks: Similar to the previous task, but these blanks test your writing skills by requiring grammatically correct word choices.
3. Listening Section
The Listening section is the final part of the test and lasts 30 to 43 minutes. It assesses your ability to comprehend spoken English, using various types of listening tasks.
Types of Questions:
- Summarize Spoken Text: After listening to an audio recording, you need to summarize the content in writing (50-70 words).
- Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer: You listen to a recording and choose the correct answer to a question.
- Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers: Here, you’ll listen to a recording and select multiple correct answers from a list.
- Fill in the Blanks: You listen to a recording and fill in missing words in the transcript.
- Highlight Correct Summary: You are provided with summaries of the recording, and you must choose the correct one.
- Select Missing Word: The recording will stop just before the last word or phrase, and you need to choose the correct ending from the options provided.
- Highlight Incorrect Words: You are given a transcript of the audio, and your task is to identify the words that don’t match what’s being said.
- Write from Dictation: You listen to a sentence and write it down exactly as you hear it.
The PTE Academic Scoring System
The PTE Academic test is entirely computer-based, and its scoring system is powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The scoring is automated, ensuring objective and consistent results. The test evaluates various aspects of language ability, including grammar, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and coherence.
How Scoring Works:
- Overall Score: Your overall score ranges from 10 to 90 and is calculated based on your performance across all three sections: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening.
- Communicative Skills: Scores are provided for individual skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
- Enabling Skills: These include grammar, oral fluency, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse, which are assessed throughout the test and contribute to your overall score.
Because PTE Academic is computer-scored, results are typically available within 48 hours, making it a faster option than other English proficiency tests.
Test Duration
The total duration of the PTE Academic test is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. Here’s a breakdown:
- Speaking & Writing: 54 to 67 minutes
- Reading: 29 to 30 minutes
- Listening: 30 to 43 minutes
How PTE Academic Differs from IELTS and TOEFL
PTE Academic is often compared to other English proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL, but it has several key differences that make it unique.
1. Computer-Based Test
Unlike IELTS, which has both paper-based and computer-based options, PTE Academic is entirely computer-based. This means that even the speaking section is conducted via the computer, whereas IELTS includes a face-to-face speaking test with an examiner.
2. Automated Scoring
PTE Academic is scored by AI, ensuring objective and consistent grading. In contrast, IELTS and TOEFL involve human examiners, which may introduce slight variations in scoring.
3. Faster Results
PTE Academic typically provides results within 48 hours, while IELTS results can take up to 13 days. TOEFL results usually take 6 to 10 days.
4. Test Focus
PTE Academic is designed primarily for students seeking to study in an English-speaking country. While TOEFL is also focused on academic English, IELTS offers both an Academic and General Training version, with the latter aimed at individuals applying for immigration or work purposes.
5. Integrated Skills
PTE Academic often combines multiple skills in a single task. For example, in the “Summarize Spoken Text” task, you listen to audio and then write a summary, integrating both listening and writing skills. This format is less common in IELTS and TOEFL, where tasks are typically focused on a single skill.
Elsa Says:
The PTE Academic test is a fast, objective, and widely recognized way to demonstrate your English proficiency for academic purposes. With a computer-based format and automated scoring system, it offers test-takers a more streamlined and efficient experience compared to other English tests like IELTS or TOEFL. Understanding the test’s structure, question types, and scoring will help you prepare effectively and approach the exam with confidence.
