PTE Exam Pattern 2025: Section-wise Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation Tips

Particulars

Details

PTE Main Sections

• Speaking & Writing (54–67 minutes)
• Reading (30 minutes)
• Listening (30 minutes)

PTE Exam Duration

2 hours

PTE test format

Computer-based test

Exam mode

Online and test-centre based

Total questions

20 different questions

PTE Test Result & Score

PTE scores are available within 48 hours and the score ranges from 10 to 90.

Sections

Question Types

Time Limit

Part 1: Speaking & Writing

7-9 skill-based questions

54-67 minutes

Part 2: Reading

• Reading passages up to 300 words.
• Prompt length of multiple-choice and Multiple answers is 350 words.
• The length of the reordered paragraphs is up to 150 words.
• The text length of fill-in-the-blanks is up to 80 words.
• Prompt length for Multiple Choice, Single Answer is 300 words.

29-30 minutes

Part 3: Listening

• 50-70-word summary of a spoken test
• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
• Restore missing transcript words by typing
• Select a summary that matches a recording.
• Answer multiple-choice questions after listening to an audio.
• Select the words in the text that differ from those that the speaker says.
• Hear a short sentence. Type the sentence into the response box.

30-43 minutes

PTE Speaking & Writing Section Topics

Question Numbers

Duration

Personal Introduction

1

25 seconds to read the prompt and prepare a response, and then 30 seconds to record the response.

Read Aloud

6-7

30-40 seconds to read the text and prepare

Repeat Sentence

10-12

The task prompt length is 3-9 seconds, and candidates have 15 seconds to answer.

Describe Image

3-4

Candidates have 25 seconds to study the image and prepare their response.

Retell Lecture

1-2

Candidates only have 10 seconds to prepare their answers after listening to an audio.

Answer Short Question

5-6

Test-takers only have 10 seconds

Summarise Group Discussion

1-2

Two minutes are given to summarise a discussion in their own words.

Respond to a Situation

1-2

Candidates get 10 seconds to think about their response, and then 40 seconds to speak.

Summarise Written Text

1-2

Applicants have 10 minutes to write a single sentence of no more than 75 words.

Essay

1

Twenty minutes are given to write a 200-300-word essay.

PTE Reading Section Topics

Question Numbers

Task length

Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown)

5-6

Read 300 words of text

Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers

1-2

Read 300 words of text

Reorder Paragraphs

2-3

Read 150 words of text

Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop)

4-5

Read 80 words of text

Multiple Choice, Single Answer

1-2

Read 300 words of text

PTE Listening Section Topics

Question Numbers

Duration

Summarise spoken text

1 - 2

60-90 seconds to write 50-70 words, 10 minutes to listen

Multiple choice, multiple answers

1 - 2

80-120 seconds for prompt

Fill in the blanks (Type In)

2 - 3

30-60 seconds for prompt

Highlight the correct summary

1 - 2

30-90 seconds

Multiple-choice, single answer

1 - 2

30-90 seconds

Select the missing word

1 - 2

20-70 seconds

Highlight the incorrect word

2 - 3

15-50 seconds

Write from Dictation

3 - 4

3-5 seconds

Sections

Topics

PTE Test Tips

Speaking & Writing

• Personal Introduction
• Read Aloud
• Repeat Sentence
• Describe Image
• Retell Lecture
• Answer Short Question
• Summarize Group Discussion
• Respond to a Situation
• Summarize Written Text
• Essay

• Use punctuation correctly.
• Stress the words which carry the most important information.
• Focus on good pronunciation during the 2-minute speaking time.
• Analyse the essay prompt correctly.
• Make good use of the topic to predict the context of a lecture.
• Use complex and compound sentences while summarising a written text.

Reading

• Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown)
• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
• Multiple Choice, Single Answer
• Reorder Paragraphs
• Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop)

• Select the most appropriate words.
• Read precisely to choose the correct words for fill-in-the-blanks.
• Note repeated words.
• Find the topic sentence first while reordering the sentences.
• Use correct grammar and spelling.
• Note the keywords.
• Evaluate different response options.

Listening

• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
• Summarize Spoken Text
• Fill in the Blanks (Type In)
• Highlight Correct Summary
• Multiple Choice, Single Answer
• Select Missing Word
• Highlight Incorrect Words
• Write from Dictation

• Type as many correct words as candidates can remember in a correct order.
• Use correct spelling.
• If all the words are spelt correctly, the maximum score can be achieved.