PTE Academic Exam Format & Task Types (Full Breakdown)

The three parts in order

You complete the parts in sequence and cannot go back to a previous part once it ends. The total test takes roughly two hours. Within each part, an on-screen timer keeps you moving, so pacing is a skill in itself.

Part 1 — Speaking & Writing

This is the longest part. You start with a Personal Introduction (unscored), then move through the speaking tasks into the two writing tasks. Speaking tasks use your microphone; the timer starts automatically, so there is no 'record' button to press.

1. 1Personal Introduction — unscored warm-up; not sent to institutions.
2. 2Read Aloud — read a short text aloud; scores reading and speaking.
3. 3Repeat Sentence — hear a sentence and repeat it exactly.
4. 4Describe Image — describe a chart, graph, or picture in 25–40 seconds.
5. 5Re-tell Lecture — listen to a lecture, then summarise it aloud.
6. 6Answer Short Question — give a one or few-word answer to a simple question.
7. 7Summarize Group Discussion — listen to a discussion and summarise the key points aloud.
8. 8Respond to a Situation — listen to a scenario and give an appropriate spoken response.
9. 9Summarize Written Text — read a passage and write a one-sentence summary.
10. 10Write Essay — write a 200–300 word argumentative essay.

Part 2 — Reading

The Reading part mixes multiple-choice, re-ordering, and fill-in-the-blanks tasks. Two of the fill-in-the-blanks tasks also contribute to your writing score, so reading is heavily 'integrated'.

1. 1Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks — choose words from dropdowns to complete a passage.
2. 2Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers — select all correct options (negative marking applies).
3. 3Re-order Paragraphs — drag jumbled text boxes into a logical order.
4. 4Reading: Fill in the Blanks — drag words from a bank into the gaps.
5. 5Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer — select the one correct option.

Part 3 — Listening

Listening starts with Summarize Spoken Text, which is also a writing task, then runs through a series of audio-based questions. Audio plays only once, so note-taking and focus are essential.

1. 1Summarize Spoken Text — listen, then write a 50–70 word summary.
2. 2Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers — select all correct options from an audio clip.
3. 3Fill in the Blanks — type the missing words while the audio plays.
4. 4Highlight Correct Summary — pick the paragraph that best summarises the audio.
5. 5Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer — select the one correct option.
6. 6Select Missing Word — choose the word that completes the recording.
7. 7Highlight Incorrect Words — click the on-screen words that differ from the audio.
8. 8Write from Dictation — type a sentence you hear exactly.

Why integrated scoring matters

Because many tasks score two skills at once, a single strong answer can lift two of your section scores. Re-tell Lecture builds listening and speaking; Summarize Written Text builds reading and writing; Write from Dictation feeds both listening and writing. This is why a focused practice plan — drilling the highest-impact task types — moves your overall score faster than studying each skill in isolation.