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The PTE exam format is different for the different categories of the exam. While the PTE Academic is designed for university applications and student visas, the PTE Core is designed specifically for Canadian immigration. Similarly, for the UK, you have to take the PTE UKVI. The PTE UKVI Academic has the same pattern as the regular PTE Academic, and is used specifically for a UK student visa and university applications. The PTE Home A1 and B1 are for family and spouse visas to the UK, and have only the Speaking and Listening sections.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the exam pattern and scoring of all types of the PTE exam.
The PTE exam pattern was significantly updated in August last year. Check the changes here: PTE New Updates
PTE Academic Exam Pattern 2026
The table below gives the exam structure for PTE Academic for 2026.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Speaking & Writing section | 54-67 minutes |
| Reading section | 29-30 minutes |
| Listening section | 30-43 minutes |
| Total Duration | 2 hours |
| Medium | Computer-based |
| Mode | Test center only |
| Test Type | Assesses real-life communication in English in academic settings |
| Question Types | 22 different types |
Will I be penalized for wrong answers?
No. There is no negative marking in the PTE exam. If the answer is correct, the assigned score for the question will be given, and if the score is 0, no score will be given.
PTE Speaking & Writing Pattern 2026
The PTE Speaking & Writing section begins with a personal introduction, which is not scored but is shared with universities. This section has 10 question types, with 28-36 questions in total.
| Question Type | Explanation | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Introduction | Only to get familiar with the PTE exam technology and prepare for the next questions. | Not scored | 30 seconds |
| Read Aloud | Read the text that appears on the screen aloud. | Speaking | Varies by item, depending on the length of text. |
| Repeat Sentence | Repeat the sentence from a recording. | Listening and speaking | 15 seconds |
| Describe Image | Describe the image that appears on the screen in detail. | Speaking | 40 seconds |
| Retell Lecture | Retell a lecture in your own words. | Listening and speaking | 40 seconds |
| Answer Short Question | Answer a question with a single word or a few words. | Listening | 10 seconds |
| Summarize Group Discussion | Summarize a discussion among 3 people in your own words. | Listening and Speaking | 2 minutes |
| Respond to a Situation | Answer a question about a given situation with an extended response. | Speaking | 40 seconds |
| Summarize Written Text | Write a one-sentence summary of a given text. | Reading and writing | 10 minutes |
| Write Essay | Write a 200 to 300-word essay on a given topic. | Writing | 20 minutes |
PTE Speaking & Writing Practice Papers 2026
You can improve your speaking skills through practicing PTE speaking practice papers, which are mentioned below:
You must solve PTE writing papers to improve your skills and speed.
PTE Reading Pattern 2026
The PTE Reading section has 5 types of questions, usually with 13-18 questions in total. The table below shows the different question types in the PTE Reading test.
| Question Type | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) | Choose words from a dropdown menu to fill in the gaps in a text. |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | Answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of a text. |
| Reorder Paragraphs | Put the text boxes in the correct order to form a meaningful text. |
| Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop) | Drag words from a box to fill the gaps in a given text. |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | Answer a multiple-choice question on a given text by selecting one response. |
PTE Reading Practice Papers 2026
Practicing PTE Reading practice papers can help you improve your reading speed and accuracy.
PTE Listening Pattern 2026
The PTE Listening section has 8 types of questions, with 12-20 questions in total. There is no fixed time for each question type, but the whole section lasts about 30-43 minutes. The table below shows the different question types in the PTE Listening test.
| Question Type | Explanation | Skills Assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Summarize Spoken Text | Write a 50 to 70-word summary of a recording. | Listening and writing |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | Answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of a recording by selecting more than one response. | Listening |
| Fill in the Blanks (Type In) | After listening to a recording, type the missing word in each gap of its transcript. | Listening |
| Highlight Correct Summary | Select the paragraph that best summarizes a recording. | Listening and reading |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | Answer a multiple-choice question on a recording by selecting one response. | Listening |
| Select Missing Word | Select the missing word that completes a recording from a list of options. | Listening |
| Highlight Incorrect Words | While listening to a recording, identify the words in its transcript that differ from what is said. | Listening and reading |
| Write from Dictation | Type the sentence in a recording. | Listening and writing |
Note: The audio and video clips play automatically, and you hear each clip only once. Therefore, you are advised to be very attentive in this section.
PTE Listening Practice Papers 2026
Check out the PTE listening practice papers below.
PTE Core Pattern 2026
PTE Core is made for Canadian immigration, citizenship, and work visa applications. Its exam pattern is slightly different from PTE Academic.
- Speaking & Writing has 8 question types instead of 10, and includes Write Email instead of Write Essay.
- Listening has 7 sections instead of 8, and Highlight Correct Summary is not present.
The table below shows these key differences between the PTE Core and Academic.
| Section | PTE Core exam pattern | PTE Academic exam pattern | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaking & Writing | 8 question types | 10 question types | Retell Lecture - not present Summarize Group - not present Write Email instead of Write Essay |
| Reading | 5 question types | 5 question types | No difference |
| Listening | 7 question types | 8 question types | Highlight Correct Summary - not present |
If you are aiming to immigrate to Canada for any purpose, check out some important articles below:
PTE Score to CLB Level Conversion
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) is a standard of English proficiency used by Canadian visa authorities to verify your skills. The table below gives the PTE score range as per the 10 CLB levels.
| CLB Level | PTE Listening | PTE Reading | PTE Speaking | PTE Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 89-90 | 88-90 | 89-90 | 90 |
| 9 | 82-88 | 78-87 | 84-88 | 88-89 |
| 8 | 71-81 | 69-77 | 76-83 | 79-87 |
| 7 | 60-70 | 60-68 | 68-75 | 69-78 |
| 6 | 50-59 | 51-59 | 59-67 | 60-68 |
| 5 | 39-49 | 42-50 | 51-58 | 51-59 |
| 4 | 28-38 | 33-41 | 42-50 | 41-40 |
| 3 | 18-27 | 24-32 | 34-41 | 32-40 |
Must read PTE for Canada to understand which CLB level is required for the different visa types.
PTE for UK Visas (UKVI)
UK visa authorities, as well as some universities, specifically mention the requirement of an SELT (Secure English Language Test). SELTs have the same exam pattern and syllabus as the regular ones, but they are administered under stricter conditions.
PTE and IELTS are the only English language tests that provide an SELT. You also get a special score report that mentions a Unique Reference Number (URN) to indicate that the test taken is an SELT and for UK visa.
The PTE UKVI comprises 4 categories of tests as mentioned below:
| PTE UKVI Test Category | Purpose | Question Types | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| PTE Academic UKVI | For studies:
| Same as PTE Academic | 2 hours |
| PTE Home A1 |
| Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Conversation: Listen and Answer | 22 minutes |
| PTE Home A2 |
| Repeat Sentence, Describe an Image, Retell Story | 25 minutes |
| PTE Home B1 |
| Repeat Sentence, Describe an Image, Retell Story, Listen and Answer | 22 minutes |
Notes:
- Unlike IELTS, PTE Home A2 is available in India.
- The PTE Home A1, A2, and B1 have no separate sections.
- No score is provided for the PTE Home exams; only a Pass or Fail status is mentioned in the score report.
How is PTE Scored?
PTE score ranges from 10 to 90, with higher scores indicating better proficiency in English. Universities and immigration authorities set their own PTE score requirements based on their specific needs.
| PTE Score Range | Description | Acceptance at Universities Abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 85-90 |
| Rarely required, as most institutions do not demand such high scores |
| 76-84 |
| Top universities have such high cut-offs; not typically required for undergraduate admissions |
| 59-75 |
| Commonly required for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions |
| 43-58 |
| Generally required for undergraduate admissions |
| 30-42 |
| Low score for admission to universities |
| 10-29 |
| Extremely low for admissions to universities |
Note: PTE scores are valid for 2 years from the test date.
PTE Preparation Tips
Preparing for the PTE exam requires a clear understanding of the test format, consistent practice, and focused improvement in all 4 English skills: Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening. Using official Pearson resources and structured practice can help maximize your score.
- Familiarize yourself with the PTE exam pattern, question types, and timing.
- Set a target score based on your university or visa requirements.
- Use official Pearson study guides, practice papers, and the PTE app for accurate preparation.
- Practice each section separately to strengthen weak areas and improve speed.
- Take full-length timed mock tests to simulate the real exam environment.
- Review mistakes carefully and learn from model answers to improve accuracy.
- Focus on clear communication, proper grammar, pronunciation, and writing structure.
- Maintain a consistent study schedule and ensure readiness for test day.
Read More: PTE Preparation Tips
PTE exam pattern 2026 is designed to evaluate real-life English skills across different versions of the test: Academic, Core, and UKVI. With new question types, updated scoring, and section-wise timings, understanding the pattern thoroughly and practicing with sample papers is crucial. Consistent preparation and familiarity with each section can help candidates achieve their desired scores efficiently.
FAQs
Ques: What are the tips to attempt the PTE Retell lecture?
Ans: Re-tell the lecture to assess listening and speaking skills. It can be tested by either listening to the audio or watching a video clip. The task is to retell the content of the lecture in its own words. The length of the audio/video is 90 seconds, and 10 seconds are given to prepare and 30 seconds to respond.
Ques: How can I improve my writing communication skills?
Ans: Writing involves summarizing written text and essay writing. To score high in this section, a lot of practice is required, but there are also other factors that contribute to a better score.
Ques: Will I know how much time is left?
Ans: PTE Academic assesses three sections, namely speaking and writing (together), listening, and reading. Each section is individually timed with the timer showing a countdown on the screen. So yes, you will know.
Ques: Can I correct my answers during the test?
Ans: In multiple choice questions, you can select a different answer by first deselecting the previous one, and in typed responses, you can use cut, copy, and paste options. Corrections must be made before advancing to the next sections. In spoken response, re-recording is not allowed, and the microphone automatically switches off if you pause for 3 seconds.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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