Everything You Need to Know About PTE Academic – Test, Preparation & More

Why Should You Choose PTE Academic

PTE Academic is a Computerized English skill testing exam that is completely computerized. People who are willing to immigrate and study abroad generally take PTE Academic. PTE Academic results are usually made available within 5 business days.

Here are the reasons why you should consider PTE Academic over IELTS and TOEFL.

• Faster Result Processing: The PTE Academic results generally take about five business days to be processed.
• Flexing Test-Taking Time: Candidates can take tests throughout the year as PTE Academic tests are conducted for 360 days throughout the year.
• Real Life Language Used: Candidates will need to answer questions and communicate in the English language used in real life scenarios.
• Fair and Secure: The test is 100% online and computer-based. The computer-based marking ensures all test taken are impartial and accurate. There is biometrics conducted for test-takers that ensures the security of the candidate.
• Test Center Location: PTE Academic tests are conducted in test centers across 50 countries worldwide.

Test Formats

The PTE Academic test is conducted in a secure PTE centre. The applicant is allotted a computer and headset to listen to and answer the questions.

The three hours test session comprises of three sections for speaking and writing, listening and reading. There are twenty different question formats comprising of multiple-choice questions, essay writing and interpreting information.

Since PTE Academic focus on real-life situations and academic English, you can face questions from lectures and some graphs. The applicant will be required to hear accents ranging from British to American and to non-native English speakers; this will give you an idea the kind of accents you can face in everyday life.

Following are the sections of PTE Academic Test

Speaking and Writing

The speaking and writing section of the test lasts for 77-93 Minutes. The speaking test assesses your speaking skills taking the real-life scenario in consideration. The writing test will test your writing skills as you write responses to questions with correct spellings and grammar.

Contents of Speaking and Writing

• Personal Introduction: The personal introduction part is an opportunity to introduce yourself to your selected institution. You will have 30 seconds to respond to this but there is no scoring graded for your personal introduction. You can only record your response once.
• Read Aloud: This part of the test involves playing a recording and sometimes even displaying. The test taker must know where to stress in the sentences to create an impact. The test taker should be aware that if he becomes silent for 3 seconds, the recording will stop. You will have 30-40 seconds to prepare before reading. You can only record your response once.
• Repeat Sentence: In this section, you are required to hear a sentence and repeat the same. You have 15 seconds to answer this question.
• Describe Image: This section of the test displays an image on the screen with some statistical or graphical information about it. The test taker has to understand the image and speak about it. A progress bar displays when your recording has changed from ‘’Recording’’ to “Completed”. You have 40 seconds to answer this question.
• Re-tell Lecture: This part of the test will play a recording and sometimes even display an image. You will need to repeat the same thing that you heard in the recording. You have 40 seconds to answer this question.
• Answer Short Question: This part of the test will play an audio and you will need to answer the question in one or few words. You have 10 seconds to respond to this question.
• Summarize Written Text: A text will be displayed on your screen and you will need to summarize this into your own words. You will need to summarize the text in no more than 75 words. You will have 10 minutes to answer this question.
• Write Essay: This section of the test requires you to write an essay in 200-300 words. You will be given 20 minutes to input your response in the answer section.

Reading

The reading part of the test assesses the candidate’s English reading ability. One part of the test also assesses the test taker’s writing ability. Total 32-41 minutes are provided for the Reading part of the test.

Content of Reading

• Multiple Choice, Single Answer: The multiple choice questions are straightforward. It requires the test taker to select the right answer for the given question.
• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer: This test is much like the one mentioned earlier but it requires test takers to choose multiple answers if he thinks two or more answers are relevant to the asked question.
• Re-order Paragraphs: This part of the test requires the test taker to re-order words in order to create a sensible paragraph or sentence which meets the grammar requirement.
• Fill in the blanks: Candidates are given a passage with some missing words. A blue box provided with the question has some words for the candidate to pick from. Candidates are required to pick the right words and fill in the blanks.
• Reading and Writing Fill in the blanks: This is much like fill in the blanks as mentioned earlier but here you will need to pick a group of words to fill in the blanks.

Listening

The third part of the test assesses Listening skills of the candidate. Audio or video clips are played only once. So, the candidates need to listen carefully.

Contents of Listening

• Summarize Spoken Test: You will listen to a recording and then write a summary in 50-70 words. You will be given 10 minutes to write the summary.
• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer: Test takers will listen to a recording and answer questions on multiple choices based questions. There can be more than one possible answer to choose for a question.
• Fill in the blanks: This part of the test includes hearing to an audio recording and then filling up the blanks.
• Highlight Correct Summary: A passage is provided on the screen to the test taker, the test taker will hear an audio recording and will need to highlight the text in the passage that best summarizes the topic.
• Multiple Choice, Single Answer: After listening to the recording, the test taker is required to fill in the blanks related to the recording. The test taker will pick words that are provided in a blue box.
• Select Missing Words: Test takers will listen to an incomplete recording and will need to pick a missing word to complete the recording.
• Highlight Incorrect Words: A recording’s transcript will appear on the screen and test takers will need to highlight the incorrect word.
• Dictation: Test takers will need to hear a recording and write down the same.

Scoring in PTE Academic

Multiple countries and institutions accept the PTE Academic test scores. PTE Academic scores can be easily trusted and users achieve them quickly.

How to Access Your PTE Scores

The PTE Academic scores can be accessed online. Candidates receive an email notification confirming their PTE results are out. Candidates can log into their PTE VU account and access their scores.

Sending Your PTE Scores

You can send your PTE scores by logging into your PTE VU account. Within the account, there is an option to send your scores. Upon clicking the option, you will need to select the PTE score accepting body and click send.

Understanding Your PTE Scores

The PTE Academic is scored against the Global Scale of English. The table below will assist you in understanding how PTE Academic scores fair against IELTS and TOEFL iBT.

A candidate’s report card will consist of his personal details and photograph, his overall score, a detailed breakdown of the score.

The overall score represents your English language skills.

How PTE Academic Scoring Works

PTE Academic scoring works on computer-based mechanics. There are two ways of allotting scores to test takers.

• Correct or Incorrect: Full marks are given to correct answers and incorrect answers score no points.
• Partially Correct: if the answer is partially correct, candidates score partial points.

Revaluation of Scores

Candidates can choose to re-evaluate the scores if they think the scoring was unfair. Candidates should be aware that PTE Academics are completely machine scored and revaluation will not enhance your scoring; the recordings and written part of the tests can be reviewed though.

In case your scores change after revaluation, a new report card with the score update will be issued.

Test Centers and Fee

PTE Academic centers are located in more than 50 countries worldwide. You can find your nearest PTE test center and the test fee. PTE Academic also allows users to provide information if they cannot find a center near their location.

The standard price for booking a PTE Academic test in India is 10,900 Rs. Charges of 13,625 are applicable in case of late booking. You will also need to provide an identification proof, typically your passport.

Preparation for PTE Academic

Online Sample Questions

You can practice online test papers provided PTE Academic. The practice test papers are just like the real tests that appear during the exam. The online sample papers are available for US$9.99.

The features of Online Scored Practice Test papers include:

• Instant access to practice test papers
• Use a computer, headset and keyboard just like in a real test

Prepare Yourself for the Test Day

PTE Academic test is conducted in a registered PTE Academic test centre you booked yourself a test in. While entering the test room, you have to provide a valid ID card to the test administrator. You will then be guided toward a secure computer room where your test will be conducted.

When you Arrive

When entering the PTE Academic examination centre, the test administrator will complete the check-in and explain you the rule and regulations of the test. You can ask any doubts you have to the test administrator, who will be happy to assist you.

You will need to provide copies of your valid ID cards, digital photographs and scan your palm. You will also be assigned a locker where you can safely lock your belongings in.

During the Test

You will sit in a room generally with 10 seats. You will be taking the test with other PTE test takers and will be able to hear them as they take their test. You will be answering the tests that are slightly different than that of other test takers.

Important Tips

Test takers are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes earlier before taking up the test. This ensures that they can complete their check-in and submit their belonging in the locker.

Please do not forget to carry your valid ID, usually a passport.