PTE Exam: Fees, Eligibility, Registration, Results & Scores

Want to study abroad? Your global ambition requires more than love, passion, and attention to your subjects. English proficiency is crucial. English speakers of other languages (ESOLs) must pass a prescribed English readiness test.

For decades, IELTS and TOEFL have been the most popular English language tests, but PTE added a new one. PTE is a modern exam. The Pearson Test of English (PTE) has become a powerful option that can accurately measure language skills using the newest technology. A unique design, delivery, and scoring mechanism benefit test-takers and colleges and institutes.

Following its 2009 inception, PTE has constantly demonstrated its real-world value and wider acceptability throughout English language usage areas.

What is PTE Exam?

PTE or Pearson Test of English is a globally recognized computer-based standardized language readiness test developed by Pearson Plc. and globally administered in association with Edexcel.

As mentioned, PTE is Pearson Test of English. The test uses CEFR language proficiency levels and scores from 10 to 90.

The PTE Academic test is meant to evaluate university-level language and communication skills.

This is why all major UK, Australian, Irish, and New Zealand universities and institutes recognize the Pearson Test of English. The Graduate Management Admission Council, which owns and administers GMAT, recommends PTE as an ELT for its unique English speaking test design. Thousands of US academic programs accept PTE. PTE Academic scores are accepted at top US universities like Yale, Harvard, NYU, Columbia, and Stanford Graduate School of Business. The list grows daily.

Other major PTE Academic countries are France, Spain, China, and Singapore. If you have global academic goals, PTE Academic is a good choice, and University & College Finder can help you find bachelors and masters programs.

The UK VISA immigration office recognizes PTE as a Secure English Language Test (SELT).

Why take the PTE Exam?

Many people still ask – why PTE? In case, you are not yet sure why is the PTE exam required, here is a ready reckoner;

• PTE has a broader global acceptance across countries and continents – Europe, USA, Australia and Asia.
• Test-takers get results quicker; less wait time.
• The test leaves no chance of human error as it is computer-delivered and machine-scored.
• It is convenient because you can book a test, even 24 hours before your preferred test date (provided seats are available).
• PTE exam prep can be advantageous to your global academic career as the exam is contextual to university-level English language usage.

Types of PTE Exam

Globally, there are three (3) types of PTE exams available:

1. PTE Academic Exam

It is used for testing readiness in university-level English language usage.

2. PTE General Exam

The exam is for testing readiness in using International English language in work environments and other generic settings.

3. PTE Young Learner Exam

It is applicable for children in the age group of 7 to 12 years.

Among these three, the PTE Academic Exam is most popular for its appeal to the global students’ community.

PTE Exam Fees

The exam Fees for the PTE change with the locations. Here is what the PTE exam costs in different parts of the world:

• Australia: 340 AUD
• Canada: 300 CAD
• China: 275 USD
• France: 255 USD
• Germany: 231.34 USD
• India: 13300 INR
• Italy: 230 EUR
• New Zealand: 385 NZD
• UK: 155 GBP
• USA: 200 USD

What is the Eligibility for PTE Academic?

You can take the PTE test if you comply with the following list of PTE Exam eligibility:

• Age Restriction

A minimum age limit of 16 years; test-takers below 18 years of age need parental consent.

• Academic Qualification

There is no explicit minimum qualification; however, PTE Academic is primarily for anyone willing to study undergraduate or postgraduate level courses.

• Maximum Attempts Restriction

There is no restriction on the maximum number of attempts, but a 5-day gap between two tests is necessary.

PTE Exam Pattern and Syllabus

PTE is a computer-based, machine-scored, standardized English language readiness test. PTE exam syllabus reveals a lot about its testing objectives and mechanism of testing skills. For example, there are three sections in PTE:

• PTE Speaking & Writing
• PTE Listening
• PTE Reading

The goal of PTE is not to cover regional English usage. An ELT with global reputation and acceptance, PTE exam design assesses and ensures verified students achieve in colleges and institutes worldwide.

It comprises 20 test items with varied score standards based on communicative and facilitating skills. Read Aloud and Summarise Written Text tests in the Speaking and Writing segment are scored differently.

Section, Types of test items and Number of test items respectively

Speaking & Writing;

• Read aloud
• Repeat sentence
• Describe image
• Re-tell lecture
• Short question
• Summarize written test
• Essay writing
• No of test items: 38 – 47

Listening:

• Summarize spoken text
• MCQ – multiple answers
• MCQ – single answer
• Fill in the blanks
• Highlight correct summary
• Highlight incorrect word
• Select missing word
• Write from diction
• No of test items: 17 – 25

Reading:

• Fill in the blanks
• MCQ – multiple answers
• MCQ – single answer
• Re-order paragraph
• No of test items: 15 – 20

Scoring of PTE Academic test items broadly follows 2 different scoring rules:

CORRECT/INCORRECT and PARTIAL CREDIT

• Correct or Incorrect

These items are purely objective, having only one correct answer. You score (1 point) when you answer correctly. Otherwise, you score ‘0’.

• Partial Credit

These do not carry any single correct answer; the score can be – CORRECT, PARTIALLY CORRECT or INCORRECT depending on 1) formal aspect and 2) response quality.

• Formal aspect of scoring measures whether the response is within predefined word limits, time limits or similar restrictions.
• Response quality score of an answer for partial credit type questions depends on various enabling skills. These enabling skills depend on the following:
• CONTENT: Response to a test item is off-topic or deviates from the topic specified. FORM: An essay is less than the required word limit specified in a test item.
• Speaking & Writing test items take care of CONTENT as well as FORM while scoring. CONTENT is the appropriateness of the response while FORM is about the formal character of response like word limit.

PTE Exam Duration

Any student will recognize the need of strong speaking and writing skills for participation and success in any academic career. That is why PTE places a high value on these two abilities. This emphasis is clear because the Speaking & Writing component is the largest of the THREE sections in terms of exam items, score, and duration.

Section-wise PTE exam duration:

• Speaking and Writing – approximately 72 to 93 minutes
• Listening – approximately 44 to 61 minutes
• Reading – approximately 31 to 41 minutes

The total PTE exam time is 180 minutes or 3 hours. Test-takers need to answer 71 to 83 test items across THREE major skill areas.

PTE Results & Scores

PTE results are available 48 hours after the test. You will be given a PTE Score Card, which will feature several scores to provide you with a full overview of your language skills.

PTE Academic adheres to the Global Scale of English (GSE), which divides conventional reference levels for language proficiency into six groups based on the difficulty of completing a language task and various combinations of language tasks.

PTE Academic Score Aligned with GSE levels:

Proficient Users:

• GSC Levels- PTE Academic: 84-90(C2)  74-84( C1 )
• Language Capability Range: Very Good- Good- Expert- Very Good

Independent Users: 

• GSC Levels- PTE Academic:B2( 58-74) B1(42-58)
• Language Capability Range: Competent Modes – Competent Good

Basic Users:

• GSC Levels- PTE Academic:30- 42 (A2)   10-30(A1)
• Language Capability Range: Limited- Modest, Extremely – limited

All students want to know what good PTE scores are. First, PTE has no passing score. Your score indicates your willingness to participate and succeed in English-language instruction. Any top university requires a PTE Academic score of 78 or higher, indicating ‘Very High’ language proficiency.

Is scoring 85+ hard? Not precisely. With proper preparation, many students score well. From 10-90, your PTE Score Card will feature three categories of scores:

• Overall Score – Communicative Skills Score – Enabling Skills Score

For example, you can have an Overall Score of 88 (yes, you can achieve this) with following Communicative Skills Score –

• Listening – 84
• Reading – 90
• Speaking – 89
• Writing – 90

Overall Score (indicative) and Communicative Skills Score (indicative)

88                                                   Listening – 84   Reading – 90   Speaking – 89  Writing – 90

The overall score is a weighted average of your four Communicative Skills performance. Multiple communicative skills, such as reading and speaking, listening and writing, or other combinations, are sometimes required in test items.

REMEMBER: Your scores in these four communicative skills will be extremely important in VISA and university applications.

Your score card also includes an Enabling Skills Score, that includes things like grammar, oral fluency, spelling, and so on. These results assist test takers in understanding and improving their language strengths and weaknesses.

PTE Cancellation Fee

Test-takers get a full refund of PTE fees for cancelling the test booking, at least, 14 calendar days before the PTE exam dates. For cancelling between 13th to 8th full calendar days, they get a partial refund of 50% of PTE fees. Beyond that, the booking fee is forfeited.

PTE Exam Booking & Registration

PTE exam registration is entirely online and takes only a few steps. Once you are on Pearson PTE’s official website, follow these simple steps:

• Create an account with Pearson by clicking on Sign Up
• Log into myPTE Account and Set Up the Profile
• Complete the Booking Questions
• Find the preferred PTE exam appointment (Test center, date and time slot)
• Review your PTE booking details
• Make the payment and finalize your PTE exam booking

What are the Available PTE Exam Dates?

You can view the available PTE exam dates after you register and login to the PTE website. A PTE exam can be scheduled up to 24 hours in advance. In that regard, it is really convenient. Furthermore, foreign students are becoming more interested in taking the PTE exam due to its AI-driven assessment system that is free of human bias.

Each test session at any test center now has a limited number of seats available. So, try to reserve your place as soon as possible.

PTE Exam Preparation

A PTE score of 78 or higher is required for admission to any reputable university. Adequate preparation is required to acquire that level of skill.

PTE Exam Preparation is a big topic that needs in-depth discussion. We have outlined a few preliminary steps:

Begin by identifying your own strengths and weaknesses: Take a practice exam. Any reputable PTE preparation mock test score can help you understand where you stand in terms of language readiness. There are numerous web sources that provide mock tests. Some of them are quite realistic for a PTE Academic exam.

1. Your Preparation Time

It will be determined by your mock test result; if it is above 70, then 2 weeks of hard preparation is required. It equates to 10 hours per day for two weeks. Any score lower than that could require more preparation time.

2. Using the Right Study Materials

It is one of the most important aspects because you can get an abundance of study materials on the internet. And it’s difficult to sort through all of that. Too many exam takers waste critical preparation time looking for the perfect study resources. As a result, it is critical to choose the best PTE exam books and study resources for optimal preparation.

3. PTE Academic Official Website

The website offers practice tests as part of different test prep packages. Take these tests once you complete your preparation. This way, it will be more practical and useful.

FAQs

How do I choose a PTE test centre?

• Depending upon the city you live in, choose the nearest exam centre as per your convenience and connectivity.

What ID proof is accepted in PTE academic test centre?

• A valid passport is acknowledged as ID proof. Aadhar cards and other evidence ID documents are not accepted.

What is the total duration of the PTE academic exam?

• The PTE academic exam is 2 hours in total.

What is the validity of my PTE academic score?

• Your PTE Academic scores are legal for 2 years.