According to the Indian Student Mobility Report of 2023, the number of Indian students studying abroad will reach between 1.5 and 2 million by 2025.
To join their ranks and study at famed institutions abroad, not only do you need an excellent academic score in your chosen domain, but you also need to be fluent in English.
In fact, students going abroad have to provide proof of English proficiency through a language test.
In the past few years PTE has become a new standard of global testing in English proficiency. It is considered at par with more established tests such as TOEFL and IELTS.
If you’re preparing for the PTE in 2024, this guide will help.
What is the PTE Exam?
PTE exam or Pearson Test of English is an English language proficiency test for non-native English speakers. Pearson is reputed for its quality educational texts and exam assessment services.
The PTE tests are relatively recent when compared to TOEFL and IELTS, having started in 2010. However, in spite of having been around for only 14+ years now, this test is widely recognized by universities and colleges around the world as proof of English language proficiency.
The PTE test uses the Global Scale of English, which has a scoring system ranging from 10 to 90. This comprehensive 80 point scale provides a precise evaluation of a student’s English abilities through a single overall score.
These are the key features of PTE:
- Reliable method for assessing your proficiency in academic English
- Results are published within 2-5 days
- Uses a blend of AI evaluation and human judgment to minimize errors
- Recognized by over 3,300 universities and colleges globally
- Conducted entirely on computer at designated test centers
- Consists of a single 2-hour examination
Note: PTE is a computer-based test and there is no paper based version.
PTE exam syllabus in 2024 (section wise)
The PTE exam syllabus is divided into three main parts, based on the three sections of the exam.
Note that because PTE is an English language proficiency test aimed at evaluating the readiness of students to thrive in academic settings in English-speaking countries, the syllabus doesn’t aim at testing them on technicalities of the language.
Instead, students need to understand the exam pattern, identify question types, and then practice those question types using different preparation resources for PTE.
Speaking and Writing
This section of the PTE exam tests your ability to speak fluently, as well as your writing skills. Tasks include speaking about a given topic, summarizing spoken text, and writing essays.
Reading
In this section, you will be presented with a variety of texts, such as newspaper articles, academic texts, and advertisements. You need to answer comprehension questions based on these texts to demonstrate your reading skills.
Listening
This part of the PTE exam assesses your ability to understand spoken English in various forms, such as lectures, interviews, and conversations. You will listen to recordings and answer questions based on what you hear.
Here is a table outlining the structure of the PTE exam.
| Section | Skills Assessed | Time | Total Questions | Question Types |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speaking & Writing | Evaluation of the candidate’s ability to produce spoken and written English in the context of academic settings | 54-67 minutes | Total questions – 28 to 36 | · Personal Introduction · Read Aloud · Repeat Sentence · Describe Image · Re-tell Lecture · Answer Short Question · Summarize Written Text · Essay |
| Reading | Assessment of the candidate’s comprehension of written English texts of varying complexity and subject matter | 29-30 minutes | Total questions – 13 to 18 | · Reading and Writing fill in the blanks · Multiple choice, Multiple Answer · Re-order Paragraphs · Fill in the Blanks · Multiple Choice, Single Answer |
| Listening | Evaluation of the candidate’s ability to understand spoken English in diverse contexts and accents | 30-43 minutes | Total questions – 12 to 20 | · Summarize spoken text · Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer · Fill in the Blanks · Highlight Correct Summary · Multiple Choice, Single Answer · Select Missing Word · Highlight Incorrect Words · Write from Dictation
|
Below is a more detailed look at the PTE exam format.
Part 1: Speaking and Writing
This section assesses your ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
Speaking Section
The speaking section evaluates your fluency in spoken English through various tasks designed to measure your oral communication skills.
- Personal Introduction: Record a brief introduction about yourself. This is not scored.
- Read Aloud: Read a text displayed on the screen aloud.
- Repeat Sentence: Listen to a sentence and repeat it as accurately as possible.
- Describe Image: You will be shown an image (e.g., graph, diagram) and asked to describe it verbally.
- Re-tell Lecture: Listen to a short lecture and then summarize it in your own words.
- Answer Short Questions: Answer a series of brief questions with short verbal responses.
Writing Section
This section evaluates your ability to express ideas clearly in written English through various tasks that assess your writing skills.
- Summarize Written Text: Read a passage and write a one-sentence summary.
- Write Essay: Write an essay in response to a given prompt.
Part 2: Reading
The Reading section assesses your ability to understand written English in various contexts.
- Fill in the Blanks (Reading and Writing): Drag and drop the correct words into the blanks within the passage.
- Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers: Similar to the previous task, but select multiple correct answers.
- Re-order Paragraphs: Arrange a jumbled set of paragraphs into a logical order.
- Fill in the Blanks: Complete a passage with missing words by choosing from a list of options.
- Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer: Read a passage and choose the single correct answer from several options.
Part 3: Listening
The Listening section assesses your ability to understand spoken English in different situations.
- Summarize Spoken Text: Listen to an audio recording (e.g., lecture, presentation) and summarize it in writing within a specific word limit.
- Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers: Select all correct answers from options provided after listening to an audio passage.
- Fill in the Blanks: Listen to an audio recording with missing words in a passage and type in the missing words as they are spoken.
- Highlight Correct Summary: Choose the best summary from a list of options based on the audio recordings.
- Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer: Listen to multiple audio recordings (up to one minute each) and select the single correct answer to the given question.
- Select Missing Word: Choose the best ending for an audio recording that cuts off before completing the last sentence.
- Highlight Incorrect Words: Identify words in a passage that have been replaced during an audio recording of the same passage.
- Write from Dictation: Listen to a sentence and write down what was said.
You are now familiar with the PTE exam pattern. Next, to perform well in the PTE exam, it’s essential to develop effective strategies for preparation.
Here’s how you can prepare for success in the PTE test.
How to prepare for the PTE exam?
The PTE exam syllabus is not very vast, and you should ideally be able to master it in 4-6 months.
- Assess your current level
Take a practice test to evaluate your current proficiency in English. You need to identify the areas that require improvement so you can tailor your study plan accordingly.
- Set realistic goals
For admission to a good college or university, you need a score of 60 or above. However, the best tactic is to check the PTE score cutoff mandated by the universities you wish to apply to. Then, aim for at least 5-10 more than the average of all cutoffs. The bottom line is to set realistic study goals and break down your preparation into manageable tasks
- Improve your language skills
Enhance your English language skills by reading extensively, and listening to podcasts. You have to practice speaking and writing regularly and pay close attention to grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and fluency.
- Focus on time management
Develop effective time management strategies to ensure you can complete each section of the exam within the allocated time. Practice pacing yourself during practice tests to avoid running out of time on the actual exam day.
- Take advantage of prep courses
Consider enrolling in a well known PTE preparation course. You can also hire a tutor to provide personalized guidance and feedback. This will help you understand the areas of the exam syllabus where you need to invest the most effort. Here are some excellent free resources with PTE exam questions to get you started.
PTE Academic preparation | Pearson PTE
Free Preparation Resources For PTE And IELTS Tests (pathwaytoaus.com)
PTE Study: Free Online PTE Practice – PTE Academic Test
Note: Preparing for the PTE exam is just one part of your journey to study abroad. You’ll need to think about the universities you want to apply to, and the bank you want to get your loan from, in parallel to preparing for PTE. This can be overwhelming, but that’s where SelectRight and FundRight make the process easy.
Find your best university with SelectRight
Over 60,000 students have used SelectRight to find their best university. Here’s how you can use it:
- Register and provide your personal details and educational history.
- Outline what kind of program, field of study, and university location you are seeking
- SelectRight will suggest programs that fit your criteria.
- Review the matches, consider costs, rankings, and what matters most to you.
- Get personalized advice and help with your applications.
So, take the first step towards finding your best-fit university. Register on SelectRight.
Find your best education loan with FundRight
FundRight simplifies how you secure an education loan for your studies abroad. Here’s how it works.
- Start by creating your account on FundRight.
- Get access to loan offers from over 15 top lenders, both Indian and international.
- Submit the necessary documents to proceed with your loan application.
- Work with our expert financial advisors to customize your loan offer according to your needs.
- Once everything is set, receive your loan disbursement quickly and efficiently.
With SelectRight and FundRight, you have the best support in finding your university and securing your education loan.
FAQs
Is the PTE exam format the same as TOEFL and IELTS?
All three of these exams evaluate students’ proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. However, there are minor differences in format, such as the number of sections, questions per section, the manner in which the speaking tests are administered, and the duration of the exam.
| Feature | PTE (Pearson Test of English) | TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | IELTS (International English Language Testing System) |
| Test Sections | – Speaking & Writing (together) – Reading – Listening | – Reading – Listening – Speaking – Writing | – Listening – Reading – Writing – Speaking |
| Speaking Section | Computer-based, recorded | Computer-based, recorded | Face-to-face with an examiner |
How soon can I receive my PTE exam results?
PTE exam results are available within 2-5 business days after the test date. Test-takers can access their scores online through the myPTE portal.
Can I retake the PTE exam if I’m not satisfied with my score?
Yes, test-takers can retake the PTE exam as many times as necessary to achieve their desired score. However, there are rules and waiting periods that may apply. It is essential to check the official website for updated information.
How can I speak fluently into the microphone for the PTE exam?
To become fluent you have to practice speaking regularly with steady pacing. Try to practice pronouncing each word with composure and firmness. Familiarize yourself with the microphone beforehand and maintain a relaxed attitude.
