What PTE Academic score will I need to study in the UK?

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image- a model in front of Big Ben - 800px x 451px
Reading time: 5 minutes

Are you thinking about studying in the UK? If so, you’re not alone. Each year, over 500,000 international students enrolled at a UK university. In fact, after the United States, the UK is the second most popular destination for higher education students.  

UK universities are renowned for excellent teaching and cutting-edge research, and UK degrees are highly valued by academics and employers worldwide. But to study there, you’ll need to demonstrate you have an appropriate level of English.  

Our PTE Academic secure language test is accepted by nearly every university in the UK – as well as for all immigration applications. So, what score will you need to earn a spot in a university? Let’s find out:  

What it’s like to study in the UK

When it comes to world rankings, UK universities consistently perform well. According to this year’s QS World University Rankings, four of the top 10 universities around the globe are located in the UK.  

Going to a UK university isn’t just a good move as far as your education goes. It’s also a great way to immerse yourself in a new culture and meet lots of different people.  

The UK is small, but it’s also very diverse. This means your student experience will be quite different, depending on whether you choose to study in a big multicultural city like London or Glasgow, or a smaller university town like St. Andrews or Exeter.  

The amount of money you’ll need to study in the UK will also vary. Student fees differ from institution to institution. At the same time, your accommodation and day-to-day living expenses will depend on where your university is located.  

Check out our guide on the cost of living in the UK.

English language requirements  

To secure a student visa and attend a UK university, you’ll need to prove you have the English speaking, reading, writing and listening skills needed to succeed in your studies.

The PTE Academic English test is accepted by 99% of universities across the UK.

Still, each has slightly different entry requirements. But as a general UK government rule, for programs below degree level – such as a  foundation program – you will need to demonstrate a CEFR B1 level of English. For programs at degree level and above, you will need to demonstrate CEFR B2 level of English.

How does PTE Academic scoring work? 

PTE Academic provides transparent and easy to understand scoring. After taking the test you will receive an overall English score, as well as see how you performed in the Listening, Reading, Speaking, and writing areas of the exam.  

You’ll also get a: 

  • Grammar score

  • Spelling score

  • Oral Fluency score

  • Vocabulary score

  • Written Discourse score

If you’re happy with your results, you can assign your scores to the universities or institutions you are applying to directly from the myPTE account you created when registering. If you want to improve your scores, you can re-book the test after some more practice.  

Find out how PTE Academic scoring compares with other English tests.

University score breakdown

Here are the required PTE Academic scores for 25 universities across the UK, including their Times Higher Education World University and QS World University rankings:

Higher Education institutions Time HE rank QS rank PTE Score Requirement
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine  11 8 56-62
University College London 16 10 59-75
London School of Economics and Political Science 27  49  58 – 65 
King’s College London  35 31 59-75
The University of Manchester  51 27 49-73
The University of Warwick  77 62 60 – 75 
The University of Glasgow  92 77 59 – 70 
The University of Birmingham  107 87 51 – 67 
Queen Mary University of London  110 114 51 – 57 
Error 121 93 51 – 56 
The University of Lancaster  136 135 50 – 70 
University of Durham 149 86 56 – 62 
The University of Leeds  160 91 56 – 60
The University of Sussex 160 246 56 – 67 
The University of Liverpool  163 181 51 – 62 
The University of Leicester  170 242 56 – 67 
Newcastle University  178 152 56 – 69 
The University of Aberdeen  178 207 51 – 54 
Cardiff University  191 159 36 – 78 
The University of East Anglia  200 333 42 – 50 
The University of Bath  201-250  173 51-67
The University of Dundee  201-250  319 56 – 67 
The University of Reading  201-250  205 51 – 67 
The University of Surrey  251-300  267  42 – 73
The University of Kent  301-250 380  65 – 68 

Ready to book your test?

Don’t forget to explore our huge range of resources to prepare for PTE Academic!

Related Content

  • Image- Woman reading - 800px
    Reading: Self-Improvement
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    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.

    Multiple-choice, choose single answer

    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.

    Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers

    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.

    Re-order paragraphs

    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.

    Fill in the blanks and reading & writing: fill in the blanks

    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.

    Want more prep ideas?

    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?

  • Image- Writing journal with the UK gimmick-800px
    A Complete Guide to Applying for a UK Student Visa
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    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.

    Who needs a UK student visa? 

    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. 

    What are the UK student visa requirements I need to meet? 

    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).  

    Which type of visa do I need to apply for? 

  • Image- Scrabble WFH 800px
    10 new English words
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Hundreds of new words are added to the dictionary each year, and it often takes months of consideration to decide which ones. But when the pandemic began in 2020, many words we’d never heard of suddenly became part of our day-to-day vocabulary – think words like “furlough”, “stay at home order”, and COVID-19 (which was only invented in February 2020). With this, dictionaries raced to add new entries, and helped us to define our “new normal”. So, what are some of the words that got added last year? Let’s explore 10 new words you’ll need:  

    1. Adulting 

    Definition: The action of becoming or acting like an adult 

    In December 2020, the Oxford English Dictionary added the word “adulting.” It’s often used by young people when they talk about doing tasks that are essential to every-day life – like cooking meals, buying insurance, or paying taxes.  

    How to use it: My roommates and I are adulting all the time. We clean the whole house every Saturday! 

    2. Awe walk 

    Definition: Taking a walk outside and making an effort to look at the things around you 

    “Awe walk” hasn’t been added to the Cambridge Dictionary yet – but they have noticed it’s been used quite a bit. The word “awe” means a feeling of respect. So when someone says they will take an awe walk, it means they’ll notice – and feel grateful for – all the small things around them. 

    The word was actually coined by the authors of a psychological study, which found older people who took awe walks felt more positive and less stressed over time.  

    How to use it: Today on our awe walk we noticed a tree we’d never seen before.  

    3. Contactless 

    Definition: not having to physically touch or interact with people, or relating to a technological system for payments, where information is transmitted over short distances without physical contact

    “Contactless” delivery became a popular option for shoppers during the pandemic. People who choose contactless delivery get their groceries or food delivered to the doorsteps, but don’t have to go out to receive them. Merriam-Webster added the word to their dictionary in April, right at the beginning of the pandemic. Contactless is also referred to when talking about contactless payment technology.

    How to use it: Our family started to shop at a new grocery store, because we wanted the option to have contactless delivery.  

    The limit on contactless payments has increased. 

    4. Doomscrolling 

    Definition: the action of constantly scrolling through and reading depressing news on a news site or on social media, especially on a phone  

    Dictionary.com added “doomscrolling” in summer 2020. And, we’ve all done it. Doomscrolling is when you become obsessed with staying up to date with bad news. It’s a combination of the noun “doom” and verb “scroll” – and was made popular by the journalist Karen Ho last year.  

    How to use it: I was doomscrolling on Twitter today while reading about Covid-19 cases. I think it’s why I feel so anxious now.  

     

    5. PPE

    Definition: an abbreviation for personal protective equipment 

    Many of us first heard the word “PPE” at the beginning of the pandemic, and the word was added by Merriam-Webster last April. PPE is the abbreviation of personal protective equipment. This is the clothing people wear to protect themselves from danger. Masks, gloves, face shields, and goggles are all examples of PPE. 

    How to use it: Many healthcare professionals and essential workers did not have access to PPE at the beginning of the pandemic.  

     

    6. Quarenteen

    Definition: a teenager during the COVID-19 pandemic  

    Do you know a “quarenteen?” It’s another word that’s been observed by Cambridge Dictionary – but hasn’t been added quite yet. If it is added, quarenteen will be a homophone for the word “quarantine.” It’ll also be a compound noun of “quarantine” and “teenager.”  

    How to use it: My sister was a quarenteen and spent a lot of time on TikTok. 

     

    7. Thirsty 

    Definition: Having a need for attention or approval  

    But doesn’t thirsty mean needing to drink? Well, Merriam-Webster added a new definition of the word last year. “Thirsty” means having a strong desire for attention – especially on social media. Thirsty is informal, and it’s mostly used by young people. 

    How to use it: My brother is thirsty. He posts so many photos of our dog Jellybean on Instagram because he wants her to be a dog model.

     

    8. Truthiness 

    Definition: something that seems true but isn’t backed up by evidence 

    The word “truthiness” became popular after American comedian Stephen Colbert talked about it on his show The Colbert Report back in 2005. It was meant to be a joke, but many dictionaries have now included the word – including Merriam-Webster. With so much disinformation going around right now, we think it’s a great word for today's world.  

    How to use it: In this class, you can’t speak truthiness and expect to get away with it.  

     

    9. Unconscious bias 

    Definition: unconscious prejudice against people of a certain race, gender, or group 

    “Unconscious bias” is a negative term, which was added to the Oxford English Dictionary last year. Everyone has unconscious beliefs about other groups, and these beliefs can cause them to discriminate against others. There is also conscious bias. When people are consciously biased, their discrimination is intentional.   

    How to use it: In this day and age, I hope more workplaces will address their conscious and unconscious bias.

     

    10. WFH

    Definition:  An abbreviation for work (or working) from home  

    The word “WFH” was added to Merriam-Webster in April 2020 when many people were WFH! This is an important word to know if you're part of an English-speaking workplace.  

    How to use it: My co-workers say they’re WFH on Slack everyday.

    So, what’s your favorite new word? We recommend keeping up on all the new words added to dictionaries throughout the year –  it’s a great way to expand your vocab!  

    For more English-learning resources, don’t forget to check out our articles and click on the 'Test tips & advice' filter.