PTE Academic Syllabus Breakdown: Section-by-Section Guide

The Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic is a comprehensive English proficiency test aimed at evaluating the speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills of candidates who wish to study or work in English-speaking countries. Understanding the PTE syllabus is crucial to performing well in the exam. Here's an in-depth look at the PTE syllabus for 2024, breaking it down into its core components and providing insights into each section.

The PTE (Pearson Test of English) is divided into three main types, each designed to assess English proficiency for different purposes. They are:

1. PTE Academic
2. PTE General/ core
3. PTE UKVI (PTE Academic for UK Visas and Immigration)

Overview of the PTE Academic Exam Syllabus

This is the most popular version of the test, primarily taken by students and professionals applying for higher education in English-speaking countries.

The PTE Academic test is designed to assess a candidate's language proficiency in an academic context. The PTE syllabus is divided into three main sections:

1. Speaking & Writing
2. Reading
3. Listening

Each section has its specific question types, and the overall test lasts for around two hours. The PTE test syllabus includes a variety of tasks that are integrated, meaning that several skills are assessed at once. For example, in the Speaking section, you may be asked to read aloud or summarize written texts, which involves both reading and speaking skills.

PTE Academic Syllabus:

Take a look at the PTE syllabus chart below with the time allotted and skills tested.

PTE Speaking & Writing Section

The Speaking & Writing section takes approximately 54–67 minutes. This section tests both your speaking and writing abilities. The topics covered here include:

• Personal Introduction: You introduce yourself briefly to the test system.
• Read Aloud: You read a given text aloud, testing your pronunciation and fluency.
• Repeat Sentence: You repeat a sentence spoken by the system, assessing your listening and speaking skills.
• Describe Image: You describe an image displayed on the screen, testing your ability to organize and speak clearly.
• Re-tell Lecture: After listening to a lecture, you summarize the content, showing your listening comprehension and speaking ability.
• Answer Short Question: You answer a question in one or two words, assessing your understanding of basic English.
• Summarize Written Text: You read a short passage and summarize it in one sentence, testing both reading comprehension and writing.
• Essay: You write an essay on a given topic, demonstrating your ability to organize ideas and write coherently.

PTE Reading Section

The Reading section lasts for 29–30 minutes and is designed to test your reading and writing skills. THE PTE Reading syllabus includes a variety of question types, such as:

• Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks: You fill in missing words in a passage.
• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer: You choose more than one correct answer based on the reading passage.
• Re-order Paragraphs: You rearrange jumbled sentences to make a coherent paragraph.
• Fill in the Blanks: Another type of question where you complete sentences by filling in the blanks.
• Multiple Choice, Single Answer: You select the correct answer from multiple options.
• Total Time: 29–30 minutes

PTE Listening Section

The Listening section lasts between 30–43 minutes. This section evaluates your ability to understand spoken English in various contexts. The question types include:

• Summarize Spoken Text: You listen to a recording and summarize the main points in your own words.
• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers: You select multiple answers based on the audio.
• Fill in the Blanks: You listen to a recording and complete the text with missing words.
• Highlight Correct Summary: You listen to a recording and select the correct summary.
• Multiple Choice, Single Answer: You choose one correct answer after listening to an audio clip.
• Select Missing Word: You listen to a sentence with a missing word and select the correct word.
• Highlight Incorrect Words: You listen to a recording and identify the words that were misheard.
• Write from Dictation: You listen to a sentence and write it down accurately.
• Total Time: 30–43 minutes

PTE CORE Syllabus:

The PTE Core Syllabus encompasses the fundamental structure of the PTE Academic exam. It focuses on evaluating the four primary language skills—Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening—through an integrated approach. However, there are a few differences in writing and listening section of this type.

Below is an exploration of the PTE general syllabus, detailing the tasks and skills assessed:

PTE UKVI Visa Test

The PTE UKVI (Pearson Test of English for UK Visas and Immigration) is a specialized version of the PTE Academic test tailored to meet the requirements of the UK Home Office for visa and immigration purposes. It is ideal for individuals applying for student visas, work visas, or settlement in the UK. The test format is identical to PTE Academic, assessing skills in Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening, and includes tasks like essay writing, summarizing texts, and listening comprehension exercises. However, PTE UKVI comes with enhanced security features, including stricter identity verification processes, to ensure compliance with UK immigration standards. Recognized by universities, professional bodies, and the UK government, PTE UKVI is an efficient and reliable choice for demonstrating English proficiency for academic and professional pursuits in the United Kingdom.

PTE Exam Syllabus 2024: Key Features

1. Integration of Skills: The PTE exam assesses integrated skills, meaning candidates will often need to perform multiple tasks within a single question. For example, in the Speaking & Writing section, you may be required to listen, speak, and write.
2. Computer-based Test: The entire test is conducted on a computer, which means candidates need to be familiar with typing and interacting with a computer interface.
3. Time Allocation: Each section has a fixed time frame. The Speaking & Writing section takes 54–67 minutes, the Reading section takes 29–30 minutes, and the Listening section takes 30–43 minutes.
4. Scoring System: The PTE exam uses a unique scoring system, where each skill is given a score on a scale, and the overall score is the cumulative result of all sections. A total score is generated based on your performance across all areas.

PTE syllabus with marks:

PTE Academic scores range from 10 to 90, with higher scores indicating better proficiency. The score reflects your performance in Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening, with each skill assessed individually. An overall score is also provided, summarizing your language abilities. PTE scores are widely accepted by universities, colleges, and governments for study and immigration purposes.

PTE Results

PTE Academic results are typically available within 5 business days. The results include scores for individual skills and an overall score, along with a breakdown of your strengths and areas for improvement. You can access your results online and share them directly with institutions or agencies.

PTE New Syllabus Updates (2024)

The 2024 PTE syllabus has undergone slight modifications, notably shortening the total test duration by one hour. While the overall structure remains similar, candidates should be aware of updates to question types and time allocations. It's essential to stay up to date with the official syllabus to ensure that you are well-prepared for any changes

Conclusion

Understanding the PTE course syllabus is key to success in the exam. By familiarizing yourself with the different sections—Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening—you can approach each task with the appropriate strategies. Remember to practice the question types mentioned above and focus on improving all four language skills: speaking, writing, reading, and listening. By making a PTE detailed syllabus plan and practicing the tasks in timed conditions you can easily achieve your desired score.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. What are the different sections of the PTE Academic test?

A. The PTE Academic test has three sections: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening, designed to assess English proficiency across all core skills.

Q. How is the PTE Academic test scored?

A. The test is scored using AI-based technology, providing a score range of 10 to 90 for each section, with overall and communicative skill scores.

Q. What is the difficulty level of the PTE Academic test?

A. The PTE Academic test is considered moderate to challenging, requiring strong English language skills and time management.