The PTE General exam is an English language proficiency test. PTE (Pearson English Language Test) evaluates the English language of the students based on:
- Writing
- Speaking
- Listening
- Reading
We will discuss all these four criteria in this blog.
Who should give this Exam?
The PTE General Exam is not recognized by Universities as proof of English proficiency. It is also not helpful in immigration. The sole purpose of the PTE General test is to test the knowledge of the English language. It may be shown in some workplaces.
How PTE General Is Different From PTE Academics
Two types of PTE exams are conducted by the organization- Academic and General.
The difference between both types is given below:
| Difference | PTE Academic | PTE General |
| Purpose | To gain admission to English-speaking countries | Mostly to test English proficiency in a general manner. |
| Validity | 2 years | Lifetime |
| Test dates | Almost all the time of a year | Only in the months of May, June, August, November, and December |
| Accepted in countries | UK, US, Australia, and Canada | Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Latvia, Greece, Poland, and Lithuania. |
Who Accepts PTE General Exam
Many countries accept the PTE exam for study visas and work immigration. There is the list of such countries is given below
- UK
- Poland
- Spain
- Latvia
- Italy
- Greece
- Mexico
- Lithuania
- Albania
- Columbia
- Ecuador
- Switzerland
Test Levels of PTE General exam
The PTE General test consists of 6 levels with respect to the Common European Framework of Reference.
| Level | Spoken Interview | Written Test | Total Time |
| A1 | 5 mins | 75 mins | 1 hour 15 mins |
| A2 | 5 mins | 95 mins | 1 hour 35 mins |
| B1 | 7 mins | 95 mins | 1 hour 35 mins |
| B2 | 7 mins | 120 mins | 2 hours |
| C1 | 8 mins | 150 mins | 2 hours 30 mins |
| C2 | 8 mins | 175 mins | 2 hours 55 mins |
| Level | Definition |
| Foundation level- A1 | The A1 level is focused on testing the foundation of the language of the students. The exam tests the grammar of the student as well as the survival instinct. Universities do not accept PTE General A1 level certification. The Foundation level is just to check students’ most basic knowledge of English. Sustained monologues, Prescribed pictures, and Roleplay are included in the spoken interview which is for 5 minutes. |
| Level A2 | The A2 level PTE General test is for beginners in English who want to move a step ahead from the A1 level. Universities do not accept PTE General A2 level certification. However, if a student is a beginner in the language, then giving the A2 level exam can help to build confidence. |
| Level B1 | The B1 level PTE General exam is for students having intermediate knowledge of the English language. Universities do not accept PTE General B1 level certification. This level tests students based on general questions based on work and study environments like tourism, public places, travel, workplaces, educational places, etc. |
| Level B2 | The B2 level is similar to the B1 level with the addition of some difficulty in questions. Universities do not accept PTE General B2 level certification. |
| Level C1 | The C1 level certifies an individual as a near-native English speaker. Universities do not accept PTE General C1 level certification. This level contains questions on broad and conceptual topics like pollution, conservation, development, etc. |
| Level C2 | The C2 level is to certify an individual to be a native speaker of the English language. The C2 level is considered the Master level of the language. In the test, the fluency of the student is given importance. This test is for individuals possessing advanced level knowledge and fluency in the English language. |
PTE Exam Pattern
The PTE General test is taken in two parts- A spoken interview and a Writing test. The spoken interview involves testing of communication skills of the student as well as fluency in speaking. The spoken interview is conducted first among the two parts. After 1 week, the written test is conducted. The spoken interview is conducted by a person whose native language is English. The PTE exam accepts spellings in UK, US, Australian and Canadian English.
| Paper Section | Weightage |
| Spoken Interview | 25 marks |
| Written Test | 75 marks |
| Total | 100 marks |
Students can give the PTE General exam in May, June, August, November, and December. To be eligible for the PTE General test, students need to be at least 16 years old.
PTE General Test Score
The score of the PTE General test has a lifetime validation, with no expiry date. The exam contains 13 sections in total, among which 9 sections are in the written test and 10-13 are in the spoken interview.
Maximum scores of the 9 written sections are given below:
| Section | Skills tested | Maximum Score |
| 1 | Listening | 10 |
| 2 | Listening and Writing | 10 |
| 3 | Listening | 10 |
| 4 | Reading | 5 |
| 5 | Reading | 5 |
| 6 | Reading | 8 |
| 7 | Reading | 7 |
| 8 | Writing | 10 |
| 9 | Writing | 10 |
The total no. of marks in all sections is 75
Maximum scores of the 4 interview sections are given below:
| Section | Skills tested |
| 10 | Speaking |
| 11 | Speaking |
| 12 | Speaking |
| 13 | Speaking |
| Total | 25 |
Note: Maximum scores are evaluated from the mixture of all 4 sections based on speaking abilities
PTE Components
The PTE test is made up of some components
Questions
In this, you are given the time to read the prompt. It depends on the question’s length. The length of questions is measured in sentences or words.
Prepare to answer
You have 10 to 15 minutes to answer the questions, so you can think and prepare answers.
Answers
It’s time to share answers. This is the total time where you need to perform.
When you write, your answers are saved as text, and when you speak, your answers are recorded.
Benefits of the PTE General Test
Builds confidence
The spoken interview of the PTE General Test especially builds the confidence of students in their fluency of speaking. By giving the C1, and C2 level exams, students can be highly confident about their grip on the language.
Lifetime validity
Unlike the PTE Academic exam which has a validity of just 2 years, the PTE General Test scores are valid forever.
Highly recognized
The scores of the PTE General test are recognized worldwide by almost all countries as proof of English language proficiency. However, it is not recognized by universities for admission or immigration purposes.
We wish all the students all the best for the exam!
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We hope you enjoyed our blog about the PTE General test. With this information, we know that you can make the most of your exam and test your knowledge of the English language. So what are you waiting for? Visit CourseMentor™ to prepare for the PTE General Exam.
FAQs
How can I prepare for PTE general exam?
1. Know your target score.
2. Know the test format.
3. Understand how the test is scored.
4. Choose your preparation resources.
5. Tips for test day.
How many types of PTE are there?
There are three types of PTE:
1. PTE Academic
2. PTE General
3. PTE Young Learners
