The PTE Academic syllabus is your complete roadmap to a 2-hour, AI-scored English proficiency test covering Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening in one integrated format. Conducted by Pearson, the exam uses fully AI-based scoring and delivers results within 48 hours.
As of August 2025, Pearson officially updated the PTE syllabus, introducing two new question types in the Speaking & Writing section and refining its AI scoring engine to better evaluate natural fluency over memorised templates.
This guide breaks down the complete syllabus for the PTE Exam section by section, so you know exactly where to focus, what to skip, and how to prepare smarter.
The PTE Academic syllabus consists of three sections: Speaking & Writing (54–67 mins), Reading (29–30 mins), and Listening (30–43 mins). Conducted by Pearson and scored entirely by AI, the exam takes 2 hours and tests integrated English skills across 20+ task types. Results are available within 48 hours of the exam.
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What is the PTE Academic Syllabus 2026? Section-wise Guide
Part 1
Speaking & Writing
⏱ 54 – 67 minTasks
Skills Tested
- Pronunciation & fluency
- Grammar & structure
- Vocabulary & coherence
Part 2
Reading
⏱ 29 – 30 minTasks
Skills Tested
- Comprehension & inference
- Logical sequencing
- Vocabulary & grammar
Part 3
Listening
⏱ 30 – 43 minTasks
Skills Tested
- Listening accuracy & notes
- Spelling & summarising
- Multi-accent comprehension
PTE Test Syllabus: Complete Breakdown
Part 1: PTE Speaking & Writing Syllabus (54–67 minutes)
This is the longest and most crucial section of the PTE Academic exam, as it assesses two key communication skills: Speaking and Writing.
It is the first section of the exam and is worth 45–50% of your overall score.
This part of the test contains nine different question types that test your speaking and writing skills, using English you might hear in an academic environment.
Many tasks in this section also contribute marks to the Reading and Listening sections, so mastering them can significantly boost your overall score.
Tasks covered in this section:
| Task | What You Do | Skills Tested | Time Per Task |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Introduction | Introduce yourself. This task is not scored. | Shared with selected universities | 55 seconds |
| Read Aloud | Read a written passage of up to 60 words aloud. | Speaking and Reading | 30–40 seconds |
| Repeat Sentence | Listen to a sentence and repeat it as accurately as possible. | Speaking and Listening | 15 seconds |
| Describe Image | Describe a graph, chart, map or image in your own words. | Speaking | 40 seconds |
| Re-tell Lecture | Listen to a lecture and summarise its main points aloud. | Speaking and Listening | 40 seconds |
| Answer Short Question | Give a short spoken answer to a general-knowledge question. | Speaking and Listening | 10 seconds |
| Summarise Written Text | Write a one-sentence summary of a passage. | Writing and Reading | 10 minutes |
| Write Essay | Write a 200–300-word essay on the given topic. | Writing | 20 minutes |
| Summarise Group Discussion | Listen to a group discussion and summarise the main ideas. | Listening and Writing | Task-specific |
| Respond to a Situation | Give a spoken response to a social or academic situation. | Speaking | 40 seconds |
-
Summarise Group Discussion: Listen to a group conversation between 3 people (2–3 minutes) and write a 50–70 word summary capturing the key points of all speakers.
Tip: Note the consensus or main argument, not every individual point. -
Respond to a Situation: Read or hear a social/academic scenario and record a 40-second spoken response. Scored on fluency, pronunciation, and relevance.
Tip: Acknowledge the situation → state your response → add one reason.
What Skills Are Tested?
- Pronunciation & Oral Fluency
- Grammar & Sentence Structure
- Vocabulary & Word Choice
- Content Flow & Logical Organisation
- Coherence in Writing
- Spelling & Punctuation
Pro Tips
- Speak naturally, avoid unnecessary pauses or self-corrections.
- Use simple but accurate grammar and clear articulation.
- Follow the templates for the Describe Image, Retell Lecture, and Essay tasks.
- Record your voice to practice rhythm and fluency.
- For the PTE Writing Section, plan before typing and always proofread at the end.
Must read
Check proven strategies by our experts to elevate your PTE Speaking Skills and score 79+.
2. PTE Reading Syllabus (29–30 minutes)
The Reading section tests your ability to understand, analyse, and interpret written information. It's entirely computer-based and requires a mix of logic, grammar, and vocabulary skills to perform well.
This section is worth 20–25% of your score, has the fewest task types, but is often where students lose easy marks due to negative marking. Hence, it is essential to master the PTE Reading section with the right strategies to score well.
Tasks covered under this section:
| Task | What You Do | Key Watch-out |
|---|---|---|
| Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) | Choose the correct word for each blank from a dropdown list. | One of the highest-weighted Reading tasks |
| Multiple-Choice, Multiple Answers | Select all options that correctly answer the question. | Negative marking applies |
| Re-order Paragraphs | Arrange sentences or paragraphs in the correct logical order. | Focus on connectors and logical flow |
| Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop) | Drag the correct words into the missing spaces in a passage. | Tests vocabulary, grammar and collocations |
| Multiple-Choice, Single Answer | Choose one correct answer after reading a passage. | Lower weightage; avoid spending too much time |
What Skills Are Tested?
- Grammar (tenses, prepositions, collocations)
- Vocabulary & word usage
- Logical sequencing and paragraph structure
- Reading comprehension & contextual inference
- Skimming and scanning for key details
Pro Tips
- Spend more time on high-scoring tasks (Fill in the Blanks).
- Avoid overthinking multiple-choice questions due to negative marking.
- Use logic connectors ("however," "therefore," "in addition") for re-ordering.
- Build your vocabulary using collocation lists and academic word sets.
- Practice speed reading, skim for main ideas, and scan for specifics.
3. PTE Listening Syllabus (30–43 minutes)
This section evaluates your ability to understand spoken English in academic and real-life contexts. The audio clips are played only once, so focus and active note-taking are essential for high scores.
It is worth 25–30% of your score and affects your Listening, Writing, and Spelling scores simultaneously. So, familiarise yourself with each subsection, and boost your PTE Listening skills to score well.
Tasks covered under this section:
| Task | What You Do | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Summarise Spoken Text | Write a 50–70-word summary of an audio recording. | High; also contributes to Writing |
| Multiple-Choice, Multiple Answers | Select all correct answers based on the audio. | Medium; negative marking applies |
| Fill in the Blanks | Type the missing words while listening to the recording. | High; also contributes to Writing |
| Highlight Correct Summary | Choose the summary that best matches the audio. | Medium |
| Multiple-Choice, Single Answer | Choose one correct answer based on the audio. | Low |
| Select Missing Word | Choose the word or phrase missing from the end of an audio clip. | Low |
| Highlight Incorrect Words | Identify words in the transcript that differ from the audio. | Medium |
| Write from Dictation | Type a sentence exactly as you hear it. | Highest-weighted Listening task |
What Skills Are Tested?
- Effective note-taking & summarisation
- Understanding multiple accents (Australian, British, American)
- Identifying tone, stress, and keywords
- Grammar & spelling (especially in Write from Dictation)
- Spotting differences between written & spoken words
Pro Tips
- Practice dictation daily, aim for 10–15 sentences.
- Develop active Listening by following podcasts (BBC, ABC, NPR).
- Train your ears to recognise different accents with mock tests.
- Always check spellings; typos directly affect your score.
PTE Academic Scoring Guide: Section-wise Approximate Weightage
Part 1 · Highest Weight
Speaking & Writing
45 – 50%
of the overall score
Part 2 · Logic-Based
Reading
20 – 25%
of the overall score
Part 3 · Integrated
Listening
25 – 30%
of the overall score
Key Insights
Speaking & Writing is your biggest scoring opportunity. At 45–50% of your total score, investing more prep time in Part 1 gives the highest return, especially for tasks like Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, and Write from Dictation.
Reading scores are deeply interconnected. PTE's integrated scoring means a Listening task like Fill in the Blanks (Audio) also contributes to your Writing score. Poor listening prep can pull down multiple sections at once.
Reading is the hardest section for most Indian test-takers. With only 4–5 tasks and negative marking on MCQ questions, one wrong answer can significantly hurt your score, making calm, methodical practice the most important strategy for Part 2.
How to Prepare for PTE Academic?: Study Blueprint
Understanding the PTE detailed syllabus is only half the work. The students who score 79+ in PTE are not the ones who studied every task equally; they are the ones who identified high-leverage tasks and built a daily routine around them. You must follow proven PTE preparation strategies that actually work.
Here are different tasks and their priority:
HIGH PRIORITY: Master these first
- Write from Dictation- Highest-weighted task in the entire exam. Affects Listening + Writing + Spelling.
- Read Aloud- Sets the tone for your entire Speaking band. Affects reading, too.
- Repeat Sentence- Big impact on Speaking + Listening. Partial credit is available.
- Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks- Most important Reading task. Feeds Writing band.
- Listening Fill in the Blanks- Strong Listening + Writing booster.
- Summarise Written Text- Powerful Writing task; improves Reading band simultaneously.
MEDIUM PRIORITY: Practise with templates
- Re-order Paragraphs (Reading logic)
- Describe Image (Speaking: use a template)
- Re-tell Lecture (Speaking: use a structure)
- Write Essay (Writing: structure and vocabulary)
- Highlight Incorrect Words (Listening: easy marks, low prep needed)
LOW PRIORITY: Attempt last
- Answer Short Question
- Select Missing Word
- Multiple-Choice (Single/Multiple) in Reading and Listening
- Highlight Correct Summary
Suggested Study Plan (4–6 Weeks)
| Week | Focus Area | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | Learn all task types and build basic response structures. | Understand the test format and remove surprises. |
| Weeks 3–4 | Practise high-weight tasks daily. | Improve speed and accuracy in the most important tasks. |
| Week 5 | Take full-length mock tests and review the score reports. | Identify weak sections and adjust your strategy. |
| Week 6 | Focus on weak areas and practise under exam conditions. | Improve timing, consistency and test-day confidence. |
Daily Practice Routine (High-Scorers Follow This)
- 🕐 20 min — Read Aloud & Repeat Sentence
- 🕐 20 min — Write from Dictation & Listening FIBs
- 🕐 20 min — Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks
- 🕐 20 min — Summarise Written Text / Essay writing
- 🕐 20 min — Full mock test section or timed practice
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Which PTE Exam Should You Prepare For?
The term "PTE" covers three distinct exams, and preparing for the wrong one wastes months of effort. Here is how to choose the right one for your goal:
| Exam | Best For | Syllabus Type | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| PTE Academic | University admissions in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA and New Zealand. | Academic English | Moderate–High |
| PTE Academic UKVI | UK visa routes that specifically require a Secure English Language Test. | Same format as PTE Academic | Moderate–High |
| PTE Core | Canada PR, Express Entry and eligible immigration or citizenship routes. | Everyday and workplace English | Moderate |
If your UK visa requires a Secure English Language Test (SELT), choose PTE Academic UKVI.
Conclusion
The PTE Academic syllabus is not just a list of tasks; it is a smart, skill-based framework designed to test how well you can communicate in real-life academic and professional situations.
By clearly understanding the PTE syllabus, its structure, section-wise weightage, and integrated scoring system, you can prepare strategically instead of wasting time on low-value tasks. When you focus on high-scoring areas like Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Write from Dictation, and Fill in the Blanks, you boost multiple skills at once and accelerate your score improvement.
