Get the PTE Core score your PR application needs
132 Reading and Listening questions and 148 Speaking and Writing tasks in the real PTE Core format, timed like the test, with real audio and model answers.
Practise by section
PTE Core's Reading and Listening parts are made of item types, each answered its own way: drop-down lists, drag and drop, reordering, typing and clicking words. Practise one item type at a time, or take a full Reading and Listening test in the real order with one clock per part. Speaking and Writing tasks run with the real timers, recording and word counts.
Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks 24 questions
Choose the right word for each gap in a short everyday text from a drop-down list.
Reading: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers 8 questions
Read a text of up to 275 words and select every correct answer; each wrong pick costs a point.
Reorder Paragraphs 12 questions
Put four or five jumbled text boxes back into their original order.
Reading: Fill in the Blanks 20 questions
Drag words from a box into the gaps in a short text; the box has more words than gaps.
Reading: Multiple Choice, Single Answer 8 questions
Read a short text and choose the one correct answer.
Listening: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers 8 questions
Listen to a recording of about a minute and select every correct answer; each wrong pick costs a point.
Listening: Fill in the Blanks 12 questions
Type the missing words into a transcript while the recording plays.
Listening: Multiple Choice, Single Answer 8 questions
Listen to a short recording and choose the one correct answer.
Select Missing Word 8 questions
Choose the words that complete a recording whose ending is replaced by a beep.
Highlight Incorrect Words 8 questions
Click the words in a transcript that differ from what the speaker says; each wrong click costs a point.
Write from Dictation 16 questions
Hear a short sentence once and type it exactly as you hear it.
Read Aloud 28 tasks
Read a text of up to 60 words aloud, clearly and naturally, after 30 to 40 seconds to prepare.
Repeat Sentence 44 tasks
Hear a short sentence once and repeat it exactly; the microphone opens as soon as the audio ends.
Describe Image 16 tasks
Study a chart, map or process diagram for 25 seconds, then describe it in detail in 40 seconds.
Respond to a Situation 12 tasks
Read and hear an everyday situation, prepare for 20 seconds, then say what you would say in 40 seconds.
Answer Short Question 24 tasks
Hear a simple question and answer it in one or a few words within 10 seconds.
Summarize Written Text 8 tasks
Summarize a text of up to 200 words in 25 to 50 words, in 10 minutes.
Write Email 8 tasks
Write an email of about 100 words about a situation, covering three given themes, in 9 minutes.
Summarize Spoken Text 8 tasks
Hear a recording of about a minute once, then summarize its main points in 20 to 30 words, in 8 minutes.
What full access includes
- All 132 questions across every PTE Core task type, with real audio
- Every Speaking and Writing task, timed like the real test, with model answers
- Estimated scores for your Speaking and Writing, trait by trait
- Unlimited full Reading and Listening tests, scored in points like PTE
- A review of every question you missed at the end of each test
- Works on your phone, tablet or computer, with no app or account
About the PTE Core exam
What is PTE Core, and who accepts it?
PTE Core (Pearson Test of English Core) is a computer-based test of general, everyday English made for Canadian immigration. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts it for all economic immigration programs, including Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades) and Provincial Nominee Programs, as well as for citizenship and the Post-Graduation Work Permit. It is not used for study in Canada; that requires PTE Academic. The other English tests IRCC accepts are CELPIP-General and IELTS General Training.
What is the PTE Core test format?
One sitting of no more than 2 hours, taken on a computer at a test centre, in three parts in a fixed order: Speaking and Writing (about 50 to 65 minutes), Reading (about 27 to 37 minutes) and Listening (about 22 to 37 minutes). There are 19 scored question types plus an unscored personal introduction, 52 to 67 tasks in total. Audio plays only once, each spoken answer is recorded once, and you cannot go back to earlier questions.
What PTE Core scores do I need for CLB 7 or CLB 9?
Each skill is scored from 10 to 90. Speaking and Writing need higher numbers than Listening and Reading for the same CLB. CLB 7 needs at least Listening 60, Reading 60, Speaking 68 and Writing 69. CLB 9 needs at least Listening 82, Reading 78, Speaking 84 and Writing 88. Express Entry's Federal Skilled Worker program requires CLB 7 in all four skills, and citizenship applicants aged 18 to 54 need CLB 4 in speaking and listening (Speaking 42, Listening 28).
Which question types count toward which skill?
Some question types count toward two skills. Read Aloud counts for Reading and Speaking; Repeat Sentence and Answer Short Question for Listening and Speaking; Summarize Written Text for Reading and Writing; Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks for Reading and Writing; Summarize Spoken Text, Listening Fill in the Blanks and Write from Dictation for Listening and Writing; and Highlight Incorrect Words for Listening and Reading. Describe Image and Respond to a Situation count for Speaking only, Write Email for Writing only, the remaining Reading items (the multiple-choice questions, Reorder Paragraph and drag-and-drop Fill in the Blanks) count for Reading only, and the remaining Listening items (the multiple-choice questions and Select Missing Word) count for Listening only. Your overall score is not an average of the four skill scores.
How are the practice tests scored?
Reading and listening questions are scored in points the way Pearson describes: a point for each correct blank, word or pair of paragraphs, and on multiple-answer and highlight questions a point off for each wrong choice (never below zero). Speaking and writing answers get estimated scores on the official traits for each task, such as content, form, pronunciation and fluency, from automated feedback. Pearson publishes no table that turns points into a 10 to 90 score, so every score here is an estimate to guide your practice, not an official result, and our pass marks (about 65% of the points) are our own estimate of CLB 7.
Is this the official PTE Core test?
No. This is an independent practice site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson. Our questions are original and written to match the format, length and difficulty Pearson describes for each question type. Official scores come only from a real PTE Core test taken at a Pearson test centre.