The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is a leading computer-based English language test that efficiently evaluates the proficiency of non-native speakers for academic and immigration purposes. Known for its quick results and integrated skill assessment, the PTE is globally accepted by thousands of universities, colleges, and governments, including those in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

The PTE is typically completed in a single session, lasting approximately 2 hours. It is divided into three main timed parts, designed to assess all four core language skills: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening.

This is the longest section, assessing a candidate's ability to communicate effectively in both spoken and written academic English. This part often involves integrated tasks where one skill (like reading) feeds into another (like speaking).

• Read Aloud: Reading a short text displayed on the screen, demonstrating clear pronunciation and fluency.
• Repeat Sentence: Listening to a sentence and repeating it as accurately as possible.
• Describe Image: Viewing an image (e.g., a graph, map, or picture) and describing it in detail.
• Retell Lecture: Listening to a short lecture and summarizing its main points in your own words.
• Answer Short Question: Listening to a question and providing a brief, accurate answer.
• Write Essay: Writing a formal essay on a given topic, demonstrating the ability to organize thoughts and express them clearly in written English.

This section evaluates your ability to comprehend and analyze academic texts.

• Multiple Choice (Single/Multiple Answers): Reading a text and selecting the correct answer(s).
• Re-Order Paragraphs: Rearranging a jumbled set of text blocks into a logical and coherent order.
• Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Writing): Filling in missing words in a text using a dropdown menu of options.
• Fill in the Blanks (Reading): Dragging words from a list to fill in missing spaces in a text.

This section measures your ability to understand spoken English in an academic context, often requiring note-taking and summarizing skills.

• Summarize Spoken Text: Listening to a lecture or talk and writing a summary of it in 50–70 words.
• Multiple Choice (Single/Multiple Answers): Answering questions based on a lecture or talk you just heard.
• Highlight Correct Summary: Listening to a recording and selecting the summary that best captures the main points from a list of options.
• Select Missing Word: Listening to a recording where the last word or phrase is replaced by a beep, and selecting the correct missing word from a list.
• Highlight Incorrect Words: Listening to a transcription while following the text on screen, and clicking on the words in the text that differ from the recording.
• Write from Dictation: Hearing a sentence and accurately typing it out.

The PTE uses a precise scoring system calculated on a scale of 10 to 90.

• Overall Score: This score reflects your overall English proficiency.
• Communicative Skills Scores: You receive individual scores for Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing.
• Enabling Skills Scores: The computer algorithm also scores underlying skills that contribute to your overall performance, such as Pronunciation, Oral Fluency, Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling, and Written Discourse.
• Integrated Scoring: A unique feature of the PTE is that many tasks contribute to the scores of two different skills. For instance, Read Aloud affects both your Reading (comprehension of the text) and Speaking (fluency and pronunciation) scores.

Success on the PTE requires mastering both English skills and test-taking strategies:

• Understand Integrated Scoring: Since many tasks score multiple skills, focus on proficiency in foundational areas like grammar and oral fluency. Improving your speaking fluency, for example, will boost scores across several tasks.
• Practice Time Management: The PTE is strictly timed. Practice each task under exam conditions to ensure you complete every section without rushing the final questions.
• Hone Speaking Skills: The computer scoring system heavily weights Oral Fluency and Pronunciation. Practice speaking clearly, at a steady pace, and without excessive pauses or filler words.
• Use Official Materials: Familiarize yourself with the exact phrasing and question types using official PTE resources to remove any element of surprise on test day.
• Focus on Detail for Dictation: Tasks like Write from Dictation and Highlight Incorrect Words require high concentration and precision. Practice active listening and note-taking skills.