Every PTE test, in plain English
Which PTE test do you actually need?
Pearson runs four different tests for four different goals. Pick the wrong one and you waste the fee. Answer two quick questions and we'll tell you the test, who accepts it, and the score to aim for.
Find your test in 20 seconds
Where are you headed?
Start with your goal
What are you trying to do?
Study
University & college admission worldwide.
Work
Work visas & professional registration.
Migrate
Skilled migration & permanent residence.
Family & settlement
Partner, family, settlement & citizenship visas.
The four tests
PTE Academic · UKVI · Core · Home
PTE Academic
Practice readyStudy worldwide, and migrate to Australia or New Zealand.
- University & college admission (4,000+ institutions)
- Australia & New Zealand skilled-migration visas
- Professional registration (e.g. nursing)
Skills
Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening
Scale
10–90 overall + per skill
Framework
CEFR · IELTS concordance · Australia DHA levels
Length
≈ 2 hours
Accepted by
22 task types across 3 parts (S&W 76–84 / Reading 22–30 / Listening 31–39 min)
PTE Academic UKVI
Practice readyThe UK Home Office–approved version of PTE Academic.
- UK Skilled Worker & work visas (B2 · 59 each, since Jan 2026)
- UK study below degree level (B1 · 43 each)
- Same content & scoring as PTE Academic + a SELT URN
Skills
Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening
Scale
10–90 overall + per skill
Framework
CEFR · UK visa levels
Length
≈ 2 hours
Accepted by
Identical to PTE Academic; issues a SELT Unique Reference Number for the visa
PTE Core
Coming soonEveryday English for Canadian immigration & citizenship.
- Canada economic immigration / PR (Express Entry, PNP)
- Canadian citizenship
- Post-Graduation Work Permit
Skills
Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening (general / workplace English)
Scale
10–90 overall + per skill
Framework
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)
Length
≈ 2 hours
Accepted by
19 task types across 3 parts; unique tasks: Respond to a Situation, Write Email, short Summarize Written Text
PTE Home (A1 · A2 · B1)
Coming soonUK family, settlement & citizenship — Speaking & Listening only.
- A1 — first family / spouse / partner visa
- A2 — family-visa extension
- B1 — settlement (ILR) & citizenship
Skills
Speaking & Listening only
Scale
Pass / fail at the CEFR level
Framework
CEFR A1 / A2 / B1
Length
≈ 22–30 minutes
Accepted by
Short SELT: Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Story, Listen & Answer
The score you need
Goal → target score
Per-skill minimums from the official score guides and government rules (each skill counts on its own — you can't average).
| Goal | Test | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Australia — Competent English (visa entry, 0 pts) | Academic | L47 · R48 · W51 · S54 (each), tests on/after 7 Aug 2025 |
| Australia — Proficient English (+10 points) | Academic | L58 · R59 · W69 · S76 (each) |
| Australia — Superior English (+20 points) | Academic | L69 · R70 · W85 · S88 (each) |
| Canada — Express Entry CLB 7 (FSW minimum) | Core | PTE Core L60 · R60 · S68 · W69 (each) |
| Canada — Express Entry CLB 9 (max language points) | Core | PTE Core L82 · R78 · S84 · W88 (each) |
| UK — Student visa, degree level (B2) | Academic | PTE Academic / UKVI: 59 in each section |
| UK — Skilled Worker visa (B2, since Jan 2026) | Academic | PTE Academic UKVI: 59 in each section |
| UK — Partner / spouse / settlement | Home | PTE Home A1 (first visa) · A2 (extension) · B1 (ILR/citizenship) — pass/fail |
| University admission (typical) | Academic | Overall ~58–79; set by each institution |
Always confirm the current requirement on the official immigration / institution site before you book — rules change (e.g. UK Skilled Worker moved to B2 in Jan 2026).
Practising for PTE Academic?
Take a full AI-graded mock free — no signup — and see exactly which skill is costing you points.
See every mock — Easy, Medium & Hard — on the mock tests page. PTE Core (Canada) and PTE Home (UK) practice are coming next.