Sitting PTE Academic for the first time

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Reading time: 3 minutes

Choosing to study or migrate abroad is a big decision and may require you to demonstrate your skills in English.

The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is widely trusted by universities, colleges, and governments around the world. Taking PTE Academic can create opportunities for you around the world.

If you are taking the test for the first time, study each part of the test thoroughly to demonstrate your English skills as best you can.

Even people that consider themselves to be fluent in English need to prepare as they can sometimes score fewer points than they should have as they have not prepared.

We can help you achieve your best!

What should I expect on test day?

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What should I expect during the test & how do I prepare?

There are three parts to PTE Academic:

You should aim to study well in advance before taking the test as PTE Academic is an integrated skills test and there are a wide variety of skills you will need to apply.

When you first begin to study, look at the overview of the test and what question types each part contains. Then look at the skills that may be needed.

You can start by reading through the Speaking: Core English Skills.

From there, visit our Improve your score hub to learn more about the self-improvement strategies you can use to do your best in PTE Academic.

Take a practice test and assess

A Scored Practice Test will give you an idea of your likely score and is a great way of guiding your preparation.

Once you take the Scored Practice Test, consider how close you are to your target score and plan to improve your results.

Are you close to your target score?

If you are close to your target score make your preparation test-focused rather than learning English in general. Determine the skills you need to improve, then focus your preparation on these. These include both the enabling skills (grammar, oral fluency, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse) and communicative skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing).

Remember, your overall score is based on your performance on all test questions, so focus on the weaker areas and plan how long you’ll need to study to improve your English skills to the desired level.

Do you have to make up a lot of points?

If there is a big gap between your score and your target score you should take the test at a later time. Aim to improve your general and academic English skills with self-study or by taking a taught English course.

Good luck!

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