Study Abroad with PTE Academic

PTE Academic is the world’s leading computer-based test of English for study abroad and immigration, Vikas Singh, Managing Director, Pearson India, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).

How has PTE Academic evolved over the years? Where all is it accepted?

Vikas Singh, Managing Director, Pearson India
Vikas Singh, Managing Director, Pearson India

PTE Academic was launched in 2009 after a comprehensive research and development programme led by some of the world’s leading experts in language assessment. In 2011, PTE Academic was accepted as proof of English-language ability for Australian student visas and has since been adopted by all Australian universities as proof of English language ability. Pearson has invested heavily in digital, biometric and forensic security measures, driving up the standards in high-stakes testing. As a relative newcomer to the market, Pearson has been able to place cutting-edge methodologies and technology at the heart of its service. We believe PTE Academic is the most secure, reliable, objective and accurate test in its field.

PTE Academic is accepted by thousands of renowned colleges, universities, training providers and professional associations, academic programmes across the US, UK, Canada, Singapore, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand including Harvard Business School, Yale University, INSEAD and London Business School. It is also accepted by professional bodies that provide registration and assessment including CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Institute of Public Accountants, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), Australian Computer Society (ACS).

PTE Academic is also accepted for visa purposes by the Australian and New Zealand governments.

How is PTE Academic different from other online testing systems?

PTE Academic is the world’s leading computer-based test of English for study abroad and immigration. The computer-based test uses cutting edge technology to ensure score reliability and integrity of the testing process. It also offers the fastest score reporting in the market, with test takers receiving their results typically within five business days. Our automated scoring system is based on complex algorithms that were trained by testing a data sample of over 10,000 students with over 120 native languages. We fed thousands of human marks into our system and found that the standard error measurement between our system and a human rater is less than between one human rater to another.

Does Pearson provide any training to prepare the candidate for the PTE Academic test?

PTE Academic offers a range of test preparation materials online, including a fully scored practice test – and this website should be the first stop for test takers looking to appear in the test. Sometimes though, the best way to prepare for a test is to join a class and receive tuition face-to-face. All around the world there are also private language schools who run PTE Academic preparation courses. You can choose from the list of test preparation course providers.

Please give details about the syllabus of the PTE Academic test for all the categories.

The three-hour test comprises of three sections on Speaking & Writing, Reading and Listening which includes elements like essay-writing, summarizing text and audio, fill-in-the-blanks, Multiple Choice Questions etc. There are twenty different question formats, ranging from multiple choice through to essay writing and interpreting information.

PTE Academic assesses real-life, academic English, so the test-takers (get to/can) hear excerpts from lectures and view graphs and charts. They also hear a range of accents in the test, from British and American to non-native speakers, hence exposed to the type of accents one encounters in everyday life. Part 1: Speaking & Writing (77 – 93 minutes). Part 2: Reading (32 – 41 minutes) Part 3: Listening (45 – 57 minutes).

How can one best prepare for PTE Academic test? Can you share some tips?

To achieve a desirable score in English proficiency tests, the aspirants need to practice listening, reading, writing and speaking together. The test-takers can prepare for PTE Academic using a range of official course books – The Official Guide to PTE Academic or Practice Tests Plus to understand the test format and do the preparation. For the best PTE Academic preparation, learners can opt  to do an online Scored Practice Test. For both native and non-English speakers, we have pre-designed courses, both online and face-to-face; available that will not only help in scoring better but also improve the fluency of language. To score well in an English language test, leaners must follow the below tips:

  • Read frequently as it is an easy yet enjoyable way to expand vocabulary and language comprehensiveness
  • Practice to brush up your writing and listening skills until you feel confident
  • Make good use of the dictionary to learn and master the English language
  • Understand the test format to avoid any surprises
  • Learn time management as it will help you answer all the questions during the test
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