PTE Test tip: Make sure you’re familiar with the test equipment

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image - silhouette of a girl reading 800px x 451px
Reading time: 1 minute

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.

PTE Academic test equipment

Computer Check

Before the test starts you will do an equipment check to ensure your headphones and microphone are working correctly.

Microphones

Look at the pictures below to check your microphone is correctly positioned. The microphone should be positioned around 2 fingers distance from your mouth.

Headset

Keep your headset on throughout the test as there will be other test takers in the room and they will be speaking at the same time as you.

Speaking levels

Speak clearly without shouting or whispering. Responses should be spoken at a regular pace with natural pauses. There is no need to speak slowly or loudly.

Background noise

There may be background noise during the test including other test takers answering questions. Don’t worry, you will only be assessed on the responses you provide through your headset microphone.

Is it almost time for your test?

Make sure you are fully prepared by learning more about what you should do on test day.

Related Content

  • [Asset] Student studying on sofa
    Practice for PTE Academic with this mock-test plan!
    By PTE Author

    We have all been there; it’s normal to be full of nerves before a test, with uncertainty of what to expect, and doubts about how you’re going to perform. 

    However, whilst nerves and anticipation are an unavoidable part of the testing experience, there are ways to reduce this when preparing for your PTE test, so you can grow in confidence before test day and achieve your desired score.

    At PTE, we are all about doing it worry-free!  

    And to do it worry-free, you need to know what’s coming up and familiarise yourself with the PTE test.

    Here are 4 ways you can start your PTE preparation and get the practice in, so you are confident for when test day comes. 

    1. Familiarize yourself with the test and what’s expected:

    A great way to prepare is to know all about what you can expect on test day. We have lots of resources available on our Preparation page. We'd recommend that you explore this section of our site and gather any top tips that you can from our range of free resources, also known as our A-Z of PTE. This includes a run-through of each question type as well as a video of what to expect on test day, which you can also watch below on this page!

  • Image, international student, 800px
    How to book your PTE exam
    By PTE Author

    Are you booking PTE for the first time? Do you know which of our PTE tests is right for you? No worries, we will guide you through the booking process.

  • [Asset] Canada flag man running
    Choosing the right General English test: How PTE Core compares
    By PTE Author

    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.  

    Booking a test

    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.