The PTE Core is a new English proficiency test developed by Pearson, designed to assess general English skills. It is recognised by the Canadian Government (IRCC) for purposes such as work, migration, and permanent residency. It is important to understand the PTE Core test to achieve desired results, as it aligns with the requirements for immigration and professional purposes.
What is PTE Core and How is it Different to PTE Academic?
PTE Core is a computer-based test that evaluates speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills of non-native English speakers. It is unlike PTE Academic because it focuses on general English proficiency rather
than tailoring for academic purposes. This is particularly useful for immigration and work applications in Canada. However, if you do wish to study in Canada, you will be required to sit the PTE Academic. If you have experience with IELTS, consider PTE Core similar to IELTS General Training for work and migration and PTE Academic similar to IELTS Academic for international education etc.
PTE Core vs. PTE Academic
| Changes | Academic | Core |
|---|---|---|
| Question type changed | Retell Lecture | Responding to a situation given |
| Question type changed | Write Essay | Writing an email |
| Summarize Written Text (Writing) | 5-75 words | 25-50 words |
| Summarize Text Spoken (Listening) | 50-70 words given 10 minutes | 20-30 words given 8 minutes |
| Highlight Correct Summary (Listening) | Yes | Removed |
PTE Core and PTE Academic Differences
| Feature | Academic | Core |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Primarily for academic purposes like admission to universities. | Has a more general purpose, such as for employment and immigration. |
| Test format | Computer-based with integrated skills testing. | Computer-based, focusing on practical English skills. |
| Test Length | Approximately 3 hours | Approximately 2 hours |
| Academic Vocabulary | Emphasizes academic vocabulary and contexts | Focuses on more general and everyday words. |
| Difficulty Level | Higher difficulty due to academic context | Less difficult than PTE Academic focusing on practical usage. |
How is PTE Core Scored?
PTE Core utilises a sophisticated AI engine specifically trained on human expertise and data from thousands of tests. This allows for accurate, fair assessments for all test takers without the need to meet an examiner face to
face. You will receive personalised score reports showing your overall test score and individual scores for each language skill. The scores are given on a scale of 10 to 90, with 90 being the highest score.
Band Score Equivalence Between IELTS and PTE Core
To understand how PTE Core scores translate to IELTS scores, refer to the
following table:
| CLB Level | IELTS Reading | IELTS Writing | IELTS Listening | IELTS Speaking | PTE Core Reading | PTE Core Writing | PTE Core Listening | PTE Core Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 88-90 | 90 | 89-90 | 89-90 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 78-87 | 88-89 | 82-88 | 84-88 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 69-77 | 79-87 | 71-81 | 76-83 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 60-68 | 69-78 | 60-70 | 68-75 |
| 6 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 51-59 | 60-68 | 50-59 | 59-67 |
| 5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 42-50 | 51-59 | 39-49 | 51-58 |
| 4 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 33-42 | 41-50 | 28-38 | 42-50 |
| Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB Level | IELTS | PTE Core | IELTS | PTE Core | IELTS | PTE Core | IELTS Speaking | PTE Core |
| 10 | 8.0 | 88-90 | 7.5 | 90 | 8.5 | 89-90 | 7.5 | 89-90 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 78-87 | 7.0 | 88-89 | 8.0 | 82-88 | 7.0 | 84-88 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 69-77 | 6.5 | 79-87 | 7.5 | 71-81 | 6.5 | 76-83 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 60-68 | 6.0 | 69-78 | 6.0 | 60-70 | 6.0 | 68-75 |
| 6 | 5.0 | 51-59 | 5.5 | 60-68 | 5.5 | 50-59 | 5.5 | 59-67 |
| 5 | 4.0 | 42-50 | 5.0 | 51-59 | 5.0 | 39-49 | 5.0 | 51-58 |
| 4 | 3.5 | 33-42 | 4.0 | 41-50 | 4.5 | 28-38 | 4.0 | 42-50 |
What is the PTE Core Format?
The PTE Core is split into three parts:
| Part 1 | Speaking & Writing | 46-67 minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Part 2 | Reading skills | 27-38 minutes |
| Part 3 | Listening | 30-37 minutes |
Part 1: Speaking & Writing
The first section of the test is approximately 50 minutes long and is the largest part of the test. It contains the following seven different question types which replicate English you might hear in an everyday environment.
| Question Type | Description | Timing | Tips and Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Introduction
| This section is to introduce you to the PTE test technology and will not contribute to your score. | You will have 25 seconds to read the prompt and prepare your response, and a further 30 seconds to record your response. | Speak fluently as possible. This section is not scored so speaking fluently helps in the speaking section. |
| Read Aloud (6-7Qs) | You will read text of up to 60 words aloud. | Timing varies by text passage. | Take your time and speak clearly. |
| Repeat Sentence (10-12Qs) | You will listen to a recorded sentence and repeat it. | The recording will be 3-9 seconds. You will have 40 seconds to answer. | Try to copy the stress and intonation patterns you hear in the sentence. |
| Describe Image (3-4Qs) | An image will appear, and you will be required to describe the image in detail. | You will have 40 seconds to answer. | Identify and focus on the main information in the image. |
| Respond to Situation (2-4Qs) | A situation will be presented, and you will be required to | You will have 20 seconds to think about your response, | Maximise your preparation time. |
| verbally answer a question about it. | and then 40 seconds to speak. | ||
| Answer Short Question (5-6Qs) | You will need to reply to a question in a few words. | The prompt length will be between 3-9 seconds. You will have 10 seconds to answer | Concisely answer your question and do not pause for too long when answering the question. |
| Summarise Written Text ( Qs) | You will read a passage of text up to 200 words and then write a short 25-50 word summary. | You will have 10 minutes. | Use one or more complete sentences and ensure every sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop. |
| Write Email (2-3Qs) | You will write an email between 80120 words in response to a prompt. | You will have 9 minutes. | Note key words in the prompt before even writing anything. |
Part 2: Reading
PTE Core reading section takes approximately 30 minutes and contains the following 5 question types that assess understanding written English.
| Question Type | Description | Timing | Tips and Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading & Writing, Fill in the Blanks (5-6Qs) | Fill in the gaps within in the text with the correct words from drop down boxes. | Not applicable | Read after you fill in the blank to check if it makes sense. |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers (1-2Qs) | You will answer a multiple choice question on the content or tone of the text. | Not applicable | Identify repeated words in the options as they are more likely to be correct. |
| Reorder Paragraph (2-3Qs) | You will have to click and drag the text in the correct order. | Not applicable | Find the topic sentence of the paragraph first. |
| Fill in the Blanks (4-5Qs) | Drag words from the box below to fill the gaps in the text. | Not applicable | Use your knowledge of grammar. |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer (1-2Qs) | Answer a question about the texts content or tone. You can only select one response. | Not applicable | Identify unlikely to be correct answer first. |
Part 3: Listening
This section is between 30 and 37 minutes long and evaluates your ability to understand spoken English through various tasks. It contains the following seven question types which tests different aspects of listening skills:
| Question Type | Description | Timing | Tips and Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summarise Spoken Text (1-2Qs) | You will need to write a summary for what was spoken in the audio. | Not applicable | Listen carefully and identify the main theme in order to write your summary. |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers (1-2Qs) | You will select more than one answer from a list of options based the audio. | Not applicable | Focus on keywords, eliminate wrong options & take notes if needed. |
| Fill in the Blanks (2-3Qs) | You will need to type the missing words in each blank of the transcript. | Not applicable | Write correct spelling, focus on word or the group of words before the gaps. |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer (1-2Qs) | Answer a question about the texts content or tone. You can only select one response. | Not applicable | Choice elimination, listen to the main idea, pay attention to the first and last part of the audio |
| Select Missing Word (1-2Qs) | You will have to identify the missing word from a recording. | Not applicable | Focus on the last few words, listen for the context, take your time. |
| Highlight Incorrect Words (1-2Qs) | You will see a transcript recording and while listening to the recording, you will click on words that are different from what is said. | Not applicable | Move mouse cursor while reading along, focus on pronunciation, grammar, singular-plural nouns, spelling & tenses. |
| Write from Dictation (3-4Qs) | You will write down a sentence spoken in the recording to assess listening and writing accuracy. | Not applicable | Utilise your erasable whiteboard to take notes. |
How is PTE Core different to IELTS and CELPIP?
Before comparing the different language tests, you must know that academic tests are taken when entering university or professional institutions. All the accepted language tests in Canada use a scoring system called the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) which evaluates and defines your language ability. The CLB score is divided into 12 levels, with level 1 being the lowest and level 12 being the highest. The following table summarise the major
differences between the tests:
| Test | Purpose | Format | Speaking Test | Result Time | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | Immigration, work, and study purposes globally | Paper based or Computer based | Face to face with examiner | 3-5 days (computer) / 13 days (paper) | Approximately CAD 300 |
| CELPIP | Canadian immigration and profession designation | Computer based | Through a computer microphone | 3-4 business days | Approximately CAD 280 |
| PTE Core | Canadian immigration | Computer based | Through a computer microphone | Typically 2 days | Approximately CAD 3450 |
Tips for Preparing for PTE Core
- Familiarize Yourself with the Test Format:
- Understand the structure of the PTE Core, including the types of questions in each section: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening.
- Practice Regularly:
- Use Benchmark PTE practice materials to simulate the test environment and improve your skills. Regular practice helps in building familiarity with the question types and timing. Access practice tests and resources at Benchmark PTE Course page.
- Develop Time Management Skills:
- Allocate specific times for each section during practice to ensure you can complete all questions within the given time limits. This is crucial for managing the real test effectively. Read this PTE Time Management
- Enhance Your Vocabulary and Grammar:
- Work on expanding your PTE vocabulary and improving your grammar. This will help you in the writing and reading sections. Use language learning apps and read a variety of English materials.
- Improve Listening and Speaking Skills:
- Engage in activities that enhance your listening and speaking abilities. Practice speaking English in everyday situations and listen to English podcasts, news, and other audio materials to improve comprehension.
Take PTE Mock Tests:
- Simulate the test experience by taking full-length mock tests under timed conditions. This helps in building confidence and identifying areas that need improvement. Our PTE course has been made by experts and will guarantee to help you increase your score.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are PTE Core scores valid?
PTE Core scores are typically valid for two years.
Can I retake my PTE Core?
Yes, candidates can retake the PTE Core test if needed. However, you must wait until you have received your scores before booking another one.
How do I access my scores?
Candidates will receive an email notification when their scores are ready. They can also access their scores via the myPTE account. Scores will typically be released within 48 hours of taking the test.
How do I share my scores?
Score reports are digital and can be shared with multiple institutions for free.
Conclusion
Preparing for the PTE Core requires a strategic approach focused on understanding the test format, regular practice, and improving your English language skills. By utilising official resources and practicing consistently, you can enhance your performance and achieve the scores needed for your immigration or work purposes.
