PTE Exam Eligibility 2025: Check Age Limit, Academic Criteria & Minimum Score

There is no passing marks for the PTE exam. According to the Pearson PLC Group, PTE test takers should aim to score a minimum of CEFR B2 level, which equals to a PTE Academic score range of 59-75. With that level of English proficiency, the students become eligible to apply for most of the universities abroad.

These scores imply that the student can follow academic-level instructions and participate in academic education both coursework and student life. This level of English is also considered eligible for professional registration, employment and applying for Australian skilled migration visas. 

Yes, one can get an Australian PR by the medium of taking the PTE Academic test. The PTE Academic test is accepted for kinds of visa applications in Australia and New Zealand. The minimum PTE score required for Australia PR is 65.

The exam conducting body, Pearson PLC Group, specified no specific educational qualifications to register for the PTE exam. The PTE exam is suitable for students, professionals, and migration applicants and open to all Indian applicants (above the age of 16).  

You can book a PTE test 6 months in advance. There is no extra fee to do that. However, you an reschedule your PTE test to another available test date, if required. The cost you pay for rescheduling the PTE test depends on how many days are left for your booked slot, here's an expansion of the same:

 Remember, you can reschedule a single test slot for a maximum of 6 times.  

Yes, Indian students are eligible to take the PTE exam wthin one's own country. To take the PTE exam in India, they are required to book a PTE exam slot by paying INR 18,000 exam fee. 

 
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.

Often useful in Speaking tasks and the tasks that you require you to enter your response by using the microphone, the 3 second rule in PTE states that you must start speaking within 3 seconds of hearing the prompt.

If the test taker delays more than 3 seconds in recording their task, then the recording will stop and be marked as complete within its due time whether you answered it completely or not. The test takers cannot re-attempt these tasks, hence, responses should be recorded carefully. 

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

Yes, PTE exams are accepted for PR in most countries, as:

• Canada: To get a PR in Canada, PTE Core is the only accepted form of the PTE exam. This exam is accepted since late 2023.
• Australia and New Zealand: For PR and all other visa types, including the student visa, PTE Academic is the accepted form of PTE exam. 
• UK: In the UK, PTE Academic UKVI is accepted for certain work and settlement (ILR) visa categories.

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

The PTE exam is a completely computerised English proficiency test that is separated into 3 different sections namely the Speaking and Writing, Reading, and Listening. The exam assesses the proficiency of non-native English speakers for the purpose of university admissions and visa applications. 

Here is the detailed pattern of the PTE exam:

The toughest section in the PTE Academic exam would depend on the candidates' expertise. Students are advised to a holistic approach towards preparing for the PTE Academic exam, concentrating both on tough as well as easy sections. However, as per some sources, the PTE Speaking and Writing is considered to be the most complex part of the test as it involves assessment of two skills. 

The total PTE Repeat Sentence questions that may be asked in the Speaking & Writing section of the test range from 10-12. The total time dedicated to PTE Repeat Sentence questions range from 3.5 to 4.2 minutes. Candidates must be attentive while listening to the recorded audio note as the same will not be replayed and repeat the sentence with the same stress, intonation, rate of speech and rhythm with the most important aspect of scoring being the repetition of exactly the same words or phrases in the correct sequence. 

The PTE exam syllabus is focused on the four key parameters of assessing the English language proficiency, i.e. Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening. The PTE exam syllabus is-

1. Speaking & Writing  
   
   • Personal Introduction- Involves a brief introduction of you.
   • Read Aloud- Read short passages given on the screen and get tested for pronunciation, fluency and intonation. 
   • Repeat Sentence- Repeat the sentence that you listened to in the recording.
   • Describe Image- You will be presented with an image on the screen, and that image may include a graph, data, or anything. You will then have to describe the image in detail in the given amount of time. 
   • Re-tell Lecture- Listen/watch a lecture and then re-tell it in your own words.
   • Answer Short Question- Answer a question that you listened to on the recording with a single or multiple words.  
   • Summarise Group Discussion (New)- This task requires you to listen to a recorded discussion between 3 people and then summarise the whole of the discussion in your own words. 
   • Respond to a Situation- Listen to and read the description of a situation and then answer a question based on this.
   • Summarise Written Text- On reading a given passage, you will be required to write a summary of it in 1 sentence.  
   • Essay- Write an essay of 200-300 words on a topic within the given amount of time. 
2. Reading 
   
   • Reading & Writing - (Dropdown): On the screen, you will be presented with a text containing several gaps. Select the right word for the gap from the dropdown list. 
   • Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers- After listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question by selecting multiple best choices on the content and tone of the text.
   • Re-order Paragraphs- Arrange randomly placed text in correct order on the screen. 
   • Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop)- There is a text with some gaps in it. You will have to fill the gaps with the correct words given in the box below. Simply drag and drop the word in the gap to fill it. 
   • Multiple Choice, Single Answer- after listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question by selecting only 1 response. 
3. Listening 
   
   • Summarise Spoken Text- You have to write a short 50-70-word summary after listening to a recording.
   • Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers- Upon listening to a recording, you have to choose multiple options based on the content and tone of the recording. 
   • Fill in the Blanks (Type in)- The transcript of a recording with a few gaps (blanks) is already given on the screen. You must fill the gaps with correct words/phrases after listening to the available material only once. 
   • Highlight Correct Summary- You will be given some summary paragraphs, and upon listening to the recording, you will have to select the summary paragraphs that best describe the recording. 
   • Multiple Choice, Single Answer- Select one single choice upon listening to a recording.
   • Select Missing Word- From the list of available options, you will have to select the words that correctly complete the recording upon listening to the recording.
   • Highlight Incorrect Word- You will be given the transcript of a recording on the screen, and as you listen to the recording, you will have to identify the words that don't match the recording.  
   • Write from Dictation- You will listen to a recorded sentence and then have to type it.

Scoring 70+ in PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic) means you're aiming for a high level of English proficiency — roughly equivalent to an IELTS 7.5–8 band. It's a great target for skilled migration, professional registration (e.g., nursing or teaching), and admission to top universities abroad. To score a 70 on the PTE exam, you need to prepare consistently for all sections of the PTE exam, i.e. Speaking & Writing, Raeding and Listening. 

Now, check out the following strategies to score 70 marks in your PTE exam.

1. Identify your current level of English proficiency by taking PTE mock tests. Identify your the weakest sections in the PTE exam and make a time table around it. 
2. Master the Speaking section as it has the highest scoring scope. 
3. Boost your writing skills. This may come handy while taking notes for certain tasks such as "Summarise Written Text" and "Write Essay". 

In all, you are recommended to take free mock tests oftenly to recognise if there are repeated mistakes in your answers. While analysing your score report from the PTE mock tests, stick the official scoring pattern and try framing your answers as per the requirement of your question.  

Candidates who have prepared well for their PTE Academic exam may be able to attempt the tasks with ease. However, due to its integrated skills testing, short durationa and completely computer-based format can feel a bit chalenging to some students.  

The PTE test dates are available all year round. However, a student can appear for the PTE exam for a maximum of 12 times within a period of 12 months.  

Yes, the English test scores are required to apply for an Australian student visa if you come from a non-English-speaking country. PTE Academic is widely accepted by the Department of Home Affairs in Australia for all types of study, work and immigration purposes. Hence, yes, the PTE scores are required for the Australian student visa.

Candidates should note that PTE Academic is an English proficiency test that would be required by your university as part of their admission requirements/procedure. The Australian Student Visa would be based on your admission letter. 

Yes. The PTE Academic exam is primarily an online exam. Candidates have to perform all the tasks on a computer screen present at the seat allocated to themduring the exam. Candidates have to speak into and listen from the headphone provided to them and perform all four reading, writing, speaking and listening tasks.  

Candidates should understand that there is no such thing as failing or passing the PTE Academic test. Your preferred university would require a certain PTE score and you will have to achieve that or higher to be considered for admission.

Funny you should ask. However, candidates should refrain from using any unfair means in any test leave along with PTE Academic exam. Using unfair means could lead to your test being cancelled and your registration money would be forfeited.