To complete a PTE Academic test, you will need to attend a secure Pearson test centre. You will use a computer and headset to listen to, read and respond to questions.

During the three-hour test session, there are three main parts to the test: speaking and writing (together), listening and reading. There is also an optional 10-minute break between the reading and listening parts. During the test, you will find twenty different question formats, ranging from multiple choice through to essay writing and interpreting information.

PTE Academic assesses real-life, academic English, so you will hear excerpts from lectures and view graphs and charts. You will hear a range of accents in the test, from British and American to non-native speakers, so you will be exposed to the type of accents you will encounter in everyday life.

There are three main parts to the test: 

Part 1: Speaking & Writing (together) (77 – 93 minutes)
Part 2: Reading (32 – 41 minutes)
Part 3: Listening (45 – 57 minutes)

The Global Scale of English runs from 10 – 90, with clear statements for what a learner can achieve in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing at any point on the scale. PTE Academic is scored against the Global Scale of English, a thermometer-style scale that gives you an accurate overview of your skills. The Global Scale of English aligns with a variety of popular tests and scales around the world. Find out more about the Global Scale of English.