Overview of the PTE exam

Want to take the next step in pursuing your dreams of studying, working, or living overseas? You might first need to take an English proficiency test to fulfil certain admissions or visa criteria for your target institution, organisation, or country.

To give you broader options, there are several English proficiency tests available to choose from such as the IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE. However, you might be wondering what the difference is between these assessments and how to choose the right English proficiency test for you.

Join us as we take a look at the PTE online exam, its popularity in countries including the United Kingdom, and what to consider before making your PTE exam booking.

The Pearson Test of English (PTE) exam evaluates your English language skills across three exam segments covering four skill sets:

• Part 1: Speaking & Writing

• Part 2: Reading

• Part 3: Listening

The PTE exam format is meant to assess ‘international’ forms of English against a standardised benchmark, resulting in a verified English proficiency score that is accepted at thousands of institutions worldwide.

The PTE comes in various forms, including:

• PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI: Suitable for global academic and educational pursuits, visa applications to Australia and New Zealand, and registration for professional training or placements. The PTE Academic UKVI is also available for visa application to the United Kingdom.

• PTE Core: A general English proficiency test; recognised by Canada for immigration and citizenship applications.

• PTE Home: Available at PTE Home A1, A2, and B1 levels to assess speaking and listening capabilities in a pass-fail framework.

The right PTE exam for you will depend on the intention or goals of your move abroad.

PTE Academic

The PTE Academic exam includes 20 question types covering Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening, including multiple-choice and essay questions. Each question’s maximum score is based on its complexity, with more complex question types, like essay questions with a higher maximum score.

You will be given a score for each of the four skills, which totals up to your overall score.

The overall score for the PTE Academic ranges between 10-90, and most educational institutions require an overall minimum score of 36-50 for Foundation courses, 51-60 for Undergraduate degrees, and 57-67 for Postgraduate degrees.

PTE Core

The PTE Core exam includes 19 question types, including multiple-choice and essay questions. Scoring is based on right/wrong (for multiple-choice questions), content, and form (for essays and other complex question types).

You will be given an overall score out of 90 for Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening, as well as an overall score of up to 90. Institutions that accept PTE Core typically set their own minimum requirements and it’s recommended that you check with your intended institution for more information.

PTE Home

The PTE Home is graded in a straightforward manner with only pass/fail scoring. You will receive a SELT URN (secure English language test Unique Reference Number) with your PTE Home exam scores that allows you to apply for visas in accepting countries.

Developed by leading education company Pearson, the PTE is built on the principles of efficiency, reliability, and fairness.

Initially introduced as a computer-based English proficiency test, the PTE has gained traction worldwide due to its innovative online formats and algorithm-powered automated scoring methods. A standout feature of the PTE is that its algorithms are designed based on input from hundreds of thousands of examiner responses – ensuring that your examinations are marked accurately while returned to you as quickly as possible.

One of the key milestones in the PTE's development was its partnership with Edexcel, a renowned examination board based in the United Kingdom. This collaboration brought together Pearson's expertise in language assessment and Edexcel's legacy of academic excellence, resulting in a robust and comprehensive testing framework that solidified the PTE's credibility as a trusted choice for English proficiency assessment.

Over the years, the exam has undergone continuous refinement and enhancement to adapt to the evolving needs of test-takers worldwide. From introducing new question formats to enhancing scoring algorithms, the PTE has remained at the forefront of technological innovation in language testing.

The PTE’s adaptive nature also ensures that it accurately measures a candidate's English language skills against standards for international English—rather than just ‘native’ fluency—providing a fair and reliable assessment of proficiency.

In short, the PTE’s global expansion has been nothing short of remarkable. It is now administered in over 300 test centres across more than 50 countries, making it easily accessible to aspiring candidates worldwide. This extensive network of test centres ensures convenience and flexibility for test-takers, allowing them to schedule their exams at their preferred location and time.