The PTE Academic exam is a computer-based English test accepted for study and immigration abroad. It tests your speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills in a single three-hour session. This page breaks down the exact structure — section by section — so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
PTE Academic Exam Structure Overview
The test is divided into three main parts: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening. The total test time is approximately 2 hours 15 minutes (excluding optional breaks). There is no separate scoring for each section; instead, you receive an overall score (10–90) and individual skill scores.
| Section | Time | Number of Questions | |---------|------|--------------------| | Speaking & Writing | 54–67 minutes | 7–8 question types | | Reading | 29–30 minutes | 5–6 question types | | Listening | 30–43 minutes | 6–8 question types |
Total test time: 2 hours 15 minutes (no break). However, some test centres may offer a short optional break between sections — check with your centre.
Speaking & Writing Section (54–67 minutes)
This section tests your ability to speak and write in English. It includes:
- Personal Introduction (not scored) – 1 minute
- Read Aloud – 6–7 items
- Repeat Sentence – 10–12 items
- Describe Image – 6–7 items
- Re-tell Lecture – 3–4 items
- Answer Short Question – 10–12 items
- Summarize Written Text – 1–2 items
- Essay – 1–2 items (20 minutes each)
Marking: Speaking tasks are scored on content, pronunciation, and oral fluency. Writing tasks are scored on content, form, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling. Partial credit is given for partially correct answers.
Take a free PTE Academic demo mock to find out where you stand: Try the demo →
Reading Section (29–30 minutes)
This section tests your ability to read and understand academic texts. It includes:
- Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Writing) – 5–6 items
- Multiple Choice (Single Answer) – 1–2 items
- Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers) – 1–2 items
- Re-order Paragraphs – 2–3 items
- Fill in the Blanks (Reading) – 4–5 items
Marking: Each correct answer earns points. For multiple-choice questions with multiple answers, you lose points for incorrect selections (negative marking). Partial credit is available for some question types.
Listening Section (30–43 minutes)
This section tests your ability to understand spoken English. It includes:
- Summarize Spoken Text – 2–3 items
- Multiple Choice (Single Answer) – 1–2 items
- Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers) – 1–2 items
- Fill in the Blanks – 2–3 items
- Highlight Correct Summary – 1–2 items
- Select Missing Word – 1–2 items
- Highlight Incorrect Words – 1–2 items
- Write from Dictation – 3–4 items
Marking: Similar to reading — correct answers score points, with negative marking for some multiple-choice questions. Write from Dictation is scored on exact word matching (partial credit for partial matches).
Marking Scheme & Scores
PTE Academic uses an automated scoring system (AI) that evaluates your responses against a set of criteria. There is no human examiner. Scores are reported on a scale of 10–90 for each skill (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) and an Overall Score (average of all skills).
- Correct/incorrect: Some questions (e.g., Fill in the Blanks) are scored as correct or incorrect.
- Partial credit: Many questions (e.g., Write from Dictation, Summarize Spoken Text) award partial credit for partially correct answers.
- Negative marking: Only applies to multiple-choice questions with multiple correct answers — you lose points for selecting wrong options.
No pass/fail: PTE Academic does not have a pass or fail. Institutions set their own minimum score requirements. For example, Australian universities often require an overall score of 50–65, while UKVI visas may require 59–76 depending on the visa category. Always check the specific requirements of your target institution or immigration authority.
See PTE Academic mock-test packs and pricing: View plans →
How to Prepare
- Understand the format: Familiarise yourself with each question type. The official PTE website has a free scored practice test.
- Practice with mock tests: Simulate the real exam under timed conditions. LanguageTest.in offers full-length mock tests with AI scoring.
- Focus on weak areas: Use the score report to identify sections where you need improvement.
- Time management: Each section is timed. Practice completing questions within the time limit.
Where to next?
- Take a free PTE Academic demo mock to assess your current level.
- View PTE Academic mock-test plans to access full-length practice tests.
- Read our PTE Academic preparation guide for detailed tips on each question type.