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Exam · PTE Academic

PTE Academic — fast results, AI grading.

Pearson Test of English Academic is the test of choice if you want results in 48 hours and prefer a fully-AI-graded exam (no human examiner can lower your score on a bad mood day). Accepted by Australian and New Zealand universities, almost all UK institutions, and increasingly by the US and Canada. PTE is the fastest way to a study visa for Australia from Bangladesh.

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What makes PTE different

100% computer + AI graded

No human examiner. Your speaking is graded by speech-recognition AI. This is the single biggest tactical difference — you must speak clearly, at consistent volume, without long pauses (the AI penalises silence harshly).

Integrated skills

One task can test reading + speaking simultaneously (Read Aloud), or listening + writing (Summarise Spoken Text). Practice for the skill combos, not the skills in isolation.

Fast results

Scores in 2 business days, sometimes 24 hours. If your visa deadline is tight, this is the test.

Score 10–90 scaled

Maps roughly to CEFR levels. 65+ = competitive university. 79+ = top universities and Australian PR superior English points.

The three parts of PTE Academic

Part 1 · Speaking + Writing · 54–67 min

The longest section. Mixed item types:

  • Read Aloud — read a 60-word passage aloud. Pronunciation, fluency, and oral content all scored.
  • Repeat Sentence — listen to a sentence, repeat it exactly. Memory + pronunciation.
  • Describe Image — 40 seconds to describe a chart or photo. Pre-built templates win here.
  • Re-tell Lecture — listen to a 60-90 second lecture, summarise it in your own words for 40 seconds.
  • Answer Short Question — one-word or short-phrase answer to general knowledge questions.
  • Summarise Written Text — read 300 words, summarise in one sentence (5-75 words).
  • Essay — 200-300 words on a given topic, 20 minutes.

Part 2 · Reading · 29–30 min

  • Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks — drop-down menus, requires grammar + collocation knowledge.
  • Multiple Choice (single answer) — typical comprehension.
  • Re-order Paragraphs — drag and drop sentences into logical order. Cohesion devices are your clue.
  • Reading: Fill in the Blanks — drag words into gaps. Vocabulary + meaning fit.
  • Multiple Choice (multiple answer) — usually 2-3 correct out of 5-7. Wrong answers cost you points (negative marking), so don't guess wildly.

Part 3 · Listening · 30–43 min

  • Summarise Spoken Text — listen to a 60-90s audio, write a 50-70 word summary in 10 minutes.
  • Multiple Choice (single and multiple answer) — academic lectures and dialogues.
  • Fill in the Blanks — type missing words while listening. Hardest for slow typists.
  • Highlight Correct Summary — pick the option that summarises what you heard.
  • Select Missing Word — predict the last word of an audio clip.
  • Highlight Incorrect Words — read along with audio, click the words that differ.
  • Write from Dictation — listen to a sentence, type it exactly. Spelling-critical.

The AI-grading rules every PTE candidate must internalise

  1. 1. The AI does not give partial credit for hesitation. A 3-second pause is worse than a wrong word, especially in Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence.
  2. 2. Volume matters. If your microphone level drops below the threshold, the AI scores you near zero on that item. Always position the mic 4-6cm from your mouth.
  3. 3. Pronounce every syllable. The AI does not understand context. "PHO-to" without "graph" sounds like a different word to it.
  4. 4. Multiple-answer questions have negative marking. Wrong picks subtract points. Only click options you are confident about.
  5. 5. Skills are scored together. A bad Read Aloud hurts both your Speaking AND your Reading score. Practice integrated items, not isolated skills.

Score targets to plan around

  • PTE 50 ≈ IELTS 6.0 — minimum for many Australian undergrad programs.
  • PTE 58 ≈ IELTS 6.5 — most postgrad admissions.
  • PTE 65 ≈ IELTS 7.0 — competitive scholarships, "proficient English" points for Australian PR.
  • PTE 79 ≈ IELTS 8.0 — "superior English" — maximum points for Australian skilled migration. The realistic premium target.

PTE in Bangladesh

Pearson operates an authorised PTE test centre in Dhaka. Slots run multiple days per week and book up 2–6 weeks ahead. Check the official Pearson PTE website for current centres, fees, and dates.

  • PTE Academic Online — sit from home, same score, same acceptance. Requires a webcam, working mic, and a quiet room.
  • Score validity — 2 years.
  • Score sending — unlimited free sends to institutions.

The 60-day PTE plan

  1. Days 1–10: Baseline mock + learn all 20 item types + audio setup.
  2. Days 11–30: Item-by-item drills, especially Read Aloud, Describe Image, Re-tell Lecture, Write from Dictation.
  3. Days 31–50: Two full mocks per week, focused weak-item drilling.
  4. Days 51–60: Final templates, mock under exam conditions, exam day.
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