English language proficiency exam PTE is changing its format and duration.
Pearson, the company that conducts the PTE test, has announced two significant updates to its English language proficiency exam, PTE Academic.
The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is a computer-based test which assesses the English language skills of non-native speakers intending to apply for university courses in English-speaking countries.
“From November 16 2021, the duration of PTE Academic will reduce from three hours down to two. This means an improved experience for candidates with less time spent taking the exam, whilst the accuracy of the test remains the same,” Pearson has said in a statement.
The overall format, question types, or scoring scale is not changing, and the company says that shorter tests would have fewer questions, allowing candidates to prepare in the same way.
“Most importantly, the shorter PTE Academic test is still accepted by the same universities and professional bodies, including more than 3,000 academic institutions worldwide, and by the governments of Australia, the UK, and New Zealand for visa and immigration purposes,” reads the statement.”
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Another major change is that Pearson is launching PTE Academic Online.
“We are now offering it as a new online proctored option for people who prefer to sit the test remotely, from the comfort of their own home,” said the company.
The online test will be available to take from November 16, 2021. It will also take two hours and follow the same format and scoring system as the new shorter PTE Academic test centre exam.
“It’s important to note that although the online test is identical to PTE Academic, it is not currently valid for visa or migration purposes. We also ask candidates to check that the universities they are applying to accept the online version before booking this test,” read the statement.
Freya Thomas Monk, Senior Vice President, English Language Learning, Pearson, said, “Many of our PTE Academic test takers want to move abroad to study at university or progress their careers. To help them in their journey, we have rolled out a shorter PTE Academic test to be taken in test centres and a new online PTE Academic test which can be taken at home.”
