What Is PTE Academic?

PTE Academic is a computer-based English test. It is accepted by thousands of institutions worldwide and approved for all UK, Australian and New Zealand visa and immigration categories for study, professional, and migration purposes.

Similarly to other popular English language exams, PTE Academic evaluates skills like:

• Speaking
• Writing
• Reading
• Listening

Although it is a computer-based examination, PTE Academic can only be taken in specialised test centres, which are available in over 80 countries around the world. The price varies from one country to another and is usually listed in the local currency. Learn more about prices here.

The benefits of taking PTE Academic

PTE tests attract students and organisations with innovative features that aren’t offered by other English tests. The main benefits of taking PTE Academic are:

• Your scores are evaluated using Artificial Intelligence (AI). This guarantees quick results and a fair and unbiased evaluation of your abilities.
• You won’t have to wait too long and stress about the results. They are usually available within 2 business days after taking the test.
• PTE has developed a useful feature that allows test takers to share their results online with as many organisations as they like — and the best part is that it’s completely free!
• PTE Academic is also accepted for student visa and migration applications in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Tests can be scheduled up to 24 hours in advance, 365 days a year.
• The test offers preparation resources to help maximise test-takers’ chance of success. 

What is the format of PTE Academic?

 PTE Academic has 3 main parts:

• Speaking & Writing (77 – 93 minutes). This section includes tasks like reading aloud, describing an image, summarising a text, writing an essay, and others. The questions test your written and oral English communication skills in academic contexts.
• Reading (32 – 40 minutes). This part includes tasks like fill in the blanks, re-order paragraphs, multiple-choice questions, and so on. It evaluates your ability to read, write, and understand various types of English texts.
• Listening (45 – 57 minutes). This last section uses audio or video clips to assess how well you understand spoken English. Test-takers listen to a range of accents around the world.

In total, PTE Academic takes 3 hours to complete. You can also take an optional 10-minute break between the Reading and Listening parts.

PTE Academic test results

PTE Academic test-takers are evaluated using the Global Scale of English. Scores range from 10 – 90, and there is no minimum grade required to pass the test.

Each university or college usually has their own expectations listed as minimum accepted PTE test scores. In general, higher education institutions require a minimum of 55 – 60, but you may see admission requirements of 70+.

After taking PTE Academic, the results are valid for 2 years. You might need to retake the test again at some point in the future, but it depends on the situation and why you might require an updated test result.

What’s the difference between PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI?

In terms of test content, there is no difference between PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI. The major differences are in the way these tests are used.

Unlike PTE Academic, the UKVI is a Secure English Language Test (SELT). This means it is recognised by the UK Home Office as relevant proof of English proficiency for all UK visas that require a 4 skill language test.

For students, this means that:

• You can pass PTE Academic UKVI if you want to study at below degree level: foundation, pathway, or professional English courses, but NOT Bachelor’s or Master’s programmes.
• You can pass PTE Academic UKVI if you want to study at degree level (Bachelor’s, Master’s) at an institution or organisation that is NOT a Higher Education Institution (HEI).
• You can pass PTE Academic if you want to study at degree level or above.
• To apply for a work visa, you should pass the PTE Academic UKVI test.

The registration process is also different, and not all test centres that offer PTE Academic also offer the UKVI version, so keep that in mind.

Before booking a PTE test, please ensure that it is recognised by the university or college where you want to study. Also, check if there’s a minimum passing grade, which will help you determine how well you need to prepare.

PTE Academic during the Coronavirus pandemic

Pearson follows the government’s advice and offers the latest information for people interested in one of their English tests during these difficult times. You can learn more about PTE academic during the COVID-19 outbreak here.