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PTE Question Types: All 22 Tasks Explained (2026)
PTE Academic has 22 question types in three parts: Speaking and Writing, Reading, and Listening. Two speaking tasks were added on 7 August 2025: Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation. The other 20 question types did not change. The whole test takes about two hours on a computer at a test centre.
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- Question types
- 22 (20 original + 2 added in August 2025)
- Speaking and Writing
- 9 question types, about 76–84 minutes
- Reading
- 5 question types, about 23–30 minutes
- Listening
- 8 question types, about 31–39 minutes
- Scoring
- 10–90; many tasks count for two skills
Speaking and Writing (9 question types)
| Question type | What you do | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Read Aloud | Read a short text aloud | Keep a steady pace and natural pauses; do not rush |
| Repeat Sentence | Repeat a sentence you hear | Repeat the words in the same order, with the same rhythm |
| Describe Image | Describe a graph, chart, map or picture | Cover the main trend and key numbers; keep talking |
| Re-tell Lecture | Retell a short talk in your own words | Note key words while you listen |
| Answer Short Question | Answer with one word or a few words | Answer straight away; one word is enough |
| Summarize Group Discussion (new) | Hear three people discuss a topic, then summarise it | You get 10 seconds to prepare and 2 minutes to speak; cover each speaker’s view |
| Respond to a Situation (new) | Hear and read a situation, then reply as if you were in it | You have 40 seconds; answer the actual situation, politely and clearly |
| Summarize Written Text | Summarise a passage in one sentence | One complete sentence that covers the main idea |
| Write Essay | Write an essay of 200–300 words | Plan briefly; take a clear position and support it |
Reading (5 question types)
| Question type | What you do |
|---|---|
| Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks | Choose the right word for each gap from a drop-down list |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | Choose all correct answers about a passage |
| Re-order Paragraphs | Put text boxes in the right order |
| Reading: Fill in the Blanks | Drag words into the gaps in a passage |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | Choose one correct answer |
Listening (8 question types)
| Question type | What you do |
|---|---|
| Summarize Spoken Text | Write a 50–70 word summary of a short talk |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | Choose all correct answers about a recording |
| Fill in the Blanks | Type the missing words in a transcript |
| Highlight Correct Summary | Choose the summary that matches the recording |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | Choose one correct answer |
| Select Missing Word | Choose the word or phrase that ends the recording |
| Highlight Incorrect Words | Click the words in a transcript that differ from the audio |
| Write from Dictation | Type a sentence exactly as you hear it |
Tasks that count for two skills
PTE scores many tasks for more than one skill. Read Aloud counts for Speaking and Reading, Repeat Sentence for Speaking and Listening, and Write from Dictation for Listening and Writing. Tasks like these appear several times in a test, so short daily practice on them pays off across two scores.
Where wrong answers cost marks
In Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers and in Highlight Incorrect Words, each wrong choice loses a mark, though the score for a question never goes below zero. Choose only the answers you are sure of. Other question types do not take marks away for wrong answers.
PTE Core question types
PTE Core, the version IRCC accepts for Canada PR, uses everyday and workplace topics, and some of its tasks differ from PTE Academic. If you are taking PTE Core, practise with its own task list on Pearson’s site.
How to practise PTE question types
- Practise against the clock. Every task is timed, and the timer does not wait.
- Record your speaking and listen back for pace, pauses and pronunciation.
- Avoid memorised templates. Answer the actual question or situation in front of you.
- Take full mock tests to build stamina for two hours on screen.
Official sources
- PTE Academic updates 2025 (Pearson PTE)
- PTE changes 2025 (Pearson PTE)
- Test format: Speaking and Writing (Pearson PTE)
- Test format: Reading (Pearson PTE)
- Test format: Listening (Pearson PTE)
Frequently asked questions
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Does PTE Core have the same question types?
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