English proficiency certificate is one of the requirements for non-English native speakers who seek opportunities such as studying, immigration and employment in countries in which the English Language is a first language or a major language of communication. Pearson Test of English (PTE) provides two tests which test different English skills. The two tests are PTE Academic and PTE General.

Our aim is to help you differentiate between the two tests if you plan to use your English proficiency certificate for studying, employment and immigration, moreover, we also provide information to guarantee success in your examination.

PTE General

PTE General is an English proficiency test that assesses the non-native English speakers who seek English qualification for higher education institutions and area of employment. However, the area of applicability is limited or restricted since it is not accepted for either permanent residence visa or student visa. It consists of six levels with the test taker deciding on which level to take.

PTE Academics

As it has been mentioned earlier PTE general is applicability is limited hence an option falls on PTE Academics. PTE Academics is generally accepted by higher education institutions and governments for visa application. It tests four communicative skills namely speaking and writing, reading and listening. In addition, based on the entire tests, the test assesses six enabling skills namely written discourse, pronunciation, spelling, grammar, oral fluency and vocabulary.

It is a computer-based and computer assessed test which means it is free from human interaction. Most areas where PTE Academics is applicable requires a general score of 79+. While you may feel like 79+ score is too high to attain with the English knowledge that you have, it is attainable with the right resources, dedication and hard work. Below are a few tips to follow if you want a score of 79+.

Tips to score 79+

Know your English proficiency level

The amount of time and hard work dedicated in preparation sometimes depends on the knowledge of English you already possess. A lot of countries teaches English as a second language in schools and some higher education institutions conduct lessons in English, therefore, people who already have this foundation already have an advantage.  People who don’t have a solid English language foundation need to dedicate all the resource to obtain the desired score.

Read

“Knowledge is power and learning is your superpower.” The more you read is the more you learn therefore reading academic written media will help improve all the aspects tested in the PTE Academics. There might be four communicative skills tested but all the section relate with each other, therefore improving one section, improves the other sections as well.

Be familiar with the test format

To prepare better and formulate the best strategy, it is important to know the format of the test and all its details. These include the question structure and ways to respond to questions in different sections. In addition, having knowledge beforehand about the equipment, recording and other aspects of the test is vital since it will help eliminate unnecessary or trivial mistakes.

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Practice mock tests

Most mock tests online platform are structured to be on a similar level as the real PTE Academics, therefore, practicing your mock test provides an opportunity to actually obtain a real feeling of the examination. It will help you get accustomed to all the sections of the PTE Academics moreover you can easily recognize areas which need improvement.

Listen to spoken media

It can be podcasts, radio, audios or any other material preferable to the test taker choice which delivers informative information. As it has been said previously, all the section are linked therefore listening to spoken media doesn’t only improve the listening skill but it improves other sections as well. Other skills that could be learned is summarizing the content of the spoken media or retelling its content. It is a requirement in the exam, therefore, it would benefit the test taker to prepare beforehand.

Know information about the test day

Preparing for the test is vital but so is preparing for the test day and you might want to know all the information beforehand. You need to know the time to arrive at the testing centre, the administration process and other requirements. The documentation and any other material required also materials not permitted in the testing venue lest you be disqualified before writing the test. It is important to familiarize yourself with all this information

Get a tutor or join a coaching centre

Sometimes the individual effort is just not enough to get the work done or to help you obtain the desired score, it is vital to seek help as early as possible. Many areas have tutors and coaching centres for PTE Academics and finding one near you may not be hard. Search online to see resources available at your disposal. Moreover, you can also join online PTE Academics groups to find information from people who are on a similar journey as you.