Exam Hub
PTE Academic
Pearson Test of English Academic — Computer-based · AI-scored · Results in about 48 hours · 22 question types (format from 7 Aug 2025)
Test Fee (India)
₹18,900
Duration
≈2 hrs+
Results In
Within 48 hrs
Choose PTE Academic if…
You like computer-based tests with fast results and are targeting Australia, New Zealand or the UK.
What changed in 2025–26
- 7 Aug 2025Two new speaking tasks — Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation — take PTE Academic to 22 scored question types. Human review on 7 types; Answer Short Question now scored for Listening. PTE Core and PTE Home are not affected.
- 16 Mar 2026India fee rises from ₹18,000 to ₹18,900 (incl. GST).
Overview & Key Facts
Conducted By
Pearson
Versions
PTE Academic, PTE Academic UKVI, PTE Core (Canada migration), PTE Home A1/A2/B1 (UK family visas)
Where You Take It
Pearson test centre (≈62 centres in India). Home/online version not available for India
Test Fee (India)
₹18,900 incl. 18% GST (from 16 Mar 2026) — Academic, UKVI, Core
Score Range
10–90 overall and per skill
Duration
≈2 hrs+ in three timed parts
Scoring
AI scoring, with human review on 7 of 22 question types (from Aug 2025)
Results
Typically within 48 hours
Validity
2 years
Score Sending
Unlimited free score sending
Retake Option
Full retest only (₹18,900)
Acceptance
Wide — Australia, NZ, UK, Canada, many USA universities
Visas / Migration
UK (PTE Academic UKVI), Australia, NZ; PTE Core for Canada PR
Exam Pattern & Structure
| Section / Module | Task Types / Content | Duration | Questions | Marks / Weight | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 — Speaking & Writing | Personal Introduction (not scored) · Read Aloud · Repeat Sentence · Describe Image · Re-tell Lecture · Answer Short Question · Summarize Group Discussion (NEW) · Respond to a Situation (NEW) · Summarize Written Text (1 sentence, 5–75 words, 10 min) · Write Essay (200–300 words, 20 min) | ≈76–84 min | 10 task types | Integrated tasks feed more than one skill | Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening |
| Part 2 — Reading | Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks (drop-down) · Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers (negative marking) · Re-order Paragraphs · Reading: Fill in the Blanks (drag & drop) · Multiple Choice, Single Answer | ≈22–30 min | 5 task types | One countdown timer for the part | Reading, Writing |
| Part 3 — Listening | Summarize Spoken Text (50–70 words, 10 min) · Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers (negative marking) · Fill in the Blanks · Highlight Correct Summary · Multiple Choice, Single Answer · Select Missing Word · Highlight Incorrect Words (negative marking) · Write from Dictation (high-weight) | ≈31–39 min | 8 task types | Write from Dictation is a high-weight task | Listening, Writing, Reading |
Scoring System & Requirements
Score Range
10–90
Scale / Increments
Same scale overall and for Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening
Skill Scores
Integrated tasks feed more than one skill
| Purpose / University | Typical Requirement | Minimum Score | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK – undergraduate | PTE Academic UKVI needed for some visa routes | 59–64 | IELTS 6.0–6.5 |
| UK – postgraduate | Typical university range — check your course page | 62–70 | IELTS 6.5–7.0 |
| USA – most universities | Typical university range — check your course page | 58–65 | IELTS 6.5–7.0 |
| USA – top universities | Typical university range — check your course page | 65–73 | IELTS 7.0–7.5+ |
| Canada – universities | For Canada PR (Express Entry) use PTE Core | 60–65 | IELTS 6.5 |
| Australia – universities | Typical university range — check your course page | 58–64 | IELTS 6.5 |
| New Zealand | Typical university range — check your course page | 50–58 | IELTS 6.0–6.5 |
| Europe (Germany, Ireland, NL, etc.) | Typical university range — check your course page | 55–65 | IELTS 6.0–6.5 |
Fees & Policies (India)
- PTE Academic / UKVI / Core
- ₹18,900 incl. GST (from 16 Mar 2026; was ₹18,000)
- PTE Home A1/A2/B1
- ≈₹15,300
- Late Booking
- No late-booking fee reported for India
- Reschedule / Cancel
- 14+ days notice: best refund · 7–14 days: partial · under 7 days: none
- Score Review
- ≈US$160; refunded if score changes
- Score Sending
- Unlimited free
- ID
- Valid passport (India)
6-Week Preparation Plan
Week 1Baseline set
🔍 Diagnostic & Question Types
- All tests: Take one official free practice test; note weakest skill
- Master Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Write from Dictation (high-weight)
Week 2Foundations built
🎧 Vocabulary, Grammar & Listening
- All tests: Vocabulary & grammar daily (30–45 min)
- Practise the 2 new speaking tasks; avoid memorised templates
Week 3Writing sharpened
✍️ Writing Practice
- All tests: Writing practice with feedback
- Essay (200–300 words) & Summarize Written Text (one sentence)
- At Palash: strategies for all 22 question types
Week 4Speaking confident
🎙️ Speaking Practice
- All tests: Speaking practice (record yourself)
- Describe Image & Re-tell Lecture with 40-s timer
- At Palash: live one-on-one speaking sessions
Week 5Mock-test ready
🔄 Full Mock Tests
- All tests: Full mock tests under exam timing
- 2 scored practice tests (official)
- At Palash: unlimited AI-scored mock tests
Week 6Exam ready!
✅ Final Review & Booking Checks
- All tests: Final review & booking checks
- Check ID, arrive 30 min early
Top Preparation Tips
- 🎯 Write from Dictation is high-weight — type the sentence exactly
- 🚫 Avoid memorised templates: repetitive phrases get flagged for human review
- ⚠️ Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers and Highlight Incorrect Words have NEGATIVE marking — be selective
- 📝 Summarize Written Text is exactly ONE sentence (5–75 words) in 10 minutes
- 🆕 Practise the 2 new speaking tasks: Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation
- 🎙️ Answer Short Question is now scored for Listening too (from Aug 2025)
- ⏱️ Describe Image & Re-tell Lecture are on a 40-second timer — practise with one
- 🪪 Valid passport required — arrive 30 minutes early
Study Resources
- 🌐 pearsonpte.com — official updates, practice & booking
- 📝 Official scored practice tests (take 2 in Week 5)
- 📰 Pearson — Updates to PTE Academic (2025 format) & changes FAQ
- 🧠 PrepEx — PTE format and the 22 question types
- 🧰 Palash strategies for all 22 question types
- 🤖 Palash unlimited AI-scored mock tests
- 🎙️ Palash live one-on-one speaking sessions
- 🎧 BBC podcasts & news audio for listening practice
Where & How You Take It
- 🏢 Taken at a Pearson test centre (≈62 centres in India)
- 🚫 Home / online PTE Academic is not available for India
- 📍 Book only on the official site: pearsonpte.com
- 📅 Bookings possible as close as 24–48 hrs if slots exist; no late-booking fee reported for India
- 🪪 Valid passport required — arrive 30 min early
- 🎤 Speak into a microphone — answers are recorded and scored by computer
- Choose PTE Academic UKVI where your UK visa route requires it
- 🍁 Choose PTE Core for Canada migration
Results & Validity
- ⏱️ Results typically within 48 hours
- 📤 Unlimited free score sending to institutions
- 📋 Scores valid for 2 years
- 🤖 AI scoring with double marking (AI + human) on 7 of 22 question types
- 🔍 Score review (re-score) ≈US$160 — refunded if the score changes; not available for every task
- 📅 Best refund with 14+ days notice; partial refund 7–14 days; none under 7 days (check current policy)
- 🔁 Retake means a full retest at ₹18,900
ℹ️ Information checked 6 Oct 2026 from official and reputable sources. Fees and rules change often — always confirm on the official website before booking.
Palash Academy coaching
PTE Coaching — Score 79+ with our proven PTE methodology
- Strategies for all 22 question types, incl. Summarize Group Discussion & Respond to a Situation
- Natural-response training — memorised templates get flagged for human review
- Unlimited AI-scored mock tests
- Live one-on-one speaking sessions
- Time-management strategies
- Retake guidance and score reviews
