PTE Exam Pattern: Speaking and Writing
|
Topics |
Questions |
Duration per
task |
|
Personal
introduction |
1 |
55 seconds: 25
seconds for prompt, 30 seconds to record |
|
Read Aloud |
6 - 7 |
30-40 seconds to
prepare for reading out the text of 60 words |
|
Repeat sentence |
10 - 12 |
15 seconds: 3-9
seconds for prompt, 15 seconds to record |
|
Describe image |
3 - 4 |
25 seconds are
granted to study the image as well as prepare your response on the same |
|
Retell lecture |
1 - 2 |
90 seconds for
prompt length, 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to answer |
|
Answer short
question |
5 - 6 |
20 seconds: 3-9
seconds for prompt, 10 seconds to answer |
|
Summarize
written text |
1 - 2 |
10 minutes to
answer to text prompt of 300 words |
|
Write Essay |
1 - 2 |
20 minutes to
answer to text prompt of 2-3 sentences |
|
Total questions |
28 - 36 |
Time
Allocation: 54 - 67 minutes |
|
Topics |
Questions |
Duration per
task |
|
Fill in the
blanks – reading & writing |
5 - 6 |
Read 300 words
of text |
|
Multiple choice,
multiple answers |
1 - 2 |
Read 300 words
of text |
|
Re-order
paragraph |
2 - 3 |
Read 150 words
of text |
|
Fill in the
blanks – reading |
4 - 5 |
Read 80 words of
text |
|
Multiple choice,
single answer |
1 - 2 |
Read 300 words
of text |
|
Total questions |
13 - 18 |
Time Allocation: 29
- 30 minutes |
PTE Exam Pattern: Listening
|
Topics |
Questions |
Duration per
task |
|
Summarize spoken
text |
1 - 2 |
60-90 seconds to
retain 50-70 words, 10 minutes to write |
|
Multiple choice,
multiple answers |
1 - 2 |
40-90 seconds
for prompt |
|
Fill in the
blanks |
2 - 3 |
30-60 seconds |
|
Highlight
correct summary |
1 - 2 |
30-90 seconds |
|
Multiple choice,
single answer |
1 - 2 |
30-60 seconds |
|
Select missing
word |
1 - 2 |
20-70 seconds |
|
Highlight
incorrect word |
2 - 3 |
15-50 seconds |
|
Write from Dictation |
3 - 4 |
3-5 seconds |
|
Total questions |
12 - 20 |
Time
Allocation: 30 - 43 minutes |
In PTE Speaking each of the tasks is individually timed, meaning that you do not need to worry. You just need to follow the instructions and watch the clock. The times are given for each of the tasks including preparation time and speaking time.
In PTE Writing each of the tasks is individually timed,
meaning that you do not need to worry. You just need to follow the
instructions and watch the clock. The times are given for each of the tasks.
Keep in mind that time DOES NOT carry over
meaning that if you finish two minutes before the clock that two minutes DOES
NOT carry over the next task.
In both the Reading and Listening sections you
can ‘push the time’ or click to go on to the next task of the section
immediately upon completion of the task you have just completed. This will save
you critical time!
Test-takers tend to waste time in Multiple
Choice Multiple Answer while looking for the second or possible third answer –
just choose one answer if that is the best you can do. The Reading Section is 29
– 30 minutes in length while the Listening Section is 30 – 45 minutes.
In PTE Listening the first task — Summarize Spoken Text — is
individually timed for ten minutes. You can consider this task ‘separate’ to
the other six listening tasks.
For the other 7 tasks, you must manage your own
time making sure that you move efficiently yet accurately through them. Don’t
waste time in PTE Listening because it is vitally important that you make it to
the final task which is called Write from Dictation.
I have seen many candidates get low writing and
listening scores because they did not move quickly enough through PTE Listening
and as such missed some of the Write from Dictation questions.
Don’t spend times looking for the answers.
In PTE Listening you will get the answers
during the audio or immediately after the audio. Therefore, you really should
not spend time ‘looking’ at the answers. If you listened carefully and took
notes then you can match your notes (and your memory) to the correct answer
option in just a few seconds.
Take Select Missing Word, for example. In this
task, you will hear short audio of about 30 seconds. The final word or words is
missing and you must select from a list of around 5 options which word is
missing.
You should select ‘immediately’. If you missed
it, you missed it; don’t waste time looking at those five answer options
because the audio can only be played once and is not coming back.
The same goes for the other tasks. For MCSA and
Highlight Correct Summary, for example, you should match your notes to the
correct answer.
This means that you should only spend about 30
seconds after the audio has finished before you move on to the next question
because all you do is match your notes to the correct answer option. Reading
through the answer options should only take you about 30 seconds.
Remember, the audio is not coming back; you can’t replay it. If you don’t know the answer guess and move on; don’t waste precious time.