The PTE exam pattern for 2025 consists of three main sections completed in approximately 2 hours: Speaking & Writing (54–67 minutes), Reading (29–30 minutes), and Listening (30–43 minutes).

Speaking & Writing Section

• Duration: 54–67 minutes with 28–36 questions.

• Tasks include personal introduction, read aloud, repeat sentence, describe image, retell lecture, answer short questions, summarize written text, and writing an essay (200–300 words).

Reading Section

• Duration: 29–30 minutes with 13–18 questions.

• Tasks include fill in the blanks (dropdown and drag-and-drop), multiple-choice questions (single and multiple answers), reordering paragraphs, and answering fill-in-the-blank questions.

Listening Section

• Duration: 30–43 minutes with 12–20 questions.

• Tasks include summarizing spoken text, multiple-choice questions, fill in the blanks, highlighting correct summaries or words, and writing from dictation.

The exam is fully computer-based and scored by AI without breaks between sections. The number of questions and some task types have been adjusted in the latest update to focus assessment on key English skills.

PTE Speaking Modules Explanation

The PTE Speaking module consists of five main types of questions designed to evaluate different aspects of your spoken English skills, including pronunciation, fluency, content clarity, and oral communication. These question types are Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Lecture, and Answer Short Question.

Explanation of Each PTE Speaking Module

• Read Aloud: You read a short written passage aloud, usually up to 60 words. This task assesses your reading fluency and pronunciation with around 6-7 items. Clear and natural speech is important, and you get brief preparation time before recording your answer.​

• Repeat Sentence: You listen to a sentence played through audio and then repeat it exactly. This task tests your listening and speaking skills, requiring accurate memory and pronunciation. There are about 10-12 sentences to repeat.​

• Describe Image: You are shown an image, chart, or graph and need to describe it orally in one or two sentences. This exercise evaluates your ability to convey visual information clearly and coherently.​

• Retell Lecture: After listening to a short lecture or academic talk, you must orally summarize the key points within 40 seconds. This integrated task assesses both listening comprehension and spoken summary skills, requiring you to structure information logically.​

• Answer Short Question: You hear a question and respond with a brief answer, usually one or two words or a short sentence. This evaluates quick comprehension and concise spoken replies.

  Scoring Criteria

  The speaking section is scored on pronunciation, fluency, content, oral communication, grammar, and vocabulary. Clear pronunciation and natural fluency without unnatural pauses boost your score, as does organizing your ideas well and directly answering the prompt. Each module contributes partial credit based on these factors.​

  Additional Key Points

  • The entire Speaking & Writing section lasts about 54-67 minutes, with the Speaking module taking roughly 24-37 minutes.

  • The speaking tasks are computer-based, not face-to-face, with responses recorded via microphone.​

  • Preparing for the question types with timed practice is essential for effective performance.

  This detailed breakdown covers the key aspects and question types in the PTE Academic Speaking module, helping candidates understand what to expect and how each part is evaluated.

  PTE Writing Module Explanation

  The PTE Writing Module consists primarily of two key tasks: Summarize Written Text and Write Essay. The module tests your ability to comprehend written content, summarize key points succinctly, and produce coherent, well-structured essays within a given time limit.

  PTE Writing Task Types

  • Summarize Written Text: Candidates receive a text of up to 300 words and must summarize it in one sentence of no more than 75 words within 10 minutes. The task tests reading comprehension and the ability to concisely convey main ideas.

  • Write Essay: Candidates write an essay of 200-300 words on a given topic, usually argumentative in nature. The essay is expected to have a clear thesis, supporting arguments, and a logical structure. The time allocated is about 20 minutes.

  Scoring Criteria

  • Content: How well the response addresses the prompt (up to 3 points).

  • Formal Requirements: Adherence to word count and task instructions (up to 2 points).

  • Grammar and Spelling: Accurate use of language and correct spelling (each up to 2 points).

  • Vocabulary: Use of appropriate, varied vocabulary (up to 2 points).

  • Coherence and Structure: Logical organization and flow of ideas (up to 2 points).

  • General Linguistic Range: Variety and complexity of sentence structures (up to 2 points).

  Additional Aspects

  • The Writing module is integrated with the Speaking section and appears in Part 1 of the exam.

  • Other related question types impacting writing skills include Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks.

  • Practice involves focusing on grammar, formatting sentences, staying on topic, and effective time management.

  This detailed explanation highlights the main components you need to prepare for in the PTE Writing module to maximize your score.

  PTE Reading Module Explanation

The PTE Reading module tests a range of reading comprehension skills through five main question types within about 29 to 41 minutes. The tasks assess abilities such as vocabulary knowledge, grammar, text coherence, and analytical skills. The five question types are:

• • Multiple-choice, single answer: Identify the correct answer after reading a passage.

  • Multiple-choice, multiple answers: Select more than one correct option based on the passage content.

  • Reorder paragraphs: Arrange jumbled text boxes into a logical sequence.

  • Fill in the blanks (Reading): Drag and drop words from a box to fill gaps in a passage.

  • Fill in the blanks (Reading & Writing): Choose words from dropdown menus to complete a passage.

These tasks range in text length from about 80 to 300 words and require strategic reading such as scanning for keywords, understanding context, and managing time across questions. The reading section score affects both reading and overall PTE scores due to the integrated scoring system. It is important to carefully read, analyze context clues, and apply elimination strategies in multiple-choice questions to boost accuracy and efficiency in this module.