PTE (Pearson Test of English) is an international standardised test of English proficiency for non-native speakers of English, offered by Pearson PLC. The tests include the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), PTE General (formerly known as the London Tests of English (LTE)) and PTE Young Learners. These are scenario-based tests, recognised by QCA and Ofqual, and delivered in conjunction with Edexcel.
Contents
Overview
The Pearson Test of English provides secure English language tests for study applications worldwide, as well as for work visa and migration applications in Australia, the UK, New Zealand and Canada.
Official website:https://www.pearsonpte.com/
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PTE Academic
The PTE Academic test assesses the ability of non-native speakers of English to follow an English-medium programme at university level. It is a computer-based test focusing on the practical English used in academic settings. Test takers hear the range of accents and academic language they will encounter at English-speaking higher education institutions.
The test includes an unmarked voice recording of the candidate, which forms part of advanced biometric data intended to help institutions verify the candidate’s identity and support their admissions decisions. The test lasts up to 2 hours 15 minutes, and test takers can expect to receive their results online within five working days.
The PTE Academic test comprises the following sections:
| Section | Duration | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking and Writing | 54 – 67 minutes | – Personal introduction – Read aloud – Repeat sentence – Describe image – Re-tell lecture – Answer short question – Summarise written text (10 minutes) – Essay (20 minutes) |
| Reading | 29 – 30 minutes | – Reading and writing: fill in the blanks |
| Nghe | 30 – 43 minutes | – Summarise spoken text – Multiple choice: choose multiple answers – Fill in the blanks – Highlight correct summary – Multiple choice: choose single answer – Select missing word – Highlight incorrect words – Write from dictation |
PTE Core
The PTE Core test comprises three components:
- Speaking and writing
- Reading
- Nghe
The whole test takes under two hours and is computer-based. Pearson states that results are usually available within two days of sitting the test. The test is marked by a combination of AI and human examiners.
Speaking and writing
The speaking and writing section is the longest, lasting around 50 minutes. It contains seven different question types, testing the English phrases and abilities a person is likely to encounter in everyday settings.
Reading
The reading section lasts around 30 minutes and contains five question types focusing on everyday reading ability in English. Because PTE Core is an integrated skills test, one of these question types also assesses writing skills.
Nghe
The listening section lasts around 30 minutes and contains seven different question types. The questions in this section are based on audio or video prompts, which play automatically as the test taker moves to each question. Test takers hear each audio or video clip only once. Note-taking is permitted in this section.
PTE Young Learner Test
PTE Young Learners (formerly known as LTEfC) are English language tests for children (aged 7 to 12) learning English as a foreign language. They test four abilities: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
The tests are based on the adventures of the Brown family. They are designed around themes, and are enjoyable and encouraging. At the lower levels they aim to test how well children use language structures, and at the higher levels how well children use language to complete communicative tasks. For this reason, the tests use real-life situations rather than grammar exercises.
The test was originally developed by the University of London Schools Examinations Board in 1982. The Examinations Board merged with the Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) in 1996 to become Edexcel.
There are four levels of PTE Young Learners:
| Level | PTE Young Learners | Test duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Firstwords | 1h |
| 2 | Springboard | 1h |
| 3 | Quickmarch | 1h |
| 4 | Breakthrough | 1h15 |
Score report
Scores are reported on the Global Scale of English, a standardised numerical scale from 10 to 90 that measures English proficiency more precisely than the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about PTE for Canadian immigration
All candidates applying to a Canadian skilled worker immigration programme who wish to demonstrate their English proficiency must take one of the following tests: PTE Core, IELTS General Training or CELPIP.
Free online materials, including courses, practice tests, tips and more, are available on the official website.
The answer depends on the immigration pathway the candidate is pursuing. PTE Core is currently accepted for every immigration pathway to Canada except the Student Direct Stream (SDS).
PTE Academic is accepted for the SDS instead. Candidates should pay close attention to which test and which scores are needed to meet the requirements of the programme they choose.
Test takers can choose from more than 400 test centres in over 117 countries – with limited options for online testing.
The official PTE website also has asearch tool, which can be used to find the centre nearest to them.
Although the cost varies with the test location, it averages around 340 CAD.
PTE Core has three sections, lasting 1 hour 50 minutes in total. Allowing for administrative procedures and giving test takers some flexibility between sections, the total test time is two hours.
Pearson’s website states that test takers can usually access their scores within two days of sitting the test.
See the other English language testing options:
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