PTE Academic exam format: sections, tasks and timing

Four skills in one sitting

PTE Academic scores Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking in a single computer-based session, on the same 10 to 90 scale as PTE Core. You speak into a microphone, and there is no face to face interview. The test is built around the academic English used in universities, which is why colleges and universities accept it for admission.

The tasks that make it academic

Speaking includes Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Re-tell Lecture and Answer Short Question. Writing includes Summarize Written Text and, unlike PTE Core, a full Write Essay task. Reading covers fill in the blanks, re-ordering and multiple choice. Listening includes Summarize Spoken Text, Write from Dictation and several question types. The two tasks people find most unfamiliar are Write Essay and Re-tell Lecture, so those are worth extra practice.

Scoring and results

Every part is machine-scored, which rewards clear pronunciation, steady pace, correct grammar and the right length. Many tasks contribute to more than one skill, so a strong performance on a few high-value tasks can lift your overall result. Results usually arrive within a few business days. For the exact current format and timing, check the official Pearson PTE Academic materials before you book.

Keep reading: PTE Academic vs PTE Core · PTE Academic Write Essay · PTE Academic for study