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PTE Syllabus

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The PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic exam evaluates English language proficiency across four core skills — Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening. This article covers the complete PTE syllabus, section-wise topics, question types, skills assessed, and important preparation areas to help you plan your study strategy effectively.

PTE Reading Syllabus

The Reading section tests your ability to understand academic texts, identify key information, and interpret written English. It contains a mix of question types that assess different reading strategies such as skimming, scanning, and close reading.

CriteriaDetails
Duration29–30 minutes
Total Questions15–20 questions (approx.)
Text LengthShort to long academic passages
SourcesAcademic, scientific, and general interest texts
Skills TestedReading for gist, detail, inference, and vocabulary

Question Types in Reading

  • Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks – Select correct words from a dropdown to complete a passage
  • Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers) – Choose more than one correct answer from given options
  • Re-order Paragraphs – Arrange jumbled text boxes in the correct logical order

  • Fill in the Blanks (Reading) – Drag and drop words into correct blanks in the passage

PTE Listening Syllabus

The Listening section tests how well you understand spoken English in academic and everyday contexts. Audio clips are played only once, so focused attention and quick note-taking are essential. The section includes both spoken responses and written answers.

CriteriaDetails
Duration30–43 minutes
Total Questions12–20 questions (approx.)
Audio ClipsPlayed once only
Accent VarietyBritish, Australian, American, and other accents
Skills TestedListening for gist, detail, inference, and note-taking

Question Types in Listening

  • Summarise Spoken Text – Listen to a lecture and write a summary of 50–70 words
  • Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers) – Select all correct answers based on what you hear
  • Fill in the Blanks – Type the exact missing words from the audio into blanks
  • Highlight Correct Summary – Choose the most accurate summary of the audio clip
  • Multiple Choice (Single Answer) – Select the best answer based on the audio content
  • Select Missing Word – Identify the word or phrase that completes the recording
  • Highlight Incorrect Words – Read along and click the words that differ from the audio
  • Write from Dictation – Listen and type the sentence exactly as heard

PTE Speaking & Writing Syllabus

The Speaking & Writing section is the first and longest part of the PTE exam. It combines both skills in a single section and covers a wide range of task types. Candidates are assessed on their ability to communicate ideas clearly and accurately in English.

CriteriaDetailsTime
Total Duration54–67 minutesCombined section
Read AloudRead a passage aloud (up to 60 words)30–40 sec
Repeat SentenceListen and repeat the sentence exactly15 sec
Describe ImageDescribe a graph, chart, or image40 sec
Re-tell LectureSummarise an academic lecture40 sec
Answer Short QuestionSingle-word or short-phrase answer10 sec
Summarise Written TextWrite a one-sentence summary (5–75 words)10 min
Write EssayWrite an essay of 200–300 words20 min

Question Types in Speaking & Writing

    • Read Aloud – Read a short text displayed on screen in a natural, fluent voice
    • Repeat Sentence – Listen to a sentence and repeat it word for word
    • Describe Image – Describe a graph, chart, table, map, or image in detail
    • Re-tell Lecture – Listen to an academic lecture and summarise it in your own words
    • Answer Short Question – Listen to a question and respond with a single word or short phrase
    • Summarise Written Text – Read a passage and write a one-sentence summary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PTE Academic syllabus?

The PTE Academic syllabus covers four core English skills: Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening. The exam is divided into three main sections — Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening — and includes 20 different task types that assess both individual and integrated language skills.

The PTE Academic exam has three main sections: Speaking & Writing (54–67 minutes), Reading (29–30 minutes), and Listening (30–43 minutes). The total test duration is approximately 2 to 3 hours including an optional 10-minute break.

PTE Academic is scored on a scale of 10 to 90. Each of the four communicative skills — Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing — receives an individual score, along with an overall score reflecting your total English proficiency.

There are 20 different question types across the three sections of the PTE exam. These include tasks like Read Aloud, Describe Image, Write Essay, Re-order Paragraphs, Fill in the Blanks, Write from Dictation, and more.

PTE and IELTS differ in format rather than difficulty. PTE is fully computer-based and uses AI scoring, which makes it objective and fast. Results are typically available within 2–5 business days. Some test-takers find PTE more predictable due to its fixed task types.

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