For good PTE scores, a strategy to cover most of the question types in your preparation time. PTE preparation can be started by practising question types like Read Aloud, Summarise Written Text, Fill in the Blanks, and Summarise Spoken Text regularly. Therefore, before taking the test-
- Get familiarised with the PTE Academic exam format,
- Decide your target score and date on which you want to take the test to create a study plan,
Use official Pearson study material and reliable online resources only - such as online practice tests and YouTube tutorials.
The PTE Exam Pattern has been revised on 07 Aug 2025, and the PTE prep material went through a change too. The official PTE Scored Practice Tests that are now scored by the same AI scoring engine as the PTE test which gives you nearly the same experience as the real PTE test and you may get an actual picture of how ready are you for taking the test.
The 3 second rule is a crucial aspect of the Speaking section in the PTE exam. As per the 3-second rule in the PTE exam, you must start speaking into the microphone within 3 seconds when it starts recording. Failure to do so will lead the microphone to stop recording and your question will be automatically skipped. The 3 seconds rule in PTE applies to tasks like:
Read Aloud
Repeat Sentence
Describe Image
Re-tell Lecture
Answer Short Question
Therefore, start speaking within 3 seconds when the icon of the microphone turns to "recording". If you remain silent for more than 3 seconds, the recorder stops recording.
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:
Speaking & Writing (Part 1): 54–67 minutes
Reading (Part 2): 30 minutes
- Listening (Part 3): 30 minutes
Scoring an absolute score of 90 on the PTE test may be difficult but not impossible. Test takers need to stay persistent with their practice of the PTE sample test papers.
Candidates are also often encouraged to visit and revisit their PTE Academic syllabus and understand the PTE exam pattern thoroughly to leave minimal room for difficulty in understanding the question types in the main PTE exam. A prior knowledge of the exam pattern and the question types will help you perform faster in the exam, so that you will be able to give sufficient time to the questions that require critical thinking.
Below are a few points you must follow to ace your preparation for the PTE exam.
- Solve as many sample and mock test papers as possible
- Speak and record your speech, and then listen to it to learn about the key areas where you need improvement.
- Prepare for a self-introduction.
- Some sections of the PTE exam may require you to take notes. Hence, practice making notes under timed conditions.
- Get help from a teacher/trainer/coach.
- Top 7 PTE Exam Preparation Tips 2025
- PTE Preparation Material (section-wise)
- PTE Exam Preparation - by Question Type
- PTE Preparation Online
- Best Books for PTE Exam Preparation 2025
- PTE Preparation FAQs
Top 7 PTE Exam Preparation Tips 2025
To prepare well for the PTE Academic exam, it is advised that you focus on understanding its test format, and practice all question types.
Nowadays, newer methods of PTE preparation are gaining popularity, like PTE preparation online and the Free Official Practice App launched by PTE for the benefit of students looking to take the PTE exam. This article has been solely dedicated to providing the best PTE preparation material for our test takers. Read on as we divulge in detail about PTE exam preparation 2025, PTE preparation online, PTE preparation material, PTE practice test and PTE exam preparation at home, among other important topics revolving around PTE preparation.
A lot of times PTE test takers are often confused about the right direction of their PTE preparation plan to garner maximum outcome. Fear no more. We have come up with a personalized top PTE exam preparation guide for candidates looking to ace their PTE test. Check out the top 7 PTE exam preparation tools provided below:
- It is important for PTE test-takers to know about their target score. This way they would be aware of their current English proficiency skills and also the amount of hard work ( PTE preparation) they would need to put in to get the desired PTE score.
- Familiarising yourself with the PTE exam pattern will help you understand the instructions, length and time allocation to each section, layout and the type of questions you would get as part of your PTE exam.
- If it is important to understand the PTE exam pattern it is also important to understand how your PTE test is scored. Candidates should note that the PTE Academic exam is scored by both AI and human experts. While most answers are based on whether they are correct, others are judged upon formal aspects and the quality of the response.
- It is very important to source your PTE preparation material from reliable sources only. Candidates can visit the official PTE website and make use of their PTE preparation material.
- PTE Academic Question Bank - $19.99
- Official Guide - $39.99
- It is very important for candidates to Practice, Practice, Practice. Practising PTE Sample Papers in the real exam setting will only prepare the candidate for the test day. Solving PTE mock tests and PTE practice tests will also act as a self-progress indicator and expose areas that need attention via the test.
Commonly asked questions
Candidates should understand that both the PTE Academic and IELTS share a common purpose of testing your English language . Hence, both the exams test your reading, writing speaking, and listening skills though they are differently designed. Candidates who are well prepared for the exam would not find any of the tests difficult to score.
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 PTE Academic exam comprises three sections:
- Speaking and Writing: 54–67 minutes
- Reading: 29–30 minutes
- Listening: 30–43 minutes
Hence, the Speaking & Writing section of the PTE exam is the longest.
PTE Preparation Material (section-wise)
PTE Exam Preparation 2025: When given full attention and concentration, each section can be mastered in a few days, as the test checks your regular communication skills in the English language. You may always get help from the online videos and tutorials spread across the internet and also refer to practice papers for better preparation. Each section has its relevance to language fluency. Hence, all the sections need to be prepared separately. Check out the tips and tricks for you to practice each category below.
Top PTE Academic Preparation - by Section
- Know your target score
- Know the PTE exam pattern
- Understand how the PTE exam is scored
- Study from official preparation material
- Practice, practice, practice
How to prepare for PTE Academic: Writing Section
In this section, you need to write according to the questions and your written answers are evaluated. The writing module of the PTE Academic is divided into two sections, and we will provide tips for each of those sub-sections.
- Getting a perfect score of 90 out of 90 in the PTE exam is possible with strong vocabulary and grammar. If you have an average vocabulary and grammar, you cannot score 90 on your exam.
- Try writing your answers between 35 to 45 words. Avoid very long sentences, as the scoring algorithms may not be able to evaluate long sentences with great accuracy.
- Pay attention to punctuation.
- Capitalise all the starting words and nouns in a sentence.
- Don’t provide any examples, unless asked for.
- Write the summary in the third person form. Hence, avoid the usage of I, Me, and We.
- Concentrate on the last paragraph as it generally contains the summary of the text.
Read: How to Write an Essay in PTE?
PTE Academic Preparation: Listening Section
Here are some tips for questions in the listening section of the PTE Academic exam-
- Raise your tone at the beginning and lower it towards the end. This will make you sound more authentic.
- If you realise you made a mistake, continue speaking and don't stop.
- Practice with different tongue twisters every day from day 1 until the exam day.
- Listen with closed eyes and memorise the sentence.
- There is no beep sound at the end of the recording, so start speaking after the clip ends.
- If you cannot remember the whole sentences, at least focus on the keywords and repeat those.
PTE Test Preparation: Reading Section
For the reading section of the PTE Academic, the trick is to have fluency in reading, focus, and understanding. You will be using these skills at once when attempting the exam, but while practising you will have to learn them step-wise.
- Understand the main message of the passage and focus on keywords to find the correct answer.
- Focus on the frequency words (for example - always, sometimes, many, all, often, never, only) eliminate those options and maybe you will find the correct answer.
- Since there is no negative marking for this question, answer the question and don’t leave it blank.
- Make use of the rule of elimination. Narrow down your options as much as possible.
- Read the question before you read the text to understand what kind of information to look for.
- Remember the information in the passage as the questions will not be asked in chronological order and you will find the answer anywhere in the passage.
- Learn to paraphrase, which means conveying the meaning using different words.
Length and Duration of PTE Test (section-wise)
| Section |
Time |
|---|---|
| Reading |
29 - 30 minutes |
| Listening |
30 - 43 minutes |
| Speaking and Writing |
54 - 67 minutes |
Commonly asked questions
Absolutely. Candidates wanting to appear for their PTE Academic test on their own can achieve qualifying scores or higher by simply being devoted to their cause to the end and taking information from verified sources such as the official PTE website or our preparatory guide.
The best books to prepare for the PTE exam are given here below:
- The Official Guide to PTE Academic: This book is a guide to understand the pattern, format question types, scoring and other aspects of the PTE exam.
- PTE Academic Practice Test Plus (Volume 1 and 2): The practice tests in these books closely simulate the PTE exam. The book presents the pictorial representations of the questions as they are asked in real time on the exam day.
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.
PTE Exam Preparation - by Question Type
The PTE Academic Exam is made up of 20 different question types that are spread across three sections, Speaking & Writing Section, Reading Section and Listening Section. Provided below is a detailed summary of what your strategy should be when attempting each question type of the PTE exam.
PTE Exam 2025 Preparation Tips - Speaking & Writing Section
| Question Type | Communicative Skills | PTE Exam 2025 Preparation Strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Read aloud | Reading and speaking | Attempt unknown words |
| Repeat Sentence | Listening & Speaking | Do not go back to correct yourself or hesitate |
| Describe image | Speaking | Describe the general content of the image, then summarize the most significant points, referring to details for support |
| Re-tell lecture | Listening and speaking | Pay attention to the lecture and take notes |
| Answer short question | Listening and speaking | Respond with a single word or short phrase |
| Summarize written text | Reading and writing | Check the content and length of the summary |
| Write essay | Writing | Plan, draft, check and finalize |
PTE Exam 2025 Preparation Tips - Reading Section
| Question Type | Communicative Skills | PTE Exam 2025 Preparation Strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-choice, choose single answer | Reading | While reading do not focus too much on unfamiliar words |
| Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers | Reading | Check the responses if you are not sure |
| Re-order paragraphs | Reading | It is better to attempt an item than to leave any text boxes unordered |
| Reading: Fill in the blanks | Reading | Fill in the blanks one by one |
| Reading and writing: Fill in the blanks | Reading and writing | Use language clues as well as word knowledge to fill in the blanks |
PTE Exam 2025 Preparation Tips - Listening Section
| Question Type | Communicative Skills | PTE Exam 2025 Preparation Strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Summarize spoken text | Listening and writing | Summarize the lecture in your own words |
| Multiple–choice, choose multiple answers | Listening | Continue listening until the end of the recording |
| Fill in the blanks | Listening and writing | Do not stop to re-read what you have typed until the recording has finished |
| Highlight correct summary | Listening | Continue listening until the end of the recording |
| Select missing word | Listening | Focus on the general content of the recording |
| Highlight incorrect words | Listening and reading | Move the cursor along the text while listening and be ready to click on any word that doesn’t match |
| Write from dictation | Listening and writing | Write the sentence immediately and after finishing correct any mistakes |
Commonly asked questions
Candidates are advised to appear for the PTE Academic exam after having prepared well for the exam. Candidates are advised to refer to online/offline study material available on the official PTE website and also go through our preparatory guide.
Preparing for your PTE exam from the comfort of your home is completely possible and effective and you may not need to attend coaching classes if you use the right preparation materials and strategies. Here are some key points or strategies that you may adapt to for preparing for the PTE exam at your home:
- Understand the PTE exam pattern thoroughly. Learn about the task types and which types of questions are asked in each part of the PTE exam. This will help you when you will be sitting the main exam as you may not need to go through the questions' intructions and that may save you some extra time to analyse your main task.
- Once you understand the PTE exam format, gather the right books and preparation materials.
- Set a daly routine and make a realistic weekly target.
- Assess yourself regularly - this can be weekly and monthly, based on when you are planning to take the exam.
An automated scoring system assesses your performance in each section, assigning scores from 10 to 90 for Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening. Your overall English proficiency is the average of these scores, ensuring an unbiased evaluation.
PTE Preparation Online
PTE exam preparation online: Irrespective of your preferred university and course, candidates would be required to prove their English Language proficiency by appearing for an English test. PTE Academic is an English language test that is accepted by thousands of schools across the globe. Today there is so much happening in the online domain. Here we are going to talk about the PTE preparation material available online for the benefit of our test takers.
Candidates are advised to visit the official website of PTE-A, Pearson PLC Group. For the benefit of PTE test-takers, the official website has a number of PTE preparation materials online for free. Candidates can also buy PTE preparation material or rent online PTE preparation material for their use. Candidates are highly advised to use the official website as they would have the latest PTE syllabus updated on the website.
For the benefit of our readers, we also have a very dedicated PTE sample papers section for candidates to view the latest PTE exam preparation material online. Here, the PTE study material available is online and the PTE questions have been sourced from the most reliable sources and are in tune with the current PTE Syllabus and PTE exam pattern.
Commonly asked questions
To study for the PTE exam for free, you can make use of the numerous free resources online, which include following the YouTube channels that provide free lessons for the PTE exam, and you can also download some books and notes online for free. However, many platforms also provide access to free practice tests, and mock tests. You can also go through the official PTE preparation materials and focus on understanding the PTE test format to get your desired score.
Pearson provides courses for its PTE Academic exam via two expert English language education providers, namely - Macquarie University and E2Language.
The cost of courses offered by E2Language is distributed across 5 different packages. Here are the details of each of these packages:
- Express: Priced at $44.25 USD, provides full course with lessons, live classes and practice activities.
- Express+: Priced at $59.25 USD, provides a teacher-graded mock test along with what is provided in the Express package.
- Bronze: Priced at $119.25 USD, helps to improve your Speaking and Writing skills to boost your scores with the help of assessments and a tutorial.
- Silver: Priced at $179.25 USD, the packages comes with even more tutorials and assessments.
- Gold: This premium package priced at $254.25 USD guarantees to help you achieve your target score.
The cost of Pearson PTE Academic course offered by the Macquarie University is ?6,500 for one year, unlimited subscription.
The fee for PTE Academic coaching would depend on your location. You can always refer to the official PTE website for the latest online/offline preparatory material.
Best Books for PTE Exam Preparation 2025
PTE preparation books: The following best books for PTE and course material have been authenticated by Pearson PTE Academic for students wanting to prepare for their PTE Exam. These are available in India through leading e-commerce portals like Amazon.
Best Book for PTE: The Official Guide to PTE Academic by Pearson PTE Academic
The Official Guide to PTE Academic provides comprehensive information about the test, over 200 practice tasks on CD-ROM, analysis of sample answers, test-taking tips, and more. The first and only official guide for PTE Academic written by the developers of the test itself, the book includes everything you need to know about the test.
Book Highlights
- Understand how to register and what to expect in the exam
- Learn how to do each task
- Practice with authentic test questions and 200 additional questions in the CD
- Assess your performance with samples and model answers
PTE Exam Day Tips
Candidates looking to appear for the PTE Academic Exam can go through the PTE Exam Day tips mentioned below.
- There should be no question of missing breakfast. A moderately heavy breakfast would fuel you for a longer period of time on PTE exam day. Candidates are recommended to carry a light snack or a fruit with them to satisfy that untamed hunger pang.
- Candidates are advised to wear loose clothes that would get them through all temperatures. It is very important for the candidate to feel comfortable while taking the exam.
- Candidates are required to reach 30 mins before the reporting time at the PTE Academic Test centre as this would enable them to reach on time and avoid any last-minute hassle.
- Once at the PTE Test Centre, candidates would be required to show their identification proof, which should be a valid passport to proceed further. For security reasons, the candidate would have his/her photograph taken and biometrics scanned at the time of verification of ID for official use only.
- Candidates would be provided with a locker facility for the safekeeping of the belongings that they bring to the PTE Test Centre. These could include their electronics, such as a watch or their mobile phone, snacks, and their bag if they have any on them.
Related Reads:
It is certain that you would want to conduct research at your end on utilizing the exam score for studying abroad. However, it is recommended that you consult industry experts for better guidance. They can help you from scratch with the application process to study abroad till receiving admission from your dream university.
Commonly asked questions
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.
Test takers are advised to get a good night's sleep before the exam and to eat a healthy breakfast. It is recommended to arrive at the test centre 30 min before the exam time to adjust to the surroundings and reduce any nervousness.
The top 10 best books for PTE exam are listed below:
- Official Guide to PTE Academic by Pearson PTE Academic
- Aspire C1 Practice Tests with Key
- PTE Practice Test Plus with Key, Vol 1 and 2
- Expert PTE Academic Coursebook B1 & B2
- PTE Academic Question Bank
- PTE Academic Preparation Book
- PTE Academic Vocabulary Practice Book with Exercises and Answers
- PTE Academic Official Preparation App (bonus)
- Pearson Test of English Academic Practice Tests Plus
PTE Preparation FAQs
Check out the PTE Exam Preparation FAQs below.
Commonly asked questions
Ideally, you must spend at least 2-3 hours daily on studying for the PTE exam for a period of 2-3 months. It is recommended that use only the official preparation materials materials such as books, sample papers, taster test and mock tests. By the medium of taking the mock tests, you can get to know about the areas for improvement and work on them in due time.
The listening section in the PTE exam involves listening to a recording and then answering a few questions based on what you heard on that recording. You can listen to the recording only once. So, here are a few tips that can help you perform well on the listening section of the PTE exam-
- Take notes while listening to the recording.
- You can take notes either on the erasable notebook provided or in the response box of your screen.
- Make notes in very short lines or phrases, as writing complete sentences will lead you to miss other important information in the recording.
- Write down key elements in the recording and their relations with each other.
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.
Yes, the questions in the PTE exam may repeat. This is entirely upon the discretion of Pearson PLC Group – the conducting body of the PTE Academic exam.
Candidates are advised to refer to PTE Academic Practice Papers available on the official PTE Academic website. Candidates are highly advised to only take information from trusted sources such as the official PTE Academic website and our preparatory guide.
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