GRE Eligibility Criteria 2025: Everything You Need to Know
All You Need to Know About the PTE Exam
Imagine being in a place where you cannot understand a single word spoken around you.
Even worse, you are unable to explain yourself in a way that others can understand. It would feel like being stuck among a group of indigenous people, where mutual understanding is almost impossible.
While English is not an unfamiliar language for most of us, being able to communicate effectively is what truly matters. And when planning to study in an English-speaking country, proving your English language proficiency becomes essential.
If you are preparing to study abroad this year, you need to tick off every item on your checklist. One of the key tasks includes clearing the necessary exams. These tests help prove not only your academic readiness but also your English communication skills.
When it comes to English proficiency exams, IELTS and TOEFL are usually the most talked-about options. However, today we are introducing you to another globally recognised test, the PTE Exam.
This blog is your complete beginner’s guide to the PTE. So, without further delay, let’s get started.
What is the PTE Exam?
The Pearson Test of English or PTE exam is a standardised English proficiency exam taken by study abroad aspirants or people who wants to work or live in an English-speaking nation. This is a computer-based, globally accepted exam that assess your English language skills like speaking, writing, listening, and reading.
The PTE Exam score ranges between 10-90 and to get admission in any university abroad, students must gain score between 60-90. The scoring system isn’t only measured on the scale of number of right answers but also on grammar, punctuation, fluency, vocabulary, spelling, and written discourse.
There are multiple PTE exam dates from across India. Some of the popular exam centres across India includes; New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.
The standardised PTE exam fee in India is ₹18,000, depending on the fluctuation of conversion rate. Students can book a test slot as late as 48 hours before the exam date with some additional charges. Also, there is a flexibility of rescheduling and cancelling the exam. If cancelling the exam before 14 days, then the entire exam cost will be refunded. If cancelling 7 days prior, then 50% of the cost will be refunded. However, if cancelling in less than 7 days then there will be no refunds.
Accepted in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and more, this exam is flexible even for the last-minute test takers. Here are some of the best features of the PTE exam.
PTE Exam- Quick Crux
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic |
| Purpose | Study abroad, work, and immigration |
| Test Format | Computer-based (also available as PTE Academic Online) |
| Sections | 1. Speaking & Writing; 2. Reading; 3. Listening |
| Duration | Approximately 2 hours |
| Scoring Scale | 10 to 90, AI-based automated scoring |
| Score Validity | 2 years |
| Result Time | Within 1–2 days |
| Eligibility | Minimum age: 16+ (with parental consent if under 18) |
| Required Document | Valid, non-expired passport |
| Exam Fee (India 2025) | ₹18,000 INR (inclusive of taxes) |
| Test Dates | Multiple dates available year-round |
| Test Centres | 400+ worldwide or online from home |
| Accepted By | 3,000+ universities and governments (Australia, UK, NZ, some Canada) |
| Why Choose PTE? | Fast results, AI scoring, flexible booking, fully computer-based |
| Refund Policy |
– Full refund if cancelled 14+ days before test – 50% refund if cancelled 7–13 days before test – No refund if cancelled within 7 days of the test |
PTE Exam Format
PTE is a 2-hour long exam that students take in one sitting. As the main purpose of this exam is to analyse an individual’s English language skills, the PTE exam is divided into 3 parts. Below is the breakout of the PTE exam format for your easy understanding.
Section 1: Speaking & Writing (54-67 Minutes)
As the name suggests, this section evaluates your English speaking and writing skills. There are various tasks in this section and hence, this is the longest part of the PTE exam. Here are the questions asked and what you have to do in them.
| The Task | What you have to do! |
|---|---|
| Personal Introduction | Here you have to introduce yourself (this is generally sent to the universities you have applied to abroad) |
| Read Aloud | Here you have to read a given text or sentence aloud. This measures your reading and speaking skills with correct pronunciation |
| Repeat Sentence | In this, you have to listen to a sentence and then repeat it word-to-word; analysing your grasping power and speaking skills |
| Describe Image | For your next task, you will be given an image in the form of a pie-chart, map, or graph that you will have to describe in your own words |
| Re-tell Lecture | In this task, you have to listen to something and summarise the same in your own words |
| Answer Short Questions | As the name suggests, you will have to listen to a question and answer it in a couple of words |
| Summarise Written Text | Similar to re-telling a lecture, but here you have to read a text and then summarise it in your own words, keeping it short, crisp, and to the point |
| Essay (20 minutes) | At last, comes the main writing task, here you will be given a topic, and you have to write a 200–300 words essay on the same |
Section 2: Reading (29-30 Minutes)
The next task in your PTE academic exam is your reading abilities. There are also multiple tasks in the reading section, but they are mostly the variation of the same task. Here’s a quick overview of the same.
| The Task | What you have to do! |
|---|---|
| Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks | As the name suggests, you will be choosing the right answer to complete the paragraphs |
| Fill in the Blanks | The next variation in the ‘fill in the blanks’ section is, you have to drag and drop the words that seem correct fit to you in the answer box |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | Here you will be given multiple set of questions that will have more than one right answer, and you have to mark the right ones as per your understanding |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | This is another variation of the multiple-choice questions. Here, you will only have one correct answer and as per your understanding you have to mark the right one |
| Re-order Paragraphs | This task is all about rearranging paragraphs in the right sequence to make correct sense out of them |
Section 3: Listening (30-43 Minutes)
This is the last task of your PTE exam. The listening section will analyse your ability to understand spoken English in different accents and dialects. Do note that the audio is played only once, hence, you have to be attentive at all times. Here’s what you will be facing.
| The Task | What you have to do! |
|---|---|
| Summarise Spoken Text | First you will listen to an audio, and then you have to summarise it in 50–70 words. |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | Like the reading task, there will be multiple correct answers to a single question. Here, you have to listen to the audio and mark all the right answers. |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | In this, you will listen to the audio and mark only one answer that you feel is right. |
| Fill in the Blanks | Here you will listen to the audio and type the missing words in the transcript. |
| Highlight Correct Summary | This is an interesting assignment; here you will listen to the audio and as per your understanding, you have to mark the right summary of the audio. |
| Select Missing Words | After listening to the audio, you will have to select the words that are missing in the response sheet. |
| Highlight Incorrect Words | While listening to a transcript, in this section, you have to identify the incorrect words. |
| Write from Dictation | This is a tough task as you will be writing word-for-word from what you hear. |
All these tasks can be very confusing and if you haven’t prepared well then it will surely be overwhelming. To ensure you are confident of your responses and clear the Exams to Study Abroad in one go, you must know the tips and trick to clear the exam. For your assistance, in the following section, we are sharing some quick tips with the help of which you can easily prepare for your PTE exam 2025.
Tips to Prepare for PTE Exam in 2025
Preparing for an exam is surely overwhelming and seems like a burden. However, when you know the right tricks and have a flawless strategy, then you can smoothly get done with your preparations to any exam. Hence, for your ease, here are some quick tips for your PTE Exam Preparation Tips.
Tip 1: Understand the Format
Before starting to study for an exam, it is always crucial to study about the exam. It is a stupidity to directly start solving the sample papers until you don’t know the test format. As we have mentioned clearly the PTE Exam Format for you, make sure you go through it thoroughly before starting with the preparations.
Even though there are four English language skills that are measured, the PTE exam only have three sections. To know the exam pattern and found the loopholes in it to calm down your nerves, you have to completely understand the exam format first.
Tip 2: Take the Practice Test
To familiarise yourself with the PTE exam and to know where you actually stand, you have to take the practice test first. This will help you know what your strengths and weaknesses are and how you have to create a study plan to become the best in each section.
Also, do remember to always take the official practice tests from the official site of PTE practice materials and never go for the fake ones. By taking a practice test you will also get to know how it will feel to be taking the final exam one day.
Tip 3: Improve your Skills
Every English language exam is about four skills; reading, writing, listening, and speaking. However, it also analyses your pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, punctuation and more. Hence, when you are preparing for your PTE exam 2025, you must ensure to excel in each segment of the exam and not just in one.
For this, you must practice each skill daily and instead of finding time in your schedule to practice these skills, you must include them in your daily routine. Like when you talk, talk in English, while travelling read an English book or newspaper. For entertainment, watch English movies and shows; and at last, before going to sleep, write your journal in English, writing about how your day went.
Tip 4: Master Time Management
Out of all the things you practice for, practicing time management is very crucial. As there are three sections in your PTE exam with long durations, you cannot afford to miss anyone of them due to poor time management skills. When taking the practice test, you have to make sure you divide your 2 hours and further minutes in precision to ensure you answer all the questions.
This is why when you are advised to take practice tests, you must time yourself. Seeing how much time you are investing in one section will make you improve your speed. So, while practicing, don’t invest too much time on one question. You can leave it and come back later.
Prepare for PTE Exam 2025 with MetaApply IE
Starting preparations for an exam you know little about can feel overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve taken the first step for you by putting together all the essential information you need about the PTE exam. But we don’t stop there. With MetaApply TestPrep classes, you also receive personalised guidance to help you clear the exam with confidence.
We understand the pressure that comes with facing something unfamiliar. To ease that burden and ensure you’re fully prepared for your study abroad exams, we provide focused, well-structured learning sessions tailored to your needs.
You can choose from three types of batches like weekend, weekday, or flexible, therefore allowing you to study at your own pace and convenience.
At MetaApply IE, our goal is simple: to give every study abroad aspirant the best chance to turn their dream into reality. So, whether you’re facing challenges with a specific exam or the entire study abroad process, MetaApply IE is here to support you at every step.
Frequently Asked Questions
The PTE exam is not that difficult if you have a good grasp of English language skills and the right strategy to clear the exam. With proper understanding of the test format, regular practice, and improving your skills with great time management, you can easily crack your PTE exam in your first attempt.
The four main skills that are tested in a PTE exam includes Speaking, Writing, Listening, and Reading. Each of these sections evaluate your knowledge of English language based on real-world academic and professional context through computer-based and AI-scored questions. Besides reading, writing, listening, and speaking, your English language skills are always evaluated on the basis of vocabulary, pronunciation, diction, grammar, and punctuation.
Yes, absolutely! You can easily pass your PTE exam in your first attempt. All you require to do is understand the format, take practice tests daily, improve your various English language skills, and use official materials to familiarise yourself with the exam pattern. All these things with great time management skills are enough to help you clear your PTE exam in first attempt.
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