PTE Help Center: PTE Home FAQs

The fast and fair English test

PTE Home is a computer-based English test which is accepted by the UK Home Office as proof of language proficiency for several family and work visas and for settlement and citizenship.

It is a pass-fail test which assesses your speaking and listening skills.

There are three different levels depending on the requirements of your visa – A1, A2 or B1 – and the test duration is between 22 and 29 minutes.

To complete the test, you will need to attend a secure Pearson test center. You will use a computer and a headset to listen to, read and respond to questions.

The test format

Each PTE Home test lasts under 30 minutes. During the test session, you will encounter a range of different question types. More information about each level can be found below, with a video showing the question types.

• PTE Home A1

• PTE Home A2

• PTE Home B1

I am under 18 years old. Can I take the test?

PTE Home is only available to test takers who are over 18 years old.

Do I have to take PTE Home in my home country?

You can take it at any of our test centers around the world that offer PTE Home. Find your nearest test center. Make sure you check what type of ID you have to use.

Please check the ID Policy regarding the acceptable form of ID. If you are testing outside your home country, you will probably be asked to show your passport at the test center.

PTE Home tests are accepted by the UK Government for a variety of different visa categories. In addition to their unbiased approach to testing, the tests have many unique advantages. 

Artificial intelligence

Did you know that artificial intelligence means that all test takers' results are graded by an algorithm, not humans? The use of scoring technology means that it’s not simply a single human assessing your English language skills, but a very clever algorithm that mimics how expert human markers would score, based on many, many responses.

Unbiased scoring

When you take the test, what you say is graded by AI against thousands of previous responses. What this means is that you’re graded only on what you say, not your accent or anything else.

Flexible testing and fast results

Thanks to the use of market-leading technology, PTE Home tests offer all test takers incredible flexibility. Test results are typically delivered in just 5 working days (and typically within 48 hours). PTE Home offers global testing in more than 150 test centers in over 100 countries.

Share your result with the UK Home Office automatically

Your score report will contain a Unique Reference Number (URN) which you should put on your visa application. The UK Government can use this number to securely access your result.

We encourage you to prepare for PTE Home before taking the test. We offer free resources to help you get ready for your test, including a guide to question types, and a short online prep course.

Explore preparation resources for:

• PTE Home A1

• PTE Home A2

• PTE Home B1

What ID should I bring?

PTE tests are taken in highly secure test centers, so it’s very important that we verify the identity of all of our test takers.

When you arrive to take your test, you must provide an acceptable identification document (ID).

In most cases, this ID will usually be your passport. If you do not have a passport, you may be able to use an alternative depending on your chosen PTE test. Please read our Acceptable ID guidance for more information.

We will email you as soon as your scores are available. Once your result is ready, you can sign in to your myPTE account to access it.  

Sending your score report to the UK Home Office

If you have taken the UKVI test, your score report will contain a SELT Unique Reference Number (URN). This should be entered on your visa application form so that the UK Government can securely access your results.