We have test centers in over 115 countries. Choose a test to find your nearest test center and next available test slot.
For global study, visa applications to Australia and New Zealand, and professional registration.
For IRCC permanent residency (PR) and citizenship applications in Canada.
A four-skills test for work visas and below non-degree study in the UK.
Two-skills tests for joining family, visa extentions, or citizenship in the UK.
I want to access to...
myPTE account
Book a test or check your existing bookings and scores
or
PTE Core, our brand new general English test, is approved by the Canadian Government (IRCC) for all economic visa categories, including citizenship and permanent residency.
Choosing the right English test for you is important. A core factor in your decision will be how the test meets the score requirements set by the IRCC.
We have carried out comprehensive research to ensure that PTE Core correlates to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). You can take a closer look in our alignment report (PDF, 833KB).
However, there are many other things to consider when finding the best test for you. For example, how quickly you need to receive your results? Are you in a rush to take your test? Do you want your speaking skills to be assessed by a human examiner or not?
So, to make it easier for you to decide which test is right for you, we have put together a handy summary of how PTE Core compares to IELTS General and CELPIP.
PTE Core is the fastest way to prove your English language skills. Book quickly, up to 24 hours in advance. There are frequent test dates and 475+ test centers around the world.
| PTE Core | IELTS General | CELPIP General Test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration and booking | Online or by phone up to 24 hours in advance | Online or in person, up to 3 days in advance | Online or by mail, up to 24 hours in advance |
| Appointment availability | Appointments are available up to 365 days (about 12 months) a year | Paper-based test available 48 fixed dates throughout year Computer-based test available up to 7 days a week | Appointments are available 5 days a week (Wednesday to Sunday) |
| Locations | Multiple locations worldwide in over 100 countries | Multiple locations worldwide in over 100 countries | Test currently available in 25 countries |
PTE Core is the faster, fairer, simpler way to assess your General English skills. It assesses all 4 skills in just 2 hours and you will typically receive your results within 48 hours. There is no separate speaking test with a human examiner, so you are judged on your English skills and nothing else.
| PTE Core | IELTS General | CELPIP General Test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours and 45 minutes | 3 hours |
| Number of test sittings | One test sitting | Two test sittings | One test sitting |
| Skills assessed |
|
|
|
| Content | Content based on everyday life situations and sources | Speaking and Listening sections use Academic content from IELTS Academic test Reading and Writing sections use content from everyday life situations and sources |
Content based on everyday life situations and sources |
| Accents | PTE scoring engines are trained to recognize 126 accents with accuracy | Speaking test assessed by human examiner so range of accents recognized varies | Speaking test assessed by human examiner so range of accents recognized varies |
With PTE Core you will typically* receive your results within 48 hours of sitting the test and you can share your scores with an unlimited number of organizations for free.
| PTE Core | IELTS General | CELPIP General Test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical score turnaround | Results typically* within 2 business days | Paper-based test results within 13 business days Computer-based test results within 3-5 business days |
Results within 3-4 business days |
| Sharing results | Share directly from secure portal Unlimited number of shares for free |
Paper-based test: share via post with up to 5 organizations for free Paper-based test: additional shares incur processing fees Computer-based test: unlimited shares included |
Shared directly from portal up to 5 organizations included Additional shares incur processing fees |
| Scoring scale | Scores from 10-90 Correlation to CLB available |
Scores from 1-9 Correlation to CLB available |
Scores from 0-12 Correlation to CLB available |
| Scores valid for | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
*Typical means in over 95% of instances. Some results may take longer due to security checks or other score validation processes.
"As a new test, PTE Core has made a very good impression. It's fast and efficient, but you need to prepare for it, same as you would for any other test." Oleh, Canada
"I was happy with my score. It was a very positive experience. Results are quick which helps us to think about our future plans." Deepshikha, Canada
"Taking PTE Core was a positive experience because it allowed me to demonstrate my English proficiency accurately and efficiently." Gunjan, Canada
PTE Academic is completed on a computer, including the speaking part of the test.
So make sure you are prepared by familiarizing yourself with the equipment you will use during your test. Reading these test tips and you will be fully prepared.
There are many ways you can improve your chances of gaining points in Part 2: Reading during PTE Academic.
To improve your reading skills, practice increasing your reading speed and comprehension at the same time. In turn, you will improve your writing, grammar and vocabulary skills.
To do well in this part of the test, you need to be able to read quickly, using effective reading strategies, as there is a limited time to answer all questions.
Speed reading tasks will help improve your reading speed. Practice speed reading every day and:
Aim to be reading at least 220 words per minute
Reading short articles of around 300 words
Read often for short periods of time
You can also try this as a challenge with your friends to help keep motivated. Once you are happy with your comprehension and speed, focus on chunks (groups of words) rather than individual words.
When your reading skills reach a level you are happy with, you will feel more confident to answer the questions.
In the Multiple-Choice, Single Answer question type, some test takers make the mistake of scan reading and matching the words in the text to the words in the answer. Generally, the words in the text are not used in the correct answer, therefore it is important to learn how to use synonyms and paraphrasing as it will be used in the test.
Learn how to improve your grammar in our Reading: Core Skills part 1 article.
In this question type, you will need more time than in the Multiple-Choice, Choose Single Answer question type, as you need to intensively read the stem (the part before the options) as well as the options, then scan read the text on the screen until you find the part of the text that contains information that was in the stem.
Read the options very carefully and match the meaning of the option with the text. Do not match the words – this is something test takers may make errors with.
You should also make sure not to choose all the options since you lose one point for each incorrect choice. However, you cannot score below zero.
To do well in the Re-order Paragraphs questions, you will need to have a strong understanding of cohesive devices and how they work. You will also need to understand how articles work, as well as the logical and chronological order of information.
In this question type, skim-read the text to get the ideas of the topic of the text. From there, you should read all the sentences carefully.
For both Fill in the Blanks and Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks question types, you will need to understand a range of vocabulary, collocations, grammar, pronouns, and cohesive devices, as well as being able to identify when plural nouns are needed.
You will also need to be able to skim read to get an idea of the meaning of the text, then read intensively before and after each blank. If unsure, you should guess based on the context.
Make sure you do not leave any spaces blank. You do not need to correctly fill in all spaces to get points.
To go back and review the question types within the reading test, we suggest learning more about the reading questions.
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?
Do you have your heart set on studying in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland? The UK is a wonderful place to live and learn, but you’ll most likely need to get a UK study visa before you start packing your bags.
This comprehensive guide covers who needs a UK student visa, the requirements for getting one, how to apply, how much it costs, and how long it takes.
If you’re an international student hoping to study in the UK, you’ll most likely need a student visa. The only exceptions are nationals of Switzerland and countries in the European Economic Area (EEA), who don’t need a visa to enter the UK. *
* Please note: The outcome of Brexit may alter this after 2020. Check the UK government’s website for up-to-date information about this.
There are several UK study visa requirements you’ll need to meet to successfully apply. These include:
You’ve been offered a place in a full-time course from an eligible university (i.e. the school must be a licensed Student route visa*Tier 4 sponsors)
You can understand English (both written and spoken)
You have enough funds to support yourself and any dependants, while also paying for the course.
These requirements apply to students from all over the world. This means the UK student visa requirements for Indian students and American students are exactly the same for Chinese students and Australian students (and so on).
![[Asset] Canada flag man running](/content/dam/ELL/pte/pearsonpte/articles/canada-flag-man-running.jpg)
