Every year, millions of people yearn to migrate or work abroad or study internationally. In the given scenario, people might not wonder wrapping their heads around the impact the outbreak has caused on the dreams of the people. A large chunk of people believe that they still can hold on to their dream of studying abroad or migrating overseas.

But there is nothing more horrendous than the fact that candidates are required to prove eligibility in order to avail a visa. English Language proficiency is one such factor considered to gauge the ability of the person to fly abroad. Few English proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE are the most accessible tests in the market. This article will cover all the details required for the Pearson English Test India 2022.

What is the Pearson Test of English (PTE)?

The Pearson Test of English (PTE), formerly known as the London Test of English is a three-hour long exam designed to examine your listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. Pearson Test of English is a multi-dimensional test designed for non-native speakers to test their ability to communicate with English speakers. It is accredited by the QCA and Ofqual and organized in association with Edexcel, one of the largest examining bodies in the UK. It is an approved English test for abroad study, immigration, and visa applications. PTE accesses the preparedness of non-native English speakers and is trusted by Government, Ivy League Universities, and others around the world. It is considered as one of the finest ways to test a candidate’s English skills. Read this article to gain complete knowledge on the Pearson English Test General, Academic, and Young Learner Test. 

Types of Pearson Test of English

There are three different English language tests of PTE are:

I - Pearson Test of English General (PTE General)

PTE General is an English proficiency test accredited by OFQUAL to examine the student’s level of English. It is accepted by multiple educational ministries, employers and higher education institutions. There are six levels of test and are generally set at CEFR levels i.e. the candidate can take the test at the level you are at and can gradually move to advanced level English proficiency through tests. The first test is for the beginner named A1 and then is numbered from level 1 to 5 where level 5 is equivalent to a proficiency exam. PTE General test is designed for people who are enthusiastic to learn English and are willing to test their language proficiency. They are tailored to allow students to demonstrate their language learning achievements. 

a. Levels of test

CEFR Level

PTE General

Exam time

C2 Proficient (Mastery)

Level 5

2 Hours55 min

C1 Advanced (Operational Proficiency)

Level 4

2 Hours 30 min

B2 Upper-Intermediate

Level 3

2 Hours

B1 Intermediate

Level 2

1 Hour 35min

A2 Elementary

Level 1

1 Hour 30 min

A1 Foundation

Level A1 

1 Hour 15 min

b. What skills does the PTE General test?

Format

Task

Skills 

Listening test

multiple choices, dictation, and a note completion

To test the general idea of the text as well as more specific details

Reading test

Two multiple-choice activities, an open-ended question, note completion

To test the ability of the student to understand and extract the main ideas and specific details from the text

Writing test

Task 1: Students are responsible to use the information from the reading task to write a letter or a blogpost, draft an email etc

Task 2: writing a story, essay or diary entry 

To test the ability of the student to pen down their opinion on a paper

Speaking test

A short monologue, a picture description, and a roleplay or a discussion task

To test the ability of the student to talk about themselves 

c. Major strategies for PTE General
Students whenever preparing for an exam must strategize their studies accordingly as it would eventually help them to achieve success. 
1. Work on your synonyms and paraphrasing
2. Focus on sentence framing
3. Do not repeat your mistakes
4. Be formal during your speaking test
5. Check your answers before submitting the paper

II- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)

PTE Academic is an English language test to assess the preparedness of non-native English speakers to communicate in English. It is accepted by multiple international companies and universities for the purpose of employability and higher studies. It is also used for immigration reasons. PTE Academic is endorsed by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). It is totally a computer-based exam that focuses on real-life English used in Academic surroundings. 

a. Structure of the test 

Section

Duration

PTE Academic

Speaking & Writing

77 – 93 minutes

Personal Introduction
Read Aloud
Repeat sentence
Describe image
Re-tell lecture
Answer short question
Summarise written text (10 mins)
Essay (20mins)

Reading

32 – 41 minutes

Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks
Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers
Re-order paragraphs
Reading: Fill in the blanks
Multiple-choice, choose single answer
A 10-minute break is optional

Listening

45 – 57 minutes

Summarise spoken text
Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers
Fill the blanks
Highlight the correct summary
Multiple choices, choose a single answer
Select missing word
Highlight incorrect words
Write from dictation

III- Pearson Test of English Young Learner test (PTE YL)

PTE YL is an English language exam designed for children aged from 7-12 years. The children are analysed on the basis of four skills i.e. reading, writing, listening, and speaking respectively. They are mainly focused to motivate young learners to learn English and prepare them to deal with real-life communicative tasks.

Benefits of taking a PTE test

a. Globally accepted
PTE is acknowledged and accepted by more than 6000 universities and organizations worldwide. Government bodies, Ivy League Universities, Educational institutions, immigration agencies, and corporates accept PTE Academic Scores as a popular exam to evaluate the English skills of non-native speakers.

b. Flexible test dates and easy availability of test centers
PTE Academic is monitored through the Pearson Virtual User Environment (VUE) and has authorized test centres in more than 175 countries around the world. Your application will be evaluated by the specific Channel Sales Team of the region. Make sure to fill in all the required details accurately, so that the appropriate regional team receives your application form after submission. As the PTE exam takes place almost round the year, candidates may book their slot any time of the year and can choose the centre nearest to them. 

In India, few centres where the PTE exam takes place are:
1. Ahmedabad, Gujarat
2. Bangalore, Karnataka
3. Chandigarh, Punjab
4. Chennai, Tamil Nadu
5. Cochin, Kerala
6. Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
7. Delhi/New Delhi
8. Gandhinagar, Gujarat
9. Hyderabad, Telangana
10. Jalandhar, Punjab
11. Kolkata, West Bengal
12. Mumbai, Maharashtra
13. Noida, Uttar Pradesh
14. Patiala, Punjab
15. Pune, Maharashtra
16. Rajkot, Gujarat
17. Vadodara, Gujarat
18. Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

c. Instant exam results
One can avail of the PTE score once it is validated by the Australia Border Agency and the Australian Department of Immigration and citizenship for visa applications. As the test is analyzed by the computer through advanced AI, it delivers scores within five business days from the exam date. Therefore, it is a major advantage for the students as it reduces the waiting time for the results.

d. Unbiased scoring of the exam
No human grader is involved to evaluate the exams as it is a tedious process and a few may omit errors while examining the test answers, but the PTE exam is a computer-based exam with a complete computer-based marking system. Therefore, it generates only  100% secure and accurate scores of the candidates. 

e. Apparent and clear questions
The questions in the PTE exams are formed based on the real life-instances and academic content because of which the candidate’s risk of attempting the wrong questions or skipping them is less. More often, due to ambiguity and uncertainty of the questions, students face difficulty while answering the questions. As the PTE Academic test has clear and apparent questions, strategizing your work and preparing well is enough to get you a good score in the exam. 

Students generally opt for the Pearson Test of English test for the purpose of employability and higher studies. As few students struggle to fund their education abroad due to which they look for various sources to fund their education. Candidates who are looking to finance their higher studies abroad, connect with our team at WeMakeScholars and our financial officers will guide you through the entire loan process till sanction. 

Difference between PTE General and PTE Academic?

There are numerous similarities and differences between PTE Academic and PTE General. As the candidates have their own reasons for taking an English Proficiency Test, candidates often are unsure about which test would be best suitable for them. Refer to the table below to have a clear picture of it. 

Factor

PTE General

PTE Academic

Purpose of the test

Can be used as proof of English language Proficiency skills in Non-English speaking countries also.

Also used to test the level of their current language skills.

Prepare students, employees, and immigration visa applications for abroad in English speaking countries only.

Students would be able to show proof of their English proficiency skills in highly reputed universities also

Test duration

PTE General depends on the level of the test you are taking. The minimum duration of the test is 90 minutes and the maximum is 3 hours. 

The total duration of the test is 3 Hours

Pearson Test dates

Not easily available with three-set exam time slots in May, June, and December 

Easily available as it takes place almost round the year. Candidates may book their slot any time of the year and can choose the nearest centre to them. 

Conduct and endorsement of the test

PTE General is conducted by Pearson Language Tests but is partnered with Edexcel Limited and also endorses the test.

PTE Academic is conducted by Pearson Language Tests and endorsed by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)

Format

It is not a computerized test.  It is further divided into two sections i.e. a spoken interview and a written paper. There are six levels of test and are generally set at CEFR levels i.e. the candidate can take the test at the level you are at and can gradually move to advanced level English proficiency through tests.

Mainly covers 4 modules: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. The test is scored by advanced computer algorithms. 

Test Validity

They last forever and can be used at any point in time.

Valid up to 2 years

How to register

The candidate can register online using the Edexcel Online system

The candidate can register online at the Pearson official website. 

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