We all are familiar with IELTS, TOEFL, or SAT. However, relatively recently, there appeared a new player in the game – PTE.
PTE stands for Pearson Test of English. Pearson PLC Group introduced it in 2009 for quick and efficient examination of English language communication abilities.
This test evaluates the language skills required for applying to university, a job, or moving abroad.
In this article, you will:
- get an idea of the PTE exam structure and how to go through it
- find some tips on successful test passing.
⚠️Warning: all the information refers to PTE Academic!
❔ What Is PTE Test? #English Academic Format & Goals
PTE Academic is created for non-native speakers who:
- Want to study at the university in an English-speaking country
- Want to get a visa for a job overseas
- Plan to migrate somewhere abroad
The test taker should be 16 or older to participate.
The online format makes this exam extremely convenient. You can take it at any moment throughout the year in the most suitable PTE centers.
No need to meet face-to-face with an examiner 👉 no social anxiety. Just focus on the tasks!
After passing the test, you’ll get the assessment of:
- reading
- listening
- speaking
- writing
Besides, PTE Academic Test Format precisely evaluates these skills:
- pronunciation
- vocabulary
- spelling
- grammar and oral fluency
- written discourse
Where Exactly Do They Accept the Scorecard of PTE Academic?
The range is vast: the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and China. There are top-notch universities on the list like Harvard, Yale, Oxford, London School of Business, etc.
We have got a handy website for you! Use this tool to check out all the information concerning the places of acceptance, basing on your own choices.
PTE Test Format
Now that we know who can take PTE Academic test format, its goals, and which institutions accept it, it’s time to learn more.
The PTE has not four sections, like other exams, but three. Let’s look at them closer!
PTE Exam Format. Advantages & Disadvantages
Pearson Test of English Academic is a relatively new type of language possession testing. And it differs from the exams we are used to, like IELTS or TOEFL.
Now,
Look at a more detailed picture of PTE peculiarities, both positive and negative.
Why PTE Academic Is a Blessing
🌝 Format
The whole procedure is conducted online.
- You don’t communicate with examiners.
- The schedule is flexible – more than 100 centers worldwide.
🌝 Quickness
Youget your scorecard in less than a week.
- Suitable for students to send the documents to universities fast.
🌝 Unbiased assessment
A completely automatic scoring system
- No chance of getting an unfair result. No human factor!
🌝 Versatility
Governments and universities from all over the world accept the PTE certificate.
- It enables numerous opportunities to open up in front of you!
🌝 Timing
Only 3 hours of showing all your language skills to the machine
- It is the shortest exam of the most popular ones!
PTE Academic Test Format Dark Sides
🌚 Not so popular
PTE was launched 12 years ago, which means less trust.
- Some universities all over the world don’t accept the PTE results.
🌚 Too true-to-life
Some recordings in the listening section are challenging.
- Be ready for actual lectures and pieces of speech.
🌚 Accent issues
There’s a risk of getting a low score if your accent is too strong.
- The machine assesses your speech, so you need to speak distinctly.
Eventually, there are more pros than cons. That’s why we suggest you moving forward!
PTE Scoring Guide
To pass through the exam successfully, you should be familiar with the PTE exam format scoring system.
We will help to be all armed and ready to fight!
Fasten your seat belts.
Advantages of PTE Scoring System
- Impartiality. Unlike an assessment made by a human, the automated one performs the perfectness of objectivity. You’ll know for sure that you get your scores for the knowledge.
- Speed. Technologies make our life easier. Thanks to them, the PTE scorecard can be obtained within 5-7 business days.
- No “transfer of judgment.” Each of your language skills is being assessed separately. It means the scores for writing don’t affect those for speaking, for example.
- Accuracy. Pearson uses advanced automatic assessment tools elaborated and “trained” only to give the most precise result.
Disadvantages of PTE Scoring System
- Rigidness. It’s the other side of accuracy because the heartless machine won’t consider anything except your actual knowledge. You must be as precise and specific in your answers as you can.
- Not a human ear. Before taking the exam, make sure you sound intelligible enough. Despite over 100 accents recognized by the machine, there’s a chance to get a low score for speaking. Pay attention to phonetics, intonation patterns, and speech pace.
The primary point: assessment of your English skills is wholly automated. The team developed a sophisticated and reliable system to make the process smooth, unbiased, and fast.
🧬 PTE Exam Structure
We got close to the most exciting point!
The exam parts analysis & tips for successful passing of PTE Academic Test. In this paragraph, we will consider every component PTE exam structure more meticulously.
After reading this, you will know all the ins and outs of the PTE Academic test format.
Let’s get it!
PTE Speaking + PTE Writing
What?
Speaking and Writing are combined in this exam? – Yes, they are!
And this is one of PTE’s distinctive features
⏳ Approximately 77-93 minutes.
📝 8 tasks.
1. Personal Introduction. This is a one-minute opportunity to present yourself to those institutions you are applying to. There is just one chance to make a recording!
TIPS
The recording isn’t used in the overall score. Give brief, precise, but meaningful information about yourself.
- Read Aloud. At this point, you’ll have to wait for a sound indicating the mic activation and start reading the text. The time given for this task is 30-40 seconds.
TIPS
Read all the words given in the text without omissions or replacements.Mind your pronunciation: show your phonetic abilities, intonation patterns, aspiration, etc. No long pauses: the recording will stop if you keep silent for three or more seconds. Punctuation can help you arrange an appropriate intonation pattern.
#fluency #natural speech #pronunciation #the propriety of the content #stress on essential words
- Repeat Sentence. The 3-step procedure: you listen to the speaker, then spot the “Recording” caption on the screen and record your answer right away.
TIPS
No second chance: you can listen to the recording and make your own just once.No haste needed: mind the time given and speak accordingly.Stick to the intonation pattern of the speaker.
#vocabulary #the question type #pronunciation #intonation
- Describe Image. First, you should focus your attention on the picture for 25 seconds. After the sound tells you the time is up, speak about what you see in the picture for 40 seconds.
TIPS
Spot every object in the photo and mention them all.Speak smoothly and confidently.Name everything depicted, elaborate on the details, mix it all into the logical framework.
#smooth speech #details #specifications #logical structure
- Re-tell Lecture. Express what you heard in the audio in your own words. Keep track of a countdown on the screen and a signal indicating the start of the record.
TIPS
The audio is played just once.An erasable board for making notes will be of great use while listening.Make your retelling complete and harmonious.
#fluency #rhythm #logical arrangement #implications
- Answer a Short Question. Seems easy: you just have to give a brief answer to the question. The point is that your response should be terse: only one or a few words.
TIPS
No long pauses: the audio will stop after 3 seconds of silence.Speak to the point: no exceedingly long and sophisticated answer is needed.Respond to the question accurately and precisely.
#short answer #no pauses #accuracy
- Summarize Written Text. Witha single sentence!It can turn out a bit challenging to write a max 75-words-summary, but 10 minutes is enough to handle it!
TIPS
Check out whether your answer comprises only one sentence!The structure of a complex or compound sentence will help you to organize your answer logically.Make sure you reflex the main idea accurately.
#one-sentence structure #correct interpretation #supporting points
- Essay. A 200-300-word argumentative essay on a particular topic. You should be focused and concentrated, for there are only 20 minutes to complete it.
TIPS
First, make a little survey of the topic: spot the keywords and trace the main point.Try to imagine real people’s opinions and their feelings towards the issue.Think of proper arguments and counterarguments, and put them down.
#keywords #the central idea #different opinions #coherence #proper vocabulary #grammatical and spelling correctness
PTE Reading
⏳ Approximately 32-40 minutes.
📝 5 tasks.
- Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks. You get a text with the gaps. Your task is to click the options field and choose the correct word for each sentence.
TIPS
Go through the text to grasp the whole point.Pay attention to what goes before the gap and after it to make the right choice.
#surrounding context #general text review #grammatical correctness
- Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer. After reading a passage, you have to choose all the appropriate answers by clicking on the options field.
TIPS
Check out all answer options to spot the repeated words – they hint at the general point.Mind there are not one but several correct answers, highlight all of them.
#repeated words #few suitable responses
- Re-order Paragraphs. At this point, you reconstruct the original text from the scatted pieces. There are several fields to drag with a mouse in the proper order.
TIPS
Skim all of the passages to get a general idea.Trace the very first sentence: usually, it doesn’t start with a form word.
#cohesion #logical order #analysis
- Fill in the Blanks. A tricky task with gaps to fill. The point is that not all the words are to be used in the blanks.
TIPS
Remember the collocations you know with the words given. It will help you to find the matches.Use grammar as a landmark: you can logically understand word compatibility.
#collocations #grammatical combinability
- Multiple Choice, Single Answer. Filling the blanks again, but with the only correct response.
TIPS
Pay attention to the keywords in your task. They will navigate you in the right direction.Don’t leave the gaps empty: choose the option that fits more than others if you are confused.
#keywords #the most likely option #evaluation of the text
PTE Listening
⏳ Approximately 45-57 minutes.
📝 8 tasks.
- Summarize Spoken Text. First, listen to the audio that starts automatically. Then, give your 50-70 word gist of it.
TIPS
Use the erasable digital board to make helpful notes while listening.Define the central idea and several supporting points to get a max score.Once you’ve finished, make a quick revision of your answer’s grammar and spelling.
#comprehensible information #cohesion #correct grammatical usage #proper vocabulary #spelling correctness
- Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer. Some information is presented to you in the recording. Your goal is to choose several correct options taking into account what you heard.
TIPS
Take notes: you’ll have a few seconds to put down some details and nuances. Look for the matching meaning and sense of the given options. Don’t focus on the exact wording.Analyze the whole recording and try to get its point.
#take notes #focus on the meaning #several correct responses
- Fill in the Blanks. You will see a recording transcript, but with some words missing. After listening, fill the gaps.
TIPS
Look through the whole text to get an idea of the message delivered.Use both your head and hands: take notes while the recording is on!
#general review #take notes #put down the missing words
- Highlight Correct Summary. This task aims to choose the gist of the passage you hear just once.
TIPS
Don’t do everything at the same time! Listen to the recording first, then put down some valuable details, and then get to the summaries.Compare your notes with the content of the summaries and choose the most fitting one.
#comprehend and analyze info #take notes #find matches for the notes
- Multiple Choice, Single Answer. Only one correct answer to a multiple-choice question about a text you’ve heard on the recording.
TIPS
Analyze the question wording and spot guiding keywords there. Make the benefit of the few seconds before the audio starts to play. Get acquainted with the question and answer options.
#leading cause #aspects #purpose #pre-reading
- Select Missing Word. You won’t hear the last word of the sentences on the audio. Your task is to choose the proper word from the option field.
TIPS
Mind that only one choice is correct in this item type.Keep track of what you select: you can change your mind with the “De-select” button.
#surrounding context #one correct option #ability to predict
- Highlight Incorrect Words. There is one chance for you to compare the script to the audio and spot the discrepancies.
TIPS
Make a quick pre-reading: run through the text before the recording begins to play.Define the general idea while making the previous step.Carefully trace the text while the audio is on to find out all the differences.
#pre-reading #focus on keywords #the central point
- Write From Dictation. It’s the last assignment where you are supposed to put down the sentence you hear in the audio.
TIPS
Use your knowledge of grammar to set what you heard in the correct order.Revise your grammar and spelling to avoid misprints and mistakes. Train your memory before taking an exam. Looking at college essay examples may be useful to better remember some of the trickier rules.
#full content #take notes #background knowledge #logic
📅 PTE Academic Preparation Plan
If you start preparing for the exam from scratch, make sure you understand what is PTE test.
Why?
It is much easier to add the steps to your preparation consistently.
Below, you will find efficient techniques and mindsets for passing PTE Academic successfully.
Define Your English Level
The first and most essential step is to evaluate your English level.
This starting point will navigate you to get a precise picture of the whole situation.
There are several ways to define your English level:
- Have you passed IELTS or TOEFL before? Check your English level.
- Don’t you hold any other exam certificates? Visit the Cambridge or British Council websites. See more free tests on ESL and Exam English.
- There’s also an extended paid version by Pearson creators.
Getting to Know PTE Test Format
Let’s now sum up everything we know about PTE Academic.
- It is a 3-hours lasting online procedure comprising three parts:
- PTE Academic in figures:
- Things to take care of:
Oh yes, you will also need good typing skills to be able to put your answers quickly!
❗ In case you have any questions or issues, you can refer to a supervisor or raise your hand.
Useful Materials for PTE Academic Test Format
Just like it usually happens to exams, this one demands your focus and devotion, too. You’ll need to put enough work, effort, and attention into the process.
You should study each part of PTE Academic carefully and sharpen language skills separately first.
PTE Academic Preparation Resources
In this section, you’ll find all the great resources for PTE Academic Preparation.
PTE Academic Preparation Exercises
To pass the exam, you’ll have to work a little bit more than in the regular time. Look for the most appropriate and effective preparation exercises selected for you!
Writing
Speaking
Reading
Listening
A couple of additional sources
That’s it!
It must have been quite a load of information, we know…
But trust us, knowing all these details and tips is halfway to success. Learn every detail of the PTE academic test format to feel like a 🐟 in the water.
Feel free to ask us any questions; we are always ready to help.
We wish you to rock the exam!
Good luck 🤞
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