Unlock the Section-Wise PTE Exam Format 2025 & Crucial Tips

The PTE exam is conducted to evaluate the test takers’ proficiency in the English language and ensure that they are ready to study in a global setting. The PTE test comprises 20 different question types that evaluate your ability in speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills. Students who perform exceptionally well on this test can communicate in a globally recognised language while studying abroad. However, to achieve this level, you must initially be familiar with the PTE test format. Thus, in this section, you will go through the sectional format of the exam, followed by important tips to consider for a good score.

Overview of PTE Exam?

The PTE exam is a computer-based English language proficiency test, specially designed for non-native English speakers. This test is mainly used for academic purposes and visa applications, especially in nations like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The PTE test format comprises 20 different types of questions which assess applicants’ speaking & writing skills (54-67 minutes), reading skills (29-30 minutes) and listening skills (30-43 minutes). However, a detailed format for all four sections will be provided in the upcoming section.

Sectional PTE Exam Format

The total duration of the PTE test is two hours, and by scoring well on the PTE exam, one can assure the admission authority of the capability to understand the English language.

PTE Speaking and Writing

The writing section evaluates the two major skills of communication, which are spoken and written English skills. It comprises 10 types of tasks that assess your proficiency in speaking and writing, and the written test that you would get to read for the first time.

Personal introduction: 1

Read Aloud: 6-7

Repeat sentence: 10-12

Describe image: 5-6

Retell lecture: 2-3

Answer short question: 5-6

Summarize Group Discussion: 2-3

Respond to a Situation: 2-3

Summarize written text: 2

Write Essay: 1

PTE Reading

The reading section assesses test takers on their ability to understand the written guidelines in the language. The section is further divided into 5 segments and is of 29 to 30 minutes. The following is the section-wise pattern for the time distribution of the PTE reading:

Fill in the blanks (Dropdown): 5-6

Multiple choice, multiple answers: 2-3

Re-order paragraph: 2-3

Fill in the blanks – Drag and Drop: 4-5

Multiple-choice, single answer: 2-3

PTE Listening

The listening section of the PTE is designed to assess the candidate's ability to understand spoken English. Here is where the student needs to make sure that they carefully hear the audio file and retain what they heard.

Summarize spoken text: 1

Multiple choice, multiple answers: 2-3

Fill in the blanks (Type in): 2-3

Highlight correct summary: 2-3

Multiple-choice, single answer: 2-3

Select missing word: 1-2

Highlight incorrect word: 2-3

Write from Dictation: 3-4

Tips to Ace the PTE Exam

Here are the key tips to ace the PTE exam with a good score.

Familiarisation with the Exam: This comes with regular practice, as you will get to know the structure, types of questions and timing of the actual PTE test. This reduces anxiety and increases your familiarity on test day.

Time Management: Working through the PTE practice paper helps you learn how to pace yourself effectively. You will be able to allocate the proper time to each section and task, which is crucial for efficient test-taking.

Analyse Performance: After receiving the feedback from the test, analyse your mistakes and work on your weak and strong areas.

Mentorship: Taking help from an experienced mentor will certainly improve your confidence and reduce test anxiety. This leads to a more focused performance on the real test.

Vocabulary & Grammar: The PTE test tests your vocabulary and grammar skills. So, it is crucial to build your vocabulary, and this can be achieved by reading newspapers, novels and magazines.

Reliable Sources: It is crucial to source your PTE preparation material from authentic sources only. However, you can visit the official PTE website and make use of their PTE preparation material.

Study Plan: Frame a structured study plan to cover every section and distribute an equal proportion of time to practice.

Feedback: Take guidance from a qualified English language mentor to receive personalised feedback and practical strategies.

Conclusion

To conclude, the PTE test is manageable with a clear understanding and a practical approach. It is conducted to assess proficiency in the English language. However, one needs to understand the format of every section. The above article offers the format of PTE for all four sections, listening, reading, writing and speaking. The article discusses the important tips, including time management, practice paper and familiarity with the PTE exam syllabus. In any case, if you need help for the PTE test, you can consult with experts at Gradding.com. They assist your exam by providing study material, mock tests and personalised mentorship.