Aug 27, 2023
The Pearson Test of English, or PTE, assesses candidates' English reading, speaking, listening, and writing abilities. The PTE exam format aims to gauge a candidate's readiness to study abroad. Through their PTE score, students are able to prove that they can understand, read, listen, speak, and write in English appropriately in a way which will be acceptable in a foreign country, where the medium of learning would primarily be English. To score well in your first attempt, you can aim for PTE coaching.
The PTE exam is divided into two categories: PTE Academic and UK Government Tests (formerly known as PTE General) and is recognised by colleges, governments, and organisations all around the world.
All countries that recognise PTE test results use the same exam format. It's the cut-off that could change. Before enrolling for PTE coaching, you need to have a look at the exam details given below in the following table:
Eligibility criteria for the PTE exam | The minimum age of applicants should be 16 years |
Testing availability | All round the year |
Test duration | 2 hours |
Exam format | The PTE test format consists of 20 unique questions which test speaking and writing skills (77-93 minutes), reading skills (32-41 minutes), and listening skills (45-57 minutes) based on which the PTE score is determined. |
Registration formalities | You can enrol/register online via the Pearson PTE Academic website. |
Cost of appearing each time | Rs 14,700 |
Test results and score scale | PTE score is readily available within 48 hours and is sent to candidates within 5 business days. The score ranges between 10 and 90. |
As mentioned earlier in this article, the PTE structure is divided into sections, namely speaking and writing, reading, and listening.
This section places a strong emphasis on the applicant's proficiency in speaking and writing English, which determines how well he/she will score. It takes 77-93 minutes to complete this section. The following table outlines the criteria used to allocate PTE score:
Segment-wise Pattern | Duration/Time Required |
Personal intro | 55 seconds in total: 25 seconds for prompt, 30 seconds to answer |
Reading aloud | 30-40 seconds given to a candidate to prepare and read a text of 60 words |
Repeat sentence | 15 seconds in total to record the answer |
Describing given image | 25 seconds given to study a particular image as well as prepare a response on the same |
Re-telling lecture | 90 seconds to prompt, 10 seconds to think and 40 seconds to answer |
Summarise written text | 10 minutes to answer a 300-word written prompt |
Answer short question | Total 20 seconds: 3-9 seconds for prompt, 10 seconds to answer |
Essay | 20 minutes to answer to text prompt of 2-3 sentences |
This section assesses candidates' comprehension of the given instructions. There are five parts, each of which must be completed in 32 to 41 minutes. For this section, the PTE format is as follows:
Section pattern | Length of a text prompt |
MCQ, choosing a single answer | 300-word text |
MCQ, choosing multiple answers | 300-word text |
Re-arrange paragraphs | 150-word text |
Reading: Fill in the blanks | 80-word text |
Reading and writing: Fill in the blanks | 300-word text |
This 45-57 minute section evaluates candidates' comprehension of spoken English. Students should pay close attention to the audio and remember what they hear. It is divided into 8 parts. Here's a closer look at the format and pattern of the PTE section:
Pattern of Section | Time Taken/Duration |
Summarise spoken text | 60-90 seconds to retain 5-70 words and 10 minutes to write |
MCQ for multiple answers | 40-90 seconds to prompt |
MCQ, single answer | 30-60 seconds |
Fill in the blanks | 30-60 seconds |
Selecting the missing word | 20-70 seconds |
Writing for diction | 3-5 seconds for hearing |
Highlighting the incorrect word | 15-50 seconds |
Highlighting the correct summary | 30-90 seconds |
Here is a list of the top 10 universities and colleges that accept PTE scores as a part of their application and admission process for international students:
You may put your worries to rest and begin studying for the test now that you are familiar with the PTE exam pattern and its essential components. Notably, candidates should be aware that the validity of PTE results is two years. Also, there is no restriction on how many institutions or universities you can send your PTE results to. However, to ace your PTE exam, you can get in touch with KC Overseas, a popular edtech company that provides extensive help and guidance to students for PTE coaching.
If you are someone looking to get PTE coaching in Nagpur, then contact KC Overseas and get guidance so that you get a good PTE score and get into your desired university abroad.