PTE Academic Scoring 2026

PTE Academic Scoring 2026

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PTE Academic Scoring 2026

Aligned with Scoring Information for Teachers and Partners
January 2026

To achieve the desired score in the PTE Academic, it’s crucial to stay updated with the scoring guide, as Pearson periodically revises it. The PTE Academic test, spanning two hours, encompasses three parts: part 1. speaking and writing combined (76 to 84 minutes), part 2. reading (29 to 30 minutes), and part 3. listening (30 to 43 minutes), with time variations based on the number of questions. It is advised to regularly consult updated guides and resources, and to reach out with any questions for clarification or assistance.

Question Weighting

Understanding how each question type is weighted in score calculations can help test takers better understand what scores mean. Table 1 shows how much (i.e., the “weighting”) each question type contributes to each score on an average test.

PTE Academic Question Weighting Table

  • Test Structure
  • Average Question Type Weighting for Each Score
  • Question Type
  • Questions
  • Overall
  • Listening
  • Reading
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Priority
  • Learn
  • Speaking & Writing
  • Read Aloud
  • Repeat Sentence
  • Describe Image
  • Retell Lecture
  • Answer Short Question
  • Summarize Group Discussion
  • Respond to a Situation
  • Summarize Written Text
  • Write Essay
  • 6-7
  • 10-12
  • 5-6
  • 2-3
  • 5-6
  • 2-3
  • 2-3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 4%
  • 7%
  • 15%
  • 6%
  • 2%
  • 9%
  • 6%
  • 7%
  • 7%
  • --
  • 17%
  • --
  • 13%
  • 4%
  • 20%
  • -
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • 23%
  • --
  • 9%
  • 16%
  • 31%
  • 13%
  • --
  • 19%
  • 13%
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • 28%
  • 31%
  • Medium
  • Top
  • Top
  • Top
  • Low
  • Top
  • Top
  • Top
  • Top
  • Reading
  • Fill in the Blanks (Drop-down)
  • MCQ - Multiple Answers
  • Reorder Paragraph
  • Fill in the Blanks (Drag & Drop)
  • MCQ - Single Answer
  • 5-6
  • 2-3
  • 2-3
  • 4-5
  • 2-3
  • 7%
  • 1%
  • 3%
  • 6%
  • <1%
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • 25%
  • 5%
  • 9%
  • 20%
  • 3%
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • Top
  • Low
  • Medium
  • Top
  • Low
  • Listening
  • Summarize Spoken Text
  • MCQ - Multiple Answers
  • Fill in the Blanks (Type In)
  • Highlight Correct Summary
  • MCQ - Single Answer
  • Select Missing Word
  • Highlight Incorrect Words
  • Write from Dictation
  • 1
  • 2-3
  • 2-3
  • 2-3
  • 2-3
  • 1-2
  • 2-3
  • 3-4
  • 4%
  • 1%
  • 3%
  • <1%
  • <1%
  • 1%
  • 4%
  • 5%
  • 10%
  • 3%
  • 8%
  • 2%
  • 2%
  • 1%
  • 8%
  • 13%
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • 3%
  • --
  • --
  • 13%
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • 18%
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • 23%
  • Top
  • Low
  • Medium
  • Low
  • Low
  • Low
  • Top
  • Top
  • Totals
  • 60 - 78
  • 100%
  • 100%
  • 100%
  • 100%
  • 100%
  • Priority
  • Learn

PTE Academic Test Format

Explore our detailed guide to every question in the PTE Academic English test, including videos, tips, and the best strategies for answering each question.

Part-1

76-84 Minutes

Speaking & Writing

Learn More about Part-1

Part-2

29-30 Minutes

Reading

Learn More about Part-2

Part-3

30-43 Minutes

Listening

Learn More about Part-3

PTE Academic and IELTS

The table below shows Pearson’s current best estimate of scoring alignment between PTE Academic and IELTS Academic.

Note: This table has been updated from the previous version of the score guide based on updated research released in July 2025.

IELTS
Score

  • 4.5
  • 5.0
  • 5.5
  • 6.0
  • 6.5
  • 7.0
  • 7.5
  • 8.0
  • 8.5
  • 9.0

PTE
Overall

  • 24-30
  • 31-38
  • 39-46
  • 47-54
  • 55-62
  • 63-70
  • 71-78
  • 79-85
  • 86-89
  • 90

PTE
Listening

  • 26-32
  • 33-39
  • 40-46
  • 47-52
  • 53-57
  • 58-63
  • 64-68
  • 69-74
  • 75-80
  • 81-90

PTE
Reading

  • 29-35
  • 36-41
  • 42-47
  • 48-53
  • 54-58
  • 59-64
  • 65-69
  • 70-74
  • 75-80
  • 81-90

PTE
Speaking

  • 14-23
  • 24-38
  • 39-53
  • 54-65
  • 66-75
  • 76-82
  • 83-87
  • 88-89
  • 90
  • --

PTE
Writing

  • 17-28
  • 29-40
  • 41-50
  • 51-59
  • 60-68
  • 69-76
  • 77-84
  • 85-89
  • 90
  • --

New DHA visa requirements for PTE Academic

The Australian Department for Home Affairs (DHA) recently updated their score requirements for all accepted tests of language proficiency. The new score requirements take effect from 7 August 2025.

The table below shows the old and new PTE score along with IELTS score requirements for each category.

Category

  • Functional *
  • Vocational
  • Competent
  • Proficient
  • Superior

IELTS Score

  • 4.5
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8

Old PTE Each

  • 30
  • 36
  • 50
  • 65
  • 79

New Overall

  • 24*
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --

New Listening

  • --
  • 33
  • 47
  • 58
  • 69

New Reading

  • --
  • 36
  • 48
  • 59
  • 70

New Speaking

  • --
  • 24
  • 54
  • 76
  • 88

New Writing

  • --
  • 29
  • 51
  • 69
  • 85

*Note Overall score is only required for the Functional category.

Score Guide 2025
Scoring Rubrics 2025