Pearson Test of English: Everything you need to know

London-headquartered Pearson — known for its educational and testing services — conducts the Pearson Test of English (PTE) to evaluate the reading, writing, listening and speaking skills of non-native English speakers looking to study, work or migrate abroad. The AI-powered English language test is accepted by many universities and governments across the world.

In an interaction with ET Digital, the President of English Language Learning at Pearson, Giovanni Giovannelli, explains the importance of the test and how students should prepare for it. Edited excerpts from the interaction:

How does a PTE score help?

The computer-based English language test is required for student and migration applications to the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. It is considered the fastest and a flexible way to prove English language proficiency.

Which universities accept PTE?
The PTE Academic score is accepted by all Australian, New Zealand and Irish universities, 99 per cent of UK universities, and more than 90 per cent of the universities in Canada. The test can open the doors to 3,000+ universities, colleges and professional bodies globally, says Giovannelli.

Which countries accept PTE for visa and university applications?
The test is accepted in migration applications to the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Giovannelli says they were recently approved by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for the economic class immigration pathway.

Where are these tests conducted?
Pearson has more than 350 test centers in 117 countries. There are 44 centers in India. The test can be booked on a short notice, with frequent tests taking place throughout the year.

What is considered a good PTE score?
A score between 70 and 90 is considered good. It grades your English ability against the Global Scale of English — a standardised scale to measure English proficiency.

What score is required to get into a good university?
Each institution chooses how to set its scores. Typically, a test taker will need to get a score of 36–50 for admission to a foundation course; a score of 51–60 for an undergraduate course and a score of 57–67 to get into a postgraduate course.

How should a person prepare for the PTE?
Candidates should take several mock tests to assess the gaps in their learning and then fill that. They should have clarity on which colleges they want to get into and aim to get the score required by that institute.

What is the duration of the test?
The test is for two hours. It is divided into four parts — reading, writing, speaking and listening. The results are declared in 24 hours.

An individual appearing for this test needs to take it in one sitting. But the test can be taken multiple times.

Is there a test for the corporate segment?
The company is developing the Pearson English Skills Certificate, a mid-stakes English exam to complement the PTE. It will be launched in 2023.