PTE 2025: Registration, Exam Dates & Centres, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus, Results

The Pearson Test of English or the PTE exam is a computer-based English language proficiency test. The exam is primarily used for:

1. Admission to universities abroad: PTE scores are accepted by over 3900+ higher education institutions abroad for the admissions to their prestigious courses. Usually non-native speakers of the English language or candidates belonging to countries where the primary medium of communication is not English are required to take thsi exam. 
2. Immigration: Some countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK accept PTE scores for visa applications.
3. Professional certification: Certain professional organisations recognise PTE scores for certification or registration purposes.

Apart from the above, the PTE exam is known for its quick result delivery (typically within 2 days of taking the test) and its use of AI and human scoring to remove chances of bias. 

The current fee in India is INR 18,000, inclusive of 18% taxes. This covers your test and score reporting. Sending digital scorecards to universities is free. Test takers can send their PTE test scores to as many universities as they like without having to pay any extra charges - a facility that is not currently available in any of the other English language proficiency exams. 

The major changes incorporated in the PTE exam are given below- 

• Addition of 2 new question types as task 7 and task 8 in Part 1 - Speaking and Writing of the PTE Exam. These questions are:
  • Summarize Group Discussion, and
  • Respond to a Situation
• Changes in the names of some tasks in Part 2 - Reading and Part 3 - Listening. The tasks that have been renamed are:

 What's not changing with this update - The duration and scoring of the PTE exam! The PTE exam will continue to be scored on a scale of 10-90 and the overall duration of the PTE exam will also continue to be ~2 hours, as confirmed by the conducting body. 

Abbreviated as "PTE-A", the PTE Academic exam is mostly used for sending:

• admissions applications to top universities abroad, and
• visa applications in Australia and New Zealand.  

The PTE Academic test assesses academic-level Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening skills of the test takers to ensure they are capable of studying in an international environment and can handle academic English in university settings.  

The PTE Academic scores cut-off for admissions abroad lie in the range 51 to 60 for undergraduate admissions and 57 to 67 for postgraduate admissions. However, higher PTE scores help to get admitted to the top institutions. For this reason, you must follow the PTE exam preparation tips and use official test preparation resources such as taster tests, practice tests, and PTE Smart Prep provided by Pearson.

The total questions in PTE-A exam are distributed among Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

There is no designated passing score given by Pearson to the test takers. However, there is "minimum score requirements" or "PTE score cut-off" set by the abroad universities and visa offices. The basic criteria considered here is that you must have CEFR-B2 level of English profeciency to undertake a course abroad.

The PTE scores equivalent to the CEFR-B2 level range from 59-75. Hence, any PTE score within this range generally qualifies you to get admitted to universities abroad.  

There are three different types of PTE exams that are accepted for immigration purposes.

1. The PTE Academic exam is accepted for immigration to the New Zealand and Australia.
2. PTE Core is accepted by the Canadian government for the citizenship and immigration purposes. 
3. PTE Academic UKVI, an exam identical to the PTE Academic test, is accepted the UK Home Office for all types of work visas and study visas to study below-degree level courses. 
4. PTE Home B1 exam is your key to settle in the UK as the test is accepted by the UK Home Office for Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) and Citizenship applications. 

Candidates planning to take the PTE exam do not need to present any proof of ID at the time of PTE registration process. However, it is advised that you fill in exactly the same information as is there on your valid ID proof or passport. 

On the day of the exam, there will be an ID verification process before the exam, where the candidate must show their ID (valid Indian passport) to the authorities. It is important to note that if there is any discrepancy or if the candidate does not bring their passport on the day of the exam, it may prevent them from appearing for their PTE Academic exam. PTE test takers can expect to receive their PTE scorecard within two working days after taking the test. 

The total duration of the PTE exam is 2 hours and the section-wise break down of the time for each section involved in the test is given below: 

1. Speaking & Writing (Part 1): 54–67 minutes 

2. Reading (Part 2): 30 minutes

3. Listening (Part 3): 30 minutes

The minimum requirements for sitting in the PTE exam are:

1. Test takers should be at least 16 years of age. Other candidates who age older than 16 years but are younger than 18 years need to provide parental consent for taking the exam. 
2. Good command of the English language. 
3. Nationality is not the bar to take the PTE exam. 
4. A valid passport or equivalent government-issued ID is required for the test day. 

Yes, the PTE scoring pattern has been changed for the year 2025. The exam consists of 52-64 tasks and 20 different question types. Earlier, all these questions in the PTE exam used to be scored solely machines by using strong AI algorithms.

But now, human scoring has been additionally incorporated for a double verification and fairer scoring. 

The human scoring is done in two ways for the lived test responses of the PTE Academic Test:

1. For the anomalies: This is the area where the unusual answers cannot be scored by automation and hence, human expertise is equired. 
2. Task Specific: The "Describe Image" and the "Retell Recture" tasks of the PTE test are also be scored by the human experts now. 

The PTE exam's duration has reduced from 3 hours to 2 hours. This has been done by reducing the total number of questions previously asked in each section. However, the exam body suggests that this change does not affect the efficiency of the PTE exam and it is still one of the most favoured exams by the universities abroad. 

Your PTE Academic scores remain valid for two years from the date you took the test. During this time, you can use your PTE score to apply to universities abroad without having to pay any extra fees. However, post the completion of two years of the release of your PTE scores, you will not be able to access your PTE exam result and scores. 

PTE exam is based on integrated skills testing (especially in the Speaking and Writing skills) which makes it different from the other English tests.

This means that while other tests like IELTS assess both these skills in different sections using methods (human examiners tests the speaking skills on a different day than the main exam day), the PTE exam assesses both these skills altogether in a single sitting, in 1 single section. Both these skills are assessed in integrated tasks. 

This difference in the exam pattern may lead the test takers to believe that the PTE exam is tougher than the other exams. However, the level of difficulty is subjective and depends on the preparation and current proficiency of the test taker in the English language. 

The PTE Academic exam features diverse academic and factual passages covering subjects like humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. These passages are used in five different question types: Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks, Re-order Paragraphs, Reading: Fill in the Blanks, Multiple-choice, Multiple Answers, and Multiple-choice, Single Answer. 

The PTE Academic speaking section assesses language skills through tasks like Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Re-tell Lecture, and Answer Short Question. Additionally, the Personal Introduction is a non-scored task recorded for universities to get to know the candidate.

The PTE Academic is valid for 2 years, but some immigration programs, like Australian PR, may accept scores up to 3 years old if they were valid when you received your visa invitation.

On your PTE Academic test day, bring a valid, original, unexpired ID, preferably your passport. Some centers may accept other government IDs, so check the official website for alternatives.

A single PTE exam can be rescheduled as many as 6 times. After a single PTE exam has been rescheduled 6 times, the option of recheduling the exam will itself disappear from the test taker's dashboard.

To reschedule the PTE test, the test takers need to visit their My PTE account at least 14 days before appearing for the test and click on the "reschedule" button appearing below their PTE exam slot. Candidates will not be charged any rescheduling fee if they choose to reschedule their PTE exam successfully 14 days before the day of exam.     

Note that if you fail to apply for rescheduling of your PTE test at least 14 days ahead of your exam, you will have no option of rescheduling the test. In that case, candidates will have to "cancel" their PTE test and rebook it.  

If you are unable to attend your scheduled PTE exam because of an unforeseen circumstance, it is advisable to cancel it at your the earliest convenience. The PTE exam cancellation fee varies based on the number of days left for your PTE exam. The costs of cancelling your PTE exam slot, based on the days left for your exam are given below.

Candidates who plan to reschedule the test, with less than 14 calendar days, but at least 8 full calendar days before their test date will be required to pay 50% of the test fee. No refunds will be provided on rescheduling the exam less than 7 calendar days before the exam. Candidates should note that the rescheduling policy does not include your test date.

Currently, there is no late registration fee for the PTE exam. Candidates can book up to 24 hours in advance of their chosen exam slot without having to pay any extra fee. The PTE exam fee in India is INR 18,000 in 2025. 

Your PTE exam preparation depends upon how consistently you prepare for it. You need to practice daily to polish your English language skills, read articles, and immersive yourself thoroughly into the language to get a better preparation outcome before your exam.

Your total exam preparation time also depends upon your previous knowledge of the language and how good are your basics in English. Remember, good basics are the key to solving any English exam question. 

Candidates are advised to prepare for the PTE Academic exam before booking their test slot. Hence, candidates who have appeared for their PTE Academic exam before or who are well prepared for the exam can use the one month for revision and appear for the test. Others would definitely need a more substantial amount of time to be well-versed in the exam.

Log into your myPTE account on the Pearson PTE site to check your exam date and confirmation email. You can also view available slots on the website's calendar when scheduling a new test.

The choice of ID to be carried to the exam centre on the day of the PTE exam depends on the type of the PTE exam chosen and the place of taking the test.

For a PTE Academic test, if a person is taking the test from outside of his country of citizenship then, he/she will be required to present a valid passport on arriving to the test centre. Only a physical form of the passport is the accepted form of ID across all PTE test centres. 

However, if a person is taking the test within the country of their citizenship, they may carry:

• A national ID card 
• A military identification card
• A government-issued driver's license (including a photo)

Note that any form of the ID to be carried must be in its physical form and no digital ID will be accepted. 

Your overall score is calculated based on your individual scores in each of the four skill sections (Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening). Each section is weighted equally, and your final score reflects your balanced English proficiency across all communication areas.

Yes. A 75 PTE score falls under the 'Very Good' category. A PTE 75 score is equivalent to IELTS 7.5 - 8.0 band score. However, candidates should note that the real determining factor is their preferred university PTE score requirements. If they are eligible to apply with their PTE scores, good or else they can always re-take the test.

Your results are typically available within 2 business days of your test date, significantly faster than other English proficiency exams. This quick turnaround makes PTE ideal for applications with tight deadlines.

As per students who have taken the PTE exam, the Summarize Spoken Text, Write from Dictation, Highlight Incorrect Words, Re-order Paragraphs, Reading Fill in the Blanks, Repeat Sentence, and Essay Writing are frequently cited as challenging due to their integrated skills testing and time constraints. However, individual strengths and weaknesses determine which task is perceived as the most difficult.

Yes, it is mandatory to bring your passport on the exam day as it is the only form of identification document that will be accepted by the authorities. 

Note that the personal details on your passport should match the ones that you have entered in your application during PTE exam registration. 

If you forget to bring your passport (or an alternate ID that has been discussed previously with your exam centre's authorities) or the details on your passport don't match the details on your application, you will not be allowed to take the exam and hence, your PTE exam fees may also not be refunded.  

Generally, the PTE scores remain valid only for 2 years. However, only in the case of Australian PR, the scores may remain valid for 3 years. Candidates are advised to check the conditions before applying. 

If you have forgotten your My PTE account's password and username then, you can retrieve the same using the online platform.

To retrieve your username, you need to connect with the PTE Customer Support Team through the online platform. The support team may ask you a set of few security questions, make sure you answer them correctly.  

Once you get your username, you can go to the My PTE login dashboard, enter your username and then click on "forgot password". From there on, you will get complete guidance on how you can get a new password. 

Candidates planning to take the PTE exam do not need to present any proof of ID at the time of PTE registration process. However, it is advised that you fill in exactly the same information as is there on your valid ID proof or passport. 

On the day of the exam, there will be an ID verification process before the exam, where the candidate must show their ID (valid Indian passport) to the authorities. It is important to note that if there is any discrepancy or if the candidate does not bring their passport on the day of the exam, it may prevent them from appearing for their PTE Academic exam. PTE test takers can expect to receive their PTE scorecard within two working days after taking the test. 

No. Candidates should note that the exam has been designed to test the candidates’ English proficiency levels. Hence, a candidate who is well prepared would qualify for the PTE Academic exam with flying colours.

To study in the UK, the minimum CEFR level required for acquiring a General Study Visa (formerly the Tier 4 visa) is B1; which is equivalent to a PTE score 43 or higher in each section. However, some universities require a higher level of profeciency, i.e. CEFR B2 level which corresponds to a PTE score of 59 or higher in each section of the exam.  

Yes, PTE is accepted in Canada. There are more than 70 universities in Canada that accept the PTE scores for international admissions. PTE exam can also help you to fast-track your university and visa applications. The PTE Core exam is also accepted by the Canadian government for visa and immigration purposes.

Students can pay the PTE exam booking fees either by using a debit card (only Visa® or Master Card®) or credit card (JCB®, Visa®, Master Card® or American Express®). Payment can also be made using a acrd registered on some other name, for example - from a parent's credit card. Payments through PayPal are not accepted. 

Yes, you can book the PTE test before 2 days of taking the exam. Not only that, the PTE exam can be booked as late as 24 hours before the chosen exam slot.  

There is no such thing as a bad PTE Academic score. Every university would have its own PTE Academic score cut-off and students are required to achieve scores equal or higher than the set grade. Candidates should note that higher PTE Academic scores would automatically increase their chances of securing a seat at the university and also make them a front runner for any scholarships being offered by the university.

The PTE Academic test scores, usually accepted for studying abroad, are accepted by several top universities in over 70 countries. The PTE Academic Test is accepted by universities in several countries, such as the countries in Australasia, Europe, teh USA, Africa, Asia and the Middle-East. 

European countries that accept the PTE Academic scores are:

Countries in the Middle East that accept the PTE scores are:

Yes, the PTE Academic score is recognised for visa applications in various countries, including:

• Australia: The Australian Department of Home Affairs accepts PTE scores on par with other tests like IELTS and TOEFL for most visa categories, including skilled migration, student visas, and partner visas. 
  
• New Zealand: New Zealand's Immigration department accepts PTE scores for various visa applications, such as the skilled migrant visas, student visas, and work visas.
  

No, 65 marks on the PTE test are not easy to crack. Even though a score of 65 on the PTE exam is achievable, it requires a lot of practice and dedication for the subject. Students need to have a strong grasp of the English grammar, vocabulary and fluency across all sections of the test. 

The highest achievable overall score in the PTE Academic exam is 90. The scoring scale ranges from 10 to 90, with 90 representing expert English proficiency.

The Pearson PTE courses are training and preparation courses that help the test takers improve their proficiency in the English language in order to score well on the PTE exam. Tailored according to the pattern and format of the PTE exam, the PTE courses help to enhance the Reading, Listening, and Speaking & Writing skills of the test takers. 

Whether through self-study or with the help of extra classes, candidates are always advised to give in their best during the examination. Referring to official PTE Study Material, solving multiple PTE Practice Papers and revising the PTE Syllabus is a good start.

 
The PTE Academic Listening section contains 8 types of exercises: Summarise spoken text, Multiple-choice, multiple answers, Fill in the blanks, Highlight correct summary, Multiple choice, single answer, Select missing word, Highlight incorrect words, and Write from dictation. In total, there are approximately 18-22 tasks in PTE Listening.

The reading passages vary in difficulty but generally reflect academic and factual texts you might encounter in university settings. The vocabulary level is challenging but manageable with good reading comprehension skills and a strong foundation in academic English.

You can check the Pearson PTE Academic Practice Test Plus - Volume 1 and 2 books to access the PTE sample papers. These books include 4 complete practice tests with authentic questions, each of which comes with a tip to answer that question. The books also come with a CD in which you can listen to the audio recordings of specific tasks. 

To go beyond the conventional practice methods, you can find the Scored Practice Tests offered by Pearson. These tests simulate the real PTE test and your responses are scored by the similar AI algorithm as is used in exam.