Glossary term

Mock Test

A mock test is a full-length practice test taken under the real format and timing before the real PTE: all 22 task types for PTE Academic or 19 for PTE Core, in the real order, scored the same way. Its purpose is a predicted score and a per-skill gap you can plan against, before paying for a real sitting.

Updated 23 September 2026

In plain language

Sit the whole test once, timed and scored, before you book. It tells you your level, your weakest skill and the tasks behind it, before a real sitting does.

Where you meet it

Not part of the official test. On EdKnot a mock produces an overall score, four skill scores, a section-by-section review and a score for every answer, using the same trait scales as the real scoring.

What a mock is for

Three things. A predicted overall and four skill scores, so you know whether to book. A per-skill gap against your requirement, so you know which skill to work on. And a task-level review, so you know which items in that skill are losing the points. Practice sets answer the third question; only a full mock answers the first two, because pacing across two hours and the shared Reading and Listening clocks are part of what the real test measures.

A mock is also a practical way to find out whether the PTE format suits you, before choosing between PTE and IELTS.

When and how often

One at the start, to set the plan. One every two or three weeks during preparation, as a checkpoint, not as practice; the practice happens between mocks on the tasks the last mock exposed. One in the final week, under exam conditions, to confirm the booking. More than one a week produces noise, because scores move with sleep and concentration as much as with skill.

Take every mock the way you will take the test: quiet room, headset, no pausing, no replays, and the Writing and Listening tasks typed rather than copied. A mock taken casually predicts a test you will not sit.

The numbers that matter

Length	PTE Academic about 2 hours; PTE Core up to 2 hours
Task coverage	All 22 Academic or 19 Core task types, real item counts and timers
Real test fee, for comparison	₹18,900 in India; A$490; C$360; £230
Retake limit on the real test	Up to 12 sittings in any 12-month period
Free on EdKnot	One complete scored mock for every new learner, no card

Worked example

A mock that saved a fee

A learner planning to book for a 65 requirement sits a mock and scores 61 overall with Writing at 54. The review shows the essay under 200 words and two spelling errors, and Summarize Written Text as two sentences. Three weeks on Form and spelling, a second mock at 67 with Writing 63, then the booking.

What it shows: The mock turned a likely failed sitting into a plan and one real test.

Tasks where it applies

Frequently asked questions

How many PTE mock tests should I take before the exam?

One at the start to set the plan, one every two or three weeks as a checkpoint, and one in the final week under exam conditions. Practice on the exposed tasks happens between mocks; more than one mock a week adds noise rather than information.

Are mock test scores accurate?

A well-built mock uses the real format, timing and trait scales, so its prediction is close for most learners, with a few points of variation either way on the day. Treat it as a range and build a margin of three to five points into your target.

Is a PTE mock test free on EdKnot?

Yes. Every new learner gets one complete scored mock test, PTE Academic or PTE Core, with no card required, under the fair-usage policy. Prepaid plans include further mocks and sectional tests.