What is the Pearson Test of English (PTE)?

Moving from a non-English-speaking country to an English-speaking country comes with several steps. One of the most important is your English language proficiency measured by standard and globally recognized tests. PTE English exam is one such test. Others include IELTS and TOEFL. The full form of PTE is the Pearson Test of English. PTE is a fully computer-based English language test accepted for study, work, and migration. It tests your Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking skills. In this article, we will discuss PTE exam details in India.

The following are the categories of PTE exams, which you can take as per your requirements:

 

• 
  PTE Academic: For studying abroad and immigration to Australia and New Zealand.

• 
  PTE Academic Online: Same format and content as PTE Academic, but taken from home. Please note that PTE Academic Online is not valid for visa or immigration purposes.

• 
  PTE Core: Scores from the PTE Core exam are accepted by the Canadian government for immigration and citizenship applications.

• 
  PTE Academic UKVI: Scores from PTE Academic UKVI are approved and accepted by the UK Home Office for visa and immigration purposes.

The Pearson PTE academic test is accepted by over 3,500 universities and colleges globally, including top universities like Harvard, Yale, and INSEAD. PTE is also approved by governments in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada for visa and migration applications. Here is the table of some of the top institutes that accept PTE:

You can visit the official PTE website to see the full list of institutions that have officially recognized PTE. Also, if you want to compare US universities based on expected income, employability, cost, top recruiters and more, you can use our data-backed tool to get analytical insights customised to your profile.

You can take the PTE Academic at authorized test centres across India and worldwide. Tests are available every day of the year. In India, test centres are located in the following cities:

 

• 
  Ahmedabad
• 
  Amritsar
• 
  Bangalore
• 
  Chandigarh
• 
  Chennai
• 
  Cochin
• 
  Coimbatore
• 
  Dehradun
• 
  Gurugram
• 
  Hyderabad
• 
  Jalandhar
• 
  Kolkata
• 
  Ludhiana
• 
  Mumbai
• 
  Nagpur
• 
  New Delhi
• 
  Noida
• 
  Patiala
• 
  Pune
• 
  Rajkot
• 
  Surat
• 
  Vadodara
• 
  Vijayawada.

If you prefer the flexibility of taking the test from home, PTE Academic Online is also available in many regions. The format and scoring are the same but PTE Academic Online cannot be used for visa or immigration purposes.

Let us see why you should take the PTE exam over IELTS or TOEFL:

 

• 
  Fast Results: Get scores in just 48 hours.

• 
  Flexible Dates: Book anytime, even a day before.

• 
  Fair and Secure: Fully AI-scored for accurate, unbiased results.

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  Recognized by: Over 3,500 institutions worldwide. Visa offices in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada

The eligibility criteria are simple for the PTE Academic exam:

 

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  Minimum Age: You must be at least 16 years old to take the PTE Academic exam. 

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  Parental Consent: If you are under 18, then you need to get a signed parental consent. The form is available on the official PTE Academic website.

• 
  Educational Qualifications: There are no specific educational qualifications required to take the PTE Academic exam. 

• 
  Nationality: Students from all nationalities are allowed

The PTE Academic exam pattern has mainly 3 sections and each section will assess your English proficiency in different scenarios. We have the table below to understand what section demands and how the PTE test format is:

 

PTE uses AI to score the test. The reason for using AI is to make sure that the result is free from any human bias, and also the other major reason is, that sometimes students have stage fear and find it difficult to communicate freely and fluently in English with strangers, as in the case of IELTS and TOEFL, but in the Pearson speaking test, students are comfortable speaking in front of an AI. The test uses the Global Scale of English (GSE), a scale from 10 to 90, which perfectly aligns with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). Your PTE score report has the following sections:

 

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  Overall Score: Shows your overall English language proficiency.

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  Communication Skills: Separate scores for listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

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  Enabling Skills: Grammar, oral fluency, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse.

A huge advantage of PTE is that scores are available in your PTE account within 48 hours.

Minimum Score Requirements by Study Level:

The minimum score requirements for various courses at different levels are given in the table below:

PTE Academic Score vs IELTS Comparison:

Below is the comparison of your PTE score against the IELTS band:

PTE Academic Score vs TOEFL iBT Comparison:

Below is the comparison of your PTE score against TOEFL iBT score:

These are not absolute and we recommend that you check with your college’s official website to confirm their test score requirement.

You can register for the PTE Exam in 8 simple steps. Below is the step-by-step guide on how to register for PTE:

 

Step 1: Visit the official PTE website and click "Book a test"

 

 

Step 2: Select the country you are planning to go and your purpose (Study or Work)

 

 

Step 3: Click on Check availability & book

 

 

Step 4: Select your test centre location and book the slot and centre at your convenience

 

 

Step 5: Review and click on Sign in or create full profile

 

 

Step 6: Click on Create myPTE account

 

 

You will need to enter all your personal details and here you can opt for special arrangements if you need them.

 

Step 7: You need to enter the booking details

 

 

Here you have the option to send your test scores to the Department of Home Affairs (Australia) or to Immigration New Zealand (New Zealand), if required.

 

Step 8: Agree to policies and proceed to checkout

 

 

You can pay by MasterCard, VISA or American Express only. Once the payment is done, you will receive a confirmation email with all the details like test venue, time and more.

The following are some of the most commonly faced challenges by students taking the PTE exam and how you can easily overcome them:

Time pressure:

How to overcome?

 

• 
  Practice under timed conditions.
• 
  Focus on quick thinking and clear communication.

Clarity while speaking:

How to overcome?

 

• 
  Speak naturally, do not rush to complete or finish your sentences. Speak as if you talking to a human.
• 
  Practice pronunciation and fluency. AI is monitoring your words, so make sure your pronunciation is at par.

Tricky questions:

How to overcome?

 

• 
  For "Re-tell Lecture," focus on note-taking because you have to make sure you do not miss the critical aspects of the lecture.
• 
  For "Summarize Written Text," aim for one clear, grammatically correct sentence. Make sure you structure it logically as well.

PTE Exam fees in India is INR 18,000 (inclusive of taxes). The following policies apply when you request for refund or rescheduling:

 

• 
  Free rescheduling if done more than 14 days before the test
• 
  50% refund if cancelled between 8 to 13 days in advance
• 
  No refund for cancellations within 7 days of the test

The policy for refund and cancellation is the same and all changes must be made via your PTE account. All other PTE details regarding cancellation and fees waivers are available on the official website of PTE.

The following are important instructions for test day. Please adhere to them for convenient test-taking experience:

 

• 
  Bring a valid passport (name must match your registration)
• 
  Arrive at least 45 minutes early
• 
  Complete ID verification, signature, and photograph
• 
  Store personal belongings in a locker
• 
  Follow computer instructions for a quick equipment check
• 
  Take an optional 10-minute break between sections

After the test, you will receive a confirmation of your attendance at the test. Your PTE scores will be sent to your email address within 2 business days. We recommend that you keep checking your e-mail address for any updates.