PTE Sample Tests

As a distinguished language testing specialist with over 18 years of experience in preparing candidates for high-stakes English proficiency exams like the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic, I’ve witnessed the evolution of this computer-based assessment firsthand. 

PTE is renowned for its AI-driven scoring and real-world relevance, making it a preferred choice for immigration, study abroad, and professional registration in countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK. In this in-depth article, I’ll explore PTE practice tests across all sections, incorporating the latest updates effective from August 7, 2025. 

These enhancements, which include an extended test duration and new speaking tasks, aim to better mirror authentic communication while maintaining the core structure. 

Whether you’re a first-time test-taker or refining your skills, targeted practice is key—platforms like oetpro demonstrate how specialized resources can simulate test conditions, though tailored PTE tools are equally essential. I’ll provide detailed breakdowns, strategic tips, and practical examples to help you achieve scores of 65+ overall.

The PTE Academic test is a single-session exam lasting approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes as of 2025, up from about 2 hours previously, due to the introduction of two new speaking question types. 

It comprises three integrated parts: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening. However, for practice purposes, we often dissect it into four sections—Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening—to focus on skill-specific drills. 

Scoring remains on a 10-90 scale per skill and overall, with AI handling most evaluations but now incorporating human oversight for select tasks to ensure fairness. The 2025 updates refine scoring scales for greater granularity and emphasize natural responses over memorized templates, penalizing rote delivery more stringently. 

Preparation should involve timed mocks reflecting these changes, focusing on fluency, content relevance, and time management.

PTE Speaking Practice Tests: Building Confidence in Oral Expression

The Speaking section, integrated with Writing in the test but practiced separately, evaluates pronunciation, oral fluency, and content delivery. It now includes seven parts following the 2025 updates, with increased task numbers in some areas to total 65-75 items in the combined section. 

Key changes include the addition of “Summarize Group Discussion” and “Respond to a Situation,” designed to assess real-life interaction skills. Practice tests should prioritize microphone checks and natural pacing, as AI scores fluency while humans review content in the new tasks.

The parts are:

1. Read Aloud: Read a short text (up to 60 words) aloud. Focus on intonation and clarity. Example: “Climate change poses significant threats to biodiversity, with rising temperatures leading to habitat loss for many species.” Practice by recording yourself and comparing to native speakers.
2. Repeat Sentence: Listen to a sentence (3-9 seconds) and repeat it verbatim. Tests memory and pronunciation. Example prompt: “The university library will be closed for renovations next month.” Common error: Omitting words—practice with varied accents.
3. Describe Image: Describe a graph, chart, or image in 40 seconds. Now 5-6 tasks (up from 3-4). Example: A bar chart showing global smartphone sales—start with overview (“This bar chart illustrates smartphone sales trends from 2015 to 2025”), highlight key data, and conclude.
4. Re-tell Lecture: Listen to a lecture (up to 90 seconds) and summarize in 40 seconds. Increased to 2-3 tasks. Example: A lecture on renewable energy—note key points like “Solar power is cost-effective but weather-dependent,” then rephrase coherently.
5. Answer Short Question: Respond to a question in one or few words (10 seconds). Example: “What is the term for the fear of heights?” Answer: “Acrophobia.” Quick recall is crucial.
6. Summarize Group Discussion (New in 2025): Listen to a 3-minute multi-speaker conversation and deliver a 2-minute oral summary. Example: A debate on remote work pros/cons—summarize viewpoints like “Speaker A argues for flexibility, while Speaker B highlights collaboration issues.”
7. Respond to a Situation (New in 2025): Address a everyday scenario (audio/text prompt) in 40 seconds. Example: “You’ve missed a friend’s birthday party—leave a voicemail apologizing.” Emphasize polite tone and relevance.

With these additions, practice must include multi-speaker audio drills. In my coaching, candidates scoring below 65 often struggle with the new tasks due to hesitation; counter this by role-playing scenarios daily.

PTE Writing Practice Tests: Mastering Structured Responses

Writing, paired with Speaking, focuses on grammar, vocabulary, and organization. It retains two parts but benefits from 2025’s refined scoring: Summarize Written Text now scored 0-4 (up from 0-2), and Essays 0-6 per criterion (content, form, etc., up from 0-3). This allows for more nuanced feedback. Practice under 20-minute limits, aiming for concise, error-free output.

1. Summarize Written Text: Read a passage (up to 300 words) and summarize in one sentence (5-75 words). Example passage on urbanization: “Rapid urban growth leads to infrastructure strain but offers economic opportunities.” Sample summary: “While urbanization drives economic development, it also exacerbates challenges like overcrowding and pollution.” Tip: Use complex structures without exceeding word limits.
2. Write Essay: Compose a 200-300 word essay in 20 minutes on a prompt. Example: “Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of online education.” Structure with introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, incorporating balanced views.

Updated mocks should reflect human-AI hybrid scoring, detecting templates. High scorers integrate synonyms and varied syntax—practice by rewriting essays from news articles.

PTE Reading Practice Tests: Enhancing Comprehension Speed

The Reading section (29-30 minutes) remains unchanged in 2025, with five parts testing skimming, scanning, and inference. It includes 15-20 items, emphasizing vocabulary in context. Practice tests are vital for time management, as questions aren’t adaptive.

1. Multiple-Choice, Multiple Answers: Select all correct options from a passage. Example: A text on AI ethics—questions like “Which concerns are mentioned? (A) Privacy invasion, (B) Job loss, (C) Bias.”
2. Multiple-Choice, Single Answer: Choose one correct response. Similar example: “What is the main purpose of the passage?”
3. Re-order Paragraphs: Arrange jumbled paragraphs logically. Example: Sentences on historical events—drag to chronological order.
4. Reading Fill in the Blanks: Drag words to gaps in a text. Example: “The _____ (economy/environment) is affected by climate change.”
5. Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks: Select from dropdowns, testing collocations. Example: “Renewable energy sources are becoming more _____ (viable/effective).”

No 2025 changes here, but integrate with writing practice for synergy. In my experience, vocabulary building via daily reading boosts scores by 10-15 points.

PTE Listening Practice Tests: Sharpening Auditory Skills

Listening (30-43 minutes) features eight parts, unchanged in 2025, with 17-25 items. It assesses note-taking and detail retention from audio clips (accents vary). Practice with headphones to mimic test conditions.

1. Summarize Spoken Text: Listen to a 60-90 second audio and summarize in 50-70 words. Example: A talk on space exploration—capture essence like “NASA’s missions aim to discover extraterrestrial life despite high costs.”
2. Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers: Select all applicable from an audio.
3. Fill in the Blanks: Type missing words from a transcript while listening.
4. Highlight Correct Summary: Choose the best summary post-audio.
5. Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer: Pick one correct option.
6. Select Missing Word: Predict the final word/phrase.
7. Highlight Incorrect Words: Click mismatches in a transcript.
8. Write from Dictation: Type a sentence exactly. Example: “Innovation drives technological advancement.” Spelling and punctuation count.

With AI scoring unchanged, focus on diverse accents. The new speaking tasks indirectly aid listening by requiring multi-speaker comprehension.

Strategic Preparation and 2025 Insights

To excel, allocate 4-6 weeks for practice: 2 hours daily on weak sections, using updated materials reflecting the 15-minute extension and new tasks. Mock tests on platforms akin to oetpro, adapted for PTE, simulate the interface and provide analytics. Track progress—aim for 79+ in mocks for competitive scores.

Common pitfalls: Over-relying on templates (now flagged), poor timing in extended Speaking, and ignoring human-scored elements like tone in new tasks. Counter with peer feedback and recordings.

In conclusion, PTE practice tests are your roadmap to success, especially with 2025’s enhancements fostering authentic skills. As an expert, I emphasize holistic prep: Blend sections, review errors, and stay updated. Mastery here not only secures visas but equips you for global communication.