Pearson Test of English Academic or PTE for Canada is a good alternative to IELTS or TOEFL. This international and valid language test like IELTS is divided into two main categories, academic and general. How can you know whether choosing the PTE language certificate to immigrate to Canada is right for you?
In general, consider PTE if the following apply to you:
- If you can take the test outside of Iran, because the PTE exam is not held in Iran.
- If you plan to study in Canada.
- If you like, take part in the writing and speaking skill section of the test first and then in the reading comprehension section.
- If you want to pay less than IELTS. (US$180)
- If getting quick results (usually within 30 hours) is important to you.
- If you prefer a fully computerized test to a paper test or face-to-face interview.
- If the two-year timeframe – the duration of PTE Academic credit – is sufficient for you.
Types of PTE test for Canada
The PTE exam for Canada is currently held in three different formats, although the new version will be implemented at the end of 2023:
- PTE Academic test: for studying in Canada
- PTE Core exam: for immigrating to Canada – Express Entry Economy Class (Launching from late 2023)
- PTE General test: to assess language level
- PTE Young Learners test: to assess the language level of children aged 7 to 12
In this article, we will review and explain the academic PTE exam .
How is PTE Academic?
This test, like all other language tests, measures your four skills, but in three parts!
Its important difference with IELTS and TOEFL is in the way these skills are categorized: in the PTE English language test, the skills during which you have to produce the language yourself, i.e. writing and speaking, are evaluated before the rest of the skills and together.
For example, in one part of the speaking-writing test, you have to read aloud from a text. Taking part in this section is probably easier for people who have good speech and pronunciation but may not be able to speak on a topic for a few minutes – which happens in the second part of the IELTS Speaking test! Because you don’t have to use your own ideas to speak.
This test is completely computerized and corrected and graded using Pearson’s automatic evaluation technology. Four main language skills including Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing are evaluated in this test and its score is calculated out of 90.
To take the test, you must attend one of the accredited test centers and start answering using a computer and a headset. The duration of the test session is 3 hours and it has three main parts:
The first part of Speaking & Writing
77 to 93 minutes of time is required for this episode and includes the following:
| Test name | Description | Assessed skill | period of time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Introduction – Personal Introduction | To introduce yourself, you have 25 seconds to read and prepare the answer and 30 seconds to record the answer. (not graded) | 1 minute | |
| Read aloud – Read Aloud | A text appears on the monitor screen and you have to read it aloud into the microphone so that your voice is recorded. | Reading and speaking | It depends on the length of the text |
| Repeat sentence – Repeat sentence | After listening to a short text of a few words, you have to repeat it. | Listening and speaking | 15 seconds |
| Describe image – Describe image | A picture appears on the monitor screen and you have to describe its main points. | Speaking | 40 seconds |
| Repeating a lecture – Re-tell lecture | After listening to an audio file or watching a picture, you should summarize its main points. | Listening and speaking | 40 seconds |
| Answer short question – Answer short question | After listening to a question you have to answer it with one or more words. | Listening and speaking | 10 seconds |
| Summarize written text | After reading an academic text, you should summarize its main points in a sentence of between 5 and 75 words. | Reading and writing | 10 minutes |
| Essay | An academic essay between 200 and 300 words should be written on the specified topic. | Writing | 20 minutes |
Second part of Reading
32 to 41 minutes of time is required for this part and includes the following:
| Test name | Description | Assessed skill | period of time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer questions | After reading a text, you have to answer a multiple choice question that has only one correct answer. | Reading | 32 to 41 minutes |
| Multiple choice questions, with more than one correct answer – Multiple choice, multiple answer | After reading a text you have to answer a multiple choice question that has more than one correct answer. | Reading | 32 to 41 minutes |
| Re-order paragraphs | Several text boxes appear on the monitor screen in a jumbled order that you are asked to arrange in the correct order. | Reading | 32 to 41 minutes |
| Fill in the blanks | A text is displayed with a number of blanks, which must be filled using the provided options, whose number is greater than the number of blanks. | Reading | 32 to 41 minutes |
| Filling in the blanks – Reading & Writing Fill in the blanks | A text is displayed with a number of blanks, each blank must be filled using the options provided for that blank. | Reading | 32 to 41 minutes |
The third part of Listening
45 to 57 minutes of time is required for this part and it includes the following:
| Test name | Description | Assessed skill | period of time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summarize Spoken Text – Summarize Spoken Text | After listening to an audio file, you should summarize its main points in the form of a text between 50 and 70 words. | Listening and writing | 45 to 57 minutes |
| Multiple choice questions, with more than one correct answer – Multiple choice, multiple answer | After listening to an audio file, you have to answer a multiple choice question that has more than one correct answer. | Listening | 45 to 57 minutes |
| Fill in the blanks | A text is displayed with a number of blanks that must be filled in using the information provided when listening to an audio file. | Listening and writing | 45 to 57 minutes |
| Highlight correct summary – Highlight correct summary | After listening to an audio file, you should choose the best option that is a correct summary of that text. | Listening and reading | 45 to 57 minutes |
| Multiple choice, single answer questions | After listening to an audio file, you have to answer a multiple choice question that has only one correct answer. | Listening | 45 to 57 minutes |
| Select missing word – Select missing word | After listening to an audio file, you have to choose the option that contains one or several words and completes the text. | Listening | 45 to 57 minutes |
| Specifying incorrect words – Highlight incorrect words | A text will be displayed and you must choose the words that are different between the audio file and the displayed text at the same time as you listen to an audio file. | Listening and reading | 45 to 57 minutes |
| Writing dictation – Write from dictation | After listening to a multi-word text, you have to type the text you heard. | Listening and writing | 45 to 57 minutes |
PTE exam scoring system
Some people, rightly or wrongly, worry that the taste of the IELTS test scorer will affect their score. Because the PTE English test is graded and graded using Pearson’s automated assessment technology, you don’t have to worry about this when choosing the PTE test for Canada.
Each participant will answer 71 to 83 questions. There are 20 different types of questions. For each item, the score given affects your overall score. The score range is 10-90 points.
In this test, in addition to the four main skills, other skills are also graded. These skills are aspects of language that influence your use of the four communication skills.
Grammar, fluency, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and logical coherence in writing are among your complementary skills.
PTE exam registration for Canada
Although the PTE exam is not held in Iran, you can register from within the country. First, create an account at https://www.pearsonpte.com/booknowoverlay . After filling the form, choose the date and center of your desired exam.
Note: When registering, you must enter your information in English and according to your passport! Remember, if you don’t have a passport, write down the English spelling of your name and follow this spelling in your passport later.
How much does the PTE exam cost?
The PTE exam registration fee is about 180 USD . This fee may vary slightly depending on the location of the exam.
Many Iranian participants take the PTE exam in Türkiye. In Türkiye, the cost of this test is about 880-1100 liras. Due to the extreme fluctuations in the price of lira, it is better to check the cost yourself!
The cost of the PTA test is slightly lower than that of IELTS, which is about 225 US dollars.
The difference between PTE and IELTS for Canada
The most important differences are summarized as follows:
- IELTS is more human-oriented than computer!
- The PTE test for Canada is accepted by universities as well as many other countries, but it is not currently used in Canada’s Express Entry work immigration program. (From the end of 2023, the PTE Essential exam will be accepted for Express Entry work immigration)
- IELTS is accepted by most Canadian universities and government.
- PTE is slightly cheaper than IELTS.
Differences in the way and structure of PTE and IELTS exam
If you still haven’t got the answer to the PTE or IELTS test question, let’s compare the structure of the two.
In IELTS, skills are measured in two times based on whether they are written or oral.
In the written test of IELTS, the listening skill is held first and then the reading or comprehension skill. In this way, writing skills will be the last part, so you might be a little tired. The speaking skill test is held in the form of a fifteen-minute interview on the same day or after a few days with the written test.
IELTS scores for each skill are generally between 1-9.
On the other hand, in the PTE, speaking and writing are assessed first, and your overall score is not your grade point average.
| Academic PTE score | IELTS score |
|---|---|
| 30 | 4.5 |
| 36 | 5 |
| 42 | 5.5 |
| 50 | 6 |
| 58 | 6.5 |
| 65 | 7 |
| 73 | 7.5 |
| 79 | 8 |
| 83 | 8.5 |
| 86 | 9 |