PTE Exam Pattern and Syllabus:
Explore the Structure and Key Sections!
Prepare, Practice, and Achieve Your Best.
PTE Exam Pattern and Syllabus: Explore the Structure and Key Sections!
Prepare, Practice, and Achieve Your Best.
PTE Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Getting to grips with the PTE exam pattern and syllabus is key to doing well, especially if you're aiming for academic or immigration purposes. PTE Academic is accepted by over 300 universities and colleges around the world and uses advanced AI technology for scoring. Knowing the exam structure and what’s covered can really help you target your preparation and hit your score goals.
PTE Exam Pattern
Doing well on the PTE test demonstrates your ability to communicate clearly and prepares you for presentations and interactions with international audiences. Here’s the latest PTE exam pattern to help you get ready for the test and advance your educational goals abroad.
| Section | Description | Duration |
| Speaking and Writing | The Speaking and Writing section of the PTE exam evaluates candidates' ability to communicate effectively in English. It includes tasks like delivering a personal introduction, reading aloud, repeating sentences, describing images, summarising lectures, answering short questions, and writing essays. |
54 - 67 minutes |
| Reading | In the Reading section of the PTE exam, candidates encounter tasks such as multiple-choice questions (single and multiple answers), reordering paragraphs, and filling in the blanks. This section tests reading comprehension and the ability to interpret and analyse written texts efficiently. | 29 - 30 mins |
| Listening | The Listening section of the PTE exam assesses candidates' ability to understand spoken English in academic contexts. Tasks include summarising spoken texts, multiple-choice questions (single and multiple answers), filling in the blanks, highlighting correct summaries, selecting missing words, and identifying incorrect words. | 30 - 43 minutes |
PTE Exam Syllabus - Speaking and Writing Section
In the Speaking and Writing sections of the PTE Academic pattern of exam, candidates are assessed on a variety of tasks designed to evaluate their proficiency in spoken and written English. Each task serves a distinct purpose in assessing different aspects of language skills and communicative abilities.
|
PTE Speaking and Writing Section Question Topics |
PTE Questions per task |
Description |
Duration per task |
|
Personal introduction |
1 |
Introduce yourself briefly, often including personal information or interests. |
55 seconds: 25 seconds for prompt, 30 seconds to record |
|
Read Aloud |
6-7 |
Read a short text aloud from the screen, testing pronunciation and fluency. |
30-40 seconds to prepare for reading out the text of 60 words |
|
Repeat sentence |
10-12 |
Listen to a sentence and repeat it accurately, assessing listening and speaking skills. |
15 seconds: 3-9 seconds for prompt, 15 seconds to record |
|
Describe image |
3-4 |
Describe and interpret a visual image displayed on the screen within a specified time. |
25 seconds are granted to study the image as well as prepare your response on the same |
|
Retell lecture |
1-2 |
Listen to a short lecture and summarise its key points in your own words. |
90 seconds for prompt length, 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to answer |
|
Answer short question |
5-6 |
Respond briefly to a direct question, testing quick thinking and clarity of expression. |
20 seconds: 3-9 seconds for prompt, 10 seconds to answer |
|
Summarise written text |
1-2 |
Summarise a passage in one sentence, demonstrating reading comprehension and concise writing. |
10 minutes to answer to text prompt of 300 words |
|
Write Essay |
1-2 |
Write an essay on a given topic, expressing a clear argument or perspective with appropriate structure and language use. |
20 minutes to answer to text prompt of 2-3 sentences |
|
Total Questions |
28 - 36 |
Time Allocation: 54 - 67 minutes |
PTE Exam Pattern & Syllabus - Reading Section
The Reading section of the PTE Academic pattern evaluates candidates' ability to comprehend written English in academic contexts. This section consists of various tasks designed to assess different aspects of reading comprehension and language proficiency
|
PTE Reading Section Question Topics |
PTE Questions per task |
Description |
Duration per task |
|
Fill in the blanks – reading & writing |
5-6 |
Complete sentences by selecting appropriate words from a dropdown menu. |
Read 300 words of text |
|
Multiple choice, multiple answers |
1-2 |
Select all the correct answers from multiple options for a given question |
Read 300 words of text |
|
Re-order paragraph |
2-3 |
Arrange jumbled paragraphs into a coherent sequence based on logical connections. |
Read 150 words of text |
|
Fill in the blanks –reading |
4-5 |
Complete sentences by selecting appropriate words from a dropdown menu. |
Read 80 words of text |
|
Multiple-choice, single answer |
1-2 |
Select the correct answer from multiple options for a given question. |
Read 300 words of text |
|
Total Questions |
13 - 18 |
Time Allocation - 29 - 30 minutes |
PTE Exam Syllabus - Listening Section
The Listening section of the PTE Academic pattern evaluates candidates' ability to understand spoken English in academic settings. This section comprises various tasks designed to assess different aspects of listening comprehension and language proficiency.
|
PTE Listening Section Question Topics |
PTE Questions per task |
Description |
Duration per task |
|
Summarise spoken text |
1-2 |
Listen to a short lecture or talk and summarise its main points in writing. |
60-90 seconds to retain 50-70 words, 10 minutes to write |
|
Multiple choice, multiple answers |
1-2 |
Select all correct answers from multiple options based on the information heard. |
40-90 seconds for prompt |
|
Fill in the blanks |
2-3 |
Complete sentences by filling in missing words or phrases based on the audio content. |
30-60 seconds |
|
Highlight correct summary |
1-2 |
Select the summary that best captures the main points of the audio clip. |
30-90 seconds |
|
Multiple-choice, single answer |
1-2 |
Select the correct answer from options provided after listening to a question or statement. |
30-60 seconds |
|
Select missing word |
1-2 |
Listen to a recording with a missing word and select the correct option from a dropdown menu. |
20-70 seconds |
|
Highlight incorrect word |
2-3 |
Identify and click on the word in the transcript that does not match the audio. |
15-50 seconds |
|
Write from Dictation |
3-4 |
Listen to a sentence and type it exactly as you hear it. |
3-5 seconds |
|
Total Questions |
12-20 |
Time Allocation: 30 - 43 minutes |
Takeaway
Knowing the PTE exam pattern and syllabus is crucial for doing well on the test. By understanding what to expect in each section and how much time you have, you can plan your approach more effectively. Practising tasks like speaking, writing, reading, and listening will help you be fully prepared for the various challenges you'll face during the exam.
Discover the comprehensive details of the PTE exam pattern and syllabus with AECC. Equip yourself with essential insights into each section's tasks and time allocations, ensuring you're well-prepared for exam day. Let AECC guide you through this journey with expert advice and tailored strategies to excel in every aspect of the PTE exam.
