The Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) assesses candidates’ Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening abilities to make sure they are proficient in the language and prepared to study in a global environment. Twenty distinct question types make up the PTE exam structure, which evaluates candidates’ speaking and writing (54–67 minutes), reading (29–30 minutes), and listening (30–43 minutes) skills.
Students who score highly on this exam can demonstrate to the admissions committee and the visa authorities that they are able to communicate in the official language of a foreign country while studying there, which is widely recognised. A strong PTE exam score also guarantees that applicants can effectively communicate concepts, give presentations, pursue global exposure, and perform on a global scale in front of international audiences. To perform this well, you can opt for coaching platforms like AbroAdvice for PTE coaching.
By performing their best in the test, applicants can ensure that they are ready to study in the official language of a global community alongside international faculty members and students. For those who intend to take the test, we will go over the most recent PTE exam format in this section, which is 2024. And whatever help you need for the same, you can get it from study abroad consultants service like AbroAdvice.com.
Types of PTE Test
PTE Academic and UK Government Tests are the two versions of the PTE exam, which is recognised globally by universities, governments, and organisations (formerly known as PTE General).
PTE Academic: Candidates take it for educational purposes, and English-speaking nations around the world, including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and others, accept it. The governments of Australia and New Zealand also accept it in exchange for work permits and immigration permits.
Exams offered by the UK Government (formerly the PTE General Test): PTE Academic UKVI, PTE Home A1, PTE Home A2, and PTE Home B1 are the four test types that are included in it.
For non-degree programs or work in the UK, take Academic UKVI. For work and family visas, PTE Home A1 is required. For family visa extension, PTE Home A2 is required. For permanent residency, take PTE Home B1.
PTE Exam Overall Pattern
| PTE Format | Details |
| PTE Exam Pattern | To evaluate candidates’ Speaking & Writing (54 – 67 minutes), Reading (29 – 30 minutes), and Listening (30 – 43 minutes) skills in preparation for studying abroad in an English-speaking country, an English language exam has been developed. |
| PTE Duration | 2 hours and a test session |
| Medium of Test | Computer-based with a headset provided by the exam centre |
| Mode | Taken at a test centre / Home Edition |
| Test Type | Assesses real-life English language skills |
| Test Layout | 20 types of questions |
PTE Exam Structure: Section Wise
The Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening sections make up the structure of the PTE exam.
Speaking and Writing
The speaking and writing skills of the examinees are tested in this section. It has six portions and takes 77 to 93 minutes to prepare. Take a closer look at this:
| Segment-Wise Pattern | Duration/Time Required |
| Personal Introduction | Total 55 seconds: 25 seconds for prompt, 30 seconds to record answer |
| Read Aloud | 30-40 seconds to prepare for reading out the text of 60 words |
| Repeat Sentence | Total 15 seconds: 3-9 seconds for prompt, 15 seconds to record answer |
| Describe Image | 25 seconds are granted to study the image as well as prepare your response on the same |
| Re-Tell Lecture | 90 seconds for prompt length, 10 seconds to prepare, and 40 seconds to answer |
| Answer Short Question | Total 20 seconds: 3-9 seconds for prompt, 10 seconds to answer |
| Summarize Written Text | 10 minutes to answer to text prompt of 300 words |
| Essay | 20 minutes to answer to text prompt of 2-3 sentences |
Reading
The examinees’ comprehension of instructions is tested in this section. It must be finished in 32–40 minutes and is broken up into five segments. The PTE format for this section is as follows:
| Section Pattern | Time Varies Based on Length of Text Prompt |
| Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer | Read 300 words of text |
| Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers | Read 300 words of text |
| Re-Order Paragraphs | Read 150 words of text |
| Reading: Fill in the Blanks | Read 80 words of text |
| Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks | Read 300 words of text |
Listening
This 45–57 minute section assesses the candidates’ comprehension of spoken English. Pupils ought to pay close attention to the audio and take in all that they hear. Eight sub-segments make up this portion. Here’s a closer look at the structure and pattern of the PTE exam:
| Pattern of Section | Time Taken/Duration |
| Summarize Spoken Text | 60-90 seconds to retain 50-70 words, 10 minutes to write |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer | 40-90 seconds for prompt |
| Fill in the Blanks | 30-60 seconds |
| Highlight Correct Summary | 30-90 seconds |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 30-60 seconds |
| Select Missing Word | 20-70 seconds |
| Highlight Incorrect Words | 15-50 seconds |
| Write From Dictation | 3-5 seconds for hearing |
PTE Exam Format and Pattern
The PTE Academic exam, which, like other language proficiency exams, evaluates candidates on their speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills, may take three hours to complete.
The PTE Academic exam format is explained in detail in the table below:
| Sections | Assignments | Time allotted |
| Listening | MCQs with single answer options, MCQs with multiple answer options, Composing by dictation, Providing an overview of spoken language, Complete the blanks while underlining any incorrect words.. | 45-57 minutes |
| Speaking & Writing | writing essays, reading aloud recount lectures, First of all, answering brief questions, restating a sentence, and summarising written material. | 77-93 minutes |
| Reading | Reorder the paragraphs. Full the gaps, MCQs with a single response and MCQs with several answers. | 34-40 minutes |
Final Thoughts
You can put an end to your worries and begin studying for the PTE exam now that you are aware of its main sections and exam pattern. As with the TOEFL and IELTS, candidates should be aware that the validity of PTE exam results is only good for two years. Furthermore, there is no restriction on how many colleges or universities you can send your PTE exam results to. English language test results are necessary for studying abroad. Pearson Test of English (PTE) evaluates reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills and measures proficiency in English as a foreign language. PTE exam format is similar to other English tests and has three sections: Speaking & Writing, Listening, and Reading. The detailed structure will help you prepare for the test better.
