PTE General

Level A1
Exam
practice Teacher’s Resources

T E AC H I N G N OT J U S T T E S T I N G

P O W E R E D B Y

Contents
Answer Key 2 Practice
Audioscript 7
Score Guide 10 Tests Plus
PTE General: Teaching not just testing
Top 20 Questions 14
 ANSWER KEY: PTE GENERAL LEVEL A1
A N SW ER KEY: PTE G EN ERA L LEVEL A1

Answer Key
25 B: The other options don’t fit in the context: you
Practice Test 1 “take” a message to someone.
Section 1 26 B: The other options don’t make sense in the context
of “going” somewhere.
1 B: … six floors … it’s got a swimming pool … close
to a river.
2 A: … second door on the right. Section 5
3 A: He’s got short, curly hair. 27 B: … but tonight I am going to do my homework on
my computer.
4 C: … on the little table next to the bookcase.
28 C: … five flowers inside a big heart.
5 C: The film starts at half past nine …
29 A: … on the left, opposite the shopping centre …
6 A: Your homework is due today.
30 C: I only have time to get a sandwich from
7 B: … on the desk … near the coffee machine.
the machine.
8 A: … speech contest will start at 9 … all teachers and
31 C: … I’m going to tidy the garage.
students are welcome.
9 C: … two pencils on your desk … all books under
your desk. Section 6
10 B: I was thinking of dinner in a restaurant or bowling, 32 10/ten weeks: … is running the art club again for the
and I chose dinner. next ten weeks.
33 Thursday(s): … the club is not on Tuesdays, but
on Thursdays.
Section 2
34 1:30/one thirty/half past one: … from 12.30 to 1.30.
I have a lot of friends. We like sport. We play tennis and
go swimming. 35 (in the) hall: … first week … the class is in the hall.
36 Bushra: Hi, Bushra …
Section 3 37 people (and) shopping (both answers needed): The
people and the shopping here are great …
12 Friday: I am having a party on Friday night.
38 (the) (bad) view // (the) view (is) not (very) good: …
13 17(th) July/seventeenth of July: Friday, the
but the view … isn’t very good.
seventeenth of July …
39 Cairo: Next week, I’m going to Cairo, … .
14 8 p.m./eight (o’clock / in the evening): Please arrive at
8 o’clock in the evening.
15 11 Roseberry Road: My address is 11 Roseberry Road. Section 7
16 888 4320: Please reply by telephone on eight eight 40 Wednesday: I can’t meet you on Tuesday, but is
eight four three two oh. Wednesday OK?
17 Waite: My name is June Waite. 41 Hornville: … take the train to Hornville. Then take a
number 27 or 47 bus.
18 China: I’m phoning about holidays in China …
42 (a) (number) 27: The 27 is faster and cheaper.
19 4/four: There are four adults in the group …
43 Custa Café: There is a Custa Café … I will see
20 2 weeks/two weeks/a fortnight: We want to go for
you there.
two weeks …
44 (the) lounge: … I’ll sleep in the lounge.
21 750114: My number is seven five oh double one four.
45 ham and eggs: … for breakfast, so it’ll be ham
and eggs.
Section 4
46 email: Send an email.
22 A: The other options don’t fit in the context: this is
clearly a “for sale” advertisement as it talks about
a ‘Good price’.
23 C: The other options don’t make sense in the context.
24 C: The other options don’t make sense in the context.
The homework needs to come “out of” the bags.

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Section 8
Model answer:
Hi, Marcel,
Thanks for your email with all the information. Yes,
Wednesday is fine and I love ham and eggs! I can meet
you at about half past five. Is that OK? I’ll bring some
chocolate. What’s the weather like in Fronton?
Your friend,
Duane
(47 words)
Section 9
Model answers:
A
It’s five o’clock and we’re all in the living room. I’m
sitting on the sofa with my brother and I’m watching
television. There’s a film about birds. Mum is looking
out of the window. Outside it’s a sunny day. Dad is
sitting at a little table in the corner. He is looking at
his watch and phoning. Our cat is sleeping under
the table.
(64 words)
B is a table and a chair in the room … there is
This is a classroom. There is a board and next to the
board, there is a bookcase with some books. There is
a clock above the bookcase and it is half past eleven.
There are three people in the picture. The teacher has
long curly hair and she is wearing glasses. A girl is
giving her book to the teacher. The teacher is smiling.
A boy is standing in front of the board. He is cleaning
the board.
(78 words]
Section 10
Model answer: Prompt 1
Examiner: Now, I’d like you to speak on your own for
about 1 minute.
Do you live in a town or village?
Student: I live in a town.
Examiner: Tell me about your town.
Student: It’s not very big. There are a lot of houses. We
live in a small house not far from the town
centre. There are lots of shops, restaurants
and cafés in the town centre. It is usually
very busy at weekends. A lot of people
go shopping …
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A N SW ER KEY: PTE G EN ERA L LEVEL A1
Examiner: What shops are there in your town?
Student: There are some big supermarkets and a lot of
small shops. There are many different shops
… the best place for shopping is the town
centre. I always go there for shopping.
Examiner: Where do you go in your free time?
Student: There is a big cinema in the town centre.
We sometimes go there. There is a big park
near our house, too. I go cycling there with
my friends.
Examiner: Do you have many friends there?
Student: Yes, I have a lot of friends. I see my friends all
the time. Some of my friends live near us.
Section 11
There is no Section 11 in the Level A1 test.
Section 12
Model answer:
Examiner: Now, here is a picture of a girl’s birthday.
Please tell me what you can see and what is
happening in the picture.
Student: It is a nice sunny day … it is 4 o’clock in
the afternoon. There are four people in the
picture … a family with two children. There
a cake on the table and the father is cutting
the cake. There are some balloons on the
wall … they are having a small birthday party.
There is a bike in the picture, I think it is a gift.
The oldest girl is very happy. I think it is her
birthday …
Examiner: Where are they?
Student: Maybe in the kitchen, because there is a kettle
– and some cabinets – behind them.
Examiner: What is the little sister doing?
Student: She’s putting some plates on the table.
Examiner: What are the girls wearing?
Student: The little girl is wearing a skirt and a T-shirt.
The other girl is wearing jeans and a top.
Examiner: What can you see outside?
Student: I can see a bus, and a car.
3

Section 13
Model answer:
Examiner: Now, we are going to take part in a role play.
Here is a card with a situation on it. You are
in the supermarket. I am a shop assistant and
you are a customer looking for something.
Ready? I’ll start.
Hello, can I help you?
Student: Hi, I am looking for milk.
Examiner: Here is the milk section.
Student: Do you have chocolate milk, too? Where can I
find it?
Examiner: They are on the left.
Student: How much does it cost?
Examiner: It costs £2.00. Would you like anything else?
Student: No, thanks.
Practice Test 2
Section 1
1 C: I hope … it stays warm and sunny, like today.
2 A: … her new jacket … the grey one with pockets.
3 B: Please don’t leave the cups under your bed!
4 B: … it’s in the hills.
5 C: … living room… . It has double doors that lead
out to the garden.
6 B: … I won’t go to work … I am not feeling well.
7 C: My laptop’s not working.
8 C: Welcome, Sally, to your first day of work.
9 B: … why do I have to wear a jacket and tie?
10 A: … lives in a … big house … doesn’t have a
garage, but it has a big garden. He parks his
car there ...
Section 2
11 He's quite taII. He's got dark hair. It's short and curly.
His eyes are dark.
Section 3
12 ½/half a litre of water: Start in the morning with half
a litre of water.
13 (an) apple and/or (a) carrot // apples and/or carrots
(both answers needed): … make sure you always
have some fruit or vegetables … a carrot or an apple.
14 run up (them): If you have to use stairs … run
up them.
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A N SW ER KEY: PTE G EN ERA L LEVEL A1
15 too little sleep: Too little sleep is bad for your health.
16 between seven/7 and nine/9 hours // seven/7 to
nine/9 hours: Our bodies need between seven and
nine hours sleep …
17 (the) picnic: I’m ringing about the picnic.
18 chicken: I’ve made some chicken sandwiches.
19 (some) eggs: I’ve got some eggs.
20 crisps: Everyone will have a small packet of crisps …
21 apples: … I decided that apples were easier.
Section 4
22 B: The other options don’t fit in the context: parents
are likely to go to the school and are a type
of ‘visitor’.
23 A: The other options don’t make sense in the context
as you would expect them to be followed by an
amount of money.
24 C: The other options don’t make sense in the context.
25 C: The other options don’t fit in the context: you
would expect to buy tickets in a cinema.
26 B: The other options don’t make sense in the context.
Section 5
27 B: We went to see my grandparents. It was my
grandma’s birthday.
28 A: All I can see now is the main road.
29 B: Ferry costs the least.
30 A: … a good place to buy smart dresses and suits.
31 C: In the morning we always play football around
the park.
Section 6
32 three/3: We offer three meals a day …
33 relax (in the restaurant): Parents can relax in
the restaurant …
34 (They) look after (the) children: … trained assistants
look after the children.
35 large: The rooms are large …
36 one week // seven/7 days: … is a one-week
intensive course …
37 in our/the art gallery: Our workshops are held in our
art gallery.
38 £50 // fifty pounds: … but for food you need to
pay £50.
39 use the library: … no classes in the evenings, but you
can use the library …
4

Section 7
40 (Friday,) 1 June: …Will open on Friday, 1 June.
st st
41 free: Children can swim for free …
42 (our) learner pool: Adults must use our learner pool to
teach children to swim.
43 6 p.m.: … open from Monday to Saturday from 8
a.m. to 6 p.m.
44 shorts : No shorts.
45 during term-time: Group swimming lessons are
available during term-time.
46 (send) an email: For more information about
registration, please send an email.
Section 8
Model answer:
Hi, Jules,
Would you like to go swimming with me? There is a
new swimming pool near our house. I want to go on
Friday at 4 p.m. because it closes at 6.00. It is £5.00.
We can meet at our house and walk there together.
Let me know.
Jenny
(50 words)
Section 9
Model answers:
A
This is a picture of my sister’s living room. She is
married and has two children. James is four and Anna
is two. One day, after work, she goes to the kitchen to
cook dinner. Her husband is washing the car outside
and the kids are playing in the living room. Ten minutes
later, when she goes back, she sees this. She takes
a picture. She wants to show it to them when they
are older.
(76 words)
B I think that’s butter. There is also a big cake.
It is quarter to one in the morning. It is dark and quiet
outside. Everybody is sleeping, but Janet is not. She is
at home and she is working in her office. She is writing
some emails. She is very tired. She wants to go to bed
and get some sleep, but she can’t. She still has a lot of
work to do. She is not very happy about it.
(70 words)
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A N SW ER KEY: PTE G EN ERA L LEVEL A1
Section 10
Model answer:
Examiner: Now, I would like you to speak on your own
for about 1 minute. Do you use a computer?
Student: Yes, I do.
Examiner: Tell me what you use your computer for.
Student: I use my computer to write and send emails. I
sometimes listen to music and watch movies
on my computer. I do my homework on my
computer, too …
Examiner: How many hours do you use your computer
every day?
Student: I spend a few hours on my computer every
day. During the week, I use my computer
for four to five hours, but, at weekends,
sometime I use it more. If I go out with my
friends or family, I use it for one to two hours.
Examiner: How did you learn to use a computer?
Student: With my parents … we had a computer when
I was small and I played on it all the time.
Examiner: Do you use email?
Student: Yes, I do; I use email all the time. I send emails
to my friends; I email my homework to my
teacher. I use it every day.
Section 11
There is no Section 11 in the Level A1 test.
Section 12
Model answer:
Examiner: Now, here is a picture of a family. Please tell
me what you can see and what is happening
in the picture.
Student: This is a picture of a small family. There are
four people in the picture: parents and two
children – a boy and a girl. They are in the
kitchen. They are baking a cake and some
biscuits. There are some eggs on the table.
It is very nice. The little girl is eating the
strawberries on the cake.
Examiner: How old are the children?
Student: I think the boy is ten and the little girls is
about five years old.
Examiner: What is the boy doing?
Student: The boy is taking a biscuit. He is going to
eat it.
Examiner: Describe the cake.
Student: It is very nice: there is some chocolate on it
and some fruit, I think strawberries.
5
 A N SW ER KEY: PTE G EN ERA L LEVEL A1

Section 13
Model answer:
Examiner: Now, we are going to take part in a role play.
Here is a card with a situation on it.
We are in a coffee shop. I work in the coffee
shop and you want to order a drink.
Ready? I’ll start.
Good afternoon, can I help you?
Student: I would like to order a coffee.
Examiner: Certainly. Would you like something to eat
as well?
Student: Can I have a piece of chocolate cake?
Examiner: Here you are.
Student: How much is that?
Examiner: It’s £6.00.
Student: Can I pay by card?
Examiner: Of course. You can pay in cash or by card.
Student: Thank you.

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Audioscript: PTE GENERAL LEVEL A1
Audioscript
Practice Test 1
Section 1 correct picture?
Narrator: You will have 10 seconds to read each
question. Listen and put a cross (✗) in the
box next to the correct answer, as in the
example. You have 10 seconds to choose
the correct option.
Example
Listen to the woman. Which table does
she want?
Woman: Excuse me. I’m looking for a round table.
A round table for four people. Do you
have any?
Narrator: The correct answer is C.
Number 1
Listen to the man. Which hotel is he
speaking about?
Man: Well, it’s quite big. There are six floors
and it’s got a swimming pool. It’s close to
a river.
Narrator: Number 2
Listen to the woman. Which is the
bathroom door?
Woman: Do you want the bathroom, Mike? It’s the
second door on the right.
Narrator: Number 3
Listen to the girl. Which boy is Tom?
Girl: My brother, Tom, is in your maths class at
college. Do you know him? He’s got short,
curly hair.
Narrator: Number 4
Listen to the woman. Where is the letter?
Woman: Oh, Gina! The letter’s on the little table
next to the bookcase.
Narrator: Number 5
Listen to the girl. What time does the
film start?
Girl: Dad! You don’t need to hurry. The film
starts at half past nine, not nine fifteen.
Narrator: Number 6
Listen to the speaker. Where is he?
Man: Please submit your homework to me by 5
p.m. Your homework is due today.
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A u dioscript: PTE G EN ERA L LEVEL A1
Narrator: Number 7
Listen to the speaker. Which is the
Man: The photocopier is on the desk. It's near
the coffee machine.
Narrator: Number 8
Listen to the speaker. Where is he?
Man: Your attention, please. The fifth-grade
speech contest will start at 9 o’clock in
the library. All teachers and students
are welcome.
Narrator: Number 9
Listen to the teacher’s instructions. Which
student is ready to take the test?
Woman: Before you start the test, you should have
two pencils on your desk. You should also
place all books under your desk before you
take the test.
Narrator: Number 10
Listen to the man. Which is the
correct picture?
Man: For my birthday, I am not going to have a
party in my house this year. I was thinking
of dinner in a restaurant or bowling, and I
chose dinner.
Section 2
Narrator: Number 11
You will hear a recording about friends.
Listen to the whole recording once.
Then you will hear the recording again
with pauses for you to write down
what you hear. Make sure you spell the
words correctly.
Man: I have a lot of friends. We like sport. We
play tennis and go swimming.
Narrator: Now listen again and write down
your answer.
Man: I have a lot of friends. // We like sport. //
We play tennis // and go swimming.
7

Section 3
Narrator: Numbers 12–16
You will hear a recorded message. First,
read the notes below, then listen and
complete the notes with information from
the recorded message. You will hear the
recording twice.
Woman: This is a message for Paul. How are you?
I am having a party on Friday night. This
Friday, the seventeenth of July, and I want
you to come. Please arrive at 8 o’clock in
the evening. My address is 11 Roseberry
Road. That’s Roseberry, spelt R-o-s-e-b-e-
r-r-y. Please reply by telephone on eight
eight eight four three two oh. That’s
eight eight eight four three two oh. Look
forward to seeing you. Goodbye.
Narrator: Now listen again.
Numbers 17–21
You will hear a phone message. First,
read the notes below, then listen and
complete the notes with information from
the phone message. You will hear the
recording twice.
Woman: Hello. My name is June Waite. June
like the month, and Waite, W-A-I-T-E.
I’m phoning about holidays in China in
September when it’s not too hot. There are
four adults in the group and no children.
We want to go for two weeks, and visit
different places. I’m going to be at home
all day. Can you phone me this afternoon?
My number is seven five oh double one
four. Seven five oh double one four. Bye.
Narrator: Now listen again.
That is the end of the listening section of
the test. Now go on to the other sections
of the test.
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A u dioscript: PTE G EN ERA L LEVEL A1
Practice Test 2
Section 1
Narrator: You will have 10 seconds to read each
question. Listen and put a cross (✗) in the
box next to the correct answer, as in the
example. You have 10 seconds to choose
the correct option.
Example
Listen to the woman. Which table does
she want?
Woman: Excuse me. I’m looking for a round table.
A round table for four people. Do you
have any?
Narrator: The correct answer is C.
Number 1
Listen to the woman. What’s the weather
like now?
Woman: Have you seen the weather forecast for
tomorrow? I hope it doesn't rain for our
picnic, and it stays warm and sunny,
like today.
Narrator: Number 2
Listen to the girl. What was Julie
wearing yesterday?
Girl: I saw Julie in town yesterday. She was
wearing her new jacket. Not the black
one she got for her birthday, the grey one
with pockets.
Narrator: Number 3
Listen to the woman. Where are the
cups now?
Woman: James, your bedroom is in a mess. Please
don’t leave the cups under your bed!
Either leave them in the dishwasher or
wash them and put them in the cupboard.
Narrator: Number 4
Listen to the boy. Where is he going
next week?
Boy: I'm going on a trip next week with my
school. I'm quite fit, but it's going to be
really hard because it's in the hills.
Narrator: Number 5
Listen to the man. Which cottage is
he describing?
Man: The dining room is opposite the kitchen
and the living room is at the end of the
hall. The living room has double doors that
lead out to the garden.
8

Narrator: Number 6
Listen to Emma. What’s her problem?
Woman: Josh, can you call my boss and let her
know I won’t go to work today? I have a
lot of work but I am not feeling well.
Narrator: Number 7
Listen to the boy. What does he have a
problem with?
Boy: Hi, Jack. My laptop's not working.
Fortunately, I've saved everything on a CD.
I know you are busy, but could you print
something for me?
Narrator: Number 8
Listen to the man. Where are they?
Man: Welcome, Sally, to your first day of work.
I'm the manager, Mr Smith. Before you
start, I'll show you where everything is.
Narrator: Number 9
Listen to John. What does he have
to wear?
Boy: Oh, Mum, why do I have to wear a jacket
and tie? Is it really necessary? I prefer
something comfortable, like a T-shirt.
Narrator: Number 10
Listen to Sean. Which is his grandfather’s
house?
Boy: My grandfather lives in a nice big house.
It doesn’t have a garage, but it has a big
garden. He parks his car there, too.
Section 2
Narrator: Number 11
You will hear a recording about Ann’s
friend. Listen to the whole recording
once. Then you will hear the recording
again with pauses for you to write down
what you hear. Make sure you spell the
words correctly.
Girl: He's quite taII. He's got dark hair. It's short
and curly. His eyes are dark.
Narrator: Now listen again and write down
your answer.
Girl: He's quite taII. // He's got dark hair. // It's
short and curly. // His eyes are dark.
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A u dioscript: PTE G EN ERA L LEVEL A1
Section 3
Narrator: Numbers 12–16
You will hear a presentation on healthy
living. First, read the notes below, then
listen and complete the notes with
information from the presentation. You
will hear the recording twice.
Woman: Ladies and gentlemen, here are some
things that doctors sometimes tell us,
but we often forget about. Start in the
morning with half a litre of water. The
water will make you feel ready for the day.
Next, make sure you always have some
fruit or vegetables with you – a carrot or
an apple. You can do exercise without a
gym. If you have to use stairs during the
day, run up them. Finally, get eight hours
sleep. Too little sleep is bad for your health.
Our bodies need between seven and nine
hours sleep a night. Now, …
Narrator: Now listen again.
Numbers 17–21
You will hear a phone message. First,
read the notes below, then listen and
complete the notes with information
from the message. You will hear the
recording twice.
Woman: Hi, it’s Judith. I’m ringing about the picnic.
Let me tell you what I’ve got and you can
ring me back if I’ve forgotten anything. I’ve
made some chicken sandwiches. We had
a chicken yesterday, so that was easy. I’ve
got some eggs. Everyone will have a small
packet of crisps, and for fruit I didn’t know
which would be better, apples or grapes.
In the end, I decided that apples were
easier. Talk to you soon, Beth.
Narrator: Now listen again.
That is the end of the listening section of
the test. Now go on to the other sections
of the test.
9
Score Guide

Score Guide

Score Guide (Levels A1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Who is it for?
This Score Guide is designed for centres and teachers
who are preparing test takers for Pearson Test of English
General (PTE General).
Scoring overview
The written component of PTE General is scored out of a
maximum of 75 points, and the spoken component out
of a maximum of 25.
Each of the four skills (listening, reading, writing, and
speaking) contributes 25 points (25%) towards the
overall score of 100 score points for the whole test.
Written component:
Listening, reading and writing
Types of scoring: correct, incorrect and
partial credit
Item types in the written component of the test are
scored as correct, incorrect or partially correct. Items
that have a maximum score of 1 can only be marked
correct or incorrect, and each correctly answered item is
awarded 1 point. Items with a score higher than 1 can
be given partial credit if the response is partially correct.
Responses that are incorrect are marked 0, those that
are correct are rewarded with the maximum available
score for the item, and those that are partially correct
receive a positive score that is lower than the maximum
available for that item.
Sections 1 and 3–7 are scored as either correct or
incorrect. Each item has a weighting of 1 score point.
Hence, the number of points available for each section
is equivalent to the number of items test takers are
required to respond to. For example, there are 10 items
to answer in Section 1, and the maximum score points
available is also 10. The total number of items in Sections
1 and 3–7 is 45 together, giving a maximum score of
45 score points.
For Sections 2, 8 and 9 partial credit scoring applies.
In these sections, responses are scored as correct, incorrect
or partially correct. Test takers complete a dictation
(Section 2), write a piece of correspondence (Section
8) and write a creative text (Section 9). Each of these
sections has a maximum of 10 points for responses that
deserve full credit. The total maximum number of score
points for these three sections is 30 score points.
The maximum score points available for the written
component of the test is 75 in total: 45 points from
Sections 1 and 3–7; 30 score points from Sections 2, 8
and 9. These score points are evenly allocated to the three
skills assessed, which is 25 for listening, 25 for reading
and 25 for writing.
The information in the table below provides an
overview of the score points available within the written
component of the test, and the type of scoring applied
across all levels.

Sections Skills Item types Score points Types of scoring

1 Listening 3-option (graphical) multiple choice 10 Correct/incorrect
2 Listening and Writing Dictation 5 (Listening) Partial credit
5 (Writing)
3 Listening Text, note completion 10 Correct/incorrect
4 Reading Gap-fill 3-option multiple choice 5 Correct/incorrect
5 Reading 3-option (graphical) multiple choice 5 Correct/incorrect
6 Reading Open-ended question 8 Correct/incorrect
7 Reading Text, note completion 7 Correct/incorrect
8 Writing Write correspondence 10 Partial credit
9 Writing Write text 10 Partial credit
Total 75
Scoring in the written component of the test (all levels)

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 Score Guide

How Sections 2, 8 and 9 are scored

Section 2: Dictation
Section 2 has a total weighting of 10 score points at
all levels. Of these 10 score points, 5 are awarded
for listening and 5 for writing. Each score is
calculated separately.
The score for listening is based on the number of correct
words the test taker writes down from the recording.
The score out of 5 is calculated by dividing the number
of accurate words by the total number of words in the
recording, which gives the proportion of correct words.
The result is then multiplied by 5 and rounded to the
nearest whole number. A test taker who has written all
the words correctly would get the maximum score of 5.
For example, if 17 words are accurate from a passage
containing 20 words, then the score is calculated
as follows:
17/20 = 0.85
5 x 0.85 = 4.25
Score = 4
Similarly, the writing score is based on the number of
words the test taker spells correctly. The score out of 5
is computed using the number of words spelt accurately
and the total number of words in the text. This is then
multiplied by 5 and rounded to the nearest whole
number. For example, if 23 words are spelt correctly
out of a passage containing 30 words, then the score is
calculated as follows:
23/30 = 0.766
5 x 0.766 = 3.83
Score = 4
The mark for this listening section is added to the scores
obtained for the other listening sections (1 and 3) to give
a listening score out of 25 reported for performance on
the entire test. The mark for writing is added to the scores
for the other sections (8 and 9) to give a writing score out
of 25 reported for performance on the entire test.
Section 8: Write correspondence,
and Section 9: Write text
Sections 8 and 9 have a weighting of 10 score points
each at all levels of the test.
Test takers are scored on a total of seven traits in both
Section 8 and Section 9 of the test at each level (task
completion, formal requirements, range, accuracy,
coherence and orthographic control, along with either
written interaction in Section 8 or written production in
Section 9).
Completing the task
For completing the task, test takers receive 0, 1 or 2 score
points. If a 0 score is received for task completion, the
response will not be assessed on any other criteria and the
score will be 0 for the section.
0 No engagement with the prompt with regards
to content
1 Partial engagement with the prompt with regards
to content, i.e., not all aspects of the prompt have
been considered
2 Full engagement with the prompt with regards
to content, i.e., all aspects of the prompt are
referred to
Marking scale for task completion (written)
Formal requirements
The table below indicates how scores for formal
requirements are given:
0 Complies with neither the word limit nor the
response format
1 Either the word limit or the response format
is correct
2 Both the word limit and the response format
are correct
Marking scale for formal requirements (written)
Please note: At each level there is a “tolerated” word
count for Sections 8 and 9. The table below shows the
“tolerance” for the writing tasks at each level.

Level Section Tolerance Section Tolerance

8 word 9 word
limit limit
A1 30–50 24–55 50–80 30–88
L1 50–70 40–77 80–100 48–110
L2 70–90 56–99 100–150 60–165
L3 90–120 72–132 150–200 90–220
L4 120–150 96–165 200–250 120–275
L5 150–200 120–220 250–300 150–330

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 Score Guide

Analytic level descriptive criteria The maximum score for Level 5 is 19 points for each
All levels were designed to be aligned to the Common section and is composed of: task completion (2 points),
European Framework of Reference for Languages. Written formal requirements (2 points), range (3 points),
responses in Sections 8 and 9 are scored against the accuracy (3 points), coherence and cohesion (3 points),
following analytic descriptive criteria which are based on orthographic control (3 points), with written interaction
Council of Europe descriptors: range, accuracy, coherence (3 points) for Section 8 and written production (3 points)
and orthographic control. for Section 9.
Global criteria Score range
Written responses in Sections 8 and 9 are also scored
against global section descriptive criteria at each level Sections 8 and 9
for the traits written interaction in Section 8 and written Analytic level score
production in Section 9. 0–2 Task completion
Computing the overall level score 0–2 Formal requirements
To compute the score for Sections 8 and 9, scores 0–3 Range
obtained in the different categories and traits are added
0–3 Accuracy
together. The maximum score for Levels A1–4 is
29 points for each section and is composed of: task 0–3 Coherence
completion (2 points), formal requirements (2 points), 0–3 Orthographic control
range (5 points), accuracy (5 points), coherence and Global score
cohesion (5 points), orthographic control (5 points), with
written interaction (5 points) for Section 8 and written Section 8 Write correspondence
production (5 points) for Section 9. 0–3 Written interaction
Section 9 Write text
Score range
0–3 Written production
Sections 8 and 9
Total = 0–19
Analytic level score
0–2 Task completion Score range for Sections 8 and 9 at Level 5

0–2 Formal requirements The marking scale below, from 1–5, is used by examiners
0–5 Range to allocate score points to each of the traits of the analytic
descriptive and global criteria.
0–5 Accuracy
0–5 Coherence 1 The performance is below the level
0–5 Orthographic control 2 The performance is just at the level
Global score 3 The performance is at the level
Section 8 Write correspondence 4 The performance is almost at the next level
0–5 Written interaction 5 The performance is at the next level.
Section 9 Write text Analytic level descriptive and global criteria marking
scale (written)
0–5 Written production
The total score is converted to a scale out of 10,
Total = 0–29
by dividing the obtained score by the maximum score.
Score range for Sections 8 and 9 at Levels A1–4 The result is then multiplied by 10 and rounded to the
nearest whole number. Thus, for a test taker at Levels
A1–4 who has obtained a total score of 24, the score will
be computed as follows:
24/29 = 0.827
10 x 0.827 = 8.270
Score = 8
Computing the total writing score for Sections 2, 8
and 9
To compute the total writing score, the converted scores
for Sections 2, 8 and 9 are added together to give a score
out of 25.

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 Score Guide

Spoken component: Speaking

Partial credit scoring: Sections 10–13 Score range Traits
Partial credit scoring is applied to all sections of the
Analytic level score
spoken component of the test. The information in the
table below indicates that across all sections of the spoken 0–3 Fluency
component, three at Levels A1 and 1 (10, 12 and 13) 0–3 Interaction
and four at Levels 2–5 (10–11, 12 and 13), the maximum 0–3 Range
number of score points is 25.
0–3 Accuracy
Sections Skill Item types Score points 0–3 Phonological control
10 Speaking Sustained 25 score Global section score
monologue points
Section 10
11 Speaking (only Discussion in total,
distributed 0–3 Sustained interaction
featured at (only for
Levels 2–5, NOT Levels 2–5) across the Section 11 (NOT Levels A1 and 1)
Levels A1 and 1) marking 0–3 Turn taking
criteria
12 Speaking Describe Section 12
picture 0–3 Thematic development
13 Speaking Role play Section 13
Scoring in the spoken component of the test (all levels) 0–3 Sociolinguistic appropriateness
How Sections 10–13 are scored Total = 0–27 (Level 5)
A maximum of 25 score points is available across the Score range for Sections 10–13 for Level 5
three sections of the spoken component of the tests at The scores for each section are calculated in relation to
Levels A1 and 1 and the four sections at Levels 2–5. the maximum score. For example, a test taker at Level 2
Test takers are scored on a total of eight traits at Levels A1–1 may score a total of 30 marks over the nine traits. This
(A1 and 1 do not include Section 11): fluency, interaction, score is converted to a score out of 25 by applying the
range, accuracy, phonological control; and, per section, ratio of 30:45 (score achieved for the four sections divided
sustained interaction in Section 10, thematic development in by the maximum number of score points available), then
Section 12, and sociolinguistic appropriateness in Section 13. multiplied by 25. The result is rounded to the nearest
At Levels 2–5, nine traits in total are scored because Section whole number giving a weighted score of 17:
11 (turn taking) is included. 30/45 = 0.667
Score range Traits 0.667 x 25 = 16.6
Analytic level score Score = 17
0–5 Fluency
0–5 Interaction
0–5 Range
0–5 Accuracy
0–5 Phonological control
Global section score
Section 10
0–5 Sustained interaction
Section 11 (NOT Levels A1 and 1)
0–5 Turn taking
Section 12
0–5 Thematic development
Section 13
0–5 Sociolinguistic appropriateness
Total = 0–40 (Levels A1 and 1); 0–45 (Levels 2–4)
Score range for Sections 10–13 for Levels A1 and 1, and 2–4

© 2 016 P e a rs on P h o t o co p i ab l e 13
PTE General: Top 20 Questions
PTE General: Top 20 Questions
1 How many marks are needed to pass the exam?
To pass the exam you need a score of 50 or above.
2 Do I have to pass each paper in order to pass
the exam?
No, each paper doesn’t have a pass or fail mark. Your
overall grade comes from adding your marks in both the
Written and Spoken papers.
3 Are marks taken off for wrong answers?
No. This means that, if you are not sure, you should
always try to choose the answer you think is best – you
might be right.
4 Am I allowed to use a dictionary in the exam?
No.
5 Generally, in the exam, if I am not sure about an
answer, can I give two possible answers?
No. If there are two answers, one of them is wrong; you
will not get a mark. So you must decide on one answer
to give.
6 How many times will I hear each recording in the
Listening sections?
In Section 1, once. In Section 2, you will hear the
recording twice, the second time with pauses giving
you time to write down word-for-word what is heard. In
Section 3, you will hear each recording twice.
7 In Listening Section 2, what happens if I misspell
a word?
All answers need to be correctly spelt, so you will
lose marks.
8 In Listening Section 1 and Reading Section 5, what
should I do if I am not sure which picture is correct?
Check them again, there is only one correct picture.
Sometimes, the pictures might look similar, but there
will be some small differences that will help you find the
correct answer.
9 In Listening Section 3, should I use the words I hear
in the recording?
You can expect to hear some of the words in the
recording. When you are completing sentences,
you should check that the completed sentence
with your answer inserted makes sense and is
grammatically correct.
10 In Listening Section 3, what happens if my answer is
too long to fit in the space on the answer sheet?
Most answers are single words, numbers or groups of
two to three words. If you think the answer is longer, then
it is probably incorrect.
11 In Reading Section 6, should I write a complete
sentence in answer to the questions?
You should write only the word or words that answer
the question.
© 2 016 P e a rs on P h o t o co p i ab l e
PTE G eneral : Top 20 Questions
12 In Reading Section 7, what happens if I write words
that are not from the article?
The words should come from the text.
13 In Reading Section 7, what happens if I write more
than three words in a gap?
Answers are one to three words. If you think the answer
is longer, it is probably incorrect.
14 In Writing Section 8, what happens if I don’t write
about all the points listed with bullet points (•)?
You should write about all the bullet points. The
examiners are looking to see if you can provide the right
information and good language.
15 In Writing Section 8, can I copy words/text from the
text in Section 7?
You can use parts of the input text in Section 7 to plan
the content of your answer, but you need to use your own
words and ideas as much as you can.
16 In Writing Sections 8 and 9, what happens if I write
too few or too many words?
The word count is an important guide. It tells you how
much to write when doing the task. There are tolerated
ranges for each section. Your teacher will be able to
guide you on these. Make sure you stay within the
relevant range and use the right number of words in your
answer. Plan your time so that you write about the right
amount and have time to check what you have written.
You will not lose score points if you stay within the
tolerated word limits.
17 What happens if I make a spelling mistake in the
Writing sections?
All spelling must be correct; spelling is one of several
things that the examiner considers when deciding what
mark to give you.
18 For the Speaking paper, is it a good idea to prepare
what I am going to say in Section 10?
It is, of course, good to prepare well for the exam.
But you cannot know exactly what the examiner will
ask beforehand, so you must listen very carefully
to the examiner and make sure you answer the
questions relevantly.
19 In Speaking Section 10, what happens if I cannot talk
for one minute on my own?
The examiner will ask you some follow-up questions
to encourage you to talk more about the topic. Listen
carefully to the examiner’s questions before giving
an answer.
20 In Speaking Section 13, how much time will I have to
prepare for the role play?
You will have 15 seconds to prepare. Use this time
to develop ideas and questions based on the test
taker’s card.
14