PTE Syllabus 2025: Speaking, Writing, Reading & Listening

The PTE Syllabus is designed to evaluate your real-life English communication skills through integrated tasks that combine Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening. Unlike traditional tests, PTE uses a computer-based format and AI scoring to assess pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and academic Writing all within a 2-hour exam. Understanding the complete  Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic syllabus enables you to identify the exact task types, scoring weightage, and skill requirements in each section, allowing you to prepare strategically, focus on high-impact questions, and boost your overall score with confidence.

PTE Exam 2025 Key Updates

Exciting news for all PTE Academic test-takers! On 7th August 2025, Pearson PTE rolled out some key updates to make the exam even more dynamic:

• New Question Types in Speaking & Writing (Part 1):
  • Task 7: Summarise Group Discussion – show off your ability to capture key points clearly!
  • Task 8: Respond to a Situation – demonstrate your quick thinking and communication skills.
• Updates in Reading & Listening (Parts 2 & 3):
  • Some question types have been renamed to better reflect what’s being tested – keep an eye out for the changes!

PTE Academic Syllabus Overview

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 in academic English. Many tasks here also contribute marks to the Reading and Listening sections, so mastering them can significantly boost your overall score.

Tasks Covered

• Personal Introduction (Unscored): Introduce yourself; this is shared with universities.
• Read Aloud: Read a sentence or paragraph on screen clearly and naturally.
• Repeat Sentence: Listen carefully and repeat exactly what you hear.
• Describe Image: Explain graphs, charts, or pictures in 40 seconds.
• Re-tell Lecture: Listen to a lecture and summarise it fluently.
• Answer Short Question: Respond quickly to simple audio questions.
• Summarise Written Text: Write a one-sentence summary (5–75 words).
• Write Essay (200–300 words): Compose a well-structured essay on a given topic.

What Skills Are Tested?

• Pronunciation & Oral Fluency
• Grammar & Sentence Structure
• Vocabulary & Word Choice
• Content Flow & Logical Organisation
• Coherence in Writing
• Spelling & Punctuation

Tips to Score High

• Speak naturally, avoid unnecessary pauses or self-corrections.
• Use simple but accurate grammar and clear articulation.
• Follow templates for Describe Image, Re-tell Lecture, and Essay tasks.
• Record your voice to practice rhythm and fluency.
• In Writing, plan before typing and always proofread at the end.

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.

Tasks Covered

• Reading & Writing, Fill in the Blanks: Select correct words from dropdowns (highest weightage).
• Multiple-Choice, Multiple Answers: Choose all correct options (beware of negative marking).
• Re-order Paragraphs: Arrange sentences in the right order.
• Fill in the Blanks (Drag & Drop): Drag words to complete the passage.
• Multiple-Choice, Single Answer: Pick the most suitable answer.

Skills Tested

• Grammar (tenses, prepositions, collocations)
• Vocabulary & word usage
• Logical sequencing and paragraph structure
• Reading comprehension & contextual inference
• Skimming and scanning for key details

Time Management Tips

• Spend more time on high-scoring tasks (Fill in the Blanks).
• Avoid overthinking multiple-choice questions because of the 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.

Tasks Covered

• Summarise Spoken Text: Write a summary of an audio clip.
• Multiple-Choice, Multiple Answers: Choose all correct options.
• Fill in the Blanks (Audio): Type missing words from the recording.
• Highlight Correct Summary: Select the most accurate summary.
• Multiple-Choice, Single Answer: Choose one correct response.
• Select Missing Word: Predict the final word or phrase.
• Highlight Incorrect Words: Find discrepancies between text and audio.
• Write from Dictation: Type sentences exactly as you hear them (highest weightage).

Skills 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

Scoring Impact

• Not all listening tasks are weighted equally. Focus more on:
• Write from Dictation: Extremely high-weight task
• Fill in the Blanks (Audio) Strong influence on Listening & Writing scores
• Summarise Spoken Text Boosts both Listening & Writing

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 Speaking & Writing Syllabus (54–67 mins)

Must Read:

• PTE Academic Exam Fee
• PTE Academic Test Dates

Section-wise Approximate Weightage

1. Speaking & Writing is the most heavily weighted section.
2. Listening and reading both rely heavily on integrated scoring.
3. Many Listening scores also depend on your Writing & Reading skills.

Which PTE Exam Should You Prepare For? 

What is Integrated scoring in the PTE Exam?

Integrated scoring in the PTE Academic Exam Pattern means that one task can give you marks in more than one section at the same time, instead of being scored separately, like IELTS or TOEFL. For example, Read Aloud tests Speaking, but also gives marks to Reading. Repeat Sentence improves Speaking and Listening together. Summarise Written Text boosts Writing and Reading. Write from Dictation is the most powerful task because it affects Listening, Writing, and even Spelling.

This is why PTE is unique; its tasks are designed to reflect real-life communication, where you often read, listen, speak, and write together. The benefit? Focus on high-weight integrated tasks, such as Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Fill in the Blanks, and Write from Dictation. You can improve multiple section scores at once and boost your overall score much faster with smart preparation instead of practising every task equally.

Further Reading:

• How is the PTE Score Calculated?
• PTE Score Calculation

Latest Changes in PTE Academic Syllabus

Pearson has made several updates to the PTE Academic exam to make it faster, more efficient, and more aligned with real-life communication. The core syllabus (skills tested) has NOT changed, but the format, time, and scoring system have been optimised. Here are the most important updates you must know:

1. Exam Duration Reduced (From 3 Hours → 2 Hours)

• The test is now shorter by almost 1 hour.
• No major task was removed; only the number of questions was reduced.
• Improved time management leads to less mental fatigue.

Good news: A shorter test with the same score validity and acceptance worldwide.

2. Fewer Questions Per Section

To remove repetitive, low-value questions, Pearson reduced the number of items:

• Speaking & Writing: 39–41 → 28–36 questions
• Reading: 15–20 → 13–15 questions
• Listening: 17–25 → 12–20 questions

Benefit: More focus on high-quality questions that truly test skills.

3. AI Scoring Engine Updated

Pearson improved the AI scoring system to be:

• More accurate in pronunciation assessment
• Better at recognising natural fluency (not robotic speech)
• Stricter with spelling and grammar mistakes
• Fair across accents (Indian, Asian, African, etc.)

Result: More reliable and unbiased scores.

4. Better Test Interface (User-Friendly Experience)

• Cleaner layout and design
• Clear timer visibility
• Consistent audio volume
• Easier navigation between questions
• Fewer distractions on screen

It feels more professional and easier to use, especially for first-time test takers.

High-Scoring Tips

1. Repeat Sentence – Boosts both Speaking & Listening; very high weightage and partial credit friendly.
2. Read Aloud – The first task, which heavily impacts Speaking and Reading, sets the tone for your score.
3. Write from Dictation – Highest-scoring task in the exam; improves Listening, Writing & Spelling.
4. Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks (RW-FIB) – Most important Reading task; tests grammar & collocations.
5. Summarise Written Text – Powerful Writing task that also boosts Reading; structure and grammar focused.

How to Prepare for PTE Academic?

Understanding the syllabus is only half the battle; smart preparation based on the syllabus is what gets you a high score. Here’s a strategic approach every student should follow:

Section-wise Preparation Strategy

• Speaking & Writing: Practice templates for Describe Image, Re-tell Lecture, Essay, and Summaries; improve fluency and grammar together.
• Reading: Focus on Fill in the Blanks and Re-order Paragraphs; build vocabulary and collocation knowledge.
• Listening: Practice Write from Dictation, Summarise Spoken Text, and audio FIBs; improve note-taking and spelling.

 Suggested Study Plan (4–6 Weeks)

Vocabulary & Grammar Focus

• Learn collocations (make a decision, take responsibility, highly recommended)
• Revise tenses, articles, and subject-verb agreement
• Use academic linking words (however, therefore, moreover)
• Improve spelling and capitalisation (very important in scoring)

Daily Practice Routine (High-Scorers Follow This)

 20 min – Read Aloud & Repeat Sentence
 20 min – Write from Dictation & Listening FIBs
 20 min – Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Writing)
 20 min – Summarise tasks / Essay writing
 20 min – Mock test or practice under a time limit

Highest Priority Tasks (Maximum Marks – MUST Master)

• Write from Dictation – Highest weight, boosts Listening + Writing + Spelling
• Repeat Sentence – Big impact on Speaking + Listening
• Read Aloud Listeningarks for Speaking + Reading
• Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks (RW-FIB) – Key task for Reading + Writing
• Listening Fill in the Blanks (Audio FIB) – Strong Listening + Writing booster
• Summarise Written Text / Summarise Spoken Text – Improves Writing + Reading/Listening.

 Medium Priority Tasks (Good to Practice with Templates)

• Re-order Paragraphs – Logic-based, supports Reading score
• Describe Image & Re-tell Lecture – Speaking structure tasks (use templates)
• Essay – Writing structure, grammar, vocabulary
• Highlight Incorrect Words – Easy marks in Listening

Low PrioritListeningLow Marks, Practice Last)

• Answer Short Question
• Select Missing Word
• MCQ (Single/Multiple Answer) in Reading & Listening
• Highlight Correct Summary

Best Resources for PTE Academic Exam Syllabus 

PTE Academic vs IELTS vs TOEFL

Many students also consider IELTS or TOEFL. This comparison table helps you understand where PTE stands and why its syllabus feels different.

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 Academic 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.