It’s time to prepare!
All test takers should prepare for PTE Academic, even if English is your first language.
Test takers who consider themselves to be fluent in English sometimes score less well in English tests than they could have, because lack of preparation affects their performance on the day.
Complete the preparation path to give yourself the best chance of performing well on the day!
Part 1: Speaking & Writing(77 – 93 minutes)
Part 1: Speaking & Writing (77 – 93 minutes)
- Personal introduction
- Read aloud
- Repeat sentence
- Describe image
- Re-tell lecture
- Answer short question
- Summarize written text
- Essay (20 mins)
Part 2: Reading (32 – 40 minutes)
Part 2: Reading (32 – 40 minutes)
- Reading & writing: Fill in the blanks
- Multiple choice, choose multiple answers
- Re-order paragraphs
- Reading: Fill in the blanks
- Multiple choice, choose single answer
Part 3: Listening (45 – 57 minutes)
Part 3: Listening (45 – 57 minutes)
- Summarize spoken text
- Multiple choice, choose multiple answer
- Fill in the blanks
- Highlight correct summary
- Multiple choice, choose single answer
- Select missing word
- Highlight incorrect words
- Write from dictation
Listening: 3.1 Summarize spoken text
Task
After listening to a recording, write a 50-70 word summary.
Skills assessed
Listening and writing
Prompt length
60-90 seconds
For this item type you hear an audio recording and need to write a 50-70 word summary on what you heard.
You have 10 minutes to write your summary.
The audio begins to play automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
The Word Count at the bottom of the screen counts the number of words you write. Make sure to write a minimum of 50 words, but no more than 70 words.
There are also cut, copy and paste buttons which you may choose to use while constructing your summary.
Cut: Select text from your answer that you wish to remove and left-click “Cut”.
Copy: Select text from your answer that you wish to copy and left-click “Copy”.
Paste: Place the cursor where you wish to paste the cut/copied text and left-click “Paste”.
Listening: 3.2 Multiple choice, multiple answer
Task
After listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the recording by selecting more than one response.
Skills assessed
Listening
Prompt length
40-90 seconds
For this item type you need to listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question. There is more than one correct response.
The audio begins to play automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
You need to select all the response options that you think are correct from the list of possible options.
To select an option click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it.
The options you select are highlighted in yellow.
Listening & Writing: 3.3 Fill in the blanks
Task
A transcript of a recording appears on screen with several gaps. After listening to the recording, type the missing word in each gap.
Skills assessed
Listening and writing
Prompt length
30-60 seconds
For this item type you are presented with a transcript of the audio recording, however, some words are missing. Restore the transcript by typing in the missing words.
The audio plays automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
Left-click on each gap and type in the missing word. You can also use the Tab button on the keyboard to move between gaps.
Note: While the audio is playing, you can take notes on the erasable noteboard provided and then fill in the gaps.
Listening: 3.4 Highlight correct summary
Task
After listening to a recording, select the paragraph that best summarizes the recording.
Skills assessed
Listening and reading
Prompt length
30-90 seconds
Listening: 3.5 Multiple choice, single answer
Task
After listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the recording by selecting one response.
Skills assessed
Listening
Prompt length
30-60 seconds
For this item type you need to listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question.
The audio begins to play automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
There are several possible response options but only one is correct.
To select an option click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it, or left-click on a different option.
The option you select is highlighted in yellow.
Listening: 3.6 Select missing word
Task
After listening to a recording, select the missing word that completes the recording from a list of options.
Skills assessed
Listening
Prompt length
20-70 seconds
For this item type the last word or group of words in the recording has been replaced by a beep. Select the most appropriate option to complete the recording.
The audio begins to play automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
There are several possible response options but only one is correct.
To select an option click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it, or left-click on a different option.
The option you select is highlighted in yellow.
Listening: 3.7 Highlight incorrect words
Task
The transcript of a recording appears on screen. While listening to the recording, identify the words in the transcript that differ from what is said.
Skills assessed
Listening and reading
Prompt length
15-50 seconds
For this item type you are presented with a transcript of the audio recording, however, the transcript contains some errors. While listening and reading, you need to select the words in the text that differ from what the speaker says.
The audio begins to plays automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
To select a word click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the word again to deselect it.
The words you select are highlighted in yellow.
Listening: 3.8 Write from dictation
Task
After listening to a recording of a sentence, type the sentence.
Skills assessed
Listening and writing
Prompt length
3-5 seconds
For this item type you hear a short sentence. Type the sentence into the response box at the bottom of the screen.
The audio begins to play automatically. You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
Note: While the audio is playing, you can take notes on the erasable noteboard provided.
Remember to check your spelling.
The words you select are highlighted in yellow.