PTE Test Format & Exam Duration
Explore the PTE Academic section order, duration, question types and direct links to practice each skill.
Official sources reviewed 14 August 2026
Part 1
Speaking & Writing
Speaking and writing
Personal Introduction
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Read Aloud
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Repeat Sentence
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Describe Image
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Retell Lecture
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Answer Short Question
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Summarize Group Discussion
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Respond to a Situation
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Summarize Written Text
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Write Essay
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Part 2
Reading
Reading
Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks
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Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
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Reorder Paragraph
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Fill in the Blanks
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Multiple Choice, Single Answer
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Part 3
Listening
Listening
Summarize Spoken Text
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Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
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Fill in the Blanks
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Highlight Correct Summary
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Multiple Choice, Single Answer
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Select Missing Word
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Highlight Incorrect Words
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Write from Dictation
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How to read the PTE test format
PTE Academic is organised into Speaking & Writing, Reading and Listening. The exact number of scored items can vary, so this page shows the official question-type coverage and section duration ranges.
Some question types assess more than one skill. For example, Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks also contributes to writing, while several listening tasks connect listening with reading or writing.
Use the practice link inside each section to move from format knowledge to an actual question-type session.
PTE test format FAQ
How long is the PTE Academic test?
The three sections have published duration ranges: Speaking & Writing 76–84 minutes, Reading 22–30 minutes and Listening 31–39 minutes. Check Pearson before your test because format information can be updated.
How many parts are in PTE Academic?
The current Pearson format guide presents three parts: Speaking & Writing, Reading and Listening.
Do PTE question types affect more than one skill?
Yes. PTE is an integrated-skills test and some item types contribute to more than one communicative skill.
Official PTE format sources
The section names, durations and question-type lists are based on Pearson’s current public format pages.
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