- bestwishes@gmail.com
- 981**4**82
- New Baneshwor, Kathmandu
The PTE Academic exam is a computer-based English language test accepted by educational institutions
around the world. The full form of PTE is the Pearson Test of English and PTE-Academic is the English
test undertaken by students and aspirants who desire to go abroad for studying or immigrate to a major
English-Speaking Country. Candidates eligible to appear for the PTE exam are required to take the test to
prove their English language competency
The PTE exam consists of three main sections:
| Section | Duration | Tasks |
| Speaking & Writing | 54-67 Minutes | Personal introduction Repeat sentence Read aloud Re-tell lecture Describe image Summarize written text Answer short question Essay (20 mins) |
| Reading | 29-30 Minutes | Reading & writing: Fill in the blanks Reading: Fill in the blanks Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers Multiple-choice, choose single answer Re-order paragraphs |
| Listening | 30-43 Minutes | Summarize spoken text Fill in the blanks Multiple-choice, choose single answers Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers Select missing word Highlight correct summary Highlight incorrect words Write from dictation |
In the PTE exam format, the speaking section examines your English proficiency skills in reading, writing, and listening. Here are the common elements in the speaking section:
| Tasks | Description |
| Personal Introduction | In this section, candidates are required to speak about themselves. There are 25 seconds for preparation and 35 seconds for speaking. This section is not graded but it provides an opportunity to become familiar with the test environment. |
| Read Aloud | A 60-word text appears on the prompt and a candidate is required to say the whole length of the text aloud after hearing the tone. You can record your response only once. |
| Repeat a Sentence | A recording of a sentence is played into headphones of the candidate and he needs to repeat it as clearly as possible |
| Re-tell a Lecture | In this part of the PTE exam format, a lecture is shown or played into the headphones. Test-takers are asked to speak aloud in their own words what they think about it. |
| Describe an Image | Candidates during this phase need to describe an image shown on the prompter for around 40 seconds. They are given 25 seconds to prepare. |
| Answer Short Questions | This short section requires a test-taker to answer a question in one or a few words. |
| Summarize Written Text | The summation skills of a candidate are tested here when he/she is asked to write a sentence summary after reading a text of nearly 300 words. |
| Essay | A topic-based essay of approximately 250 words is the requirement of this section. Candidates are given a total of 20 minutes of time to think, construct and present their ideas. |
| Tasks | Question Per Task | Duration Per Task |
| Personal Introduction | 1 | 55 seconds |
| Read Aloud | 6-7 | 30 – 40 seconds |
| Repeat a Sentence | 10-12 | 15 seconds |
| Retell a Lecture | 3-4 | 90 seconds |
| Describe an Image | 6-7 | 25 Seconds |
| Answer Short Questions | 10-12 | 20 Seconds |
| Summarize Written Text | 1 Sentence summary | 10 Minutes |
| Essay | 1 essay | 20 Minutes |
| Total Questions | 28 – 36 | Time: 54 – 67 Minutes |
| Tasks | Descriptions |
| Fill in the Blanks | In this section, incomplete and gap-filled sentences appear on screen in front of the candidate. You are required to select suitable words from the words displayed to complete the sentence in a correct manner. There is another question on fill in the blanks which is a shorter version. An 80-word text with gaps needs to be filled with the right combination of words displayed separately. |
| Multiple Choices, Multiple Answers | A passage is displayed on the screen. Based on the reading of the passage, the candidate has to answer a question having multiple correct answers. |
| Re-order Paragraphs | This is a common question on many English tests. Multiple boxes with phrases appear on the screen which needs to be arranged in the correct order to form a grammatically coherent sentence. Read every text before rearranging them. |
| Multiples Choices, Single Answer | In this section of the PTE exam format, the examinee is shown a long text of approximately 250 words. After careful reading, you are required to attempt a multiple-choice question with a single correct answer. |
| Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks | In this section, a text appears on screen with several gaps and you need to drag words from the box below to fill the gaps |
| Tasks | Questions Per Task | Duration Per Task |
| Fill in the blanks – Reading & Writing | 5 – 6 | Read 300 words of text |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | 1 – 2 | Read 300 words of text |
| Re-order Paragraph | 2 – 3 | Read 300 words of text |
| Fill in the blanks – Reading | 4 – 5 | Read 300 words of text |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 1 – 2 | Read 300 words of text |
| Total Questions | 13 – 18 | Time: 29 – 30 Minutes |
| Tasks | Description |
| Summarize Spoken Test | An audio recording is played. Candidates are required to write a 50-70 word summary of the recording on their understanding of the recording. A total of 10 minutes are allotted for this task. |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer | On the basis of a short recording, the candidate is questioned on any aspect of it through a multiple-choice question. This question can have multiple right answers so make sure to listen intently. |
| Fill in the Blanks | A gap-filled transcript of a recording is displayed on the screen. Based on the recording played, the gap needs to be filled with the appropriate word. The option of taking notes is provided for this part of the PTE exam format. |
| Highlight the Correct Summary | A recording is played to you. Based on its content, the candidate is asked to choose the paragraph that closely reflects the summary of the recording. |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | Based on the understanding of the recording, a multiple-choice question with the single correct answer is put forward. Candidates need to select the option that best reflects the meaning and sense of the played recording. |
| Select the Missing Word | According to the audio recording, the candidate needs to select a suitable word from the displayed choices. |
| Highlight the Incorrect Word | The transcript of the audio played in the above section is then displayed. Select those words that are not correct in the transcript. |
| Write From Dictation | The recording plays a short sentence. You are expected to rewrite the sentence correctly. |
| Tasks | Questions Per Task | Duration Per Task |
| Summarize Spoken Test | 1 – 2 | 60 – 90 seconds to retain 50 – 70 words, 10 minutes to write |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | 1 – 2 | 40 – 90 seconds to prompt |
| Fill in the Blanks | 2 – 3 | 30 – 60 seconds |
| Highlight Correct Summary | 1 – 2 | 30 – 90 seconds |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 1 – 2 | 30 – 60 seconds |
| Select Missing Word | 1 – 2 | 20 – 70 seconds |
| Highlight Incorrect Word | 2 – 3 | 15 – 50 seconds |
| Write from Dictation | 3 – 4 | 3 – 5 seconds |
| Total Questions | 12 – 20 | Time: 30 – 43 Minutes |
Though only utilised as a language proficiency test by a few select countries and not accepted for visa and immigration purposes, the PTE General test is mainly undertaken by those aiming to evaluate one’s ability to communicate in English. The PTE exam pattern for the General Test comprises two sections, i.e written and spoken tests that analyze the reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills of the test-taker. There are six levels of proficiency under the PTE General, i.e. Foundation level (A1), Level 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Refer to the table below for a better understanding:
| Level | Time Duration | Explanation |
| Foundation Level | 1 hour 15 minutes | Suited for beginners, and tests the writing and speaking skills |
| Level 1 | 1 hour 35 minutes | Suited for beginners, and tests the writing and speaking skills |
| Level 2 | 1 hour 35 minutes | Suited for intermediate candidates, and tests the writing and speaking skills |
| Level 3 | 2 hours | Suited for intermediate candidates, and tests the writing and speaking skills |
| Level 4 | 2 hours 30 minutes | Suited for higher education candidates, and tests the writing and speaking skills |
| Level 5 | 2 hours 55 minutes | Suited for higher education candidates, and tests the writing and speaking skills |