The Pearson Test of English Academic — a fast, fully computer-delivered and AI-scored English test, with results typically available within 2 business days. Accepted by thousands of institutions worldwide and approved for all Australian, UK, and New Zealand visa categories.
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The Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic is a computer-based English proficiency test developed by Pearson. Every section — including Speaking and Writing — is scored by automated systems trained on thousands of expert human ratings, removing examiner subjectivity and turning around results unusually fast.
Students applying to universities in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Canada, and the US; PR and skilled-worker applicants who need fast, reliable English-test evidence; and candidates retaking IELTS or TOEFL where Speaking or Writing scores stalled.
Personal introduction, Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Re-tell Lecture, Answer Short Question, Summarise Written Text, and Essay. Tests both spoken and written production in one block.
Fill in the Blanks (drag-and-drop and dropdown), Multiple Choice (single and multiple answer), and Re-order Paragraphs. Some tasks score both Reading and Writing.
Summarise Spoken Text, Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blanks, Highlight Correct Summary, Select Missing Word, Highlight Incorrect Words, and Write from Dictation. Audio plays once.
Many tasks contribute to more than one skill. For example, Re-tell Lecture marks both Listening and Speaking; Summarise Written Text counts toward Reading and Writing. Strong performance compounds across the report.
PTE uses the Global Scale of English (GSE), reported from 10 to 90 in 1-point increments. You receive an Overall score plus four Communicative Skill scores (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) and six Enabling Skill scores (Grammar, Oral Fluency, Pronunciation, Spelling, Vocabulary, Written Discourse). All scoring is fully automated.
Results within 48 hours, no human-rater subjectivity, ability to send scores to unlimited institutions for free, and computer typing instead of handwriting. The trade-off is that templates and timing matter more than in IELTS or TOEFL.
You can book the next test as soon as you receive your previous score. There is no formal cap, but most students take it 1–3 times to reach their target.
PTE Academic Online is accepted by many universities but is currently not accepted by UK Visas and Immigration or by Australian Home Affairs. For visa purposes, take PTE Academic at a test centre (or PTE Academic UKVI for the UK).
The AI engine evaluates your audio for content (what you say) and for oral fluency and pronunciation (how you say it). Clear, well-paced speech matters more than a particular accent.
Two years from the test date for universities. Australian visa programmes specifically require the score to be from within the last 3 years at the time of invitation.
Test fees, formats, and accepting institutions are updated by the official conducting bodies. We've drawn the figures on this page from these official sources — always confirm the current details before booking your test.
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