Communicative skills scores
The communicative skills measured are listening, reading, speaking and writing.
Items testing these communicative skills also test specific sub skills. For integrated
skills items (that Is, those assessing reading and speaking, listening and speaking,
reading and writing, listening and writing, or listening and reading) the item score
contributes to the score for the communicative skills that the item assesses. The
score range for each skill is 10–90 points.
Enabling skills scores
The enabling skills are used to rate performance in the productive skills of speaking
and writing. The enabling skills measured are grammar, oral fluency, pronunciation,
spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse. The scores for enabling skills are
based on performance on only those items that assess these skills specifically.
The score range for each skill is 10–90 points.
• The enabling skills reported are described as follows:
Grammar Correct use of language with respect to word form and word order
at the sentence level.
Oral fluency Smooth, effortless and natural-paced delivery of speech.
Pronunciation Production of speech sounds in a way that is easily understandable
to most regular speakers of the language. Regional or national varieties of English
pronunciation are considered correct to the degree that they are easily understandable
to most regular speakers of the language.
Spelling Writing of words according to the spelling rules of the language.
All national variations are considered correct, but one spelling convention should
be used consistently in a given response.
Vocabulary Appropriate choice of words used to express meaning, as well as
lexical range.
Written discourse Correct and communicatively efficient production of written
language at the textual level. Written discourse skills are represented in the structure
of a written text, its internal coherence, logical development and the range of
linguistic resources used to express meaning precisely.
With PTE Academic you can see:
- Overall score.
- Speaking score
- Listening score
- Reading score
- Writing score
- Grammar score
- Spelling score
- Oral Fluency score
- Vocabulary score
- Written discourse score
Result validity
PTE Academic scores are valid for up to two years from the date of the exam
Test format
Part 1: Speaking & Writing (77 – 93 Minutes)
In Part 1 you will be tested on your speaking and writing skills. The time given
to this section is 77-93 minutes.
To assess speaking, your skills will be tested by your ability to produce spoken
English in an academic environment.
The writing section will require you to write responses in academic English using
correct grammar and spelling
- Recording 1 – a conversation between two people
set in an everyday social context.
- Personal introduction
- Read aloud
- Repeat sentence
- Describe image
- Re-tell lecture
- Answer short question
- Summarize written text
- Essay (20 mins)
Part 2: Reading (32 – 41 Minutes)
In Part 2 you will be tested on your reading skills. This single timed section contains
15-20 independent and integrated skills items, depending on the combination of items
in a given test. Different response formats, including multiple-choice, re-order
paragraphs, and fill in the blanks, are designed to test your ability to read, write
and listen to information provided in English. Because PTE Academic is an integrated
skill test, one item type in this part of the test also assesses writing skills.
- Multiple choice, choose single answer
- Multiple choice, choose multiple answers
- Re-order paragraphs
- Reading: Fill in the blanks
- Reading & writing: Fill in the blanks
Part 3: Listening (45 – 57 Minutes)
Part 3 consists of questions that are based on audio or video clips which begin
to play automatically. You hear each audio or video clip only once so listen carefully.
You are allowed to take notes.
For each question you have the opportunity to adjust the volume. While the audio
clip is playing, move the control bar to the right to increase the volume or to
the left to decrease the volume.
- Summarize spoken text
- Fill in the blanks
- Multiple choice, choose multiple answer
- Highlight correct summary
- Multiple choice, choose single answer
- Select missing word
- Highlight incorrect words
- Write from dictation
Why PTE??
1.Artificial intelligence
AI scoring means that its not simply a single human assessing your English language
skills, but a very clever algorithm that mimics how human markers would score, based
on many, many responses.
2.Unbiased scoring
When you take the PTE Academic test, what you say is graded by AI against thousands
of previous responses. What this means is that you’re graded only on what you say,
not your accent or anything else
3.Flexible testing & fast results
Thanks to the use of market leading technology, PTE Academic offers all test takers
incredible flexibility. Test taker results are typically delivered in just 5 business
days and furthermore, PTE Academic offers global testing in more than 250 test centers
in over 50 countries.
4.Send your score unlimited times for free
PTE Academic proudly gives all test takers the freedom to send your scores to as
many organizations as you like, without an additional fee. This freedom gives you
even greater opportunity to achieve your dreams.
5.Unlimited acceptance for study & migration applications
PTE Academic is accepted for study applications by thousands of academic programs
around the world. It is also approved for all Australian and New Zealand student
visa and migration applications.
General test-taking tips
Make the most of those spare minutes to practice your skills.
- Make sure you have the correct documentation
and ID to take with you to the test center as listed here.
- Allow yourself plenty of time to reach the test
center.
- Read all test instructions carefully.
- Use correct punctuation for writing tasks: full
stops, capital letters, commas, etc.
- Answer the question. If the question asks you
to write or speak about sport, write or speak about ‘sport’ NOT ‘science’.
- Keep strictly within the word limit given for
writing tasks.
- Respond quickly and keep speaking during speaking
tasks. The microphone will close after 3 seconds of silence and stop recording.
- Do not spend too much time on a single question.
- Spend any available time checking your answers.
Improve your PTE Academic score
The starting point for achieving a better score on PTE Academic is understanding
your current English proficiency level.
Overall score is based on your performance on all test questions, so focus on the
weaker areas and plan accordingly to increase your skills up to the desired level.
Understand how the test is scored
All questions in PTE Academic are 100% machine scored. Scores for some questions
are based on correctness alone, while others are based on correctness, formal aspects
and the quality of the response.
Formal aspects refer to the form of the response: for example, whether it is over
or under the word limit for a particular question type.
The quality of the response is represented in the enabling skills: for example,
in the question type Re-tell lecture, the response is scored on skills such as oral
fluency and pronunciation.
Consider taking an English course
We all learn in different ways and perhaps using a coursebook by yourself might
not be the most effective way of reaching your full potential. There are preparation
courses offered around the world, both face-to-face and online, to help you familiarize
with the test and improve your English skills.
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Make the most of those spare minutes to practice your skills.
- Complete 5 or 10 minute practice activities
each day to keep building your knowledge.
- Practice speaking English at your home, school
or workplace.
- Join English-speaking groups, they offer the
opportunity to practice both speaking and listening skills.
- Read widely from sources like newspapers, magazines,
academic journals and books.
- Listen to English speaking media, like television
(use English subtitles if available) and radio broadcasts.
- Observe native speakers and listen to the language
used in different contexts