Pearson runs two English tests with similar names and many of the same question types: PTE Core and PTE Academic. For Canada, the choice is mostly made for you by what you’re applying for. This page explains which test fits which purpose, and how the formats differ.

This site is independent practice for PTE Core and is not affiliated with Pearson. The facts below come from Pearson’s PTE Core Score Guide (January 2026), its Teacher Guide and test format pages, the PTE Academic pages on pearsonpte.com, and IRCC’s language testing pages.

Which test for which purpose

IRCC’s list of English tests for economic immigration and citizenship names PTE Core, CELPIP-General and IELTS General Training. PTE Academic isn’t on that list. Pearson describes PTE Academic as the test for studying at universities and colleges, accepted by virtually all universities in Canada, as well as for visas in Australia and New Zealand. If you need both, for example college admission now and permanent residence later, you may need to take each test for its own purpose.

What the two tests share

• Pearson’s 10 to 90 scale for each skill.
• A single sitting of about two hours on a computer at a Pearson test centre. Neither can be taken at home.
• Most question types. Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Answer Short Question, Summarize Written Text, all five Reading types, and the Listening types Summarize Spoken Text, Multiple Choice (single and multiple answers), Fill in the Blanks, Select Missing Word, Highlight Incorrect Words and Write from Dictation appear in both.

What’s different

The texts and recordings are different in feel as well. PTE Core uses everyday and workplace situations: renting an apartment, a message from a manager, an ad for a local event. PTE Academic leans toward lectures and academic subjects.

If you’ve already prepared for PTE Academic

Much of your preparation carries over, because most question types work the same way. Focus on the differences:

• Learn Write Email. It replaces the essay: about 100 words in 9 minutes, covering three given themes in the right register. See the Write Email guide.
• Shorten your summaries. Summarize Spoken Text in PTE Core needs only 20 to 30 words; writing an Academic-length summary costs you Form marks.
• Use the extra preparation in Respond to a Situation. You get 20 seconds instead of 10.
• Drop the Academic-only types from your practice.
• Learn the CLB table. For immigration, what matters is the CLB level of each skill, not your overall score. See the PTE Core score chart.

Test yourself

For the whole PTE Core format, read the PTE Core test guide. If you’re choosing between Canadian immigration tests, see PTE Core vs CELPIP.