The PTE exam or Pearson Test of English is a computer-based English exam specifically
designed for non-native speakers. Undertaking this exam showcases how well you can speak,
read, and write English. The PTE test is highly recognized and accepted by many universities
and immigration authorities around the world like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many
institutions in the UK and Europe.

If you’re looking to apply for study, work, or migrate to another country, having a PTE score is
important.

What does PTE stand for?

PTE stands for Pearson Test of English. It is run by the Pearson PLC, which is a global
education and assessment company. While there are other variants of PTE tests like PTE
General, PTE Core, and PTE UKVI for work, migration, or UK‑visa purposes, the most generic
version of PTE is PTE Academic.

What does the PTE Exam test?

The PTE exam checks how well you know English when it’s not your first language. It has three
(3) parts. It tests your skills in reading, speaking & writing, and listening. In general, PTE exams
are undertaken by individuals who have plans of studying abroad, getting a job in another
country, or moving somewhere to another country with an idea of settling.

Pearson provides a set of different goals under a few different PTE tests. Most people who do
PTE Academic have plans to study abroad and improve their English level, or to apply for work
or migration visas for countries like Australia and New Zealand. This particular test is accepted
by more than 3,500 institutions globally. Then there is the PTE Core test, which is for people
who want to live permanently in Canada.

For immigration and visa purposes for the UK, the PTE Academic UKVI is recommended. If
you’re going to apply for a student or work visa for the United Kingdom you need to take the
PTE Academic UKVI test.

In addition, the PTE Home AI test is for spouses, parents of dependents and representatives of
businesses or sportspersons. The PTE Home A2 test is for spouses and parents who want to
extend their visas for the UK. And, the PTE Home B1 test is the one you need to take if you are
applying for settlement or citizenship, for the United Kingdom.

The Format & Duration of the PTE Exam

If you’re going to sit for a PTE exam, you should know the following format or criteria. Each
candidate will get 2 hours 15 minutes to complete the PTE exam and its divided into three (3)
sections;

Part 1 – Speaking and Writing (54–67 minutes)
Part 2 – Reading (29 to 30 minutes)
Part 3 – Listening (30 to 43 minutes)

Part 1 – Speaking and Writing (54 to 67 minutes)

In the beginning of the test, part 1 starts with a prompt. You’ll read and respond to it verbally but
it is not included in your score. It is just meant to help you introduce yourself.
After you’re done with that, you will have to answer nine (9) different types of questions like;

1. Read aloud: You will see some text on the screen. You just need to read it out loud.
2. Repeating: You will hear a sentence. Then you say it back into your microphone.
3. Descriptions: You will see a picture. Have 40 seconds to describe what you see.
4. Lectures: You will listen to talks and then you just need to summarize it in your own
words.
5. Short answer: You will be asked a question and you just have to answer it in one word or
a short phrase.
6. Reading summaries: You will read a passage and then write a summary of it in one
sentence.
7. Essay: You will write an essay, between 200 and 300 words on a given topic.
8. Summarise Group Discussion: You will listen to a group discussion and summarise the
key points.
9. Respond to a Situation: You will be given a real-life scenario and need to respond
appropriately.

Part 2 – Reading (29 to 30 minutes)

Part 2 is about making sure you can understand the language when you read it. This part has a
lot of things you have to do including:

1. Reading a passage or a paragraph and filling in the missing words.
2. Answering multiple-choice questions where you have to choose more than one
response.
3. Putting sentences and paragraphs in the correct order.
4. Filling in the gaps in sentences where words are missing.
5. Answering multiple-choice questions where you have to choose one answer.

Part 3 – Listening (30 to 43 minutes)

The last part of the PTE exam is Part 3. This part tests how well you understand the language
when you hear it. For example you will hear questions, in a video or audio clip and you just have
to do the following;

1. Summarizing the spoken text.
2. Answering multiple-choice questions with multiple answers.
3. Filling in the blanks..
4. Highlighting a paragraph that summarises the recording.
5. Answering multiple-choice questions with a one answer
6. Selecting a word from a list of words.
7. Finding and highlighting the words that are incorrect.
8. Writing down the sentences you hear.

How is the PTE Exam Scored?

The PTE Exam uses a combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and human assessment. While
most of the test is scored by AI for speed and consistency, human experts are involved in
training the system and reviewing certain responses to ensure accuracy and fairness.
The question types which use double marking are:

● Describe Image
● Retell Lecture
● Summarize Written Text
● Write Essay
● Summarize Spoken Text
● Summarize Group Discussion
● Respond to a Situation

PTE or IELTS?

Compared with IELTS or TOEFL, PTE is recommended for the below mentioned reasons;

● While PTE was previously fully AI-scored, it now uses a hybrid scoring system (AI +
human assessment for selected responses), improving reliability and fairness.
● The PTE test is of short duration. It generally takes 2 hours to complete and produces
quicker results.
● Accepted by more than 3,500 institutions worldwide, including many top universities and
several immigration programs.
● Many students find PTE less stressful because there is no face‑to‑face speaking
interview and the question types are predictable once you practice.

How to Book the PTE exam in Sri Lanka?

To book a PTE exam you can visit our official Try Migration PTE website or Pearson PTE
website. You will need to pick the PTE exam you want to take and put your location to find test
centres near you. Then, you will receive a list of test centres with dates and times to pick from.
After that you simply need to finish the registration process and pay the fee for your PTE exam.

Furthermore, If you’re applying through Try Migration – PTE Confidence Builder, we also offer
PTE classes with a Pearson-certified PTE instructor who will guide you through your
preparation and help you achieve your best score.