Everything you need to know about the new PTE Score Report and Skills Profile

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image study buddy 1080px
Reading time: 4 minutes

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.  

How has the PTE Score Report changed?  

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: 

1. No more enabling skills  

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 This has been replaced by a new personalized Skills Profile which uses the candidates’ test performance to provide specific feedback.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.  

PTE-Academic-Score-Report-Angle-Crop-740x415.png

2. Online Skills Profile 

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.  

Image- Online Skills profile

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 

Image - Online Skills profile breakdown

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. 

3. Personalized recommendations  

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.  

Image - Skills profile personalized recommendations

With these personalized recommendations, you’ll be able to further tailor your PTE preparation classes to suit learners’ needs and help them succeed.  

Further reading

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. 

Related Content

  • A man using a laptop
    Prepare online with E2Language
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 1 minute

    Are you preparing to take PTE Academic?

    Good news! We have added a new test preparation company to our existing list of providers. This will give you even more options and support in your test preparation.

    Try E2Language with a free trial

    E2Language is a global online tutorial and test preparation provider. They offer good quality practice services and materials for PTE Academic. E2Language offers online tuition through group and 1-1 learning, supported by a range of YouTube videos that share tips and advice. They offer a set of online preparation materials.

    We are always looking to expand and enhance the services we offer our test takers and we believe the addition of E2Language helps us achieve this goal.

    Give yourself the best chance of performing well on the day with E2Language – try for free.

  • Video thumbnail for the video, 'Learn how PTE Academic uses AI to mark tests'
    How do you know PTE Academic’s computer marking works?
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    How do we know automated scoring works

    Are you thinking of taking PTE Academic, or have you recently taken it, but you are wondering how it is that a computer can mark your test?

    Well, firstly the test has been designed by humans, all leading experts in their field. Our human experts design and write the questions, quality assure them, and then score them. At this point, computers are trained to use the patterns of highly trained language experts to attribute scores to questions. When the computer marks correlate highly with the human scores, we then allow the computer to mark test scripts from across the world.

    As a result of our processes and technology, the computer behaves like an expert human examiner – but without any possible bias, lack of concentration, or variation between individual examiners.

    The scoring criteria are exactly the same as human scoring – test takers are marked on their delivery, clarity, relevance, the accuracy of grammar, and appropriateness of vocabulary.

    Want to hear more?

    Take a couple of minutes and listen to one of our leading independent advisors, Dr. Alistair Van Moere, a member of Pearson’s Technical Advisory Group, as he explains how it all works.

  • Image- student at class 800px
    Reviewing Test Performance
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    If you have completed PTE Academic, you would know by now that it is scored against the Global Scale of English and that you need to practice many skills for each part of the test: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening.

    After completing PTE Academic you will receive an email notification that your results are available online. Typically within 2 days. Learn how to access your Score Report.

    What does my Score Report mean?

    When you receive your Score Report it will show you your overall score, which is based on your performance across all test items. Your communicative skills that are measured are listening, reading, speaking and writing.

    This is an example of what your Score Report may look like.

    The enabling skills are those skills that are required to fulfill the question types in the test. It’s important to know what each of these skills refers to.

    Grammar

    Correct use of language with respect to word form and word order at the sentence level.

    Oral Fluency

    Smooth, effortless and natural-paced delivery of speech.

    Pronunciation

    Production of speech sounds in a way that is easily understandable to most regular speakers of the language. Regional or national varieties of English pronunciation are considered correct to the degree that they are easily understandable to most regular speakers of the language.

    Spelling

    Writing of words according to the spelling rules of the language. All national variations are considered correct, but one spelling convention should be used consistently in a given response.

    Vocabulary

    Appropriate choice of words used to express meaning, as well as lexical range.

    Written Discourse

    Correct and communicatively efficient production of written language at a textual level. Written discourse skills are represented in the structure of a written text, its internal coherence, logical development, and the range of linguistic resources used to express meaning precisely.

    How do I identify my areas of weakness?

    From the visual graph on your Score Report, you will be able to see areas you need to improve on. You should aim to develop your core (enabling) skills required across all areas of the test.

    The following resources will help you develop your enabling skills:

    How can I improve in each part of the test?

    It’s also worth focusing on particular parts of the test or questions you think you had trouble with. The following articles may help you improve your skills across questions:

    If you don’t already have one, it’s recommended to work with an English teacher to work through areas that may need improvement.

    Good luck!