Frequently Asked questions about PTE Academic
PTE is the abbreviation for Pearson Test of English.
You need PTE Academic to prove your English skills in order to be accepted to an international university. The only difference between PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI is in the registration process. PTE UKVI is designed for studying in the United Kingdom. You will need to take PTE Home if you want to apply for a family or settlement visa in the UK. PTE Academic is score-based, while PTE Home is a pass-fail test.
- You can schedule a test any day you want, with as little as 24 hours in advance.
- Complete all sections of the test in the same day, in a total of 3 hours.
- Testing takes place entirely on the computer.
- Unbiased evaluation of your test by AI.
- Results are typically available within 2 days.
- Results can be submitted to as many universities as you want, for free.
PTE Academic ranges around 170 to 220 EUR. Get the exact costs for your country.
PTE Academic contains between 52 and 64 items that need to be answered, and there are 20 different types of assignments. The test is split into 3 sections:
- Speaking & Writing - 54 to 67 minutes to complete
- Reading - 29 to 30 minutes to complete
- Listening - 30 to 43 minutes to complete
PTE Academic test scores are valid for 2 years. You will have to retake the test after this time expires.
Yes, from November 16, 2021, PTE Academic is available online and can be taken from the comfort of your home. Keep in mind that not all universities that accept PTE Academic also accept the online version. Learn more about PTE Academic Online
PTE Academic is accepted by thousands of universities across the world. Here is a list of universities that accept PTE Academic scores.
There are over 380 test centres in the world where you can take PTE Academic. Find a test centre.
Generally, any score of 51 or higher is considered a good PTE Academic score for getting admitted to a Bachelor’s or Master’s abroad. However, please check your university’s requirement before applying.
PTE grades are calculated on a scale of 10 to 90. All tests are graded by an automated scoring system trained to mimic how humans mark would score based on many responses. Correct answers are given 1 point, partial answers between 0 and 1 point, and incorrect answers 0 points.
There are several effective ways to prepare for PTE Academic:
- Test preparation packages from PTE Academic including practice tests and ebook
- Free online courses
- The Pearson Practice App
- Official coursebooks
- Join a tutored course
Find out more about how to prepare for PTE Academic.