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When it comes to PTE Academic test preparation, it’s important that teachers know everything about the test-taking process so you can guide your learners each step of the way. From the type of questions and exam timings, to how the test is scored, both you and your students need to stay up to date with changes. That way, you can make sure there are no surprises on exam day and test takers can understand and even learn from their PTE results.
After sitting PTE, each test taker receives a Score Report, typically within 48 hours. In November, the format of the Score Report changed to make the scoring clearer for everyone.
Let's take a look at what students can now expect after sitting PTE Academic.
When a test taker completes their PTE Academic test, they receive a Score Report and now, a new Skills Profile, which are both available on myPTE. The report and profile tell students their test score and language skill level and show them where they can make improvements.
Here are some changes that have been made:
The PTE Academic Score Report offers test takers an overview of how well they performed during their test. It consists of an overall score of between 10 and 90, which grades their English ability against the Global Scale of English (GSE). They will also see individual scores for the four communicative skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. These scores are based on their responses to all the exam tasks.
Test takers can share their score report with an unlimited number of institutions by providing their Score Report Code or assigning results directly via MyPTE.
Before November 2021, the Score Report also showed an Enabling Skills section. This has been replaced by a new personalized Skills Profile which uses the candidates’ test performance to provide specific feedback. The aim of this is to help guide test takers’ future English language learning. It can also be useful for teachers, especially if test takers don’t reach their required score the first time around and are looking to retake the test.
The new Skills Profile will only be visible to the test taker. Importantly, it won’t be shared with institutions they are applying to. It is there for the test taker and their teacher to find out which specific language skills can be improved.
So how does it work? In the new profile, you’ll see the candidate’s performance across eight language skill categories:
Open Response Speaking and Writing
Reproducing Spoken and Written Language
Extended Writing
Short Writing
Extended Speaking
Short Speaking
Multiple-skills Comprehension
Single-skill Comprehension
The blue performance bars on the right give an indication of how well the test taker did in each area. The symbols in the middle show the language category (or categories) where each skill belongs to (listening, reading, speaking, or writing). This can help with PTE preparation as you can clearly and easily see which areas your students need to focus on if they want to get a higher score in the future.
For example, if they have a lower score in the Short Speaking section, you can prepare a class around this language skill to help students improve.
Download 20 free lesson plans - one for each PTE task type.
The Skills Profile also offers personalized recommendations to help strengthen the test takers’ English skills in each category. Simply click on a language category and there will be a drop-down list. It offers a description of the skill area and recommendations based on the GSE learning objective for test-related skills. These recommendations provide useful ways of practicing and improving specific language skills.
With these personalized recommendations, you’ll be able to further tailor your PTE preparation classes to suit learners’ needs and help them succeed.
As well as the Skills Reports and Skills Profile, there are plenty of resources available to help you prepare test takers for their big day. You can take a variety of short courses to help you teach PTE, and find lots of inspiration and advice on our blog.
Read the PTE guide to scoring to learn more about how the test is scored.
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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