Want to study abroad? Your global ambition will demand a little more than your love, interest and dedication to the subjects of your choice. English language skills are essential too. Every ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) needs to take a standardised English readiness test and manage a good score.
For decades, IELTS and TOEFL have been the common names among the English language test-takers, but the introduction of PTE exam added a new English test to the list. Comparatively, the PTE exam is a newer entrant. The full form of PTE is "Pearson Test of English" and It has quickly become a formidable alternative, capable of accurately testing language skills using the latest technologies. PTE’s unique design, delivery and scoring methods benefit test-takers as well as universities and institutes.
After its launch in 2009, PTE has consistently proved its real-life value and broader acceptance across different English language usage fields. In this article, we shall discuss everything you need to know about what is PTE exam, what is the PTE exam 2024 schedule and other related information before taking your PTE exam.
Table of Contents |
What is PTE Exam?
PTE or the Pearson Test of English is a globally recognised computer-based standardised language readiness test developed by Pearson Plc. and globally administered in association with Edexcel. What does PTE stand for? The test follows language proficiency levels specified by CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) and reports scores on a scale of 10 to 90.
PTE Academic test is specially designed to assess and verify language usage and communication tasks in university-level academic settings.
This is why all the major universities and institutes in the UK, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand accept the Pearson Test of English. The Graduate Management Admission Council, the group owning and administering GMAT, endorses PTE as ELT (English Language Test) for its unique design in testing English speaking skills. Thousands of academic programs in the USA accept PTE. You can use your PTE Academic score in many top US institutes like Yale University, Harvard University, NYU, Columbia University, and Stanford Graduate School of Business. The list is increasing every day.
Along with these, other prominent countries accepting PTE Academic are France, Spain, China, Singapore. So, in case you have global academic ambitions, you can never go wrong with PTE Academic and can also search for bachelors & masters programs through University & College Finder.
The UK VISA immigration office accepts PTE as a Secure English Language Test (SELT), which is necessary for anyone willing to enter the UK with VISA.
This video will tell you all about the PTE Exam, including its salient features, and other important things!
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.
Suggested: PTE vs IELTS: Find Out Which English Language Test Should You Take in 2024
| Did You Know? Pearson PLC offers various international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. The tests include the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), the PTE General (formerly known as London Tests of English (LTE)), and PTE Young Learners. |
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.
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.
Suggested: Colleges Accepting PTE Score 50 to 70: List of Universities & Scores
PTE Exam Pattern and Syllabus
PTE is a computer-based, machine-scored, standardised 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:
The objective of PTE is not to cover English usage in any specific region. Being an ELT of global-reputation and acceptance, PTE test design tries to assess and ensure that verified students succeed in universities and institutes of any country or continent.
It covers 20 different types of test items with varying criteria of scoring depending on the communicative skills and enabling skills to be assessed. For example, scoring of Read Aloud test items differs from Summarise Written Text items, though both belong to the Speaking and Writing section.
PTE Exam Pattern 2024 Breakdown
|
Section |
Types of test items |
Number of test items |
|---|---|---|
|
Speaking & Writing |
|
38 - 47 |
|
Listening |
|
17 - 25 |
|
Reading
|
|
15 - 20 |
Scoring of PTE Academic test items broadly follows 2 different scoring rules:
- CORRECT/INCORRECT
- PARTIAL CREDIT
|
Correct or Incorrect |
Partial Credit |
|---|---|
|
These items are purely objective, having only one correct answer. You score (1 point) when you answer correctly. Otherwise, you score ‘0’. |
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 |
FORM |
|---|---|
|
Response to a test item is off-topic or deviates from the topic specified. |
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.
This video will tell you the minutest detail about the PTE exam including cost, syllabus, structure, scorecard etc.
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PTE Exam Duration
Any student will understand that effective speaking and writing are essential for participation and success in any academic career. That’s the reason why PTE gives significant emphasis on these 2 skills. This emphasis is evident as the Speaking & Writing section is the largest of the THREE sections in terms of the number of test items, score and duration.
Section-wise PTE exam duration:
- PTE Speaking and Writing - approximately 72 to 93 minutes
- PTE Listening - approximately 44 to 61 minutes
- PTE 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 come out within 48 hours of taking the test. You get a PTE Score Card which includes different scores for a comprehensive understanding of your language skills.
PTE Academic follows the Global Scale of English (GSE), which segregates standard reference levels for language proficiency into six groups depending on difficulty in completing a language task, and different combinations of language tasks.
PTE Academic Score Aligned with GSE levels:
|
GSC Levels |
Proficient Users |
Independent Users |
Basic Users |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CEFR Equivalent |
C2 |
C1 |
B2 |
B1 |
A2 |
A1 |
|
PTE Academic |
85-90 |
75-84 |
59-74 |
43-58 |
30- 42 |
10-29 |
|
Language Capability Range |
Very Good - Expert |
Very Good |
Good |
Competent |
Limited - Modest |
Extremely limited |
A common question which all the students have is, what are good PTE scores? First of all, there is no passing score in PTE. Your score just tells your readiness to participate and succeed in an instructional environment in the English language. Any top-ranking university expects a PTE Academic score of 78 or above, which signifies ‘Very High’ language proficiency.
Is it difficult to score 85 and above? Not exactly. Many students achieve such scores with adequate preparations. Your PTE Score Card will have the following 3 types of scores on a scale of 10-90.
|
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) |
Communicative Skills Score (indicative) |
|||
|
88 |
Listening - 84 |
Reading - 90 |
Speaking - 89 |
Writing - 90 |
Overall Score is a weighted average of your performance in 4 Communicative Skills. Test items often require multiple communicative skills like reading and speaking, listening and writing or other combinations.
REMEMBER: your scores in these 4 communicative skills will play a significant role in VISA and university applications.
Your score card also includes Enabling Skills Score like grammar, oral fluency, spelling, etc. These scores help test-takers to understand their language strengths and shortcomings and improve on them.
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What is PTE Exam Fees in India?
The PTE Exam fees in India is ₹17,000/- for the year 2024. In case you want to book PTE exam and take the test within 48 hours, an additional late fee of 5% would be charged on the standard fees. Thus, late booking for the PTE exam would cost around ₹17,850/-. For retaking the PTE exam, you need to pay the full booking amount.
Here's a breakdown of PTE exam fees in India across all modules:
|
PTE Exam Module |
PTE Fees in India |
|---|---|
|
PTE Academic |
₹17,000 |
|
PTE Academic Online |
₹17,000 |
|
PTE Academic UKVI |
₹17,000 |
|
PTE Home A1 |
₹14,435 |
|
PTE Home A2 |
₹14,435 |
|
PTE Home B1 |
₹14,435 |
You can also opt for a rescore after paying a PTE rescore fee. Though, the PTE exam is machine-scored based on AI-algorithms. So, do not expect any fault in your PTE result, unlike other human-scored tests. Still, if a rescore results in any changes to your scores, PTE refunds you the rescore fee.
PTE Exam 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.
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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 centre, date and time slot)
- Review your PTE booking details
- Make the payment and finalise your PTE exam booking
What are the Available PTE Exam Dates?
Once you register and login to the PTE website, you can check the available PTE exam dates. A test-taker can book a PTE exam up to 24 hours in advance. It is very convenient in that sense. Also, international students are now more interested in taking the PTE exam because of its AI driven testing technology which is free from human unfairness.
Only a limited number of seats are available now in each test session at any test centre. So, try to book your seat as early as possible.
PTE Exam Centres & Dates in India
At present, PTE exam centres are open in 23 Indian cities, including all the Indian metros. Some of the follow PTE exam centres along with PTE exam dates 2024 are:
|
Location |
Address/Center |
Exam Dates 2024 |
|---|---|---|
|
Jalandhar |
Guru Nanak Mission Chowk, Lajpat Nagar; Jalandhar, Punjab; Pearson Professional Centers-Jalandhar PUN- 3rd Floor, Unit-8, Eminent Mall Complex; Jalandhar; Punjab 144001; India |
|
|
New Delhi |
Ashoka Estate; 24, Barakhamba Road; Fire Brigade Lane; New Delhi; Pearson Professional Centers-New Delhi; 302/305; New Delhi; Delhi 110001; India |
|
|
Chandigarh |
A-401, 4th floor, Elante Offices Block; Industrial Area, Phase 1, Chandigarh; Punjab; Pearson Professional Centers-Chandigarh PUN; Chandigarh; Punjab 160002; India |
|
|
Hyderabad |
Above ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund; 3rd Floor SP Road Begumpet P 04042400470; Hyderabad; Pearson Professional Centers-Hyderabad; Near Prakash Nagar Metro Pillar C1360; Telangana 500016; India |
|
|
Bengaluru |
Pearson India Education Services Pte Ltd; Pearson Professional Centers-Bangalore; No 116 Lalbagh Road; Bangalore; Pride Hulkul, 004B, Ground Floor; Karnataka 560027; India |
|
|
Ahmedabad |
301, 3rd Floor, Block A, WESTGATE; Pearson Professional Centers-Ahmedabad GUJ; Near YMCA Club, S.G.Road, Ahmedabad; Gujarat 380054; India |
|
|
Amritsar |
Unit 303 and 304; Pearson Professional Centers-Amritsar 2 PUN; Mukut House, Kashmir Avenue; Mall Road; Amritsar; Punjab 143001; India |
|
|
Andhra Pradesh |
Green Fields; K L University; Vijayawada; Vaddeswaram; Andhra Pradesh 522502; India |
|
|
Surat |
703, 7th Floor, Swastik House;Pearson Professional Centers-Surat GUJ; Nandi Park Society, Piplod, Surat; Gujarat; Surat; Gujarat 395007; India |
|
|
Kolkata |
7W, The Millenium; GLOBAL REACH EDUCATION SERVICES PVT. LTD; Adjacent to Hotel Hindustan International Kolkata; 235/2A, A. J. C. Bose Road; West Bengal 700020 |
|
|
Chennai |
6th Floor, Nelson Chambers, E, Block, 115, Nelson Manickam Road, Aminijikarai, Chennai; Pearson Professional Centers-Chennai; Tamil Nadu 600029; India |
|
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PTE Exam Preparation
For any reputed university, a PTE score of 78 and above is a must. To achieve that level of proficiency, you need adequate preparation.
PTE Exam Preparation is a broad topic and demands elaborate discussion. We have shortlisted a few steps to get started:
Begin with knowing your strengths and weaknesses: Take a mock test. Your score in any reputed PTE preparation mock tests will help understand where you stand in terms of language readiness. Endless online sites are offering mock tests. Some of them are very realistic for a PTE Academic test.
1. Your Preparation Time
It will depend on your score in the mock test; if it is on the upper side of 70, then 2 weeks’ intense preparation is the minimum requirement. It means 10 hours every day for 2 weeks. Any score below that might require longer preparation time.
2. Using the Right Study Materials
It is one of the important things as you can get a truck-load of study materials on the web. And it is confusing to parse through all of that. Too many test-takers waste a lot of valuable preparation time in searching for the right study materials. Thus, it is important to select the apt PTE exam books and study materials for effective 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.
Important Resources to Read About PTE Exam
There are thousands of other things that you need to know, learn, re-learn and perform in the quickest possible time - if you want a modest PTE score. If you are serious about your PTE exam and want to know what are the PTE exam dates? We shall be with you by connecting through our Yocket Professional.
