Test overview

PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic) is an international computer-based English language test. It
accurately measures English language ability and can be used to apply to educational institutions, and professional
and government organizations. The test uses task-based questions to represent the kinds of functions and situations
students will find themselves in during academic study.

Most real-life tasks in an academic setting involve using more than one language skill together, for example listening
to a lecture and writing notes. PTE Academic reflects this through its 20 task types, each of which tests a combination
of skills. For example, one task type asks you to demonstrate your understanding of a passage by providing a written
summary, while the other tests your understanding of a lecture by asking you to re-tell the lecture.

The test Is divided into three main parts and lasts for approximately three hours with an optional break of ten
minutes:
Part 1: Speaking and writing (77-93 minutes)
Task Type Numb Task Description Text/Recording Skill Time Tips
er of Length Assesse Allowed
Tasks d

Speaking (Total time: 30-35 minutes)

Personal 1 After reading the NA Not I minute Keep it short and

introduction instructions, you have 30 assessed simple
seconds to give
assessed, but is sent to
institutions you choose
along with

Read aloud 6-7 A text appears on screen. Text up to 60 Reading 30-35 Read twice
Read the text aloud. words and minutes Read in blocks and
Speaking minutes be careful about

Compiled and edited by: Dr Roman Pathak for Roman PTE Melbourne. All rights reserved
 punctuations

Repeat 10-12 After listening to a 3-9 seconds Listening Listen for the
sentence sentence. repeat the and meaningful phrases
sentence. Speaking

Describe image 6-7 An image appears on NA Speaking Remember grouping

screen. Describe the and ordering
image in detail.

Re-tell lecture 3-4 After listening to or Up to 90 seconds Listening Remember the five
watching a video of a and different types of
lecture, re-tell Speaking questions we discussed
and organise your
information in the
similar manner

Answer short 10-12 After listening to a 3-9 seconds Listening Answer in full sentence
question question, answer with a and if you are a slow
single word or a Speaking thinker

Writing (Total time: 50-60 minutes)

Summarize 2-3 After reading a passage, Text up to 300 Reading 20 minutes Remember the five
written text write a one-sentence words and different types of
summary of Writing questions we discussed
and organise your
information in the
similar manner
Do not write more
than one sentence

Write essay 1-2 Write an essay of 200- Up to 4 Writing 20 minutes Memorise the

Compiled and edited by: Dr Roman Pathak for Roman PTE Melbourne. All rights reserved
 300 words on a given sentences template and
topic. modify it as per
the question

Part 2: Reading (32-41 minutes)

Task type Number Task Description Skill Assessed Text length Time Allowed Tips
of Tasks
Multiple Choice 2-3 After reading a text, answer a Reading Up to 300 Total time of Be aware of the five
(Single Right multiple-choice words 32-41 minutes traps of these
Answer) question on the content or tone questions
of the text by Apply exclusion
selecting one response. method
Multiple Choice 2-3 After reading a text, answer a Reading Up to 300 Remember the rule of
(Multiple Right multiple-choice question on words five and seven
Answers) the content or tone of the text Apply exclusion
by selecting more than method
answers one response.
Re-order 2-3 Several text boxes appear on Reading Up to 150 Look for the logical
paragraphs screen in random order. Put words and grammatical
the text boxes in the correct continuity
order.
Reading: Fill in 4-5 A text appears on screen with Reading Up to 80 Vocabulary
the Blanks several blanks. Drag words words Grammar
or phrases from the blue box to Logic
fill in the blanks. Apply exclusion
method
Reading & 5-6 A text appears on screen with Reading & Writing Up to 300 Grammar
Writing: Fill in several blanks. Fill in the words Vocabulary

Compiled and edited by: Dr Roman Pathak for Roman PTE Melbourne. All rights reserved
the Blanks blanks by selecting words from Logic
several drop-down lists of Apply exclusion
response opt ions. method

Part 3: Listening (45-57 minutes)

Task type Number Task Description Skill Assessed Time Recording Tips
of Tasks Allowed Length
Summarize After listening to a recording, Listening and 10 minutes 60-90 seconds Remember the five
spoken text write a summary of 50- 70 Writing for each different types of
words. question questions we
discussed and
organise your
information in the
similar manner
You can write more
than one sentence
Multiple Choice After listening to a recording, Listening 23-28 40-90 seconds Remember the rule of
(Choose answer a multiple-choice 23-28 minutes five and seven
Multiple choose multiple question on the Apply exclusion
Answers) content or tone of the recording method
by minutes
answers selecting more than
one response.
Fill in the The transcription of a recording Listening and 30-60 seconds Three words
blanks appears on screen with Writing
several blanks. While listening
to the recording, type the

Compiled and edited by: Dr Roman Pathak for Roman PTE Melbourne. All rights reserved
 missing words into the blanks.
Highlight After listening to a recording, Listening and 30-90 seconds First sentence
Correct select the paragraph that best Reading Apply exclusion
Summary summarizes the recording. method
Multiple-choice After listening to a recording, Listening 30-60 seconds Apply exclusion
choose single answer a multiple-choice method
answer question on the content or tone
of the recording by
selecting one response.
Select Missing After listening to a recording, Listening 20-70 seconds First sentence of the
Word select the missing word or introduction
group of words that completes Grouping of
the recording. information
Highlight The transcription of a recording Listening and 15-50 seconds Click click click
Incorrect Words appears on screen. Reading
words While listening to the
recording, identify the words in
the
transcription that differ from
what is said.
Write from After listening to a recording of Listening and 3-5 seconds Meaningful phrases
Dictation a sentence, type Writing
dictation the sentence.

Compiled and edited by: Dr Roman Pathak for Roman PTE Melbourne. All rights reserved