PTE Academic 2026: test dates, format, how to book and free practice tests
PTE Academic is Pearson's computer-based English test for university admission and for visas in countries such as Australia. There is no fixed PTE exam date: you choose a test centre and a free slot, and slots can be booked as close as 24 hours ahead. This guide covers how to book, the PTE Academic exam pattern including the two speaking tasks added in August 2025, how scoring works, and a six-week plan built around mock tests.
PTE Academic at a glance
| Conducting body | Pearson |
| What it is for | University study, and visas that need an English test (for example Australia) |
| Mode | On a computer at a Pearson test centre |
| Questions | 23 question types in three parts |
| Time | About 2 hours |
| Marking | 10 to 90, overall and for Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening; mostly automated |
| Language | English |
| How often | Any free slot at a test centre, booked at least 24 hours ahead |
| Official website | pearsonpte.com |
Test dates and booking
PTE Academic has no national exam date. Each centre offers slots, and you see what is free on Pearson's availability search. Pearson says you can choose from more than 500 test centres and must book at least 24 hours before your slot.
On Pearson's PTE Academic page (checked 20 October 2026):
- Most test takers get their results within two business days; some take up to five business days.
- The test is taken at an authorised test centre. Pearson's page says PTE Academic cannot be taken at home.
Plan backwards from your deadline: allow up to five business days for the result, plus time to send it and, if needed, to sit again.
How to book PTE Academic
- Check that PTE Academic is the test you need. For a UK visa you need PTE Academic UKVI; for Canadian immigration, IRCC accepts PTE Core, a different Pearson test.
- Open the availability search, enter your city and pick a centre and a slot.
- Create a myPTE account with your details exactly as they are in your passport.
- Answer the booking questions, accept the policies and pay (a voucher or promo code can be used here).
- Watch for the confirmation email; the booking also appears in your myPTE account.
Pearson's step-by-step guide is how to book your PTE exam.
Keep ready: your passport. Pearson says you must show it at the test centre, and if your account details do not match it you cannot sit the test and will not get a refund. Details can be corrected up to 3 days before the test. If you have no passport, check Pearson's ID policy.
PTE Academic exam pattern
| Part | Time | Question types |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Speaking and Writing | 76 to 84 minutes | Personal Introduction (not scored), Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Answer Short Question, Summarize Group Discussion, Respond to a Situation, Summarize Written Text, Write Essay |
| 2. Reading | 23 to 30 minutes | Fill in the Blanks (dropdown), Multiple Choice Multiple Answers, Reorder Paragraph, Fill in the Blanks (drag and drop), Multiple Choice Single Answer |
| 3. Listening | 31 to 39 minutes | Summarize Spoken Text, Multiple Choice Multiple Answers, Fill in the Blanks, Highlight Correct Summary, Multiple Choice Single Answer, Select Missing Word, Highlight Incorrect Words, Write from Dictation |
Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation were added on 7 August 2025; Pearson says the other 20 question types did not change. Each recording in Listening is heard once, and spoken tasks have a short answer window (for example 40 seconds for Describe Image).
Scoring. You get an overall score and a score for each skill, all from 10 to 90. Many tasks count towards two skills, so the overall score is not the average of the four, and Pearson does not publish the formula. Any practice score is an estimate. There is no pass mark.
PTE Academic syllabus
PTE has no topic syllabus; it tests the four skills, often together:
- Speaking: reading aloud, repeating, describing images, retelling lectures and discussions, responding to situations.
- Writing: a 10-minute one-sentence summary and a 20-minute essay.
- Reading: gap-fills, multiple choice, reordering paragraphs.
- Listening: summaries, gap-fills, spotting incorrect words, dictation.
See every task with its time on our PTE Academic syllabus page.
A six-week plan before your test date
| Week | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | One full timed PTE Academic mock test. Note which task types cost the most. |
| 2 | Speaking: Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence daily, recorded. Aim for steady pace without long pauses. |
| 3 | Writing: Write Essay in 20 minutes twice a week; Summarize Written Text as one sentence. |
| 4 | Reading and Listening: Fill in the Blanks and Write from Dictation daily; these feed several skills. |
| 5 | Second full mock. Practise the two newer speaking tasks, which many older materials leave out. |
| 6 | A last full mock early in the week, then short daily practice. Check your passport and centre. |
Read how to analyse a mock test after each one.
Useful links
- Book PTE Academic: check availability (pearsonpte.com)
- PTE Academic test format (pearsonpte.com)
- PTE updates 2025 (pearsonpte.com)
- Free PTE Academic mock tests
- PTE Academic syllabus
- PTE Academic test dates
- PTE Core: test dates and how to book
- IELTS 2026: test dates and how to book
Frequently asked questions
When is the next PTE Academic exam date?
There is no fixed date. Search Pearson's availability page for your city; any free slot at least 24 hours ahead can be booked.
Is there negative marking in PTE Academic?
Most tasks simply score what you get right. Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers is the exception: wrong choices lose marks, so pick only the options you are confident of.
How long does the PTE Academic result take?
Pearson says most results arrive within two business days, and some take up to five.
Can I take PTE Academic at home?
Not according to Pearson's PTE Academic page as of 20 October 2026, which says it is taken at an authorised test centre and cannot be taken at home.
What is the PTE Academic pass mark?
There is none. Each university or government sets the score it needs, often with a minimum for each skill.
Is PTE Academic accepted for Canada?
For Canadian economic immigration, IRCC accepts PTE Core, not PTE Academic. Check IRCC's equivalency charts before you book.