PTE
IELTS
DUOLINGO
CELPIP
The Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core is a globally recognized assessment designed to evaluate English language proficiency. It serves a variety of purposes, including professional development and personal advancement. This comprehensive exam assesses an individual's ability to communicate in English across different contexts effectively.
PTE Core exam ensures that candidates are well-prepared for career goals, and everyday interactions in English-speaking environments. Its computer-based format and quick results make it an ideal choice for professional and personal goals.
Know in-depth about PTE Core structure and start preparing in a streamlined direction for scoring high.
Section |
Duration |
Question-types |
|---|---|---|
|
Speaking & Writing |
Approximately 50 Minutes |
Personal Introduction, Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Respond to a Situation, Answer Short Question, Summaries Written Text, Write an Email |
Reading |
Approximately 30 Minutes |
Reading & Writing: Fill In The Blanks, Multiple Choice Multiple Answer, Re-order Paragraphs, Fill In The Blanks, Multiple Choice, Single Answer |
Listening |
Approximately 30 Minutes |
Summaries Spoken Text, Multiple-Choice (Choose Multiple Option), Fill In The Blanks, Multiple Choice (Choose Single Answer), Select Missing World, Highlight Incorrect Words, Write From Dictation |
This 50-minute section is the longest in the PTE Core test format. It assesses speaking and writing through everyday English scenarios.
The Personal Introduction helps you get comfortable with PTE test technology and prepare for speaking and listening tasks. You’ll have 25 seconds to read the prompt and 30 seconds to record your response, with only one recording allowed.
It doesn’t affect your score and is purely for practice.
Task |
The text will appear on the screen. Read it out loud. |
Prompt Length |
Text up to 60 words |
Skills Assessed |
Reading & Speaking |
Time To Answer |
It depends on the question and the length of the text |
How To Answer This Question:
For this task, read the given text aloud after the tone.
The mic opens after a countdown, giving you 30–40 seconds to prepare. Speak clearly and finish before the progress bar ends. You get one attempt, and silence over three seconds stops the recording.
Question Is Scored On – Three factors; Content, Oral Fluency, Pronunciation.
Task |
Listen to a recording of a sentence, then repeat it |
Prompt Length |
3-9 Seconds |
Skills Assessed |
Listening & Speaking |
Time To Answer |
40 Seconds |
How To Answer This Question:
You have to repeat the sentence you hear. The audio plays automatically, and the mic opens right after. Speak immediately—there’s no tone.
Repeat clearly without rushing and finish before the progress bar ends. You can listen to the audio and record your response only once.
Question Is Scored On – Three factors; Content, Oral Fluency, Pronunciation.
Task |
An image will appear on the screen. Describe it in detail |
Prompt Length |
Not Applicable |
Skills Assessed |
Speaking |
Time To Answer |
40 Seconds |
How To Answer The Question:
Describe the image provided. The mic activates after a countdown, giving you 25 seconds to prepare. Start speaking immediately after the tone.
Speak clearly and finish before the progress bar ends. The status changes to "Completed" when done. You get only one attempt.
Question Is Scored On: Three factors; Content, Oral Fluency, Pronunciation.
Task |
Listen to and read about a situation, then provide a detailed answer to a question. |
Prompt Length |
Text up to 60 words |
Skills Assessed |
Speaking |
Time To Answer |
40 Seconds |
How To Answer This Question:
You will listen to and read a description of a situation.
First, you’ll have 20 seconds to think about your response, followed by 40 seconds to speak. The audio will play automatically, and after it ends, you’ll have 20 seconds to prepare.
The recording status box will show a countdown until the microphone opens. You’ll hear a short tone—start speaking immediately after the tone. Do not speak before the mic opens, as your voice won’t be recorded.
Speak clearly and take your time. Complete your response before the progress bar ends. The word “Recording” will change to “Completed.”
You can only listen to the audio once and record your response once.
Note: Use the erasable whiteboard to take notes while listening.
Question Is Scored On: Three factors; Appropriacy, Fluency, Pronunciation.
Task |
After listening to a question, respond with one word or a few words |
Prompt Length |
3-9 Seconds |
Skills Assessed |
Listening & Speaking |
Time To Answer |
10 Seconds |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question, reply with one or a few words. The audio plays automatically; after it ends, speak immediately when the microphone opens.
Speak clearly and finish before the progress bar ends. You can only record once, and the audio cannot be replayed.
Question Is Scored On: Vocabulary Factor.
Task |
Read the text and write a short 25–50 word summary. |
Prompt Length |
Text up to 200 words |
Skills Assessed |
Reading & Writing |
Time To Answer |
10 Minutes |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question, write a short summary of the text in 25 to 50 words, including the main points. You have 10 minutes to complete your summary in one or two sentences.
The word count will display at the bottom of the screen, and you can use cut, copy, and paste while writing.
The question Is Scored On: Four Factors; Content, Form, Grammar, Vocabulary.
Task |
Read the text, then write an email in response. |
Prompt Length |
Text up to 100 words |
Skills Assessed |
Writing |
Time To Answer |
9 Minutes |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question, write an email responding to a prompt containing between 80 and 120 words.
You have 9 minutes to complete your email.
The word count will be displayed at the bottom of the screen, and you can use cut, copy, and paste while composing your response.
The question Is Scored On: Seven Factors; Content, Email conventions, Form, Organization, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Spelling.
This section lasts 30 minutes and features five question types. One question-type, 'Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks,' assesses both skills in a single task.
Task |
You will see text with gaps. Select the correct words from the drop-down boxes to complete the text. |
Prompt Length |
Text up to 200 words |
Skills Assessed |
Reading & Writing |
Time To Answer |
Not Applicable |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question type, select the most suitable words from a drop-down list to fill in the gaps. You’ll see text with missing words. Complete the text by selecting the correct option from the list for each gap.
You can change your answer by selecting a different option.
Question Is Scored On: Scoring is based on correct/incorrect & partial credit basis.
Task |
Read the text and answer a multiple-choice question about its content or tone. You may choose more than one response. |
Prompt Length |
Text up to 275 words |
Skills Assessed |
Reading |
Time To Answer |
Not applicable |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question type, read the passage and answer the multiple-choice question. More than one option may be correct. Select all the correct options from the list.
Click an option to select it, and click again to deselect. Selected options will be highlighted in yellow.
Question Is Scored On: Scoring is based on correct/incorrect & partial credit basis.
Task |
You will see text boxes in a random order. Arrange them to form the correct sequence. |
Prompt Length |
Text up to 110 words |
Skills Assessed |
Reading |
Time To Answer |
Not applicable |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question type, you need to reorder the text by selecting and moving text boxes.
Reorder text by selecting and moving text boxes. Use drag-and-drop or arrow buttons to arrange them. To remove a selection, click elsewhere on the screen.
Question Is Scored On: Scoring is based on correct/incorrect & partial credit basis.
Task |
The text on the screen has several gaps. Drag words from the box below to fill in the missing parts. |
Prompt Length |
Text up to 80 words |
Skills Assessed |
Reading |
Time To Answer |
Not applicable |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question type, drag and drop words to fill the gaps in the text. A passage will have missing words, and you’ll have a list of words in a blue box to choose from.
Not all words will be used. Click and drag a word to a gap, and if needed, move it to a different gap or back to the blue box.
Question Is Scored On: Scoring is based on correct/incorrect & partial credit basis.
Task |
After reading the text, choose the correct answer by selecting one option. |
Prompt Length |
Text up to 110 words |
Skills Assessed |
Reading |
Time To Answer |
Not applicable |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question type, read the passage and answer the multiple-choice question. There are several options, but only one is correct.
Click an option to select it. You can change your selection by clicking again or choosing a different option. The selected option is highlighted in yellow.
Question Is Scored On: Scoring is based on correct/incorrect basis.
This PTE Core test format section is about 30 minutes long and includes seven question types based on audio or video clips, which play once.
Task |
After listening to a recording, write a 50–70 word summary. |
Prompt Length |
45-75 Seconds |
Skills Assessed |
Listening & Writing |
Time To Answer |
8 Minutes |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question, you will listen to an audio recording and write a 20-30 word summary. You have 8 minutes to complete your summary.
The recording plays automatically and can only be heard once. Make sure to write between 20 and 30 words. You can use cut, copy, and paste if needed while crafting your summary.
Question Is Scored On: Five Factors; Content, Form, Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling.
Task |
After listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question about its content by selecting multiple responses. |
Prompt Length |
50-90 Seconds |
Skills Assessed |
Listening |
Time To Answer |
Not Applicable |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question type, listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question. There may be more than one correct response.
The audio plays automatically, and you can only listen to it once. Select all the correct options from the list by clicking on them, and click again to deselect if needed.
Question Is Scored On: Scoring is based on a partial credit basis.
Task |
You will see a transcript with several gaps. Listen to the recording and type the missing word in each gap. |
Prompt Length |
30-60 Seconds |
Skills Assessed |
Listening & Writing |
Time To Answer |
Not Applicable |
How To Answer This Question:
The audio recording will play automatically, and you can listen to it once. Click on each gap and type the missing word.
Use the tab button to move between gaps. You can take notes on the erasable whiteboard while the audio is playing.
Question Is Scored On: Scoring is based on content factor & partial credit basis.
Task |
Listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting the correct option. |
Prompt Length |
30-90 Seconds |
Skills Assessed |
Listening |
Time To Answer |
Not Applicable |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question type, listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question. The audio plays automatically, and you can only listen once.
There are multiple response options, but only one is correct. Click an option to select it, and click again to change or choose a different option.
Question Is Scored On: Scoring is based on correct/incorrect basis.
Task |
Listen to the recording and choose the missing word from the list of options that completes the sentence. |
Prompt Length |
20-70 Seconds |
Skills Assessed |
Listening |
Time To Answer |
Not Applicable |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question type, choose the most appropriate word or phrase to complete the audio recording. The audio will play automatically and can only be heard once.
There are several options, but only one is correct. Select an option, and you can change it by clicking again or choosing a different option.
Question Is Scored On: Scoring is based on correct/incorrect basis.
Task |
You will see a transcript of a recording. As you listen, click on the words that differ from what is spoken. |
Prompt Length |
15-50 Seconds |
Skills Assessed |
Listening & Reading |
Time To Answer |
Not Applicable |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question type, listen to the audio recording and select the words in the transcript that differ from what is said.
The recording plays automatically, and you can only listen once. Click on a word to select it, and click again to deselect if needed.
Question Is Scored On: Scoring is based on partial credit basis.
Task |
Listen to a recording of a sentence and then type what you hear. |
Prompt Length |
3-5 Seconds |
Skills Assessed |
Listening & Writing |
Time To Answer |
Not Applicable |
How To Answer This Question:
For this question type, listen to a sentence and type it into the response box at the bottom of the screen. The audio plays automatically, and you can only listen once.
You may take notes on your erasable whiteboard while listening. Make sure to check your spelling before submitting.
Question Is Scored On: Scoring is based on content factor & partial credit basis.
Understand the different question types and the number of tasks in the PTE exam pattern
PTE Question Type |
No. Of Tasks |
|---|---|
|
Speaking & Writing Section |
|
Read Aloud |
6-7 |
Repeat Sentence |
10-12 |
Describe Image |
3-4 |
Respond to a Situation |
2-4 |
Answer short question |
5-6 |
Summarize Written Text |
1-2 |
Write Email |
2-3 |
|
Reading Section |
|
Reading and writing: Fill in the blanks |
5-6 |
Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers |
1-2 |
Re-order paragraphs |
2-3 |
Reading: Fill in the blanks |
4-5 |
Multiple-choice, choose single answer |
1-2 |
|
Listening Section |
|
Summarize spoken text |
1-2 |
Multiple–choice, choose multiple answers |
1-2 |
Fill in the blanks |
2-3 |
Multiple-choice, choose single answer |
1-2 |
Select missing word |
1-2 |
Highlight incorrect words |
1-2 |
Write from dictation |
3-4 |
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Experience the real exam environment with our mock tests. Analyze your performance, pinpoint weak areas, and monitor your progress with detailed reports. This allows you to focus more on improving your weaknesses.
Practice one section at a time with focused exercises in Speaking, Writing, Reading, or Listening. Sharpen your skills in key areas to achieve higher scores. Mastering all sections will lead to better results.
Work on specific question types to address areas where you struggle or score lower. Repeated practice of these types will enhance your performance and boost your confidence.
Our day-wise PTE Academic practice plan ensures consistent progress by breaking preparation into manageable tasks. Tailored to your timeline, it keeps you focused and disciplined, helping you maximize your time without feeling overwhelmed.
Gurully’s AI-based scoring system provides instant and precise feedback, mirroring the evaluation process of the real PTE exam. It offers insights into your performance and ensures you know exactly where you stand.
Gurully is your all-in-one solution for PTE core success. Our online platform offers comprehensive practice to ensure thorough preparation. With AI-powered scoring and instant feedback, you’ll save time and track your progress efficiently. Our precise scoring and real-time exam simulation streamline your preparation, making your journey to success smoother and easier.
Have questions about the PTE Core exam format? Find comprehensive answers to all your queries in our detailed FAQs.
The PTE Core is focused on basic English communication skills for professional and personal development, whereas PTE Academic is tailored for higher proficiency and academic purposes.
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