PTE Academic

📘 PTE study guides (4)

PTE Academic has 22 question types, including Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation, added in August 2025. Test formats and visa score requirements can change, so check Pearson and the Department of Home Affairs for current details.

Practise PTE tasks (483 questions)

• skimming

  noun

  Reading quickly to get the general idea of a text.

  Use skimming to find the topic of each paragraph.

• social inequality

  noun

  Unequal access to wealth, opportunities and services in a society.

  Education can reduce social inequality.

• speaking pace

  noun

  How fast or slowly a person speaks.

  Keep a comfortable speaking pace, neither too fast nor too slow.

• spelling

  noun

  Writing words with the correct letters; PTE accepts either Australian/British or US spelling if used consistently.

  Check your spelling in written tasks.

• steady increase

  noun

  A rise that happens at a regular, even rate.

  The graph shows a steady increase in enrolments.

• Summarize Group Discussion

  noun

  A PTE speaking task, added in 2025, where you listen to three people discuss a topic and summarise the discussion.

  In Summarize Group Discussion, mention each speaker's main view.

• Summarize Spoken Text

  noun

  A PTE listening task where you write a short summary of a recording.

  Note the speaker's main argument for Summarize Spoken Text.

• Summarize Written Text

  noun

  A PTE writing task where you summarise a passage in one sentence.

  Summarize Written Text requires a single, complete sentence.

• Superior English

  noun

  The highest English level defined by Home Affairs, giving the most English points in the skilled migration points test; required scores are set by Home Affairs and can change.

  She aimed for Superior English to maximise her points.

• supporting detail

  noun

  A fact or example that explains or proves a main idea.

  Add a supporting detail after each main point.

• surge

  noun / verb

  A sudden large increase; to increase suddenly.

  There was a surge in online orders.

• sustainability

  noun

  Using resources in a way that can continue without harming the environment.

  Universities are focusing on sustainability.

• take advantage of

  phrase

  To use an opportunity well; also to use someone unfairly.

  Take advantage of free tutoring at your university.

• take into account

  phrase

  To consider something when making a decision.

  Take into account the cost of living when choosing a city.

• test centre

  noun

  An official location where a test is taken (US: test center).

  Arrive early at the test centre with your ID.

• test-taker

  noun

  A person who sits a test.

  Test-takers must show valid ID.

• the lecturer explained

  phrase

  A useful opening for retelling a lecture.

  The lecturer explained how coral reefs form.

• the main point

  noun

  The most important idea in a talk or text.

  The main point was that habits shape success.

• the majority of

  phrase

  More than half of a group.

  The majority of respondents preferred online classes.

• the speakers discussed

  phrase

  A useful opening for summarising a discussion.

  The speakers discussed whether homework should be banned.

• thesis statement

  noun

  A sentence in the introduction that states the main argument of an essay.

  Your thesis statement should answer the essay question.

• time management

  noun

  Planning how to use time effectively.

  Time management is key in the reading section.

• to sum up

  phrase

  A phrase used to end with the main points.

  To sum up, both sides had valid arguments.

• topic sentence

  noun

  The sentence, usually first, that states the main idea of a paragraph.

  Each body paragraph needs a clear topic sentence.

• transcript

  noun

  A written version of spoken words.

  In Highlight Incorrect Words, you follow a transcript.