Guide
PTE Academic: Cost, Format & Comparison
Last updated: September 2026
PTE Academic is a computer-based English proficiency test taken at a Pearson test centre, covering reading, listening, writing, and speaking in one session. It's widely accepted for UK and Canada university applications, though acceptance still varies by institution — always confirm before registering.
Format
The test is fully computer-based, taken at a Pearson test centre rather than at home, and covers all four skills in a single continuous session. Speaking is recorded and scored partly by automated systems, which is one reason results are often available faster than some traditional paper-based tests.
Cost and timing
The exact fee is set by Pearson and varies by country, and it has changed more than once — check the current price on the official Pearson PTE site rather than an older figure. The test itself runs a few hours in one sitting, and scores are typically available within a few days.
How it compares to IELTS
PTE scores and IELTS bands aren't directly interchangeable, but public concordance research gives a rough equivalence — see the full IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo conversion chart, which is the same table AdmitPath uses internally to compare your score against a university's published IELTS minimum.
Frequently asked questions
What is PTE Academic?
A computer-based English proficiency test from Pearson, taken at a test centre, covering reading, listening, writing, and speaking in a single session. It's widely accepted for UK and Canada university applications and for some visa categories, though acceptance varies by institution.
How much does PTE Academic cost?
The exact fee is set by Pearson and varies by country, and has changed more than once — check the current price on the official Pearson PTE site rather than an older figure from a third-party source, including this one.
How long does PTE Academic take?
The test runs a few hours in a single sitting at a test centre, and scores are typically available faster than some traditional paper-based tests — usually within a few days.
Do all UK and Canadian universities accept PTE Academic?
No — acceptance varies by university and sometimes by specific programme. Always confirm your target university's current accepted-test list before registering.
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