Everything you need to know about the PTE exam pattern 2026 and PTE exam pattern including — section-by-section breakdowns, all 20+ question types, task counts, time limits, scoring criteria and expert preparation tips from One Australia Group. This comprehensive guide explains the latest PTE exam pattern 2026, including the two new question types introduced in August 2025, so you can understand the complete PTE exam pattern before your exam.
| Section | Key question types | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking & Writing | Personal Introduction, Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Re-tell Lecture, Answer Short Question, Respond to a Situation ⭐, Summarize Group Discussion ⭐, Summarise Written Text, Essay | 76–84 min |
| Reading | Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown), Multiple Choice Multiple Answer, Re-order Paragraphs, Fill in the Blanks (Drag & Drop), Multiple Choice Single Answer | 29–30 min |
| Listening | Summarise Spoken Text, Multiple Choice Multiple Answer, Fill in the Blanks (Type In), Highlight Correct Summary, Multiple Choice Single Answer, Select Missing Word, Highlight Incorrect Words, Write from Dictation | 30–43 min |
From 7 August 2025, Pearson introduced Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation to the Speaking and Writing section. These are now part of the official PTE exam pattern 2026, so every student preparing according to the latest PTE exam pattern should practice these tasks regularly.
The Speaking & Writing section is the longest part of the PTE exam pattern and contributes significantly to your overall score. According to the latest PTE exam pattern 2026, this section contains nine different task types.
This task is one of the highest-scoring speaking tasks in the PTE exam pattern and contributes to both pronunciation and oral fluency.
Repeat Sentence is one of the most important questions in the PTE exam pattern 2026 because it contributes to both Speaking and Listening scores.
Describe Image is a core speaking task in the PTE exam pattern, requiring candidates to analyse visual information and speak fluently.
Re-tell Lecture remains an important task in the latest PTE exam pattern 2026, testing both listening comprehension and spoken English.
Although brief, this task plays an important role in the PTE exam pattern, assessing vocabulary and listening accuracy.
Summarising Written Text is a key writing task in the PTE exam pattern and tests both reading comprehension and written English.
New from August 2025. Read and hear a real-life situation description (up to 60 words). Respond with what you would say. 10s prep, 40s answer.
Read a passage of up to 300 words and write a one-sentence summary of no more than 75 words. Tests both reading and writing.
Write an argumentative essay of 200–300 words based on a 2–3 sentence prompt. The most comprehensively scored task in the exam.
A passage with blanks. For each blank, select the correct word from a dropdown menu. Tests contextual vocabulary and comprehension.
Read a passage and select ALL correct answers from multiple options. Negative marking applies — choose only what you are confident about.
Text boxes appear in random order. Drag and drop them into their correct logical sequence. Tests text structure and coherence.
A short passage with gaps. Drag the correct words from a word box into each blank. Not all words in the box are used.
Read a passage and select the SINGLE correct answer. No partial credit. Focus on main idea and tone.
Listen to a 60–90 second recording and write a 50–70 word summary. 10 minutes per question. Note-taking permitted.
Listen to an 80–120 second recording and select ALL correct answers. Partial scoring applies — incorrect choices deduct points.
A transcript with missing words appears. As you listen, type the missing words. Spelling must be exact.
Listen to a 30–90 second recording and select the paragraph that best summarises it. Focus on overall meaning, not specific words.
Listen to an audio clip and choose the SINGLE correct answer. No partial credit. Listen for specific details or main idea.
The final word/phrase in the audio is replaced by a beep. Choose the best option to complete the recording.
A transcript with errors appears on screen. While listening, click the words in the transcript that don't match what the speaker says.
Hear a short sentence and type it exactly as spoken. Spelling and accuracy are critical. Note-taking before typing is recommended.
| Question type | Skills tested | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking & Writing Section (76–84 min) | ||
| Read Aloud | Speaking | 6–7 |
| Repeat Sentence | Speaking + Listening | 10–12 |
| Describe Image | Speaking | 5–6 |
| Re-tell Lecture | Speaking + Listening | 2–3 |
| Answer Short Question | Listening | 5–6 |
| Summarize Group Discussion ⭐ New | Speaking + Listening | 2–3 |
| Respond to a Situation ⭐ New | Speaking | 2–3 |
| Summarise Written Text | Reading + Writing | 2 |
| Write Essay | Writing | 1 |
| Reading Section (29–30 min) | ||
| Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) | Reading | 5–6 |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer | Reading | 2–3 |
| Re-order Paragraphs | Reading | 2–3 |
| Fill in the Blanks (Drag & Drop) | Reading | 4–5 |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | Reading | 2–3 |
| Listening Section (30–43 min) | ||
| Summarise Spoken Text | Listening + Writing | 1 |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | Listening | 2–3 |
| Fill in the Blanks (Type In) | Listening | 2–3 |
| Highlight Correct Summary | Listening + Reading | 2–3 |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | Listening | 2–3 |
| Select Missing Word | Listening | 1–2 |
| Highlight Incorrect Words | Listening + Reading | 2–3 |
| Write from Dictation | Listening + Writing | 3–4 |
PTE Academic uses AI scoring on a scale of 10–90. Understanding the scoring criteria for each question type in the latest PTE exam pattern 2026 helps you focus your practice on the highest-impact areas and perform better across every section of the PTE exam pattern.
| Criterion | Definition | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Content | Whether your response accurately addresses the topic, task and prompt requirements | Speaking, Writing, Listening |
| Oral Fluency | The naturalness, pace and rhythm of your spoken response without hesitations or false starts | Speaking tasks |
| Pronunciation | How clearly and accurately English phonemes are produced and whether words are recognisable | Speaking tasks |
| Grammar | Accuracy of sentence structures, subject-verb agreement, tense use and grammatical range | Writing tasks |
| Vocabulary | Range and appropriateness of word choices relative to the academic context | Writing and some speaking tasks |
| Spelling | Correct spelling of all written words in responses | Writing and dictation tasks |
| Form | Whether the response meets format requirements such as word count ranges and sentence rules | Essay, Summarise Written Text |
| Development & Coherence | Logical development of ideas, paragraph structure and clarity of argument in extended writing | Essay |
Attempting questions without understanding the PTE exam pattern wastes preparation time and creates incorrect habits. Study each question type's format, task count, time limits, and scoring criteria in the latest PTE exam pattern 2026 before you begin timed practice.
The PTE exam pattern 2026 is designed as a timed exam, and fluency under time pressure is a skill that must be deliberately developed. Use the official time limits for every task in the PTE exam pattern from day one.
These two question types are among the highest-scoring tasks in the PTE exam pattern because they contribute to multiple skill scores simultaneously. Repeat Sentence contributes to Speaking and Listening, while Write from Dictation contributes to Listening and Writing, making them essential for success in the PTE exam pattern 2026.
In the PTE exam pattern 2026, each audio clip is played only once. Effective shorthand and structured note-taking are essential skills, not optional habits. Practise your note-taking system until it becomes automatic before exam day.
The updated PTE exam pattern introduced Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation. These tasks require a different style of spoken preparation compared to older question formats. Practise tracking multiple speakers and generating spontaneous situational responses to master the latest PTE exam pattern 2026.
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