PTE Academic test format — section timing, question types, and scoring

The Speaking & Writing section runs 76—84 minutes and is the longest part of the exam. It opens with an unscored Personal Introduction (25s prep + 30s record) that helps you settle into the test interface. The scored tasks that follow assess your ability to speak clearly, comprehend spoken prompts, and write concisely under time pressure.

• Personal Introductionunscored warm-up (25s prep, 30s record)
• Read Aloudread a text up to 60 words aloud (30—40s prep, no fixed answer time)
• Repeat Sentencelisten to a 3—9s sentence and repeat it exactly (15s to answer)
• Describe Imagedescribe an image in detail (25s prep, 40s to answer)
• Re-tell Lecturelisten to a lecture up to 90s, then summarise aloud (10s prep, 40s to answer)
• Answer Short Questionanswer a 3—9s prompt in one or a few words (10s to answer)
• Summarise Written Textsummarise a passage up to 300 words in one sentence of up to 75 words (10 min)
• Essaywrite a 200—300 word argumentative essay (20 min)

The Reading section lasts 29—30 minutes. All tasks are self-paced within the section — there are no per-question countdown timers, so you decide how long to spend on each item. One task type (Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks) is integrated, contributing to both Reading and Writing scores.

• Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks (dropdown)choose the correct word from a dropdown for each gap in a text up to 350 words (5—6 tasks)
• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answerselect all correct answers after reading a passage up to 300 words (2—3 tasks, negative marking applies)
• Re-order Paragraphsarrange shuffled text boxes into the correct sequence (2—3 tasks, partial credit)
• Reading: Fill in the Blanks (drag & drop)drag words from a bank into gaps in a text up to 80 words; more words than gaps (4—5 tasks, partial credit)
• Multiple Choice, Single Answerselect the one correct answer after reading a passage up to 300 words (2—3 tasks, correct/incorrect)

The Listening section lasts 31—39 minutes. Each audio or video clip plays only once, so you cannot replay. You are allowed to take notes on the erasable noteboard provided. Most tasks score on partial credit; a few are strictly correct/incorrect.

• Summarise Spoken Textlisten to a 60—90s recording and write a 50—70 word summary (10 min combined listen + write, 1—2 tasks)
• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answerlisten to an 80—120s recording and select all correct answers (2—3 tasks, partial credit with negative marking)
• Fill in the Blanks (type-in)listen to a 30—60s recording and type the missing words into a transcript (2—3 tasks, partial credit per correct word)
• Highlight Correct Summarylisten to a 30—90s recording and pick the matching summary (2—3 tasks, correct/incorrect)
• Multiple Choice, Single Answerlisten to a 30—90s recording and pick the one correct answer (2—3 tasks, correct/incorrect)
• Select Missing Wordlisten to a 20—70s recording where the last word is replaced by a beep; pick the correct option (1—2 tasks, correct/incorrect)
• Highlight Incorrect Wordslisten to a 15—50s recording and click words in the transcript that differ from what is spoken (2—3 tasks, partial credit; negative marking applies)
• Write from Dictationlisten to a 3—5s sentence and type it exactly (3—4 tasks, partial credit per correct word; spelling matters)

The exam follows a fixed computer-based flow. Once you leave a question or section, you cannot go back. Staying silent for more than 3 seconds during speaking tasks will stop the recording. Plan your pacing so you complete every task within each section before the overall timer runs out.

• Answers are finalno going back to previous questions or sections
• Silence limit on speaking tasksrecording stops after 3s of silence
• Audio plays onceall listening prompts are single-play only
• Noteboard allowedtake handwritten notes during the Listening section
• No scheduled breaksthe full ~2-hour exam runs without pauses between sections