PTE Exam Syllabus 2025: Section-wise Topics, Question Types, Pattern

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.

Topics

Question Numbers

Skills assessed

Time To Answer

Personal Introduction

1

Get familiar with PTE Test Technology. This part is unscored.

• 25 seconds to read the prompt
• 30 seconds to record response

Read Aloud

6-7

Speaking

• 30-40 seconds to read the text and prepare.

Repeat Sentence

10-12

Listening and speaking

• 3-9 seconds of prompt length
• 15 seconds to answer

Describe Image

3-4

Speaking

• 40 seconds to answer
• 25 seconds to study the image and prepare for the response

Retell lecture

1-2

Listening and speaking

• Prompt length is up to 90 seconds
• 40 seconds to answer

Answer the short question

5-6

Listening

• Prompt length is up to 3-9 seconds
• 10 seconds to answer

Summarise the group discussion

1-2

Listening and Speaking

• Prompt length is up to 3 minutes
• 2 minutes to answer

Respond to a situation

1-2

• Text up to 60 words
• 40 seconds to answer

Summarise written text

1

Reading and writing

• Text up to 300 words
• 10 minutes to answer

Write essay

1-2

Writing

• Write a 200-300-word essay on a given topic
• Prompt length is about 2-3 sentences
• 20 minutes to answer

Topics

Question Numbers

Skills assessed

PTE Reading Tasks

Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown)

1-2

Reading

• Text up to 300 words

Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers

1-2

Reading

• Text up to 350 words

Reorder Paragraphs

2-3

Reading

• Text up to 150 words.

Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop)

5-6

Reading

• Text up to 80 words.

Multiple Choice, Single Answer

4-5

Reading

• Text up to 300 words.

Topics

Question Numbers

Skills assessed

PTE Reading Tasks

Summarise Spoken Text

1-2

Listening and writing

• 60–90 seconds of prompt length
• Write a summary of 50-70 words
• 10 minutes to listen

Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers

1-2

Listening

• 80-120 seconds of prompt length
• Candidates have to listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question.

Fill in the Blanks (Type In)

2-3

Listening

• 30-60 seconds of prompt length.
• Test-takers have to restore the transcript by typing in the missing words.

Highlight Correct Summary

1-2

Listening and reading

• 30–90 seconds of prompt length.
• Candidates need to select the paragraph that best summarises the recording.

Multiple Choice, Single Answer

1-2

Listening

• 30–90 seconds of prompt length.
• Candidates have to listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question.

Select Missing Word

1-2

Listening

• 20–70 seconds of prompt length.
• Select the most appropriate option to complete the recording.

Highlight Incorrect Words

2-3

Listening and reading

• 15–50 seconds of prompt length.
• Candidates need to select the words in the text that differ from the speaker’s words.

Write from Dictation

3-4

Listening and writing

• 3-5 seconds of prompt length.
• Type the sentence into the response box.

Topics

Test Tips

Personal Introduction

• Test-takers have 25 seconds to read the prompt and prepare their response, and then 30 seconds to record their response.
• Candidates can record their response only once.

Read Aloud

• Do not start speaking before the microphone opens.
• Candidates should speak clearly.
• Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end.
• Candidates are only able to record their response once.
• Use appropriate pausing to maintain a proper flow.
• Stress the words that carry the most essential information.

Repeat Sentence

• Listen to the phrasing of the sentence.
• Identify the intonation pattern of a sentence.

Describe Image

• Identify the main information of the image
• Organise the description of the image

Retell lecture

• Use the image to predict the main topic behind a lecture.
• Speak well within 40 seconds and use an appropriate pause.

Answer the short question

• Do not pause for too long.
• Do not provide a long answer as time is a constraint.
• Candidates can replay the audio as many times as they like, but can record their answer only once.

Summarise the group discussion.

• Include all the main sections.
• Be confident while presenting ideas.

Respond to a situation.

• Identify the main points of a prompt.
• Use formal language.

Summarise written text

• Candidates must ensure to include the main points of the reading passage in a complete, single sentence of no more than 75 words.
• Always start a sentence with a capital letter.
• One full stop is allowed.
• Response should be in one sentence only.

Write essay

• Note keywords
• Find out the topic sentence and key points
• Candidates need to discuss whether they agree or disagree.
• Consider how different people may feel about a specific situation.

Topics

Test Tips

Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown)

• Candidates need to select the most appropriate words from a drop-down list.
• Select the option that is best suited for the given situation.
• Skim the overall meaning of a sentence to choose a correct word.
• Read well and identify the correct word.

Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers

• Candidates need to select all the response options that they think are correct from the list of possible options.
• Click using the left button of the mouse.
• The options are generally highlighted in yellow.
• Identify the repeated words to find answers quickly.

Reorder Paragraphs

• Read all the text boxes first.
• Try to start re-ordering the sentence once the candidates finish reading.
• Identify the topic sentence first.

Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop)

• There are more words than gaps, so candidates should not use all the words provided.
• Use knowledge of grammar.

Multiple Choice, Single Answer

• There are several possible options, but only one is correct.
• Note the keywords.
• Evaluate the response options well.

Topics

Test Tips

Summarise Spoken Text

• Summarise the main points.
• Include supporting points.
• Check punctuation, spelling and grammar.

Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers

• Take notes of the main points and supporting ideas,
• Select words for meaning.

Fill in the Blanks (Type In)

• Write the words after listening to the audio.
• Write on an erasable notebook booklet.
• Use proper nouns.
• Identify the words that are missing.

Highlight Correct Summary

• Select the summary that matches the recording.
• Take notes that match the summary.

Multiple Choice, Single Answer

• Focus on the type of information.
• Answer options after understanding the topic.

Select Missing Word

• Think about several possible options.

Highlight Incorrect Words

• Focus on keywords.
• Read the transcription quickly.
• Follow the text with the cursor after listening to it.

Write from Dictation

• Type as many correct words in the response box in the correct order.
• Take notes while listening to the audio.