PTE Academic 2020 Exam - Fees, Registration, Dates, Eligibility, Pattern

What is PTE Academic Exam?

The PTE Academic exam is a computer-based English language test accepted by educational institutions around the world. Those students and aspirants who desire to go abroad for studying or immigration to a major English speaking country are required to take the PTE Academic exam to prove their English language competency.

The three-hour-long computer-based test focusses on day to day English rather than high-level English language and tests a student on his/her ability to effectively understand the language as spoken daily. The multi-level grading system ensures a better understanding of the student’s proficiency in the English language.

There are many factors that distinguish PTE Academic from its close competitors – IELTS and TOEFL. The first and foremost distinguishing aspect of the same is the scoring pattern and the results. As the tests are completely computerized, the PTE results and scores are declared much quicker, typically in 5 business days. This makes it aptly suited for students who are in a bit of a rush. Candidates looking to appear for their PTE Academic test will learn about the following PTE topics as they read along:

  • PTE Eligibility
  • PTE Test Dates
  • PTE Test Centre
  • How to Register for PTE
  • PTE Exam Fee
  • Exam Pattern for PTE
  • PTE Scholarships
  • PTE Preparation tips
  • PTE Syllabus
  • PTE Results and Scores

Recent Updates for PTE Academic Exam

This section would cover any latest developments revolving around PTE Academic for the benefit of students who are planning o appear for their PTE Academic exam

Coronavirus Covid-19 PTE Academic Exam Alert

Due to the ongoing pandemic coronavirus COVID-19, all PTE Academic Testing has been suspending across PTE test centres in India. PTE Academic is yet to introduce the option of appearing for the PTE Academic exam from home. Candidates who have booked their PTE Academic test slots would have the option of canceling their exam for a full refund or simply rescheduling their test date at zero cost. Candidates are requested to keep an eye on this section for the latest developments.

Why take PTE Academic Exam?

PTE Academic is a computer-based English language test for non-native English speakers who wish to study abroad. It tests Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking skills of the candidates. The test is designed in such a way that every question generally tests 2 skills together, like reading and speaking or listening and reading.

Who accepts PTE Academic Scores?

PTE Academic exam is accepted by thousands of educational institutions across the world. Apart from this, PTE Academic is also accepted by the governments of Australia and New Zealand for visa purposes. Those who aspire to go abroad for studying in a major English speaking country like the UK, Australia, USA, and Canada take the PTE Academic exam to prove their English language efficiency.

Types of PTE Exam

The Pearson Language Tests – a unit of Pearson PLC Group is responsible for conducting two formats of the English proficiency test to assess the English language skills of non-native speakers of the English language. The two tests are PTE Academic and PTE General.

PTE Academic Exam

The PTE Academic exam is conducted round-the-year, for students looking to get admission to a university or institution. The exam consists of four sections, reading, writing, listening and speaking. The scores of the PTE Academic exam is valid for a period of two years.

PTE General Exam

The PTE General Exam is conducted thrice in a year in the months of May, June, and December. The PTE General paper-primarily consists of two papers, – a written paper and a spoken test. The PTE General Test scores are valid for life and are used to test the communication skills of the candidate.

PTE 2020: Key Highlights of the PTE Academic Exam

Exam Name

PTE

PTE full form

Pearson Test of English

Official Website

https://pearsonpte.com/

Conducting body

Pearson PLC Group

Widely popular as

English language proficiency test

Generally accepted by

Universities in UK, Australia, and New Zealand

Types of exam

PTE Academic and PTE General

Mode of exam

Online

PTE Fee

INR 13,300

Skills Tested

English Speaking, Writing, Listening and Reading

PTE Helpline

00080 0440 2020

What are the eligibility criteria for the PTE Academic Exam?

As such, there are no specific criteria set by the Pearson PLC Group – the conducting body of the PTE Academic exam. However, according to the PTE Academic eligibility criteria, students must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appearing for the test. Also, candidates who are below 18 years of age need to give a parental consent form for appearing for the PTE Academic test.

Age Limit to Appear for PTE Academic Exam

In order to take the PTE Academic test, the candidate must be at least 16 years old. Candidates below 18 years of age need to take a parental consent form signed by either parents or guardians before taking the test. Candidates can download the consent form from the official website of the PTE Academic Exam.

Education Qualification to appear for PTE Academic Exam?

Pearson PLC Group – the conducting body of the PTE Academic Exam has not laid down any education qualification criteria for candidates wanting to appear for the PTE Academic test.

PTE Exam Fee

The standard PTE Academic exam fee is Rs 13,300. In case the candidate is booking his PTE exam within 48 hours of the PTE test date, the candidate would be required to pay the PTE Late Booking Fee of Rs. 13,965.

How to Cancel or Reschedule PTE Exam?

If you don't want to appear for the PTE Academic test, then you can claim a refund before 14 calendar days before the test date. Canceling or rescheduling the PTE Academic exam can be done on the PTE official website. Candidates can reschedule the PTE exam 2020 to any other date through phone or online. You can read more about the Cancellation and Rescheduling PTE Academic fee below.

PTE Exam Cancellation Fees

Candidates who decide on not pursuing their PTE Academic test after booking their exam online have up to 14 calendar days before their test date to claim a full refund. Candidates who cancel the test, with less than 14 calendar days, but at least 7 calendar days before their test date will receive a partial refund of 50% of the test fee paid. However, no refunds would be provided to candidates on canceling the exam less than 7 calendar days before the exam. Candidates should note that cancellation and reschedule policy does not include your test date.

PTE Rescheduling Fees

Candidates who plan to reschedule the test, with less than 14 calendar days, but at least 7 full calendar days before their test date will be required to pay 50% of the test fee. No refunds will be provided on rescheduling the exam less than 7 calendar days before the exam. Candidates should note that the reschedule policy does not include your test date.

PTE 2020 Registration

For booking PTE Academic online, you need a valid ID, generally a passport. Candidates are also required to show that ID on the day of the exam else they will not be allowed to enter the PTE Test center

Steps to register PTE Academic online

  • Visit the official PTE Academic website
  • Create your Pearson account by giving your personal details.
  • Once you complete the registration process, you will receive an email within 48 hours from Pearson with your login details.
  • The next step is to search for your nearest test center.
  • Also select a suitable time and date.
  • After selecting all your details like time, date, and slot you will be asked to proceed to the checkout button.
  • Then make payment and finalize your booking.

Other methods of registering for PTE

Apart from the much preferred online method of registering for the PTE exam, candidates can also register for the PTE Exam via phone. Indian students wanting to register for the PTE Exam can contact the PTE Academic testing body by dialing: 00080 0440 2020. (Operating hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm local time; closed on local holidays.)

Know all about PTE Slot Booking

Candidates looking to appear for their PTE Academic exam would be required to create a Pearson account to register for their PTE Academic Slot Booking. On successful registration, candidates would receive an email within 48 hours with their login credentials. Candidates are required to read the handbook carefully available on the official website before booking the exam.

PTE Exam Dates 2020

The exam is conducted throughout the year at the designated Test Centers across the country. These dates might vary from center to center. Students must search for the seats available on the Pearson PTE Academic website. Simply select the test centers closest to you, and click next. The website would prompt you to the calendar with the available dates

PTE Exam Centres

Here is a list of PTE Academic Exam test centers for candidates looking to appear for their next PTE Academic Exam. Candidates are reminded to choose the exam test center that is most convenient for them to be able to perform their best on the day of the exam.

PTE Test Accommodations/ Special Arrangements

Committed to providing access for all individuals with disabilities, test accommodations also known as “special arrangements” or “reasonable adjustments" are made available by Pearson VUE to make the test assessable to everyone. Arrangements made possible include,

  • A separate testing room
  • Extra testing time
  • A Reader or Recorder

How do I request a test accommodation?

Candidates who require special arrangements need to specify their needs and how the disability is hindering them from performing their best under standard conditions. Candidates would have to provide documentation proof and apply weeks in advance for the conducting body to make the required arrangements. Candidates are required to apply for the request before they book their exam.

PTE Exam Pattern

PTE Academic Syllabus includes three sections - Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening. You get marked on these three sections and you get the PTE Academic total score as well. The PTE Exam Pattern mentioned below talks about the components of the PTE Academic Paper in detail for the benefit of the candidate. Candidates looking to appear for their PTE Academic Exam can check out the PTE Exam Pattern mentioned below.

PTE Syllabus

It is important for candidates to understand the PTE Academic syllabus in order to appear for the exam. The PTE Academic is broadly divided into Speaking and Writing, Reading and Listening sections. Candidates can check out the detailed PTE Syllabus for each category below:

Speaking and Writing

For the Speaking and Writing Section question types would include, personal introduction; reading aloud; repeat sentences; describe image; re-tell lecture; short questions and summarize the text.

Reading

For the Reading Section, question types would include fill in the blanks, multiple-choice questions, re-order paragraphs.

Listening

For the Listening Section, question types would revolve around summarising spoken text; multiple-choice questions; fill in the blanks; highlight the correct summary; write from dictation; highlight incorrect words and select missing words.

PTE Results and Score

PTE Academic Results are usually available online within five working days from the test date. The PTE Academic results are issued online. And can be accessed from your PTE Academic student account. First, you will receive an email within five working days with instructions on accessing the results online. After that, you need to follow the instructions to log in to your Pearson account. You can share your results with the colleges and universities of your choice through your Pearson account.

PTE Academic Exam is scored on a scale of 10 – 90 where 10 is lowest, with increments of 1 point. Graded on the scale, the score showcase the person’s ability to read, speak, understand verbal instructions and write the English language. The scores are presented in a graph, giving an easy understanding of the candidate’s core skills in the language as well as improvement areas.

How to Access PTE Score

Candidates can access their PTE Academic scores via their online account. Candidates would receive an email notifying them about the availability of their scores. After receiving the notification, candidates would be required to log in to their Pearson VUE account that they created to book their tests and access their scores.

How to Send PTE Score Report?

Candidates who wish to send their score can do so via an online secure portal set up by PTE. Universities do not accept paper or PDF versions of PTE Academic score reports.

Steps to sending your PTE Score Report

  • Login to your account.
  • Click 'View Score Reports'
  • Click 'Send Scores'
  • Type the name of your chosen institution
  • Review your details then scroll down the page and click 'Next' and then 'Next' again to confirm

Rescoring the Score?

If candidates are unsatisfied with their PTE Score they can request a rescore. However, since the PTE Academic is a computer-scored test, the chance of an error is highly minimalized. Only spoken responses and open-ended written responses are rescored. Candidates can only request a rescore for their most recent PTE Academic Test and candidates are barred from requesting a rescore if they have already either scheduled another test or sent their score to an institution. In the event the score changes, the new score will replace the previous score and the original score report will be reissued to reflect the new score.

Who Accepts PTE Academic?

One of the most widely accepted exams, PTE Scores are accepted by some of the top universities and countries abroad.

Colleges Accepting PTE

Candidates who have appeared for their PTE Academic Exam can choose from the huge number of colleges that accept PTE Scores

  • MS Colleges Accepting PTE Academic scores
  • MBA Colleges Accepting PTE Academic scores

Countries Accepting PTE Score

Aspirants looking to pursue higher education in Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, Canada, Ireland, Singapore, and Germany among many other countries are required to appear for the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic exam. One of the most widely accepted computer-based tests of English, PTE Academic is generally undertaken for studying abroad and immigration options.

PTE Exam Preparation Tips

Often students start the preparation with either joining a coaching center or simply signing up for free practice tests. What a student forgets is that, like any exam, even language proficiency exams have to be dealt with a methodology. Here are a few study tips that would help you perform in the PTE Academic Exam. It is, however, important to note that no amount of tips, tricks or tools can outwit the dedication and efficiency of the practice. So, improve these skills and practice them over and over again to succeed.

What are the best PTE Books and Resources?

Candidates can prepare for their PTE Academic using a range of official course books. Candidates can choose from the below-mentioned study material to excel in their PTE test

PTE Sample Paper

Practicing PTE Sample Papers are a good way to prepare for your upcoming PTE Academic Exam. Candidates are advised to solve multiple PTE Practice Papers for the benefit of the student. With the objective of enhancing your communication skills, the PTE Academic exam is designed to test your command over the English language. No high-level language proficiency is required to clear the exam, it rather checks your regular English communication, thereby helping you become expressive. Practicing each section separately with a relaxed and focused mind is advisable to fully absorb the subject matter and score well.

What to expect on the test day?

Candidates are required to arrive at least 30 minutes before their test, to check-in and pass security. They should not forget to bring an acceptable ID, usually a passport for the smooth functioning of the exam formalitie

PTE Scholarships

With the availability of various Scholarships and education loans, students can finally make their dream come true. Scholarships are available on the official website of every college along with other fellowships and grants that are awarded to deserving students on a regular basis. Students can also opt for education loans from financial institutions for studying abroad

PTE Exam FAQs

Still, have queries regarding your PTE test, check out the most frequently asked questions for any lingering query.

Q. How to choose the right PTE exam?

A. PTE is basically of two kinds, PTE Academic is accepted by universities worldwide for the main purpose of higher education abroad. Whereas, PTE General is also accepted by universities and employers and serves as proof of English language proficiency and is mainly used for employment purposes.

Q. How should I prepare for the PTE to get 79+ marks?

A. Whether through self-study or with the help of extra classes, candidates are always advised to give in their best during the examination. Referring to official PTE Study Material, solving multiple PTE Practice Papers and revising the PTE Syllabus is a good start.

Q. When do we get the PTE academic exam results?

A. Results are usually available online within five working days from the test date. The PTE Academic results are issued online. And can be accessed from your PTE Academic student account. First, you will receive an email within five working days with instructions on accessing the results online. After that, you need to follow the instructions to log in to your Pearson account.

Q. How can I boost my PTE score to 90?

A. Candidates are often encouraged to visit and revisit their PTE Academic syllabus. Know the PTE Exam Pattern and above all practice as many PTE Sample Papers as possible to leave minimum room for error.

Q. IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL: Which Test is better?

A. All three exams IELTS, PTE and TOEFL evaluate your English language skills based on four parameters of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Now the primary question is which test to take? Before arriving at any conclusion, it is important that you consider your requirements or preferences. To choose amongst IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL: which exam is better,

Q. How many times can I appear for the PTE Academic Exam?

A. There is no limit by Pearson as to how many times a candidate can give the PTE Exam 2020. Candidates can take the exam with a gap of 5 days. So, candidates can take the PTE Academic exam as many times as they want.