Pearson Test of English Academic

PTE Academic, the Pearson Test of English Academic, is an English-language proficiency test run by Pearson. One sitting covers four skills, speaking, writing, reading and listening, grouped into three parts of the test. Pearson introduced it in 2009 as an alternative to the older English tests. Results are reported on the Global Scale of English, a 10 to 90 numerical scale aligned to the CEFR.

If you are applying abroad, PTE Academic is one way to prove your English. Universities and colleges accept the scores in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and across Europe. Immigration authorities in Australia and New Zealand accept them for study and work visas, and several other countries accept them for study. Each university and visa authority sets its own required score, so the number you need depends on where you apply, not on the test.

The test is computer-based and taken at an authorised test centre in a single session of about two hours. There is no fixed eligibility to sit it. Scoring is done entirely by an automated system, so there are no human examiners, and results are usually available within two days. Dates run through the year on demand rather than in fixed windows, so you book a slot when you are ready.

Sources: Pearson PTE - PTE Academic (official) · Pearson PTE - PTE Academic scoring (official) · Wikipedia - Pearson Test of English