Pte Academic test format
More about part 1
This part of the test is 54–67 minutes long and it contains seven different question types. It is the longest section of the test. You will be tested on your speaking and writing skills, using English you might hear in an academic environment.
Read below to know about the question types.
1. Personal Introduction
The Personal Introduction serves as a chance for you to become familar with the technology used in the PTE test, as well as to assist you in preparing for the speaking and listening components. This particular question does not affect your score and is intended solely for familiarization. You will be allotted 25 seconds to read the prompt and organize your response, followed by 30 seconds to record your answer. Please note that you are permitted to record your response only once.
2. Read Aloud
Task: Text appears on the screen. Read the text aloud as fluently and naturally as possible.
3. Repeat Sentence
Task: After listening to a recording of a sentence, repeat the sentence.
- Prompt Length: 3–9 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and speaking
- Time to Answer: 15 seconds
4. Describe Image
Task: Image will appear on the screen. Describe the image in detail
- Prompt length: N/A
- Skills Assessed: Speaking
- Time to Answer: 40 seconds
5. Re-tell Lecture
Task: After listening to or watching a lecture, re-tell or re-describe the lecture in your own words.
- Prompt length: Up to 90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and speaking
- Time to Answer: 40 seconds
6. Short Question
Task: After listening to a question, answer with a single word or a few words.
- Prompt length: N/A
- Skills Assessed: Speaking
- Time to Answer: 10 seconds
6. Summarize Written Text
Task: Write a one-sentance of summary of the passage. After reading the text
- Prompt length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and Writing
- Time to Answer: 10 minutes
6. Essay
Task: Write a 200–300 word essay on a given topic.
- Prompt length: 2–3 sentences
- Skills Assessed: Writing
- Time to Answer: 20 minutes
More about part 2
This section of the examination lasts between 29 and 30 minutes and comprises five distinct types of questions. As PTE Academic evaluates integrated skills, one of the item types, specifically 'Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks,' also measures writing proficiency.
Read below to know about the question types.
1. Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks
Task: You have to fill the blanks in the paragraph using options from the dropdown.
- Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and writing
- Time to Answer: N/A
2. Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer
Task: After reviewing the text, respond to a multiple-choice question about its content or tone by selecting one or more appropriate answers.
- Prompt length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: N/A
3. Re-order Paragraphs
Task: Multiple text boxes appear on the screen in a random sequence. Arrange the text boxes in the correct order.
- Prompt length: Text up to 150 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: N/A
4. Fill in the Blanks
Task: The text is displayed on the screen with several missing words. Drag the words from the box below to complete the text.
- Prompt length: Text up to 80 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: N/A
5. Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Task: After reading the text, answer a multiple-choice question by selecting one response.
- Prompt length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: N/A
More about part 3
This section of the examination lasts between 29 and 30 minutes and comprises five distinct types of questions. As PTE Academic evaluates integrated skills, one of the item types, specifically 'Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks,' also measures writing proficiency.
Read below to know about the question types.
1. Summarize Spoken Text
Task: After listening to a recording, write a summary of 50 to 70 words.
- Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and writing
- Time to Answer: N/A
2. Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
Task: After listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question about its content or tone by selecting one or more responses.
- Prompt length: 40–90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening
- Time to Answer: N/A
3. Fill in the Blanks
Task: A transcript of a recording is displayed on the screen with several gaps. After listening to the recording, type the missing word in each gap.
- Prompt length: 30–60 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and writing
- Time to Answer: N/A
4. Highlight Correct Summary
Task: After listening to a recording, select the paragraph that best summarizes its content.
- Prompt length: 30–90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and reading
- Time to Answer: N/A
5. Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Task: After reading the text, answer a multiple-choice question by selecting one response.
- Prompt length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: N/A
6. Select Missing Word
Task: After listening to a recording, choose the missing word from a list of options to complete the recording.
- Prompt length: 20–70 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening
- Time to Answer: N/A
7. Highlight Incorrect Words
Task: The transcript of a recording is displayed on the screen. While listening to the recording, identify the words in the transcript that do not match what is being said.
- Prompt length: 15–50 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and reading
- Time to Answer: N/A
8. Write from Dictation
Task: The transcript of a recording is shown on the screen. While listening to the recording, identify the words in the transcript that are different from what is actually being said.
- Prompt length: 15–50 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and reading
- Time to Answer: N/A