PTE GENERAL - LEVEL 2 (B1): INTERMEDIATE

Who is this test for?

This test is for test takers with intermediate English for practical use in study, work, travel and other
everyday purposes.
Test takers will be expected to understand and express in speaking, and writing information, ideas,
feelings, opinions and common functions about everyday situations in straightforward spoken and
written language.
How is this test structured?
The test has a written paper and a spoken test. The written paper is divided into nine tasks which are
linked to a theme. At Level 2 Intermediate the theme tends to relate to familiar and routine matters,
such as home and shopping.
Written test = Total time 1 hour 35 minutes

1 hour and 15 min.

20 min.

SECTION

SKILLS

ITEM TYPES

OBJECTIVES

Listening

Multiple choice

Dictation

Listening
& Writing
Listening

Reading

Multiple choice
Gap-fill

Reading

Multiple choice

Reading

Reading

Comprehension
questions (short
answer)
Text, sentence or
note completion

Understand the main idea of

a short spoken text
Understand and write down
accurately a spoken text
Understand specific
information of a longer
spoken text
Understand the purpose,
structure and main idea of
short text
Understand the main ideas of
a longer written text
Understand the main ideas of
short written text

Writing

Writing

Text note
completion

Write
correspondence
Write a short text

Understanding specific
information in a longer
written text
Write a short letter, email or
blog entry
Write a short text from own
experience, knowledge or
imagination

NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS
10
--10

5
8

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Spoken test (7 minutes)

The spoken test consists of a timed interaction between a test taker and an interlocutor. There are 4
sections to the test.
The spoken test consists of a timed interaction between a test taker and an interlocutor. There are 4
sections to the test.
1.
2.
3.
4.

sustained monologue
discussion
describe picture
role play

SECTION

SKILLS

10

Speaking

ITEM
TYPES
Monologue

OBJECTIVES

TIMING

Speak continuously in topics of

personal interest
Discuss a real-life issue, taking a
position either for or against

1.5 minutes

11

Speaking

Discussion

12

Speaking

Describe a
picture

Describe a picture and interpret

one aspect of it

1.5minutes

13

Speaking

Role Play

Talk to resolve a problem in an

everyday situation

2 minutes

2 minutes