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Podcasts are a great way to practice your English skills. You can listen to them while studying from your desk at home. Or you can listen to them on the go – like while you’re driving, cooking, cleaning, or working out.
We especially love podcasts because, since many are conversational, they give you the chance to hear how English speakers interact in real life and expose you to lots of interesting new languages.
If you’re planning to take PTE Academic this year, podcasts are great practice for the listening section of the exam – for which you’ll have to answer questions based on audio or video clips.
So, are you ready to immerse yourself in the world of English language podcasts? In this blog, we’ll explore some of the best podcasts to learn English:
6 Minute English is a podcast by BBC Learning English. Each week, the BBC hosts chat about everyday situations – and it makes for a really interesting listen. Ever wonder if trees are intelligent? Or if humans could live in cities underwater? Well, this could be the podcast for you.
Overall, 6 Minute English is great for people with an intermediate level of English. It’s short (you guessed it, just 6 minutes) and each episode includes a vocabulary list and transcript.
But Why is another fun podcast for intermediate-level English learners. Kids record questions for the show, and host Jane Lindholm brings in an expert to answer them on air.
But Why is produced by Vermont Public Radio in the U.S. And while the podcast is made for kids – it answers questions like ‘why do dogs have tails’ or ‘why are whales so big’ – Lindholm speaks slowly and charismatically, making it easy to understand. Of course, if you have kids, But Why is also a good show to listen to as a family.
Each episode is about 30 minutes long and includes a transcript. Even more, the episodes come with free learning worksheets (like this one), which you can use to practice your English writing and listening comprehension skills.
Luke’s English Podcast is hosted by Luke Thompson, an English teacher, and comedian from the U.K. The podcast covers a big range of topics; one episode may cover pronunciation tips, and the next may simply feature a conversation between Thompson and his wife.
The show is often touted as one of the best podcasts to learn English (it’s been downloaded more than 60 million times) and overall, is a good way to practice your British English skills. The episodes are on the longer side, and some are up to two hours long.
While the podcasts are free, Thompson also produces paid content for listeners to subscribe to – giving them access to things like extra podcast episodes, worksheets, tests, and pronunciation drills.
Many podcast consumers enjoy listening to true crime stories. And, Criminal is one of the most popular crime podcasts out there.
Criminal releases two new episodes every month, and each episode explores the story of a different crime. The host, Phoebe Judge, tells how the crime occurred and interviews the people involved – usually a witness, victim, police officer, historian, or the person charged.
Since Criminal brings on lots of interview subjects – with different accents and ways of speaking – the podcast is not only thought-provoking. It’s also great for practicing your listening skills, particularly if you’re an upper-intermediate or advanced English learner.
This American Life is one of the most popular English speaking radio programs and podcasts today. In fact, 3.1 million people download each podcast episode! The 1-hour show is hosted by Ira Glass. Each episode delves into a different theme and includes different stories about the theme.
Sometimes the show features long-form pieces about U.S. politics or tells about how one family has been impacted by American immigration policies. Other episodes talk about break-ups or peculiar family traditions.
Overall, it’s an excellent show to improve your English comprehension – and learn about American culture, politics, and stories while you’re at it. So if you plan to move to the U.S., listening to This American Life is a must.
We know podcasts help to improve your listening skills. But you can use them to improve your speaking, reading and writing skills, too. Here are a few tips:
As we mentioned above, many podcasts publish transcripts of their episodes. If you’re studying English at home, it’s a great idea to listen to your favorite podcast with the transcript in front of you. This will help to improve your reading, as well as understand everything the host is saying.
You might even want to pause the podcast every few seconds and repeat after the host to practice speaking and pronunciation.
To expand your vocabulary, write down 15 new words from each podcast episode. Take a few minutes at the end of each show to look up the words and define them. If you listen to two podcast episodes each week, you’ll learn 120 new words a month.
It’s also a great idea to write a few words about each podcast episode. You might want to challenge and write a 200-word podcast summary. Or, you could simply write a sentence about something new you learned from the show.
These writing exercises are great practice for PTE Academic because writing a one-sentence summary of a text or audio file is something you’ll be tested on.
A podcast listening club is just like a book club – you get together with a group of friends to discuss and reflect on what you’ve learned.
So, if you’re a fan of a particular podcast, why not ask a few friends to meet to chat about some recent episodes? It’s a great way to practice your speaking skills, and it will also help you gain more confidence in expressing opinions in English.
Explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.
Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test
It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account
Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.
Ready to get started?
The Summarize Group Discussion task is one of the most comprehensive speaking challenges in PTE Academic. It tests your ability to listen actively, take effective notes, and deliver a coherent summary that captures multiple perspectives.
Understanding how to approach this task strategically can significantly boost your speaking score.
The "Respond to a Situation" task in the Speaking section of PTE Academic tests your ability to handle real-world university scenarios using appropriate language. This task simulates everyday campus interactions, requiring you to respond naturally and effectively to common situations you might encounter as a student.
Knowing your English level helps you pick the right course, get visas, and make strong applications for work or school. In short: proficiency levels are standard descriptions of what you can do in reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
You can check your level with trusted online tests or official exams like PTE Academic or PTE Core, which give scores based on global standards. Below, we explain how levels are defined, how they’re tested, how to estimate your current ability, and what different goals usually need, so you can plan your next step with confidence.
Language proficiency levels show how well you can read, listen, speak, and write. These levels follow shared standards so schools, employers, and governments around the world can easily understand your skills.
The most common system is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which rates language ability from beginner (A1) to highly advanced (C2). A recent overview explains CEFR’s role as a standard for designing tests and interpreting scores across countries and programs and notes ongoing efforts to keep it up to date for modern assessments.
Pearson’s Global Scale of English (GSE) provides a more granular 10–90 scale that also aligns to CEFR tiers. This makes it easier to see fine-grained progress and map scores to CEFR bands.
Typical CEFR levels at a glance:
A1: Understand and use everyday expressions; introduce yourself; ask and answer simple questions
A2: Handle routine tasks; describe immediate needs and simple aspects of daily life
B1: Understand main points of clear standard input; produce simple connected text; manage travel or work situations
B2: Interact with fluency on familiar topics; write clear, detailed text; follow lectures with some support
C1: Use English flexibly and effectively in academic and professional contexts; understand demanding texts
C2: Understand virtually everything heard or read; summarize information coherently; express nuanced ideas precisely
Common uses:
A1-A2: Mainly used for basic immigration visas, family reunification, entry-level work or training programs, and integration courses where simple everyday communication is sufficient.
B1–B2: Many vocational programs, initial professional roles, and some visa pathways
B2–C1: Most undergraduate admissions and professional certifications
C1–C2: Postgraduate study, specialized professions, and roles requiring complex communication
Proficiency is measured across four core skills:
Reading:Understanding texts, identifying main ideas and details, and interpreting vocabulary in context
Listening : Following speech at natural speed, recognizing key information, and inferring meaning
Speaking: Producing clear, organized speech; using accurate grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation
Writing: Composing well-structured texts suited to purpose and audience; demonstrating control of grammar and cohesion
The scoring for most English language tests is measured against the CEFR. For The scores for PTE Academic (for studying and work) and PTE Core (for general use and migration), align to CEFR with scoring between 10 and 90. Learn more about PTE scoring alignment.
Build a reliable picture by mixing official tests with quick checks and reflective habits:
Take a recognized practice test: Use an official Pearson PTE Scored Practice materials Test
or other reputable online assessments to estimate your CEFR level and identify strengths and gaps
Practice with PTE-style items: Work through sample reading tasks (e.g., fill-in-the-blanks), listening summaries, and short spoken responses to simulate real test conditions.
Use self-analysis prompts that match the CEFR level you are aiming for: For example, ask, “Can I follow a university lecture?”, “Can I write a formal email with clear structure?”, “Can I explain a process or opinion for 60–90 seconds?”
Requirements vary, but many universities, colleges, professional bodies, and visa authorities set minimum thresholds around B1–C1, or the equivalent GSE score range of 43-84 for PTE Academic and PTE Core. . Some UK family and settlement visas require A1 or A2 level. Always confirm details with the program or government authority.
Typical requirement ranges (illustrative):
University / College admission:
Undergraduate: Often B2; competitive programs may prefer C1
Postgraduate: Commonly C1
Professional certification:
General professional registration: Frequently B2–C1
Visa/migration pathways:
Skilled migration: Typically B1–B2+ equivalents; some routes require higher levels depending on occupation
Family visas: Often A1-A2.
For Canadian migration scenarios, explore PTE Core requirements and pathways here.
For UK migration, consider PTE UK visa SELT tests.
For many learners, English isn't just the goal; it’s the way to get degrees, licenses, and international jobs. Universities and employers look at test scores to decide who to admit or hire. Once students are in university or at work, success depends on great communication (reading, listening, speaking, and writing) skills, whether it's doing research or talking to clients.
Research indicates that higher English proficiency supports academic performance and integration for international students, improving classroom participation and social engagement. In the workplace, clear communication underpins teamwork, safety, and advancement, making ongoing skill development a career investment, not just a test goal.
Target all four skills with short, consistent practice:
Daily core routine (20–40 minutes):
Listening: Listen to 2–3 minutes of a podcast or lecture; note new phrases
Speaking: Answer one daily Q&A aloud (60–90 seconds) on familiar topics
Reading: Skim a news article; summarize the main idea in two sentences
Writing: Draft a short email or 120–150 word paragraph; focus on structure and linking words
Quick wins:
Grammar and vocabulary: Do 10 fill-in-the-blank or sentence completion items; build a personal word bank with examples
Reading for context: Underline signal words (however, therefore) and infer meaning of three unknown words from context
Listening focus: Practice identifying the overarching meaning first, then the key details and numbers
Feedback loop: Swap writing with a friend or use self-scoring checklists; act on one improvement point per day
To prepare for your English exam, practice with practice tests that are similar to your actual test and check the scoring guidelines to make sure your answers meet the expectations. If you aren't sure where to start take our 'Which test is right for me?' tool. You can also read our article 'How to pick an English test that works for you'.
Practice short answers to everyday prompts like “What did you do today?” and “What do you like to eat?” to build fluency and reduce hesitation.
Use clarifiers such as “Could you repeat that more slowly?” or “Do you mean…?” to confirm meaning and keep the conversation clear.
Do fill-in-the-blanks, sentence completion, and synonym/antonym matching to reinforce patterns and expand word choice.
Study common task types (reading comprehension, short writing, gap-fill, brief speaking responses) and practice them under timed conditions to build accuracy and pacing. You can also try practice tests to get used to the format of a specific test, like PTE.
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