PTE Academic Practice Tests
10 practice tests in the current PTE Academic format (22 task types, including Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation). Every test has the three real parts in order, Speaking & Writing, Reading and Listening, with timers, audio in British, American and Australian English, instant partial-credit marking and model answers. The first 3 tests are free; the other 7 come with 7ESL Pro.
PTE Academic Practice Test 1 with Answers
A free, interactive PTE Academic practice test with answers, about 146 minutes.
TopicsAnimal camouflageHistory of the printing pressSleep and memory
This PTE Academic Practice Test 1 has 3 papers — Part 1: Speaking & Writing, Part 2: Reading and Part 3: Listening. Choose a paper below to start; your browser will load the interactive version automatically.
Part 1: Speaking & Writing
Part 1 — Personal Introduction
Read the prompt. You have 25 seconds to prepare and 30 seconds to introduce yourself in your own words, naturally and clearly. In the real test this answer is not scored; it is shared with the institutions that receive your scores.
Part 2 — Read Aloud
You have 40 seconds to look over the text, then 40 seconds to read it aloud as clearly and naturally as you can.
Part 3 — Repeat Sentence
Listen to the sentence (it plays once), then say it back word for word.
Part 4 — Describe Image
Study the image. You have 25 seconds to prepare, then 40 seconds to describe in detail what it shows.
Part 5 — Re-tell Lecture
Listen to the lecture. You then have 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to retell its main points in your own words.
Part 6 — Answer Short Question
Listen to the question and answer it briefly. One word or a short phrase is usually all you need.
Part 7 — Summarize Group Discussion
Listen to three people discussing a topic. After the beep you have 10 seconds to prepare and 2 minutes to summarise the whole discussion.
Part 8 — Respond to a Situation
Read and listen to the situation. You have 10 seconds to think, then after the beep 40 seconds to respond. Give a full answer.
Part 9 — Summarize Written Text
Read the passage and sum it up in a single sentence (5-75 words). You have 10 minutes. You are marked on how well you cover the key points and on the quality of your writing.
Part 10 — Write Essay
Plan, write and check a 200-300 word essay on the topic below in 20 minutes. You are marked on how clearly you argue a position, how well you organise and support your ideas, and on the accuracy of your English.
Part 2: Reading
Part 1 — Reading & Writing: Fill in the blanks
Choose the best word for each gap from its drop-down list.
Part 2 — Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
Read the text, then tick every option that answers the question correctly. More than one option is correct.
Part 3 — Re-order Paragraphs
The paragraphs on the left are jumbled. Move them into the right-hand panel in the order that makes a logical text.
Part 4 — Reading: Fill in the blanks
Some words are missing from the text. Drag a word from the box into each gap (or tap a word, then a gap). To take a word out again, drag or tap it back to the box.
Part 5 — Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Read the text, then choose the one option that answers the question correctly.
Part 3: Listening
Part 1 — Summarize Spoken Text
Listen to the short lecture, then write a 50-70 word summary for a classmate who missed it. You have 10 minutes. You are marked on how well you cover the key points and on the quality of your writing.
Part 2 — Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
Listen, then tick every option that answers the question correctly. More than one option is correct.
Part 3 — Fill in the Blanks
Listen to the recording and type the missing word in each gap.
Part 4 — Highlight Correct Summary
Listen to the recording, then choose the paragraph that sums it up best.
Part 5 — Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Listen, then choose the one option that answers the question correctly.
Part 6 — Select Missing Word
Listen to the recording. Its last word or words are replaced by a beep: choose the option that completes it.
Part 7 — Highlight Incorrect Words
Listen while you follow the transcript below. A few words in the transcript are not what the speaker said: click each one that is different.
Part 8 — Write from Dictation
Listen to the sentence (it plays once) and type it exactly as you heard it. Write down as much of it as you can.
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PTE Academic Practice Test 2 with Answers
Migratory birdsHistory of the coffee tradePlacebo effect
Part 1: Speaking & Writing · Part 2: Reading · Part 3: Listening · about 146 min
Start Test 2 →PTE Academic Practice Test 3 with Answers
Octopus intelligenceSilk Road tradeCircadian rhythms & shift work
Part 1: Speaking & Writing · Part 2: Reading · Part 3: Listening · about 146 min
Start Test 3 →PTE Academic Practice Test 4 with Answers Pro
Urban foxesHistory of timekeepingExercise and the brain
Part 1: Speaking & Writing · Part 2: Reading · Part 3: Listening · about 146 min
See Test 4 →PTE Academic Practice Test 5 with Answers Pro
Dolphin communicationHistory of vaccinationStress and the immune system
Part 1: Speaking & Writing · Part 2: Reading · Part 3: Listening · about 146 min
See Test 5 →PTE Academic Practice Test 6 with Answers Pro
Ant colonies & swarm roboticsHistory of maps/cartographyMusic therapy
Part 1: Speaking & Writing · Part 2: Reading · Part 3: Listening · about 146 min
See Test 6 →PTE Academic Practice Test 7 with Answers Pro
Elephants' memoryHistory of the bicycleMindfulness in schools
Part 1: Speaking & Writing · Part 2: Reading · Part 3: Listening · about 146 min
See Test 7 →PTE Academic Practice Test 8 with Answers Pro
Bird song learningHistory of paper moneyLoneliness & health
Part 1: Speaking & Writing · Part 2: Reading · Part 3: Listening · about 146 min
See Test 8 →PTE Academic Practice Test 9 with Answers Pro
Coral bleaching & reef restorationHistory of the telephoneGut microbiome
Part 1: Speaking & Writing · Part 2: Reading · Part 3: Listening · about 146 min
See Test 9 →PTE Academic Practice Test 10 with Answers Pro
Wolf reintroductionHistory of glass-makingScreen time and teenagers' sleep
Part 1: Speaking & Writing · Part 2: Reading · Part 3: Listening · about 146 min
See Test 10 →
The three PTE Academic papers
PTE Academic is made up of three papers, exactly as in the real exam. You can sit a whole test or practise one paper at a time:
How PTE Academic is scored
PTE Academic reports an overall score and four skill scores (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) from 10 to 90. On 7ESL, Reading and Listening are marked instantly with the real partial-credit rules and a rough 10-90 practice estimate. Speaking and Writing come with model answers, and Pro members can ask the AI examiner to rate a written answer or the transcript of a spoken answer on the PTE traits.
What is PTE Academic?
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic) is a computer-based English test made by Pearson. You take it in one sitting of about two hours on a computer at an authorised test centre; it cannot be taken at home. It tests Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening, and many tasks are integrated, so one answer can count towards two skills. Scores cover roughly CEFR A2 to C2.
Responses are scored by Pearson’s automated scoring system. Since August 2025, human markers also check the content of some longer answers, while pronunciation and fluency are still scored automatically. PTE Academic UKVI has the same content and is the version to book for UK visas that need a Secure English Language Test.
Who accepts PTE Academic?
- Universities: Pearson says more than 4,000 universities and colleges accept PTE Academic, including almost all universities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK, and many in the United States.
- Australia and New Zealand: PTE Academic is approved for work and migration visas. Australia accepts it only when taken at a test centre.
- United Kingdom: for visa routes that need a SELT, book PTE Academic UKVI.
- Canada: universities accept PTE Academic, but IRCC uses PTE Core, not PTE Academic, for permanent residence and citizenship.
PTE Academic format at a glance
| Part | Task types | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Speaking & Writing | Personal Introduction (not scored), Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Re-tell Lecture, Answer Short Question, Summarize Group Discussion, Respond to a Situation, Summarize Written Text, Write Essay | 76–84 minutes |
| Part 2: Reading | Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks, Multiple Choice (multiple answers), Re-order Paragraphs, Reading Fill in the Blanks, Multiple Choice (single answer) | 23–30 minutes |
| Part 3: Listening | Summarize Spoken Text, Multiple Choice (multiple and single answers), Fill in the Blanks, Highlight Correct Summary, Select Missing Word, Highlight Incorrect Words, Write from Dictation | 31–39 minutes |
There are 22 scored task types in total. Each recording plays only once, and every task has its own timer.
What changed in August 2025
For tests taken from 7 August 2025, Pearson added two speaking tasks to PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI. In Summarize Group Discussion, you hear three people discuss a topic and summarise it in speech; in Respond to a Situation, you read and hear about an everyday situation and reply as if you were there. At the same time, human double-marking for content was introduced for seven tasks: Describe Image, Re-tell Lecture, Summarize Written Text, Write Essay, Summarize Spoken Text and the two new tasks.
The average test length, the 10–90 score scale, booking and score delivery did not change, and PTE Core was not affected.
Scores and results
You receive an overall score and four skill scores (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing), each from 10 to 90. Most test takers get their results within two business days, sometimes up to five. Scores are valid for two years from the test date. Universities and visa programmes set their own minimum scores, often with a minimum in each skill, so check the exact requirement before you book.
How to prepare with 7ESL
Every 7ESL PTE Academic practice test follows the 22-task format in the real order:
- Part 1: Speaking & Writing: real preparation and recording times, in-browser recording and model answers. 7ESL Pro members can have written answers, and transcripts of spoken answers, rated by the AI examiner.
- Part 2: Reading: one timer for the whole part and instant marking with the real partial-credit rules.
- Part 3: Listening: recordings played once in different accents, with instant marking for the objective tasks.
Practice scores are rough estimates, not official PTE scores.
Sources checked for this page
- pearsonpte.com/pte-academic
- pearsonpte.com/pte-updates-2025/
- pearsonpte.com/articles/pte-changes-2025-everything-you-need-to-know/
- pearsonpte.com/pte-academic/test-format/speaking-writing/
- pearsonpte.com/pte-academic/test-format/listening/
- immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language
- gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt
- canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html
PTE Academic — frequently asked questions
What is PTE Academic?
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic) is a computer-based English test made by Pearson. It takes about two hours in one sitting at a test centre and tests speaking, writing, reading and listening. It is accepted by thousands of universities and colleges worldwide, including almost all in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK, and it is approved for Australian and New Zealand visas. PTE Academic UKVI has the same content and format for UK visa purposes.
What changed in PTE Academic in 2025?
In August 2025 Pearson added two speaking tasks, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation, so the test now has 22 task types. Pearson also introduced human double-marking of content for some tasks. The length of the test and the 10-90 score scale did not change. All 7ESL PTE Academic practice tests follow the updated format.
How is PTE Academic scored?
You get an overall score and a score for each skill (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) on a scale of 10 to 90. Many tasks count towards two skills, for example Write from Dictation counts for listening and writing. Some tasks give partial credit: in multiple-answer questions and Highlight Incorrect Words you lose a point for each wrong choice, Re-order Paragraphs scores each correct adjacent pair, and Write from Dictation scores each correct word. Our player uses the same rules; the 10-90 figure it shows is only a rough practice estimate.
How many PTE Academic practice tests are there on 7ESL?
There are 10 full-length PTE Academic practice tests, each with all three parts: Speaking & Writing (36 tasks), Reading (15 tasks) and Listening (16 tasks), with audio, answer explanations and model answers. The first 3 tests are free; the other 7 come with 7ESL Pro.
Can I record my speaking answers?
Yes. Each speaking task runs with the real preparation and recording times, and your browser can record you so you can listen back. Where your browser supports speech recognition, it also writes down what you said, checks Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence and Answer Short Question, and lets Pro members send the transcript of longer answers to the AI examiner. Pronunciation is not scored from a transcript.
Are these official PTE tests?
No. They are original 7ESL practice tests written in the public PTE Academic format. 7ESL is not affiliated with Pearson, and practice scores are not official PTE scores.
7ESL practice material written in the public PTE Academic format (the 22-task version used since August 2025). 7ESL is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Pearson. PTE, PTE Academic and Pearson Test of English are trademarks of Pearson Education Ltd. Practice scores and AI estimates are unofficial and for practice only.