The PTE Academic exam is an English test where you talk to a computer, not a person. Pearson runs it, and universities and some governments use the score to check that your English is strong enough for study or work abroad.
That one fact changes how you get ready. Say you speak good English, but you stop for three seconds to think. A teacher would wait. The computer will not: Pearson says the answer ends after three seconds of silence. So this guide shows what the test asks, how it marks you and what to do before you book.
PTE Academic is a 2-hour computer test taken at a Pearson test centre. It has three parts and gives a score from 10 to 90. Results come typically within 48 hours, and a score stays valid for two years.
What is PTE Academic?
PTE Academic, short for the Pearson Test of English Academic, is a computer-based English test for study abroad and migration. You take it in 2 hours at an authorized Pearson test centre. AI marks it, scores run from 10 to 90, and results typically arrive within 48 hours.
| Run by | Pearson |
| Test length | A single 2-hour test |
| Where you take it | At a test centre, on a computer |
| Marked by | AI, with a human expert checking some answers |
| Score | 10 to 90 |
| Score valid for | 2 years from the test date |
| Accepted by | 4,000+ universities and colleges, and approved by Australia and New Zealand for visas |
Many people search for the Pearson Test of English Academic online. Here is what that means. You register and pay online, but PTE Academic cannot be taken at home. Also, do not mix it up with PTE Core, which is for Canadian permanent residency. Check your university or visa page before you book.
PTE Academic syllabus
This is the PTE Academic syllabus in one table, using the timings Pearson lists for Speaking and Writing, Reading and Listening.
| Part | Time | Question types | What you do |
| 1. Speaking and Writing | 76 to 84 minutes | 9 | Read aloud, repeat sentences, describe images, retell a lecture, answer short questions, summarize a talk, respond to a situation, summarize a text, write an essay |
| 2. Reading | 23 to 30 minutes | 5 | Fill in the blanks, multiple choice, reorder paragraphs |
| 3. Listening | 31 to 39 minutes | 8 | Summarize spoken text, multiple choice, fill in the blanks, highlight the right summary, pick the missing word, find wrong words, write from dictation |
Part 1 begins with a Personal Introduction for PTE Academic. You speak about yourself for a short time. It is not scored, so use it to settle your nerves and check your microphone.
Here is a simple PTE exam example. In Repeat Sentence, you hear one short sentence and say it back. You hear it once. Another PTE exam example is Write from Dictation: you hear a sentence of 3 to 5 seconds and type it exactly, which is why every PTE Academic listening practice test should include it. Some old guides still say the test has 20 question types. Pearson’s current pages list 22, so check the official test format page before you plan.
PTE Academic score guide: how your marks are decided
AI marks your test, and some answers are also checked by a human expert before the score is final. You get one overall score between 10 and 90. You also get a score for speaking, writing, reading and listening. For every task in detail, read Pearson’s free Test Taker Score Guide, the Pearson PTE Academic score guide that most beginners never open.
One answer can score two skills
PTE Academic is an integrated test. That means one answer can earn marks in two skills.
| Task | Skills it scores |
| Repeat Sentence | Speaking and Listening |
| Retell Lecture | Speaking and Listening |
| Summarize Group Discussion | Speaking and Listening |
| Summarize Spoken Text | Writing and Listening |
| Write from Dictation | Writing and Listening |
| Summarize Written Text | Writing and Reading |
So speaking practice also lifts your Listening score, and a typing task like dictation counts towards Writing. Start with these tasks, because each one pays you twice.
5 mistakes that cost beginners marks
- Pausing while you speak. PTE speaking is marked on flow. Pearson says hesitations, repetitions and false starts lower your fluency score. An Indian accent is fine if people can understand you. A long gap is not.
- Writing outside the word limit. Summarize Written Text must be one sentence of 5 to 75 words, or it is not scored. An essay under 120 or over 380 words gets zero. Summarize Spoken Text needs 50 to 70 words, and under 40 or over 100 gets no points.
- Learning a script. Pearson gives no credit for unoriginal answers in Describe Image and Retell Lecture. Use a flexible frame, then fill it with your own words.
- Guessing in multiple choice with many answers. Wrong picks cost you points here, so tick only the answers you can defend.
- Waiting to hear it again. Pearson plays each audio or video clip once. You can take notes while it plays, so start writing from the first second. Copy this habit in every PTE Academic listening practice test.
What PTE Academic score do you need?
Each university and visa office sets its own minimum. Pearson gives these typical ranges:
- Foundation courses: 36 to 50
- Undergraduate degrees: 51 to 60
- Postgraduate degrees: 57 to 67
- Treat this PTE Academic score guide as a rough map, and check your own university page before you set a target.
Coming from IELTS? Pearson’s 2025 study says IELTS 6.0 is about PTE 47, 6.5 is 55 and 7.0 is 63. That only compares the scales. It does not tell you what a university accepts. Our guides to IELTS Academic vs General and the IELTS exam help you compare the two tests, and the TOEFL guide for beginners covers the third option.
PTE Academic registration, fees and exam dates
PTE Academic registration happens online, through a free myPTE account. Follow these steps:
- Create your myPTE account. Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport. Photocopies, digital copies and temporary IDs are not accepted on test day.
- Choose your test centre and slot. PTE Academic exam dates are not fixed like a school exam. Pearson offers regular test dates at 500+ test centres, and you can book up to 6 months ahead. Book early if an intake deadline is close.
- Check the price for your country. Pearson Test of English fees depend on the country, and Pearson shows them on its test centres and fees page. Look there, not at old blog posts.
- Save your confirmation email. It has your centre details and arrival instructions.
If your plans change after you pick from the PTE Academic exam dates, Pearson’s reschedule and cancel rules are strict. Confirm them at checkout, because policies change.
| Days left before your test | Reschedule | Cancel |
| More than 14 full days | Free, up to 6 times | Full refund |
| 14 to 7 full days | Not allowed. Cancel and rebook | 50% refund |
| 7 full days or fewer | Not allowed. Cancel and rebook | No refund |
How to prepare for PTE Academic: a plan for beginners
PTE preparation for beginners is simple if you do it in order. Our full guide to PTE Academic preparation goes deeper on each skill. Here is the short version of PTE Academic exam preparation:
- Set your target score. Take it from your university page. Then read the Pearson PTE Academic score guide to see how each task is marked.
- Learn the question types. Pearson’s free Smart Prep in myPTE gives you a study plan, guided practice and video courses. It is the best free PTE exam preparation material, so start there. Practice your personal introduction for PTE Academic too, even though it is not scored.
- Take one PTE Academic practice test first. It shows which skill is weakest. Pearson’s Scored Practice Test is a 2-hour PTE Academic mock test with a full score report. Choose a PTE practice test online that runs on a computer.
- Practice on a computer every day. Use PTE practice online with a timer and a headset. Pearson’s official AI practice has 15 full mock tests. It is paid PTE exam preparation material and good PTE Academic online practice.
- Sit a PTE Academic mock test near the end. Repeat a PTE Academic practice test under real timing, then fix your weakest part. For speaking habits, our guide to English communication skills helps.
You can do much of your PTE Academic exam preparation alone, using PTE Academic online practice, any PTE practice test online and Pearson’s free tools. Speaking and writing are harder, because you cannot judge your own fluency. A PTE Academic online course with live feedback, or PTE Academic training with a teacher, covers that gap.
Your next step with PTE Academic
Now you know how to prepare for PTE Academic. PTE preparation for beginners comes down to this: pick your target score, take one practice test this week and book your slot early. Then practice the way the test runs, because the computer marks what you say and write.
How WILA Languages helps with PTE Academic
WILA Languages runs a live, instructor-led PTE Academic preparation course. It is a PTE Academic online course with computer-based mock tests and small batches. This PTE Academic training suits you if you want a teacher to correct your speaking and writing during your PTE Academic exam preparation.
Frequently asked questions
1. Can I take PTE Academic at home?
No. Pearson says PTE Academic is taken on a computer at an authorized test centre. If you search for the Pearson Test of English Academic online, remember that only booking is online. You sit the test at the centre.
2. How long is a PTE Academic score valid?
Two years from the test date, according to Pearson. Time your test close to your application.
3. How many times can I retake PTE Academic?
Up to 12 times in any 12 months, but you need your last score before you book again. You can also hold only one booking at a time, says Pearson’s retake policy. Each retake means paying the Pearson Test of English fees again, so prepare well first.
4. Is PTE Academic easier than IELTS?
Not for everyone. In PTE Academic you speak into a microphone and AI does most of the marking. Take one practice test of each and compare your scores. Then choose the test your university accepts.
