PTE

PTE Academic consists of three main parts and there are 20 different question types. The test is an integrated skills test, each question type assessing one language skill or a combination of language skills. Question types are task-based, representing the range of functions and situations that students will encounter in an English speaking environment. The table below shows the test structure, question types and time allowed.

Part 1: Speaking & Writing (77 – 93 Minutes)

In Part 1 you will be tested on your speaking and writing skills. The time given to this section is 77-93 minutes. To assess speaking, your skills will be tested by your ability to produce spoken English in an academic environment. The writing section will require you to write responses in academic English using correct grammar and spelling.

Speaking: 1.1 Personal introduction

The personal introduction is an opportunity for you to give your selected institutions some information about yourself. You will have 25 seconds to read the prompt and prepare your response, and then 30 seconds to record your response. This item is not scored, but will be sent together with your score report to the institutions selected by you. You are only able to record your answer once.

Speaking: 1.2 Read aloud

In this section, you are given a text (up to 60 words) and are asked to read the text aloud. You do 6-7 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Speaking: 1.3 Repeat sentence

In this section, you hear a sentence. You are asked to repeat the sentence exactly as you heard it. You do10-12 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Speaking: 1.4 Describe image

In this section, you are given an image. You are asked to describe in detail what the image is showing. You do 6-7 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Speaking: 1.5 Re-tell lecture

In this section, you hear a lecture. You are asked to retell the lecture in your own words. You do 3-4 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Speaking: 1.6 Answer short question

 In this section, you are asked a question, the answer to which is a word or few words. You do 10-12 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Writing: 1.7 Summarize written text

In these sections, you read a text. You are then asked to summarize the text in one or two sentence. You are given ten minutes to write each summary sentence.

 

Writing: 1.8 Essays

In this section, you are given a prompt to read. You are then asked to write an essay (200-300 words). You are given twenty minutes to write your essay.

Part 2: Reading (32 – 41 Minutes)

In part 2 you will be tested on your reading skills. This single timed section contains 15-20 independent and integrated skills items, depending on the combination of items in a given test. Different response formats, including multiple-choice, re-order paragraphs, and fill in the blanks, are designed to test your ability to read, write and listen to information provided in English. Because PTE Academic is an integrated skill test, one item type in this part of the test also assesses writing skills.

Reading: 2.1 Multiple choice, single answer

In this section, you read a text (up to 110 words). You are then given a multiple-choice question with three to five answer options. You choose the one correct answer option. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Reading: 2.2 Multiple choice, multiple answer

In this section, you read a text (up to 300 words). You are then given a multiple-choice question with three to five answer options. You choose the one correct answer option. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Reading: 2.3 Re-order paragraphs

In this section, you are given a text (up to 150 words) divided into paragraphs. The paragraphs are in the wrong order. You have to drag and drop the paragraphs into the correct order. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Reading: 2.4 Fill in the Blanks

In this section, you read a text (up to 80 words) which has blanks in it. You drag words from a box and drop each text. You do 4-5 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Reading: 2.5 Reading & Writing Fill in the blanks

In this section, you read a text (up to 300 words) which has blanks in it. You click on each blank and a drop down list appears. You choose the correct word from each list to complete the text. You do 5-6 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Part 3: Listening (45 – 57 Minutes)

Part 3 consists of questions that are based on audio or video clips which begin to play automatically. You hear each audio or video clip only once so listen carefully. You are allowed to take notes.

For each question you have the opportunity to adjust the volume. While the audio clip is playing, move the control bar to the right to increase the volume or to the left to decrease the volume.

Listening: 3.1 Summarize spoken text

In this section, you listen to a short lecture. You are then asked to write a summary of that lecture (50-70 words) for a fellow student who was not present in the lecture. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Listening: 3.2 Multiple choice, multiple answer

In this section, you listen to a recording on an academic subject. You are then given a multiple choice question with five to seven answer options. You choose all the correct answer options. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Listening & Writing: 3.3 fill in the blanks

In this section, you listen to a recording while you read a transcription of that recording. The transcription has up to five blanks in it. As you listen, you type in the missing words you hear. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.



Listening: 3.4 Highlight correct summary

In this section, you listen to a recording. You read three to five paragraphs and select the paragraph which is the best summary of the recording. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Listening: 3.5 Multiple choice, single answer

In this section, you listen to a recording on an academic subject. You are then given a multiple choice question with three to five answer options. You choose the correct answer option. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Listening: 3.6 Select missing word

In this section, you listen to a recording on an academic subject. You are then given a multiple choice question with three to five answer options. You choose the correct answer option. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination.

Listening: 3.7 Highlight incorrect words

In this section, you listen to a recording while you read a transcription of that recording. The transcription contains up to seven deliberate errors. You click on the words in the transcription which do not match the recording. You do 2-3 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.

Listening: 3.8 Write from dictation

In this section, you hear a sentence. You are then asked to write the sentence exactly as you heard it. You do 3-4 of these items, depending on the combination of items in your test.