PTE Exam Marks: How Can You Calculate Your PTE Exam Score?

The PTE (Pearson Test of English) exam is distinguished by one outstanding feature: a sophisticated automated scoring system that assesses the test taker's performance in four primary skills: speaking, writing, reading, and listening.

Each section is scored separately, and the total score is calculated based on that. Judging factors include content, form, coherence, grammatical accuracy, vocabulary use, and pronunciation. The results themselves are scored on a scale from 10 to 90. 

In this text, you will learn about the scoring system to approach the exam more strategically and efficiently.

How is the PTE Exam Marked?

PTE exam grading is very elaborate, given the automated machine grading system, which uses sophisticated algorithms based on hundreds of thousands of actual test answers. Automated grading is fast, accurate, and reliable, and it sets it apart from others precisely because of its quick results.

For the answer to be recognized as correct, millions of data must be fed to the algorithm. Your answers are compared with a considerable number of answers from other respondents; thus, the most accurate and objective result is obtained.

Each test has questions that may differ in type, number of questions, and scoring system. For example, the PTE Academic test has  20 question types to assess your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, while the PTE Core has 19 questions. The PTE Home test is a two-skill test that evaluates your speaking and listening ability.

Some types of questions include:

• Multiple choice questions - You can lose points for choosing the wrong options.
• Essay questions - 2 points each for grammar, linguistic range, vocabulary & spelling 
• Reading out sentences to select the correct answer
• Retelling lecture - Content, oral fluency & pronunciation
• Describe image - Content, oral fluency, & pronunciation
• Summarizing written text - Enabling skills in grammar, spelling & vocabulary
• PTE read aloud - Content, oral fluency & pronunciation
• Personal introduction - Not scored
• Repeating sentence - Content, oral fluency & pronunciation
• Answer short question - One mark per correct answer

Scores are determined based on the difficulty level of the question. Your total score is evaluated on a scale of 10 to 90.

How Can You Calculate Your PTE Exam Score?

The PTE algorithm uses automated scoring and human validation to assess English language proficiency comprehensively.

For manual scoring, it’s essential to know the following:

1. For greater accuracy and consistency, human experts specifically focus on subjective evaluations such as essays and oral responses
2. They provide an initial score based on their assessment, which should be aligned with the scoring criteria
3. They control the automated scoring process, ensuring accuracy 

You can also calculate your PTE scores accurately and thoroughly using Pearson's official PTE Score Guide or Score Report.

PTE Exam Marks Allocation Marks

Each section of the PTE has its own score, which assesses different language skills, such as listening, speaking, reading and writing. The distribution of marks depends on the complexity and difficulty level of the questions in each part. More complex tasks requiring a higher level of English can be awarded more marks than straightforward tasks.

The overall score is calculated by combining the points from each section, with each section contributing proportionally to the final score based on the marks awarded.

PTE Speaking & Writing Section Marks

This section contains approximately eight question types, the number of which and duration may vary. On average, it takes between 54 and 67 minutes, during which you are expected to answer 28 to 36 questions.

These are the tasks in the speaking ad writing section and their potential score range:

• Personal introduction: 10 points
• Repeat sentence: 10 points
• PTE read aloud: 10 points
• Retell lecture: 10 points
• Describe the image: 10 points
• Write an essay: 10 points
• Answer a short question: 10 points
• Summarize written text: 10 points

Tips for maximizing scores in these tasks:

• Speak clearly, understandably and at a moderate pace in speaking tasks
• Write essential information and main ideas when describing pictures or retelling in the writing section
• Practice your writing skills regularly to be accurate, concise, and properly structured
• Expand your vocabulary regularly

PTE Reading Section Marks

This section contains five segments with approximately five types of questions. It is about 30 minutes, and you are expected to answer 13 to 18 questions.

The types of tasks in the reading section and their score range

• Multiple choice, multiple answers:  2-3 points
• Multiple choice, single answer: 2-3 points
• Fill in the blanks - reading & writing:  2-3 points
• Re-order paragraph:  2-3 points
• Fill in the blanks - reading:  2-3 points

Strategies for improving reading section scores:

• Practice a variety of text formats, including academic articles, newspaper articles, and essays
• Develop a strategy for quickly understanding the gist of a text and identifying key information and ideas
• Pay attention to the structure of the text, which will help you sort out the main ideas more quickly
• Find out what types of questions there are in the reading section

PTE Listening Section Marks

The listening section assesses your understanding of a spoken text in English and its meaning by listening to an audio file. There are eight segments, and you are expected to answer them in an average of 45 minutes.

The tasks included in the listening section and their respective score:

• Summarize spoken text: 2-3 points
• Multiple choice, multiple answers 2-3 points
• Highlight correct summary: 2-3 points
• Fill in the blanks: 2-3 points
• Single answer:2-3 points
• Select missing word:2-3 points
• Write from dictation - listening and writing:2-3 points
• Highlight incorrect word: 2-3 points

Techniques to enhance listening results:

• Listen to native speakers, paying attention to their pronunciation and accent
• Take notes while listening to spoken texts to help you remember essential information and details
• Pay attention to context and key information to get the point of the text
• Use the practice materials and sample questions to familiarize yourself with the format and types of questions in the listening section
• Stay concentrated and focused during longer listening passages to avoid missing important details

PTE Score Chart

We present the PTE score chart to help you understand PTE scores and their corresponding levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

PTE Score : 85-90

CEFR Level : C2

English Proficiency Level : Expert
‍

PTE Score : 76-84

CEFR Level :C1

English Proficiency Level : Advanced

‍

PTE Score : 59-75

CEFR Level : B2

English Proficiency Level : Upper-Intermediate

‍

PTE Score : 43-58

CEFR Level : B1

English Proficiency Level : Intermediate

‍

PTE Score : 30-42

CEFR Level : A2

English Proficiency Level : Elementary

‍

PTE Score : 10-29 

CEFR Level : A1

English Proficiency Level : Beginner

‍

Each section, including speaking, writing, reading and listening, is scored separately, ranging from 10 to 90. The table lets you quickly identify your strengths and weaknesses in each skill area. In addition, the total score, which is also displayed on a scale of 10 to 90, provides a comprehensive assessment of English language proficiency.

How To Convert PTE Scores to IELTS

The conversion of scores between PTE and IELTS is implemented to provide a standardized way to compare language proficiency across two testing systems. In practice, universities, employers and immigration authorities may use score conversions to compare and attempt to equate scores from one test to another to be fair in assessing language proficiency regardless of the test.

Since the two tests have different scoring systems and grading criteria, it can be said that there is a rough estimate based on the range of scores for each test, and it looks like this:

IELTS Band Score : 8.5

PTE-A (overall) : 88.1

PTE-A (listening) :84.7

PTE-A (reading) : 83.7

PTE-A (speaking) : 85.5

PTE-A (writing) : 89.5

‍

IELTS Band Score : 8

PTE-A (overall) : 82.3

PTE-A (listening) : 79.4

PTE-A (reading) : 78.4

PTE-A (speaking) : 80.9

PTE-A (writing) : 89.4

‍

IELTS Band Score : 7.5

PTE-A (overall) : 74.6

PTE-A (listening) :73.9

PTE-A (reading) : 73.7

PTE-A (speaking) : 75.3

PTE-A (writing) : 87.5

‍

IELTS Band Score : 7

PTE-A (overall) :66.3

PTE-A (listening) : 66.2

PTE-A (reading) : 67.6

PTE-A (speaking) : 65.3

PTE-A (writing) : 82.3

‍

IELTS Band Score : 6.5

PTE-A (overall) : 58.5

PTE-A (listening) : 56.8

PTE-A (reading) : 60.6

PTE-A (speaking) : 53.5

PTE-A (writing): 74.1

‍

IELTS Band Score : 6

PTE-A (overall) : 51.6

PTE-A (listening) : 48.1

PTE-A (reading) :53.5

PTE-A (speaking) : 46.2

PTE-A (writing) : 62.2

‍

IELTS Band Score : 5.5

PTE-A (overall) : 45.4

PTE-A (listening) : 42.7

PTE-A (reading) : 47.9

PTE-A (speaking) : 42.2

PTE-A (writing) : 51

‍

IELTS Band Score : 5

PTE-A (overall) : 40.8

PTE-A (listening) : 40.2

PTE-A (reading) : 43

PTE-A (speaking) : 40.2

PTE-A (writing) : 43.1

These conversions are approximate, so they should be used as a reference.

What Constitutes a Good PTE Exam Mark?

Even though there is no precise PTE score, we may still say you can achieve it at different levels.

• Average: An average score in the PTE exam typically falls between 50 to 60
• Competitive: A competitive score is usually above 60, with scores above 70 considered particularly strong
• Excellent: An excellent score in the PTE exam is typically above 80, demonstrating a high level of English language proficiency

For the best possible result and mark, you should know the PTE exam syllabus, format, and types of questions in detail. Additionally, using official PTE practice materials will drastically improve your skills. Always focus on improving your performance in the areas where you are weak. 

You need to know how to manage your time while taking the test and which parts will take more time and which will not. Most importantly, do at least a little each day because language is best learned continuously.

It is worth considering how the CELPIP exam format looks and comparing specific components.

Key Takeaways

• PTE exam scoring is conducted through an automated machine scoring system using algorithms based on hundreds of thousands of test answers. Grading can also be done manually, and by combining the two, you get faster, more accurate and more reliable results
• The total score is calculated based on the points obtained from each section
• The speaking & writing section contains approximately eight question types, the reading section contains five segments with approximately five types of questions, and the listening section has eight segments
• What makes a good PTE score usually involves regular practice, familiarity with the test format, and constant work on lesser-known or more difficult segments

Practicing and familiarizing yourself with the PTE (Pearson Test of English) scoring system is vital to achieving a successful exam outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Passing Mark for the PTE Exam?

PTE doesn’t have a passing score. However, it may vary depending on the institution or visa requirements. Institutions usually set their own minimum score requirements based on their specific criteria.

How Many Attempts Are Allowed for the PTE Test?

There is no specific limit on the number of attempts for the PTE exam. This means that you can take the test as many times as you want in case you need to improve your results or meet the requirements of the institutions or organizations you are applying to. 

Is 79 Considered a Good Score in PTE?

If we consider the optimal PTE academic score of 76-84, we can say that 79 is a very high level of knowledge of the English language. At this level, you understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts that use written and spoken language well.