Generally, to enter any university abroad, the non-native English speakers opt for the IELTS exam, but few countries accept other exams to let the non-native English speakers apply for study, PR, etc., and one of them is PTE (Pearson Test of English). There are three types of PTE test, which are as follows:
#1. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic
#2. PTE General (which was previously known as London Tests of English)
#3. PTE Young Learners
In this article, we will talk about the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic.
Let’s start with a basic question: What is the PTE Academic Test?
What is the PTE Academic Test?
PTE Academic Test is part of the Pearson PLC group, which is dedicated to assess and validate the English language usage of non-native English speakers. Pearson Test of English Academic was launched by Pearson Language Tests in 2009, and interestingly when it was released, it was recognized by almost 6000 organizations but instantly, the test was approved for use by the Australian Department of Immigration and Australian Border Agency and Citizenship for visa applications. Also, PTE-A is accepted for New Zealand and the United Kingdom visa applications.
Why was PTE Introduced?
Well, Pearson formulated PTE Academic to test non-native English language students who enter the English-speaking academic world more accurately. This was the demand from the government, institutions, and other organizations, to test the non-native English speakers more accurately. The PTE Academic test is endorsed by the Graduate Management Council.
Now, the question arises where the PTE academic test can take us.
Where is the PTE Academic Test Approved?
PTE academic test scores open doors for 3000+ colleges, universities, and professional bodies all over the world, which includes Harvard Business School, Oxford University, and Macquarie University. PTE is also accepted for Australian, UK, and New Zealand visas and immigration categories.
As we move forward, let’s see what kind of test it is?
Also Read: How to Pay PTE Exam Fees? An Overview of Eligibility Criteria and Registration Fees
What Kind of Test is It?
PTE Academic test is a test that focuses on real-life English used in academic surroundings. This test uses the melded English language throughout the test, and students will listen to a variety of academic languages and accents which they will experience in English-speaking higher education.
PTE Academic is a computer-based English exam. It measures your English proficiency in a single, short test by measuring your English speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills.
PTE exam is a three-hour exam via computer.
PTE Exam Score
The PTE test follows a human approach to automated scoring. It has sophisticated algorithms which are based on thousands of real test responses. This says that with the help of these algorithms, every single test is marked accurately, consistently, and fairly.
This way of examining the tests makes it possible to match the expertise of the human examiner but with a lot more consistency, precision, and objectivity than only machine learning can achieve.
The reason PTE is trusted by institutions and governments globally is that we take a layered procedure to secure our tests and keep them fair at every stage. PTE uses features like randomized test forms, plan-vein scanning, and secure question bank software, which helps them to keep their tests secure at every stage. There are many advantages of automated scoring few of them are as follows:
#1. Instructor Free
Automated scoring helps to deliver exams in a small friendly test centre environment and that too on a computer. Therefore, there is no need to take your test in front of an instructor.
Also Read: How to Clear the PTE Academic Test? Format, Registration, Fees, Tips for Preparation
#2. Faster Approach
With the help of automated scoring, everything can be done faster, like getting your results and sharing them with your choice of organizations or institutions.
#3. More Accurate
When you take your test, your answers are compared against millions of past responses and the collective knowledge of hundreds of examiners to provide you with the most consistent, accurate, unbiased score possible.
Understanding PTE Score
With a PTE academic score, you can measure your English skills with pinpoint preciseness as it gives you a score from 10-90 on the Global Scale of English. Read below to know more about the broad range of scores of PTE.
#. 85-90
This is the score equivalent to the IELTS band 9. Usually, universities or governments do not demand scores this high as this is the highest level of English proficiency one can measure. With this level, one would be exceptionally comfortable immersing in academic and work activities at all levels.
#. 76-84
This is the score equivalent to the IELTS band 7-8. This score is required for Australian Skilled Migration Visas. This is also a very high level of English mastery. This level is usually not required for undergraduate courses.
#. 59-75
This is the score equivalent to the IELTS band 5.5-6.5. This score is required to be able to proceed with academic level instructions and to participate in academic education, which incorporates both coursework and student life. It may also be a set for undergraduate or postgraduate entry requirements. This level of scores is also required for employment and professional registration and also for Australian skilled migration visas.
#. 43-58
This range of score means you are scoring IELTS band 4-5. This level of score is required for the undergraduate-level study.
Also Read: How many PTE Score required for Australia PR? Tips on Increasing PR Points Through PTE
#. 30-42
This range of scores is too low to engage in academic coursework but can be set for Foundation Year Courses.
#. 10-29
This level of score is too low to engage in any kind of academic coursework or even for foundation year courses.
PTE Test Format
As we have read above, the PTE academic test is taken on a computer in a small and secure test centre environment. It tests your skill in reading, speaking, listening, and writing. It is a three-hour-long computer-based test with a headset. It assesses real-life English and has 20 question types with a 10-minute break.
The PTE test has three parts are Speaking and writing, reading, and listening. There are 20 different question types in the test, varying from multiple-choice questions to essay writing.
Having an outline of every part of the test will make us understand the test format a little better.
Also Read: How Long to Prepare for PTE Academic Test? Simple Tips to Stay Exam Ready
#. Part 1: Speaking and Writing
It is the longest part of the test. This part is 77 to 93 minutes long. It has seven different question types. In this part, you will be tested on your speaking and writing skills using the meddled English you might hear in academic surroundings.
#. Part 2: Reading
As we know, PTE Academic is an integrated skill test, so there is one segment that is ‘reading and writing: Fill in the blanks,’ which also assesses writing skills. This part comprises five different question varieties and is 32 to 40 minutes long.
#. Part 3: Listening
PTE Academic listening test is the third part of the PTE Academic test. This test has a series of audio and video clips that test your listening skills. This part of the test is 45 to 57 minutes long and carries eight question types.
By understanding the test format, we have now understood the PTE Academic test much more thoroughly, but we don’t know who all are eligible to take this test. Let’s move forward and check who all can take this test.
Also Read: How to Book PTE Academic Test Online? Tips to Clear the Test and Steps to Apply
Eligibility Criteria for PTE Academic Exam
Although, the Pearson PLC group has not set any particular eligibility criteria for candidates who want to take the PTE Academic Test. However, as a generalized rule, there are few eligibility criteria for the candidates looking to appear for the PTE academic test, and those are as follows.
#. Age Criteria
If someone wishes to take the PTE academic test, then he/she must be at least 16 years old. Also, the candidates who want to take this test and are below 18 years of age are required to get a parental consent form signed by either parents or guardians before taking the exam. This parental consent form can be downloaded from the official website of the PTE Academic Test.
#. Educational Qualification
The conducting body of the PTE academic exam, i.e., Pearson PLC group, has not laid any education qualification criteria for candidates who want to take this exam.
Along with the eligibility criteria, there is one question that pops up in most of the heads, i.e., how many times can one appear for the PTE Academic Exam? Well, the conducting body has been generous in this part, too, as there is no limit put on the number of times one can appear for the test.
Also Read: PTE Band Score Chart 2021: Everything about Ideal PTE Band Scores and Validity
There is only one limit set by the board, and that is the candidate can take their next exam within a gap of 5 days. By this, it means that candidates can take this exam as many times as they want.
There are few other things that one will not like to miss while gaining knowledge about the PTE Academic Test:
PTE Academic Syllabus
Candidates who want to take this exam and want to shine in their PTE Exam shall be aware of the latest PTE exam syllabus. Here is the section-wise PTE exam syllabus:
#. Part 1: Reading Syllabus
This part of the test contains fill in blanks, multiple choice answers, and re-order graphs.
#. Part 2: Listening Syllabus
This part of the test is a little longer than the previous part and contains multiple choice answers, fill in the blanks, write from dictation, summary, and highlight incorrect words.
#. Part 3: Speaking and Writing Syllabus
This part of the test is the longest and comprises a personal introduction, answer short questions, re-tell lecture, read aloud, summary, repeat sentence, describe the image, and essay writing which is 20 minutes long.
PTE Exam Fee
The regular PTE academic test fee is Rs. 13,700, but in case the candidate is reserving his PTE exam within 48 hours of the test date, then the candidate has to pay the late booking fee of Rs. 13,965.
Also, there can be a situation where a candidate has to cancel or reschedule an exam; then, in those cases, the fee will be as follows.
Also Read: How many PTE Scores are Required for Australia Student Visa? Minimum Scores
#. PTE Exam Cancellation Fees
To get the full refund of your exam fees, you have to claim it 14 calendar days before your test date. Those who cancel the test with less than 14 days but 7 calendar days before the test will get a partial refund of 50% of the fees paid. However, if someone cancels the test less than 7 calendar days before the test, they will not be able to claim even a penny of the fees paid.
#. PTE Rescheduling Fees
Candidates who decide to reschedule their exam date with less than 14 calendar days but with 7 full calendar days before their exam date will be required to pay 50% of the test fee. But if the candidate reschedules the exam with less than 7 calendar days before the exam, then no refund will be provided to him or her.
Note: Reschedule policy and Cancellation policy do not include your test date.
Conclusion
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As you can notice in the article above that we have strived our best to deliver knowledge about every corner of the PTE academic test, we do the same in our lectures while educating you for the exams.
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Also Read: PTE Score for Study in Australia: Minimum PTE Score Required for PR in Australia
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