PTE Exam Pattern 2024
PTE Articles · PTE Colleges
PTE 2024 Exam Pattern
The Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) evaluates candidates’ Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening abilities to ensure they are well-prepared for studying in an international environment with a strong command of English. The exam includes 20 different question types, assessing speaking and writing skills (54–67 minutes), reading skills (29–30 minutes), and listening skills (30–43 minutes) for candidates aiming to study abroad.
Achieving a high score on the PTE exam helps students demonstrate their proficiency in English to both university admission committees and visa officers, assuring them of the candidate’s ability to succeed in an English-speaking academic setting.
PTE Exam Pattern 2024
A strong performance on the PTE test not only ensures that candidates can present ideas, deliver presentations, and gain international exposure, but also proves their ability to communicate effectively in an English-speaking environment. This shows that candidates are prepared to study alongside students and faculty from around the world, using English as the universal language. Below, we outline the latest PTE format for 2024 for those planning to take the exam.
PTE Exam Overview
| Details | Description |
|---|---|
| PTE Exam Pattern | An English language exam designed to assess speaking and writing skills (54–67 minutes), reading skills (29–30 minutes), and listening skills (30–43 minutes) for candidates aiming to study in an English-speaking country. |
| Duration | 2 hours, single test session |
| Medium | Computer-based with headset |
| Mode | In a test centre or Home Edition |
| Test Type | Assesses real-life English |
| Test Layout | 20 question types |
PTE Exam Sections: Speaking and Writing — 54 – 67 minutes
This section evaluates the candidate’s speaking and writing abilities through six sub-sections. These tasks assess both quick responses and the ability to write based on new material provided during the exam. The time allocated for this section is 54 to 67 minutes, broken down as follows:
| Task | Number of Questions | Time per Task |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Introduction | 1 | 55 seconds (25 seconds for prompt, 30 seconds to record) |
| Read Aloud | 6 – 7 | 30-40 seconds to prepare, 60 words to read |
| Repeat Sentence | 10 – 12 | 15 seconds (3-9 seconds for prompt, 15 seconds to record) |
| Describe Image | 3 – 4 | 25 seconds to study the image and prepare a response |
| Retell Lecture | 1 – 2 | 90 seconds for prompt, 10 seconds to prepare, 40 seconds to answer |
| Answer Short Question | 5 – 6 | 20 seconds (3-9 seconds for prompt, 10 seconds to answer) |
| Summarize Written Text | 1 – 2 | 10 minutes to respond to a 300-word prompt |
| Write Essay | 1 – 2 | 20 minutes to respond to a 2-3 sentence prompt |
Total Questions: 28 – 36
Time Allocation: 54 – 67 minutes
PTE Exam Pattern: Reading Section — 29 to 30 minutes
The Reading section evaluates candidates’ ability to comprehend written English. This section is divided into five segments and lasts for 29 to 30 minutes. Below is the detailed breakdown of the time allocation for each task:
| Task | Number of Questions | Duration per Task |
|---|---|---|
| Fill in the Blanks – Reading & Writing | 5 – 6 | Read 300 words of text |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | 1 – 2 | Read 300 words of text |
| Re-order Paragraphs | 2 – 3 | Read 150 words of text |
| Fill in the Blanks – Reading | 4 – 5 | Read 80 words of text |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 1 – 2 | Read 300 words of text |
Total Questions: 13 – 18
Time Allocation: 29 – 30 minutes
PTE Exam Pattern: Listening — 30 to 43 minutes
The Listening section, lasting 30 to 43 minutes, is designed to assess the candidate’s ability to understand spoken English. Candidates must pay close attention to audio clips and accurately retain and interpret the information. The section consists of eight different tasks, with the time allotted for each segment as follows:
| Task | Number of Questions | Duration per Task |
|---|---|---|
| Summarize Spoken Text | 1 – 2 | 60-90 seconds to listen to 50-70 words, 10 minutes to write |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | 1 – 2 | 40-90 seconds for the prompt |
| Fill in the Blanks | 2 – 3 | 30-60 seconds |
| Highlight Correct Summary | 1 – 2 | 30-90 seconds |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 1 – 2 | 30-60 seconds |
| Select Missing Word | 1 – 2 | 20-70 seconds |
| Highlight Incorrect Word | 2 – 3 | 15-50 seconds |
| Write from Dictation | 3 – 4 | 3-5 seconds per prompt |
Total Questions: 12 – 20
Time Allocation: 30 – 43 minutes