PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic) is a fully computer-based English test used for university admission and migration. It runs for about two hours and is scored by AI, so results are fast and consistent. Here's exactly how the exam is built and graded.
The three sections
- Speaking & Writing — 76–84 minutes · 9 question types
- Reading — 22–30 minutes · 5 question types
- Listening — 31–39 minutes · 8 question types
All 22 question types
PTE uses integrated scoring — most tasks contribute to more than one skill. Here is every question type, how many you'll see, and which skills it scores:
| Question type | No. | S | W | R | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speaking & Writing — 76–84 min | |||||
| Read Aloud | 6–7 | 9% | |||
| Repeat Sentence | 10–12 | 16% | 17% | ||
| Describe Image | 5–6 | 31% | |||
| Re-tell Lecture | 2–3 | 13% | 13% | ||
| Answer Short Question | 5–6 | 4% | |||
| Summarize Group Discussion | 2–3 | 19% | 20% | ||
| Respond to a Situation | 2–3 | 13% | |||
| Summarize Written Text | 2 | 28% | 23% | ||
| Write Essay | 1 | 31% | |||
| Reading — 22–30 min | |||||
| R&W: Fill in the Blanks | 5–6 | 25% | |||
| Multiple Choice, Multiple | 2–3 | 5% | |||
| Re-order Paragraphs | 2–3 | 9% | |||
| Reading: Fill in the Blanks | 4–5 | 20% | |||
| Multiple Choice, Single | 2–3 | 3% | |||
| Listening — 31–39 min | |||||
| Summarize Spoken Text | 1 | 18% | 10% | ||
| Multiple Choice, Multiple | 2–3 | 3% | |||
| Fill in the Blanks | 2–3 | 8% | |||
| Highlight Correct Summary | 2–3 | 3% | 2% | ||
| Multiple Choice, Single | 2–3 | 2% | |||
| Select Missing Word | 1–2 | 1% | |||
| Highlight Incorrect Words | 2–3 | 13% | 8% | ||
| Write from Dictation | 3–4 | 23% | 13% | ||
S Speaking · W Writing · R Reading · L Listening. Percentages show each task's contribution to that skill's score (source: APEUni PTE content & score tables, V5). Question counts can vary slightly between test versions.
How PTE Academic is scored
Your exam is scored by Pearson's AI on the Global Scale of English, from 10 to 90. You receive an overall score plus individual scores for Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening. Because scoring is integrated, the highest-value tasks — those that carry the most weight or score several skills at once, such as Describe Image, Repeat Sentence, Summarize Written Text, Write Essay and Write from Dictation — are the smart ones to prioritise. (Want a step-by-step plan? See our guide on how to score 79+ in PTE.)
Results: typically available within about two days (and up to five business days). Validity: a PTE Academic score is valid for two years from the test date.
Where PTE Academic is accepted
- Study — accepted by 4,000+ universities and colleges worldwide, including virtually all institutions in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, the great majority in Canada, and many across the US (including all Ivy League universities). Acceptance can vary by institution, so always confirm with yours.
- Migration — recognised by Australia's Department of Home Affairs and Immigration New Zealand for all visa types that require an English test.
- UK visas — you need the SELT version, PTE Academic UKVI (the same test, with a UK reference number, booked at a UKVI test centre).
- Canada — PTE Academic is used for study (including the Student Direct Stream). For Canadian economic immigration, the test is PTE Core, not PTE Academic.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the PTE Academic test?
About two hours, in three sections: Speaking & Writing (76–84 min), Reading (22–30 min) and Listening (31–39 min).
How many question types are there?
22 in total — 9 in Speaking & Writing, 5 in Reading and 8 in Listening.
What is the score range?
10 to 90 on the Global Scale of English, with an overall score and separate scores for each skill.
How long are results valid?
A PTE Academic score is valid for two years from the test date; results usually arrive within about two days.
Is PTE Academic accepted in the UK and Canada?
For UK visas you need the SELT version, PTE Academic UKVI (the same test with a UK reference number). In Canada, PTE Academic is used for study (including the Student Direct Stream), while Canadian economic immigration uses a separate test, PTE Core.
Sources: official information from Pearson PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI. Always confirm current requirements with Pearson, your university or the relevant immigration authority.
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