PTE

The Pearson Test of English Academic

PTE Academic is a computer-based academic English language test aimed at non-native English speakers wanting to study abroad. It tests Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.

Questions often test 2 skills together, such as listening and reading or reading and speaking. The whole test is done in a single session, lasting 3 hours and is taken sitting at a computer in a secure test environment. The speaking part of the exam is done at the computer. Your voice is recorded and sent for marking.

Who accepts PTE Academic?

PTE Academic is accepted by thousands of universities worldwide, including prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School, INSEAD and Yale. PTE Academic is also accepted for visa purposes by the Australian and New Zealand governments.

How is the Test Scored?

All items in PTE Academic are machine scored using PTE Academic’s automated scoring system. Scores for some item types are based on correctness alone, while others are based on correctness, formal aspects and the quality of the response. Formal aspects refer to the form of the response: for example, whether it is over or under the word limit for a particular item type. The quality of the response is represented in the enabling skills. For example, in the item type Re-tell lecture the response is scored on skills such as oral fluency and pronunciation. There are two types of scoring: correct or incorrect, and partial scoring.

Correct or incorrect: If responses are correct, a score of 1 score point will be given, but if they are incorrect, no score points are awarded.

Partial credit : Other item types are scored as correct, partially correct or incorrect. If responses to these items are correct, the maximum score points available for each item type will be received, but if they are partly correct, some score points will be given, but less than the maximum available for the item type. If responses are incorrect, no score points will be received.

What does PTE include