PTE Exam Pattern for Academic Test 2025 – The PTE Exam Pattern for academic tests has three sections- speaking and writing, reading and listing. Candidates will be given a maximum of 3 hours to complete all three tasks. The PTE Authority divided PTE academic pattern for all the sections into different types of questions and time duration based on which each section requires to be solved. Before taking the PTE test, candidates must know the PTE exam paper pattern for academic tests for proving their English language proficiency.
Also Read – PTE Exam Fees 2025, Cancellation Fee, Rescheduling Fee, Late Registration Fee
PTE Exam Pattern 2025 – Overview
In November 2021, a New pattern of the PTE Exam was introduced with changes in the time duration for each section. candidates were given a time of 3 hours. The Exam duration in the PTE Exam pattern 2021 has been lessened, and the number of questions asked in each section was not reduced.
| PTE Exam Format | New Pattern of PTE Exam 2021 | PTE Exam Pattern 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Introduction | 1 minute | 1 minute |
| PTE Speaking and Writing Section | 54 – 67 minutes | 77 – 93 minutes |
| PTE Reading Section | 29 – 30 minutes | 32 – 41 minutes |
| Optional Scheduled Break | Not Available | 10 minutes |
| PTE Listening Section | 30 – 43 minutes | 45 – 57 minutes |
| Sections | Test Duration | Summarise spoken text Fill in the Blanks Multiple-choice questions for single answers Multiple choice questions for multiple answers Select missing word Highlight correct summary Highlight correct words Write from dictation |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking and Writing | 54-67 Minutes | Personal Introduction Repeat Sentence Read aloud Retell lecture Describe Image Summarise written text Answer short question Essay (20 minutes) |
| Reading | 29-30 Minutes | Reading and Writing- Fill in the blanks Reading- Filling in the blanks Multiple choice questions, choose multiple answers Multiple choice questions, choose single answers Reordering Paragraphs |
| Listening | 30-43 Minutes | Summarise spoken text Fill in the Blanks Multiple-choice questions for single answers Multiple-choice questions for multiple answers Select missing word Highlight correct summary Highlight correct words Write from dictation |
Also Read- PTE Exam Dates 2025: Check City Wise PTE Test Dates
PTE Academic Exam Pattern Speaking and Writing
In the PTE Academic Exam Pattern Speaking and Writing, Candidates will have 54–67 minutes long containing seven different question types. Candidates will be tested on their speaking and writing skills, using English they might hear in an academic environment.
| Tasks | No. of Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Introduction | 1 | 55 seconds |
| Read aloud | 6-7 | 30-40 seconds |
| Repeat Sentence | 10-12 | 15 seconds |
| Retell lecture | 3-4 | 90 seconds |
| Describe Image | 6-7 | 25 seconds |
| Answer short question | 10-12 | 20 seconds |
| Summarise written text | 1 sentence summary | 10 minutes |
| Essay | 1 essay | 20 minutes |
1) Personal Introduction
You will be given 25 seconds to read the prompt and prepare your response, and then 30 seconds to record your response. This section offers you an opportunity to get familiar with PTE test technology and to help you prepare for your speaking and listening questions.
2) Read Aloud
- Task – Text will be displayed on the screen. Read the text aloud.
- Prompt Length – Text up to 60 words
- Skills Assessed – Reading and speaking
- Time to Answer – Varies by item
3) Repeat the Sentence
- Task – After listening to a recording of a sentence, Candidates will have to repeat the sentence.
- Prompt Length – 3–9 seconds
- Skills Assessed – Listening and speaking
- Time to Answer – 15 seconds
4) Describe the Image
- Task – An image will be displayed on the screen. Candidates will describe the image in detail.
- Prompt Length – Not applicable
- Skills Assessed – Speaking
- Time to Answer – 40 seconds
5) Re-tell Lecture
- Task – After listening to or watching a lecture, Candidates will re-tell the lecture in their own words.
- Prompt Length – Up to 90 seconds
- Skills Assessed – Listening and speaking
- Time to Answer – 40 seconds
6) Answer Short Question
- Task – After listening to a question, You will have to answer with a single word or a few words.
- Prompt Length – 3–9 seconds
- Skills Assessed – Listening and speaking
- Time to Answer – 10 seconds
7) Summarize Written Text
- Task – After reading the text, Candidates will write a one-sentence summary of the passage.
- Prompt Length – Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed – Reading and writing
- Time to Answer – 10 minutes
8) Essay
- Task – Write a 200–300 word essay on a given topic.
- Prompt Length – 2–3 sentences
- Skills Assessed – Writing
- Time to Answer – 20 minutes
Also Read – PTE Exam Center In India for 2025: City-wise list of PTE
PTE Academic Exam Pattern Reading
The reading part of the test is 29–30 minutes long and includes five different question types. Because PTE Academic is an integrated skills test, one item type (‘Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks’) also assesses writing skills.
| Tasks | No. of Questions | Prompt Length |
|---|---|---|
| Fill in the blanks- Reading and Writing | 5-6 | 300 words of text for reading |
| Multiple Choice Questions for multiple answers | 1-2 | 300 words of text for reading |
| Re-order paragraph | 2-3 | 300 words of text for reading |
| Fill in the blanks- Reading | 4-5 | 300 words of text for reading |
| Multiple Choice Questions for multiple answers | 1-2 | 300 words of text for reading |
1) Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks
Task – Text will display on-screen with several gaps. Drag words from the box below to fill the gaps.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| Text up to 300 words | Reading and writing | – |
2) Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer
Task – After reading the text, Candidates will have to answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the text by selecting more than one response.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| Text up to 300 words | Reading | – |
3) Re-order Paragraphs
Task – Several text boxes will be displayed on the screen in random order. you will require to Put the text boxes in the correct order.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| Text up to 150 words | Reading | – |
4) Fill in the Blanks
Task – The text will be displayed on a screen with several gaps in it. You will Drag words from the box below to fill the gaps.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| Text up to 80 words | Reading | – |
5) Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Task – After reading the text, Candidates will have to answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the text by selecting one response.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| Text up to 300 words | Reading | – |
PTE Academic Exam Pattern Listening
PTE Listening is the last section in the PTE exam new pattern. In which, candidates will have a total of 8 tasks to complete. The listening part of the test is 30–43 minutes long. The questions will be based on audio or video clips, which will start to play automatically. Candidates will hear each audio or video clip once. You will be allowed to take notes.
| Tasks | No. of Questions | Duration for each task |
|---|---|---|
| Summarise spoken text | 1-2 | Multiple choice questions with multiple answers |
| Multiple-choice questions with multiple answers | 1-2 | 40-90 seconds to prompt |
| Fill in the blanks | 2-3 | 30-60 seconds |
| Highlight correct summary | 1-2 | 30-90 seconds |
| Multiple choice single answer | 1-2 | 30-60 seconds |
| Select missing word | 1-2 | 20-70 seconds |
| Highlight Incorrect word | 2-3 | 15-50 seconds |
| Write from Dictation | 3-4 | 3-5 seconds |
1) Summarize Spoken Text
Task – After listening to a recording, You will need to write a 50–70 word summary.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| 60–90 seconds | Listening and writing | – |
2) Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
Task – After listening to a recording, Candidates will need to answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the recording by selecting more than one response.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| 40–90 seconds | Listening | – |
3) Fill in the Blanks
Task – After listening to the recording, You will type the missing word in each gap.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| 30–60 seconds | Listening and writing | – |
4) Highlight Correct Summary
Task – After listening to a recording, Candidates will select the paragraph that best summarizes the recording.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| 30–90 seconds | Reading and Listening | – |
5) Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Task -After listening to a recording, Candidates will have to choose the paragraph that best summarizes the recording.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| 30–90 seconds | Listening | – |
6) Select Missing Word
Task – After listening to a recording, you will Choose the missing word that completes the recording from a list of options.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| 20–70 seconds | Listening | – |
7) Highlight Incorrect Words
Task – The transcript of a recording will be displayed on the screen. While listening to the recording, You will need to identify the words in the transcript that differ from what is said.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| 15–50 seconds | Reading and Listening | – |
8) Write from Dictation
Task – After listening to a recording of a sentence, You will type the sentence.
| Prompt Length | Skills Assessed | Time to Answer |
| 3-5 seconds | Listening and writing | – |