Pearson Test of English (PTE) and Scotiabank team up to support test takers in Canada

Familiy spending time together
Reading time: 2 minutes

2 March 2026 – Pearson Test of English has teamed up with Scotiabank to support test takers planning their new life in Canada, offering financial guidance and a $100 reward for eligible test takers.

Starting from March 2, 2026, first-time test takers who take an eligible PTE exam in Canada will qualify for a $100 gift card when they complete a personal financial review with a Scotiabank advisor.

"Test takers often tell us that financial planning is an important part of preparing to work, live, or study abroad,” said Shileen Costain, Senior Director, Pearson ELL. “That’s why we are proud to collaborate with a trusted banking institution like Scotiabank. Together, we are providing meaningful support and guidance that helps candidates move forward with greater confidence as they take this important step in their journey.”

"Preparing for a new life in Canada involves many important steps, and financial readiness is often at the top of that list,” said Kingsley Chak, Senior Vice President, Retail Client Value, Deposits and Investments at Scotiabank. “We’re pleased to join Pearson to help support newcomers as they begin this exciting journey. Through personalized financial guidance, we aim to help newcomers feel more confident and better equipped for their next chapter.”

This offer will be available only to test takers who have opted in to receive marketing communications from Pearson and have taken an eligible test. Scotiabank clients will also receive a 10% discount when booking an eligible test with Pearson through the Scotiabank website.

Gift cards can be redeemed at Amazon, Cineplex, The Ultimate Dining Card, or Empire Brand.

Limited-time offer. Terms and conditions apply.

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 typeas 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?