PTE Academic format in 2026

PTE Academic is a computer-based English test owned by Pearson. It reports an overall score from 10 to 90, plus communicative skills for Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening.

PeakPTE is not Pearson. We build calm, realistic practice so you can prepare for the exam you will sit on test day.

What is the PTE Academic format?

The official test has three parts:

Part	What you do
Speaking and Writing	Spoken responses and written tasks, including newer speaking tasks added in 2025
Reading	Text-only items: multiple choice, fill in the blanks, and reorder paragraph
Listening	Audio plays once per item on the real exam

Pearson describes the test as roughly two hours and 15 minutes, with 65 to 75 questions and around 22 question types. Exact timings vary by form. See Pearson’s test format for the official breakdown.

What changed in 2025?

Pearson added two speaking tasks: Respond to a Situation and Summarize Group Discussion. Those tasks are part of the official exam. Confirm the current list on Pearson’s site before you book.

Who should take PTE Academic?

Choose PTE Academic when you need:

• University or college study worldwide (including Canada)
• Migration visas for Australia or New Zealand
• Many professional registration routes that list PTE Academic

If you need Canadian permanent residency or citizenship, see PTE Core vs PTE Academic. Some UK visa routes need PTE Academic UKVI instead of plain Academic.

How PeakPTE helps you prepare

Create an account on PeakPTE. Take optional Starting Point, practice exam-style items, and read practice estimates that tell you what to work on next. Premium plans cover timed access to full practice features; see Pricing.

How should you use this format guide?

Learn the official parts from Pearson. Practice the question types you need on PeakPTE. When you are ready to book, follow How to book the PTE Academic exam.