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PTE Exam Pattern 2025: Format, Section-wise Pattern, Duration
The PTE exam pattern in 2025 consists of three sections—Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening. It is completed in about 2 hours and 15 minutes with a score scale of 10–90. As universities and employers increasingly seek proof of English proficiency, understanding the PTE test format in detail can make or break your preparation strategy.
This article gives a detailed section-wise explanation of the PTE exam pattern. By the end of the article, you will have a crystal-clear picture of how the test is designed.
What is the PTE Exam?
Before we get into the PTE exam pattern, it’s important to understand exactly what the PTE exam is.
The PTE, or Pearson Test of English Academic, is a computer-based English language proficiency test. It is designed for non-native English speakers who wish to study or work in English-speaking countries. The exam assesses four core skills: Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening, all of which are integrated into different tasks.
Some universities and immigration bodies prefer PTE over other tests like IELTS and TOEFL because:
- It uses AI-based scoring, which minimises human bias.
- Results are usually available within 1–2 days.
- The test is fully computer-delivered, ensuring fair assessment and faster evaluation.
- Candidates face real-life academic and professional scenarios rather than rigid grammar-focused questions.
Confused about which exam to take? Read our blog on Which Test Is Better – IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo? to make the right choice
PTE Exam Pattern 2025 Highlights
Here are the quick highlights of the PTE exam pattern in table format:
| Exam Feature | Details (PTE Exam 2025) |
| Exam Type | Computer-based English Proficiency Test |
| Conducting Body | Pearson PLC Group |
| Exam Sections (Modules) | Speaking & Writing, Reading, Listening |
| Exam Duration | Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes |
| Total Questions | 22 question types across 3 modules |
| Exam Mode | Online at authorised test centres |
| Question Type | Task-based, real-life scenarios |
| Scoring Scale | 10–90 points |
| Result Time | 1–2 days after the test |
PTE Exam Pattern 2025 – New Changes
The 2025 PTE Academic exam pattern is nearly identical to the previous year. The main change is in the number of questions.:
It still has the original 20 questions that were part of the exam pattern. The format of the exam hasn’t changed. There are, however, two new speaking question types, and there are some minor scoring enhancements. So now, the total number of questions is 22.
PTE Academic Test Format
The PTE test format is divided into 3 key PTE sections:
| Section | Different Question Type | Exam Duration |
| Speaking & Writing | 9 question types | 54-67 min |
| Reading | 5 question types | 29-30 min |
| Listening | 8 question types | 30-43 min |
PTE Exam Pattern 2025 – Section-wise
Let’s explore the section-wise breakup of the PTE exam pattern, along with task description and duration.
PTE Exam Pattern for Speaking and Writing Section
There are nine different kinds of questions in this part of the test. You will be tested on your speaking and writing skills, using English that you might hear in school. Note that the Personal Introduction task does not contribute to your score. This task is only for familiar purposes.
| Topic | Description | Duration |
| Personal introduction | You will have 25 seconds to read the prompt and prepare, and to record your answer. | 30 seconds |
| Read aloud | You have to read the text aloud. | 30-40 seconds |
| Repeat sentence | After listening to a recording of a sentence, repeat the sentence. | 15 seconds |
| Describe image | An image will appear on the screen. Describe the image in detail. | 40 seconds |
| Retell lecture | After listening to or watching a lecture, retell the lecture in your own words. | 40 seconds |
| Answer a short question | After listening to a question, answer with a single word or a few words | 10 seconds |
| Summarise group discussion | You have to listen to a discussion between 3 people and summarise it in your own words | 2 minutes |
| Respond to a situation | Listen to and read a description of a situation. Then answer a question about it with an extended response. | 40 seconds |
| Summarise written text | After reading the text, write a one-sentence summary of the passage | 10 minutes |
| Write essay | Write a 200 to 300-word essay on a given topic | 20 minutes |
Source: Pearson PTE
PTE Exam Pattern for Reading Section
There are 5 different types of questions in this section.
| Topic | Description | Prompt Length |
| Fill in the blanks (dropdown) | You will see a text with several gaps. Use the dropdown menu to pick words to fill in the blanks. | Text up to 300 words |
| Multiple choice, multiple answers | After reading the text, answer an MCQ on the content or tone of the text by selecting more than one response. | Text up to 350 words |
| Reorder paragraphs | Several text boxes on the screen show up in a random order. Put the text boxes in the right order. | Text up to 150 words |
| Fill in the blanks (Drag and Drop) | Several gaps appear in the text on the screen. To fill in the blanks, drag words from the box below. | Text up to 80 words |
| Multiple choice, single answer | After reading the text, answer an MCQ by selecting one response. | Text up to 300 words |
Source: Pearson PTE
PTE Exam Pattern for Listening Section
There are 8 different types of questions in this section. The questions are based on audio or video clips that start playing automatically. You only hear or see each audio or video clip once. You can take notes.
| Topic | Description |
| Summarise spoken text | After listening to a recording, write a 50 to 70-word summary. |
| Multiple choice, multiple answers | After listening to a recording, answer an MCQ on the content or tone of the recording by selecting more than one response. |
| Fill in the blanks (Type in) | There are a few gaps in the transcript of a recording that shows up on the screen. Type the word that is missing in each gap after you listen to the recording. |
| Highlight correct summary | Choose the paragraph that best sums up the recording after you listen to it. |
| Multiple choice, single answer | After listening to a recording, answer an MCQ by selecting one response. |
| Select missing word | After listening to a recording, choose the word that is missing from a list of options. |
| Highlight incorrect word | The screen shows the transcript of a recording. As you listen to the recording, find the words in the transcript that are different from what is said. |
| Write from dictation | Type the sentence after you hear it on a recording. |
Source: Pearson PTE
PTE Scoring Chart
The PTE score chart uses a scale of 10 to 90, with 10 being the lowest and 90 the highest. Here’s how PTE aligns with CEFR levels:
| PTE Score Range | CEFR Level | Excellence Levels |
| 85–90 | C2 (Proficient) | Expert |
| 76–84 | C1 (Advanced) | Advanced |
| 59–75 | B2 (Upper Intermediate) | Upper intermediate |
| 43–58 | B1 (Intermediate) | Intermediate |
| 30–42 | A2 (Elementary) | Elementary |
| 10–29 | A1 (Beginner) | Beginner |
Conclusion
The 2025 PTE exam pattern is designed to test real-world English command rather than rote grammar. With three streamlined modules, the exam is fair, efficient, and globally trusted. Candidates can give themselves the best chance of scoring well on the PTE by learning about the test format, going over the PTE exam syllabus, and doing tasks with a time limit.
Remember, fluency is just as important as accuracy in this exam. Keep practising consistently, simulate real exam environments, and familiarise yourself with each section’s demands.
FAQs about PTE Exam Pattern
Q1. How long is the PTE exam?
A1. The PTE exam duration is approximately 2 hours in 2025.
Q2. How many sections are there in the PTE test?
A2. There are three PTE sections: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening.
Q3. Is PTE accepted worldwide?
A3. Yes, PTE Academic is recognised by thousands of universities worldwide, along with immigration authorities in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK.
Q4. How soon can I get PTE results?
A4. Usually, within 1–2 days after completing the exam.
Q5. What is the passing score for PTE?
A5. There’s no fixed “passing” score, but most universities require 59–65 as per the PTE score chart.
