Pearson Test of English i.e. PTE Exam in short is a highly competitive computer-based English language proficiency exam that assesses the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills of non-native English speakers. These four section tests are important for you, if you want to study abroad, especially in the English speaking countries. It is designed to be fair as well as impartial, providing an objective assessment of one’s English language skills. The test/exam is totally computer-based that eliminates any potential bias or subjectivity that may be present in human-assessed tests/exams.
One of the significant advantages of the PTE is the fast TAT for receiving test results. You can receive the test scores within 5 business days that is considerably faster compared to other English proficiency tests/exams available. This test is beneficial particularly for those who have tight deadlines for VISA applications or study abroad programs. They offers test-takers the convenience of choosing from different test dates throughout a year. In addition to that, there are countless test centers available worldwide, providing flexibility for students to take the test at a location that is convenient for them.
This comprehensive evaluation process ensures that your abilities in all areas are thoroughly tested. The test incorporates real-life scenarios and integrated tasks that assess your ability to use English in practical situations. The integrated approach helps gauge your ability to apply language skills in real-world contexts.
It is widely accepted by educational institutions, professional organizations, and governments all around the world. Many foreign universities and colleges recognize this test as proof of English language proficiency for the purpose of admission. Countries, like Australia, New Zealand, USA and the UK, accept the Pearson Test of English for the sake of VISA applications and immigration.
Age Limit |
Minimum age: 16 years |
Exam Qualifications |
Minimum or maximum qualification: not mentioned by conducting body |
Eligible Countries |
USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand |
The PTE Exam pattern is uniform all around the world that accepts the PTE test scores. What may actually vary is the cut-off marks. Here is the table that would give you a better understanding of the PTE test format.
Category |
Information |
Eligibility |
Application should be aged at least 18 years |
Test Availability |
Throughout the years |
Duration |
2 Hours |
Examination |
Consists of 20 unique questions Speaking & Writing (54-67) minutes Reading (29-30) minutes Listening (33-43) minutes |
Registration Formalities |
Registration can be done online via the official PTE website |
Charge |
14,700 INR |
Test Results & Score Scales |
Results available in 48 hours, and sent to the test takers in 5 business days. The score ranges between 10-90 |
Personal Introduction: Introduce yourself within 30 seconds.
Read Aloud: Read a short text aloud.
Repeat Sentence: Repeat a sentence you hear.
Describe Image: Describe an image within a specified time limit.
Re-tell Lecture: Summarise a lecture in your own words.
Answer Short Questions: Provide brief answers to questions.
Summarise Written Text: Summarise a passage in one sentence.
Essay: Write an essay on a given topic.
MCQ, Choose Single Answer: Select the correct response to a question.
MCQ, Choose Multiple Answers: Select multiple correct responses.
Re-order Paragraphs: Rearrange paragraphs to form a coherent text.
Fill in the Blanks: Fill in the missing words in a passage.
MCQ, Choose Single Answer: Choose the correct answer based on a reading passage.
MCQ, Choose Multiple Answers: Select multiple correct answers based on a reading passage.
Fill in the Blanks: Fill in the missing words in a reading passage.
Summarise Written Text: Summarise a passage in one sentence.
Summarise Spoken Text: Listen to a recording and summarise it in writing.
MCQ, Choose Multiple Answers: Select multiple correct responses based on a recording.
Fill in the Blanks: Listen to a recording and fill in the missing words.
Highlight Correct Summary: Select the summary that best matches a recording.
MCQ, Choose Single Answer: Select the correct response to a question based on a recording.
Select Missing Word: Listen to a recording and select the missing word in a transcript.
Highlight Incorrect Words: Identify words in a transcript that differ from the recording.
Write from Dictation: Listen to a recording and write what you hear.
As stated previously the dates for Pearson Test of English exam are spread throughout the year because the PTE Academic test is given multiple times in a given month. Candidates should known that these PTE Exam Dates 2024 are specific to a single PTE test centre. It is advisable that you check the availability of the nearest PTE centres before proceeding with the PTE registration process.
They have a network of 400 plus test centres all around the world, in 117 countries, and options for online testing too. PTE is conducted all over India at various exam centres. There are 35 PTE exam centres in India. Check out the Pearson Test of English exam centres across the major cities of India.
Top PTE Test Centres in India in 2024
Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Karnal, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Nagpur. New Noida, Pune, Rajkot.
PTE Academic measures your proficiency in the English language according to global standards and assesses it on a scale of 10 to 90. Each PTE score in the PTE score chart indicates various English expertises of the test takers.
PTE Score |
Level |
CERF Equivalent |
IELTS Equivalent |
90 - 85 |
High English Proficiency |
C2 |
Band 9 |
84 - 76 |
More Than Any Requirement for Academic Education |
C1 |
Band 7 - 9 |
75 - 59 |
Good for Applying for an Undergraduate Course |
B2 |
Band 5.5 - 6.5 |
58 - 43 |
The minimum requirement for UG Course |
B1 |
Band 4 - 5 |
42 - 30 |
Low for Academic Course |
A2 |
Not Applicable |
29 - 10 |
Very low for Academic Courses |
A1 |
Not Applicable |
If you cancel the PTE test, with less than 14 calendar days, but at least 7 calendar days before your test date, then you will receive a partial refund of 50% of the PTE test fee paid. If you want to challenge the test score, you need to request a machine rescore. One thing you should keep in mind is – PTE tests are machine scored, so it is unlikely that your overall scores will change.
You can select any test centre for PTE exam as per their choice test dates and time, and that is totally based on the availability of test centres. There are no fixed dates for the PTE exam. If you are interested to take the test, then you have to register on the PTE website first to check when an exam date is available.
Normally, the fee for the PTE academic test is Rs. 15,900 INR including GST. If you book your PTE exam within 48 hours of the test date, then you will have to pay a PTE late booking fee as well.
If you cancel within 14 days of your scheduled PTE test date, full refund is possible. You will get a 50 percent refund whether you cancel within 14 days but before 7 days. Keep in mind one thing that there would be no refund whether you cancel the test less than 7 days before the scheduled test date.
Determining which test is tougher, PTE or IELTS is out and out subjective and can vary from person to person based on individual strengths, weaknesses and familiarity with the test format.
IELTS & PTE are both widely recognized English language proficiency tests, but they differ in a few key aspects. One of the significant differences between IELTS and PTE is the test format. IELTS consists of four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. PTE, on the other hand, is a computer-based test that assesses the four skills through various task types, including speaking into a microphone. IELTS uses a band score ranging from 0 to 9 for each section. PTE employs a scoring scale of 10 to 90.
The eligibility criteria for taking the PTE exam are generally straightforward and do not involve strict qualifications. Anybody over the age of 16, regardless of nationality or background can take the PTE exam. Anyone can take the test regardless of their age. Candidates can take the test regardless of their educational qualifications or background.