The PTE test assesses your reading, listening, speaking and writing skills to ensure that you are capable of surviving in an English-speaking nation. Moreover, the PTE exam syllabus is divided into 3 sections that are: Speaking & Writing, Reading and Listening. Thus, those who want to take this test and secure a seat in their dream institute need to know its format first. Thus, this write-up will help you to know everything in detail so that you do not struggle in your preparations.
What Is the PTE Exam?
Pearson Test of English or PTE is globally accepted by countries and over 3500 universities to evaluate aspirants’ language proficiency to ensure they can adjust to an English-speaking environment. Thus, this shows the importance of taking this test. So, if you want to clear it, you must understand the PTE syllabus breakdown. Thus, this guide will help you to understand the syllabus of PTE, which includes three different sections that assess your reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills. So, get along with the PTE syllabus in the upcoming segment.
Introduction to PTE Exam Syllabus
With 3 sections that evaluate four different skill sets, the PTE test ensures that a candidate can survive as a non-native in an English-speaking nation. The test is 2 hours and 15 minutes long. Moreover, the PTE syllabus chart below will help you to understand the basics of the PTE exam syllabus in brief.
| Sections | Skills Assessed | Time Duration | No. of Questions |
| Speaking & Writing | Speaking, Writing, Grammar | 54-67 minutes | 28-36 questions |
| Reading | Reading, Comprehension, Vocabulary | 29-30 minutes | 29-30 questions |
| Listening | Listening, Comprehension, Analysis | 30-43 minutes | 30-43 questions |
This was the brief about the PTE syllabus 2025 that you must know before beginning your preparations for the test. Now, to understand this in more detail, read the following segment.
Section Wise PTE Syllabus
As you know, the PTE exam syllabus is classified into three different sections, and each is designed to evaluate your English speaking skills. Thus, here you will be getting along with them in detail:
Section1: Speaking & Writing
The speaking and writing section of the PTE test is 54-67 minutes and needs you to showcase your writing and speaking abilities in the language. Besides, this section comprises seven small tasks that test you on your promptness over speaking and writing, the written test that you would get to read for the first time ever. Thus, here is the overview of what you will be getting.
| Task | Skills Assessed |
| Read Aloud | Pronunciation, Fluency |
| Repeat Sentence | Listening, Speaking |
| Describe Image | Speaking, Vocabulary |
| Re-tell Lecture | Listening, Speaking |
| Answer Short Question | Listening, Speaking |
| Summarize Written Text | Reading, Writing, Grammar |
| Essay Writing | Writing, Vocabulary, Coherence |
Section2: Reading
The next section is the reading section in the PTE exam syllabus list, which you can understand from the name itself. So, in this section, you will be evaluated on how well you can understand the written text or instructions. This section is further classified into 5 small sections which will be of 29-30 minutes. Thus, here is the overview of what you will be getting in the reading section of the PTE syllabus:
| Task | Skills Assessed |
| Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks | Vocabulary, Grammar |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | Comprehension, Reasoning |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | Critical Thinking, Analysis |
| Re-order Paragraphs | Logical Reasoning, Comprehension |
| Fill in the Blanks | Vocabulary, Contextual Understanding |
Section3: Listening
This is the last section of the PTE test, which is listening. In this, you will be hearing an audio file to answer the questions asked. This portion is broken into eight segments, with the time allotted to each segment as follows. The listening section of PTE is 30-43 minutes long. Thus, here is the overview of what you will be getting.
| Task | Skills Assessed |
| Summarize Spoken Text | Listening, Writing, Comprehension |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | Listening, Analysis |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | Listening, Critical Thinking |
| Fill in the Blanks | Listening, Vocabulary, Grammar |
| Highlight Correct Summary | Listening, Comprehension |
| Select Missing Word | Listening, Prediction Skills |
| Highlight Incorrect Words | Listening, Attention to Detail |
| Write from Dictation | Listening, Spelling, Grammar |
This was the breakdown of the entire PTE course syllabus, which will help you prepare well and ace the test on your first attempt. Besides, taking PTE mock test, will also enable you to learn the syllabus more easily. However, understanding the scoring criterion for the test will help you know how you will be evaluated. These will be explained in the upcoming segment.
PTE Exam Syllabus: Scoring Criteria
PTE score ranges from 10 to 90, with 10 being the lowest and 90 being the highest. Moreover, each section is scored separately, evaluating different skills. However, what your scores mean is explained in the tabular format below:
| PTE score Range | Proficiency levels |
| 89-90 | Expert |
| 84-85 | Very good |
| 74-83 | Very good |
| 73-77 | Good |
| 64-72 | Good |
| 58-63 | Competent |
| 50-57 | Competent |
| 42-49 | Modest |
| 35-41 | Modest |
| 30-34 | Limited |
| 0-30 | Limited |
This was the score description that you will be getting in your PTE test. Now, if you want to get the highest one, you need to prepare well. But this is not easy as it look and demands effective strategies. So the upcoming segment will list some of them to ease your task.
PTE Exam Syllabus: Tips to Prepare
As you must be aware, preparation is the key to success. This is why you need to prepare well. However, without effective strategies, preparation cannot be the way you want. Thus, here are some tips to include in your preparation:
Speaking & Writing Section
- Practice speaking clearly and fluently by watching English videos.
- Focus on pronunciation by mimicking native speakers.
- Develop structured writing by practising essays on different topics.
- Use correct vocabulary and check grammar when writing tasks.
Reading Section
- Read different articles, newspapers, and more to enhance your understanding.
- Practice skimming and scanning techniques to identify key ideas.
- Expand your vocabulary using words.
Listening Section
- Listen to English audio clips and podcasts to get familiar with different accents.
- Practice note-taking while listening.
- Focus on understanding the context and tone of the speaker.
Conclusion
This was all about the PTE exam syllabus that you must be aware of before even starting your practice sessions. So, after going through this write-up, you have an idea of what the test is about, how to prepare for it and most essentially, PTE course syllabus. However, if you still have doubts, then taking expert advice is the best thing. They will help you in the entire journey of language proficiency tests such as IELTS, PTE, TOEFL and more. They provide free PTE or IELTS mock tests, study materials, and everything needed for practice.
