PTE Academic: The Computer-Based English Test
PTE Academic measures your English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in a single, short test.
How PTE Academic works
PTE Academic is taken on a computer in a secure and friendly test centre environment. It tests your skills in speaking and writing, reading, and listening.
PTE Academic measures your English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in a single, short test.
How PTE Academic works
PTE Academic is taken on a computer in a secure and friendly test centre environment. It tests your skills in speaking and writing, reading, and listening.
- Taken in Authorised test centres
- Computer-based with headset
- Two hours long
- Assesses real-life English
- 20 question types
- Single Test Session
The Three Parts of the Test
There are 20 different question types in the test, ranging from multiple choices through to essay writing. Make sure you review the different question formats ahead of your test, as each part has different types of questions.
Understand Each Question Type in Speaking:
Use the menu to learn about the question types and how to answer each one.
Personal Introduction
Part 1 Speaking and Writing
The Personal Introduction is an opportunity for you to give your selected institutions some information about yourself. You will have 25 seconds to read the prompt and prepare your response, and then 30 seconds to record your response.
Read Aloud
Understand Each Question Type in Speaking:
Use the menu to learn about the question types and how to answer each one.
Personal Introduction
Part 1 Speaking and Writing
The Personal Introduction is an opportunity for you to give your selected institutions some information about yourself. You will have 25 seconds to read the prompt and prepare your response, and then 30 seconds to record your response.
Read Aloud
- Task: Text appears on the screen. Read the text aloud.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 60 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and speaking
- Time to Answer: Varies by item, depending on the length of text
The recording status box displays a countdown until the microphone opens. You have 30–40 seconds to read the text and prepare. You will then hear a short tone. After the tone, start speaking immediately. Do not start speaking before the microphone opens because your voice will not be recorded.
- You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
- Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.
- You are not able to replay the audio. You are only able to record your response once.
Repeat Sentence
For this item type, you need to repeat the sentence you hear.
- 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
For this item type, you need to repeat the sentence you hear.
The audio begins to plays automatically. When the audio finishes, the microphone opens and the recording status box shows “Recording”. Speak into the microphone immediately (there is no short tone) and repeat exactly what you heard.
- You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
- Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.
- You are not able to replay the audio. You are only able to record your response once.
Describe image
For this item type, you need to describe an image.
- Task: An image appears on the screen. Describe the image in detail.
- Prompt Length: Not applicable
- Skills: Assessed Speaking
- Time to Answer: 40 seconds
For this item type, you need to describe an image.
The recording status box displays a countdown until the microphone opens. You have 25 seconds to study the image and prepare your response. You hear a short tone. After the tone, start speaking immediately. Do not start speaking before the microphone opens because your voice will not be recorded.
- You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
- Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed’’.
- You are only able to record your response once.
- Task: After listening to or watching a lecture, re-tell the lecture in your own words.
- Prompt Length: Up to 90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and speaking
- Time to Answer: 40 seconds
How to answer this question?
For this item type, you need to re-tell what you heard.
The audio begins to play automatically. You may also see an image related to the audio. After the audio finishes, you have 10 seconds to prepare.
Answer Short Question
For this item type, you need to reply to the question in one or a few words.
The audio begins to play automatically. You may also see an image.
For this item type, you need to re-tell what you heard.
The audio begins to play automatically. You may also see an image related to the audio. After the audio finishes, you have 10 seconds to prepare.
The recording status box displays a countdown until the microphone opens. You hear a short tone. After the tone, start speaking immediately. Do not start speaking before the microphone opens because your voice will not be recorded.
- You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
- Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed’’.
- You are only able to record your response once.
Answer Short Question
- Task: After listening to a question, answer with a single word or a few words.
- Prompt Length: 3–9 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and speaking
- Time to Answer: 10 seconds
For this item type, you need to reply to the question in one or a few words.
The audio begins to play automatically. You may also see an image.
When the audio finishes, the microphone opens and the recording status box shows “Recording”. Speak into the microphone immediately (there is no short tone) and answer the question with one or a few words
- You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
- Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.
- You are not able to replay the audio. You are only able to record your response once.
Summarize Written Text
For this item type, you need to write a summary of the text in one sentence.
You have 10 minutes to write your summary. Make sure to include the main points of the reading passage in a full, single sentence of no more than 75 words.
The word count at the bottom of the screen counts the number of words you write. There are also cut, copy and paste buttons which you may use while constructing your summary.
Cut: Select text from your answer that you wish to remove and left-click “Cut”.
Copy: Select text from your answer that you wish to copy and left-click “Copy”.
- Task: After reading the text, write a one-sentence summary of the passage.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and writing
- Time to Answer: 10 minutes
For this item type, you need to write a summary of the text in one sentence.
You have 10 minutes to write your summary. Make sure to include the main points of the reading passage in a full, single sentence of no more than 75 words.
The word count at the bottom of the screen counts the number of words you write. There are also cut, copy and paste buttons which you may use while constructing your summary.
Cut: Select text from your answer that you wish to remove and left-click “Cut”.
Copy: Select text from your answer that you wish to copy and left-click “Copy”.
Essay
For this item type, you need to write a 200–300 word argumentative essay in response to a prompt.
You have 20 minutes to write your essay.
The Word Count at the bottom of the screen counts the number of words you write. Make sure to write a minimum of 200 words, but no more than 300 words.
There are also cut, copy and paste buttons, which you may choose to use while constructing your response.
Cut: Select text from your answer that you wish to remove and left-click “Cut”.
Copy: Select text from your answer that you wish to copy and left-click “Copy”.
Paste: Place the cursor where you wish to paste the cut/copied text and left-click “Paste”.
- Task: Write a 200–300 word essay on a given topic.
- Prompt Length: 2–3 sentences
- Skills Assessed: Writing
- Time to Answer: 20 minutes
For this item type, you need to write a 200–300 word argumentative essay in response to a prompt.
You have 20 minutes to write your essay.
The Word Count at the bottom of the screen counts the number of words you write. Make sure to write a minimum of 200 words, but no more than 300 words.
There are also cut, copy and paste buttons, which you may choose to use while constructing your response.
Cut: Select text from your answer that you wish to remove and left-click “Cut”.
Copy: Select text from your answer that you wish to copy and left-click “Copy”.
Paste: Place the cursor where you wish to paste the cut/copied text and left-click “Paste”.
Part 2: Reading
1. Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks
Use the menu to learn about the question types and how to answer each one.
For this item type, you need to select the most appropriate words from a drop-down list to restore the text.
This part of the test is 29–30 minutes long and it contains five different question types. Because PTE Academic is an integrated skills test, one item type (‘Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks’) also assesses writing skills.
Understand each question type in Reading1. Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks
Use the menu to learn about the question types and how to answer each one.
- Task: Text appears on-screen with several gaps. Drag words from a box below to fill the gaps.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: Not applicable
For this item type, you need to select the most appropriate words from a drop-down list to restore the text.
There is a passage with some missing words. Beside each gap, there is a button with a drop-down list. Left-click on this button to reveal the drop-down list of options for that gap. Select the option you think best fills the gap.
To change your mind, left-click on a different option. 
- Multiple Choices, Multiple Answer
- Task: After reading the text, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the text by selecting more than one response.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: Not applicable
For this item type, you need to read the passage and answer the multiple-choice question. There is more than one correct response.
You need to select all the response options that you think are correct from the list of possible options.
To select an option, click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it.
The options you select are highlighted in yellow.
- Re-order Paragraphs
- Task: Several text boxes appear on the screen in a random order. Put the text boxes in the correct order.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 150 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: Not applicable
For this item type, you need to restore the original order of the text by selecting text boxes and dragging them across the screen.
There are two ways you can move the text:
- Left-click on a box to select it (it will be outlined in blue), hold the left mouse button down and drag it to the desired location.
- Left-click on a box to select it, and then left-click on the left and right arrow buttons to move it across. On the right panel, you can also use the up and down arrow buttons to re-order the boxes.
Fill in the Blanks
For this item type, you need to drag and drop words across the screen to correctly fill in the gaps in the text.
- Task: The text appears on a screen with several gaps in it. Drag words from the box below to fill the gaps.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 80 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: Not applicable
For this item type, you need to drag and drop words across the screen to correctly fill in the gaps in the text.
There is a passage with some missing words. You have a list of words in the blue box that you can use to fill the gaps in the text. There are more words than gaps so you will not use all the words provided.
Left-click on a word to select it; keep the left mouse button held down and drag the word to the gap where you want to place it. You can also drag words between gaps. To remove a word from a gap, drag it back to the blue box.
Multiple Choice, Single Answer- Task: After reading the text, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the text by selecting one response.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: Not applicable
How to answer this question
For this item type, you need to read the passage and answer the multiple-choice question.
There are several possible response options but only one is correct.
To select an option click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it, or left-click on a different option.
The option you select is highlighted in yellow.
Part 3: Listening
This part of the test is 30–43 minutes long and it contains eight different question types.
The questions are based on audio or video clips, which begin to play automatically. You hear each audio or video clip once. You are allowed to take notes.
Understand each question type
Use the menu to learn about the question types and how to answer each one.
Summarize Spoken Text
For this item type, you need to read the passage and answer the multiple-choice question.
There are several possible response options but only one is correct.
To select an option click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it, or left-click on a different option.
The option you select is highlighted in yellow.
Part 3: Listening
This part of the test is 30–43 minutes long and it contains eight different question types.
The questions are based on audio or video clips, which begin to play automatically. You hear each audio or video clip once. You are allowed to take notes.
Understand each question type
Use the menu to learn about the question types and how to answer each one.
Summarize Spoken Text
- Task: After listening to a recording, write a 50–70 word summary.
- Prompt Length: 60–90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and writing
- Time to Answer: Not applicable
How to answer this question?
For this item type, you will hear an audio recording and will need to write a 50–70 word summary of what you heard.
The audio begins to play automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
The Word Count at the bottom of the screen counts the number of words you write. Make sure to write a minimum of 50 words, but no more than 70 words.
There are also cut, copy and paste buttons, which you may choose to use while constructing your summary.
Cut: Select text from your answer that you wish to remove and left-click “Cut”.
Copy: Select text from your answer that you wish to copy and left-click “Copy”. Paste: Place the cursor where you wish to paste the cut/copied text and left-click “Paste”.
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
For this item type, you will listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question. There is more than one correct response.
The audio begins to play automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
You need to select all of the response options that you think are correct from the list of possible options.
To select an option click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it.
The options you select are highlighted in yellow.
For this item type, you will hear an audio recording and will need to write a 50–70 word summary of what you heard.
The audio begins to play automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
The Word Count at the bottom of the screen counts the number of words you write. Make sure to write a minimum of 50 words, but no more than 70 words.
There are also cut, copy and paste buttons, which you may choose to use while constructing your summary.
Cut: Select text from your answer that you wish to remove and left-click “Cut”.
Copy: Select text from your answer that you wish to copy and left-click “Copy”. Paste: Place the cursor where you wish to paste the cut/copied text and left-click “Paste”.
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
- Task: After listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the recording by selecting more than one response.
- Prompt Length: 40–90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening
- Time to Answer: Not applicable
For this item type, you will listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question. There is more than one correct response.
The audio begins to play automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
You need to select all of the response options that you think are correct from the list of possible options.
To select an option click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it.
The options you select are highlighted in yellow.
Fill in the Blanks
- Task: A transcript of a recording appears 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: Not applicable
- Task: After listening to a recording, select the paragraph that best summarizes the recording.
- Prompt Length: 30–90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and reading
- Time to Answer: Not applicable
How to answer this question?
For this item type, you need to select the summary that best matches the recording.
The audio begins to play automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
There are several possible response options but only one is correct.
To select an option click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it, or left-click on a different option.
The option you select is highlighted in yellow.
Note: It may be difficult to read and listen at the same time. It is recommended that you listen first, make notes on the erasable noteboard and then read the summaries.
- Multiple Choice, Single Answer
- Task: After listening to a recording, select the paragraph that best summarizes the recording.
- Prompt Length: 30–90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and reading
- Time to Answer: Not applicable
- Select Missing Word
- Task: After listening to a recording, select the missing word that completes the recording from a list of options.
- Prompt Length: 20–70 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening
- Time to Answer: Not applicable
- Highlight Incorrect Words
- Task: The transcript of a recording appears on the screen. While listening to the recording, identify the words in the transcript that differ from what is said.
- Prompt Length: 15–50 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and reading
- Time to Answer: Not applicable
- Write from Dictation
- Task: After listening to a recording of a sentence, type the sentence.
- Prompt Length: 3–5 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and writing
- Time to Answer: Not applicable