PTE Exam Pattern 2024: Candidates who wish to study abroad will have their speaking and writing (54–67 minutes), reading (29–30 minutes), and listening (30–43 minutes) skills assessed by way of 20 distinct question types in the PTE exam format. The Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) evaluates candidates’ Writing, Reading, Speaking, and Listening abilities to ensure that they have a solid command of the English language. Students can reassure the admissions committee and visa officers that they are capable of comprehending the widely recognized official language while studying abroad by doing well on this exam.
PTE Exam Pattern 2024
A good PTE test score also ensures that candidates will be able to present their ideas, give presentations, strive to gain international exposure and perform on the international front before foreign audiences. This helps candidates ensure that they are prepared to study among international students and teachers around the world in a universal official language. In this section, we will talk about the latest PTE 2024 format for candidates who want to take the test.
PTE Pattern – Overall Exam
| PTE Format | Details |
| PTE Exam Pattern | An English language exam has been developed to test the Speaking & Writing Skills (54 – 67 minutes), Reading skills (29 – 30 minutes), and Listening skills (30 – 43 minutes) of candidates wanting to study abroad in an English-speaking country. |
| PTE Duration | 2 hours and a Single test session |
| Medium | Computer-based with headset |
| Mode | Taken in a test centre / Home Edition |
| Test Type | Assesses real-life English |
| Test Layout | 20 question types |
Pte Pattern – By Sections
Refer to the segment-wise description boxes provided with each section for a detailed explanation of the PTE Exam Pattern 2024:
Speaking and Writing PTE Exam Pattern Of 54 – 67 minutes
As the name implies, this section assesses the candidates’ two major communication skills: spoken and written. This section consists of six small sections that test your promptness in speaking and writing the written test, which you will read for the first time. This section consists of six small sections that test your promptness in speaking and writing the written test, which you will read for the first time. The entire section has a time limit of 54 – 67 minutes, and the time allotted to each segment is as follows:
| PTE Speaking and Writing Section Question Topics | PTE Questions per task ( as of November 16, 2021) | Duration per task |
| Personal introduction | 1 | 55 seconds includes 25 seconds for prompt, 30 seconds to record |
| Read Aloud | 6 – 7 | 30 to 40 seconds to prepare for reading of the text of 60 words |
| Repeat sentence | 10 to 12 | 15 seconds includes 3 to 9 seconds for prompt and 15 seconds to record |
| Describe image | 3 – 4 | 25 seconds are allowed to study the image and to prepare your response on the same |
| Retell lecture | 1 – 2 | 90 seconds for prompt length 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to answer |
| Answer short question | 5 – 6 | 20 seconds includes 3-9 seconds for prompt and 10 seconds to answer |
| Summarize written text | 1 – 2 | 10 minutes to answer the text with a prompt of around 300 words |
| Write Essay | 1 – 2 | 20 minutes to answer and for a text prompt of 2 to 3 sentences |
| Total Questions | 28 – 36 | Time Allocation includes 54 – 67 minutes |
Reading Section PTE Exam Pattern Of 29 – 30 mins
PTE Reading Format: This section tests candidates on their ability to understand written instructions in the language. The section is divided into 5 segments lasting from 29 to 30 minutes. Check out the segmentation model for temporal distribution in this section:
| PTE Reading Section Question Topics | PTE Questions per task (w.e.f November 16 and 2021) | Duration per task |
| Fill in the blanks in the reading & writing | 5 – 6 | Read 300 words of text |
| Multiple choice with multiple answers | 1 – 2 | Read 300 words of text |
| Reorder the paragraph | 2 – 3 | Read 150 words of text |
| Fill in the blanks –reading section | 4 – 5 | Read 80 words of text |
| Multiple-choice, single answer | 1 – 2 | Read 300 words of text |
| Total number of Questions | 13 – 18 | Time Allocation – 29 – 30 minutes |
Listening PTE Exam Pattern Of 30 – 43 minutes
PTE listening format: The PTE Academic listening section is 30-43 minutes long. This is intended to determine the candidate’s ability to understand English. Here, students must ensure that they listen carefully to the played audio file and remember what they have heard. This section is divided into 8 segments and the time spent in each segment is as follows.
| PTE Listening Section Question Topics | PTE Questions per task (w.e.f November 16 and 2021) | Duration per task |
| Summarize spoken text given | 1 – 2 | 60-90 seconds to retain 50-70 words and 10 minutes to write |
| Multiple choice with multiple answers | 1 – 2 | 40-90 seconds for prompt |
| Fill in the blanks available | 2 – 3 | 30-60 seconds |
| Highlight the correct summary from the options | 1 – 2 | 30-90 seconds |
| Multiple choice with a single answer | 1 – 2 | 30-60 seconds |
| Select missing word from the list | 1 – 2 | 20-70 seconds |
| Highlight the incorrect word to answer | 2 – 3 | 15-50 seconds |
| Write from Dictation | 3 – 4 | 3-5 seconds |
| Total number of Questions | 12 – 20 | Time Allocation: 30 – 43 minutes |
PTE Syllabus 2024
The PTE syllabus is divided into three sections: Speaking, writing & reading, and listening. These three sections are graded, and you also receive a PTE Academic total score.
PTE Registration 2024
Candidates who want to register for the PTE exam 2024 must follow the steps outlined below to successfully book their PTE exam slot. Candidates should be aware that to book their PTE Academic online, they must have a valid ID, such as an Indian passport. Candidates must even required to show a valid ID on exam day. Otherwise, you will be denied entry to the PTE Test Centre.
PTE Test at Home
PTE at Home testing, which allows test takers to take the PTE Academic Online Test from the comfort of their own homes, was introduced by Pearson PLC Group, the organization that administers the PTE exam. There are a few crucial considerations to make before you sign up for your online PTE at Home test, though, so don’t be hasty in scheduling your test.
PTE Exam Dates 2024
The PTE exam is offered all year round at specially designated test locations across the nation. The dates of the 2024 PTE exams may differ from centre to centre. Students need to visit the Pearson PTE Academic website to look for available seats. Just choose the testing locations nearest to you, then click the next button. You would be prompted to the calendar with the available dates by the website.
PTE Exam Preparation
PTE Test Preparation: Candidates who want to score well in the PTE academic test will need to follow a solid PTE test preparation plan to achieve a good PTE score. Read on as we reveal details about PTE test preparation 2024, online PTE test preparation, PTE test preparation materials and PTE test preparation at home, and other important topics related to PTE test preparation
Related Like other test preparation exercises, you can choose to study alone or join a PTE coaching center for PTE preparation. The decision is entirely up to you as you need to see if you have enough time and resources to do both or choose one or the other. New learning methods are becoming popular, such as online PTE test preparation. It includes both self-study and training methods. You join a virtual classroom and study from the comfort of your home. To choose the best PTE exam preparation method, you must first look at your criteria and decide accordingly. Candidates can also view sample PTE documents.
PTE Pattern – At a Glance
This is a glance at the PTE exam format that candidates would have to follow.
- The PTE exam is administered at a PTE test centre. PTE at Home has been launched.
- The PTE exam is a computerized test with a headset.
- The PTE test assesses real-life English language skills.
- Overall, the PTE exam pattern consists of 20 question types.
The PTE test is made of the following components:
- Question: Time to Read the Text Prompt: The time duration of each prompt varies according to the length of the text. The length is quantifiable in words or sentences. You need to be active in this part.
- Prepare for the answer: Time is granted to Relax and Think: You do not have to respond immediately to the question. You typically have 10 to 15 seconds to prepare for each segment. You should relax and think for a while about how to answer.
- Answer: Time for Action: This is the total amount of time you have available to perform. When you speak, your answers are recorded, saved as text when you write, and available as options for multiple-choice questions.
PTE Results and Score
PTE results are usually available online within two working days of the test date. The PTE academic results are available online. And can be accessed through your PTE Academic student account.
What is the validity of the PTE test scores?
Your PTE Academic exam scores are valid for two years.
How many times can I appear for the PTE Academic Exam?
Pearson does not limit the number of times a candidate can take the PTE Exam 2024. Candidates can take the exam with a 5-day gap. Candidates can take the PTE Academic exam as many times as they want.
FAQs
What is the PTE exam pattern?
The PTE (Pearson Test of English) exam consists of four main sections: Speaking & Writing, Reading, Listening, and Enabling Skills (Grammar, Oral Fluency, Pronunciation, Spelling, Vocabulary, and Written Discourse). The exam is computer-based and usually takes around 3 hours to complete.
How is the PTE exam scored?
The PTE exam is scored based on a scale of 10-90, with 10-point increments. Each section contributes to your overall score, and the final score is calculated by averaging the scores of all sections.
What is the duration of the PTE exam?
The PTE exam duration is approximately 3 hours, including breaks. However, the actual time can vary depending on the number of questions in each section.
Is there a negative marking in the PTE exam?
No, there is no negative marking in the PTE exam. You are not penalized for wrong answers, so it’s better to attempt all questions rather than leave them unanswered.
Gaurav Kandari is a seasoned study abroad consultant with over 5 years of experience, specializing in guiding students to the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. An avid traveler, he draws on his global adventures to enrich his consulting, providing invaluable insights to aspiring scholars.
