All You Need to Know about PTE Exam Scoring Pattern

Know about PTE

PTE is a computer-based test aimed to determine the English proficiency of non-native English speakers who dream to study or settle abroad. It tests an aspirant’s English proficiency in Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening in a 3-hour test session.

There are many test takers who are not fully aware of the scoring pattern of PTE Test. Just as knowing PTE Exam Structure and undergoing PTE Exam Preparation is important, knowing the PTE Exam Scoring Pattern is also equally important.

Scoring Pattern of PTE Exam

PTE Exam is scored against the Global Scale of English. It provides an accurate snapshot of an aspirant’s performance on a scale of 10-90.

Generally, PTE Exam is scored using automated scoring system.

The PTE Writing Section is scored using “Intelligent Essay Assessor (IEA)”. IEA can be tuned to understand and evaluate the text written in any subject area of the Test. It incorporates in-built detectors that recognize off-topic responses or such other situations that are to be referred by human readers.

The PTE Speaking Section is scored using Pearson’s “Ordinate Technology”. This technology makes use of proprietary Speech Processing System which is designed specifically to test, analyse and automatically score speech of native as well as non-native speakers.

This scoring system is implemented after testing data samples of over 10,000 students in about 120 native languages.

On PTE score card of a test taker, one can find the overall score, scores for communicative skills as well as enabling skills. The scorecard includes:

o Overall Score

Communicative Skills

o Speaking Score

o Listening Score

o Reading Score

o Writing Score

Enabling Skills

o Grammar Score

o Oral Fluency Score

o Pronunciation Score

o Spelling Score

o Vocabulary Score

o Written Discourse Score

Item Scoring

All items in the PTE Test are machine scored. Item scoring is done on the basis of either the correctness of the response or based upon the correctness, formal aspects and quality of response.

Formal aspects in context to item scoring refer to the form of response: for example, whether the response is under or over the word limit and quality of response is represented in enabling skills: for example, in items like re-tell lecture, scoring is done on the basis of oral fluency and pronunciation.

In general, there are two types of scoring: correct or incorrect & partial scoring.

Correct or Incorrect Scoring

If the given response is correct, score will be credited by 1 point. But, if the response is incorrect, no points will be awarded.

Partial Scoring

If the given response is correct, maximum score is provided. If the response is partially correct, then some points will be given but that points won’t exceed the maximum score available for that item. But, if the response is completely incorrect, no score points will be credited.

Know the PTE Scoring Pattern in Detail

There are three main parts in the PTE Test: Speaking & Writing (together), Reading and Listening. The test is conducted in an environment where the test takers use a computer to read and respond to questions whereas a headset is provided to listen to questions for the Listening section.

Part 1: Speaking & Writing

The time provided for this section is 77-93 minutes.

Item Type	Time	No. of Questions	Type of Scoring	Skills Tested
Read Aloud	30-35 minutes	6-7	Partial Credit	Speaking
Repeat Sentence		10-12
Describe Image		6-7
Re-tell Lecture		3-4
Answer Short Questions		10-12	Correct/Incorrect Scoring
Summarize Written Text	20-30 minutes	2-3	Partial Credit	Writing
Write Essay	20-40 minutes	1-2

Part 2: Reading

The time provided for this section is 32-41 minutes.

Item Type	Time	No. of Questions	Type of Scoring	Skills Tested
Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer	32-41 minutes	2-3	Correct/Incorrect Scoring	Reading
Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers		2-3	Partial Scoring (Points get deducted for choosing incorrect options)
Re-order Paragraphs		2-3	Partial Scoring
Reading: Fill in the Blanks		4-5
Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks		5-6		Reading & Writing

Part 3: Listening

The time provided for this section is 45-57 minutes.

Item Type	Time	No. of Questions	Type of Scoring	Skills Tested
Summarize Spoken Test	20-30 minutes	2-3	Partial Scoring	Listening & Writing
Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers	23-28 minutes	2-3	Partial Scoring (Points will be deducted for choosing incorrect options)	Listening
Fill in the blanks		2-3	Partial Scoring	Listening & Writing
Highlight Correct Summary		2-3	Correct/Incorrect Scoring	Listening & Reading
Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer		2-3		Listening
Select Missing Word		2-3
Highlight Incorrect Words		2-3	Partial Scoring (Points will be deducted for choosing incorrect options)	Listening & Reading
Write from dictation		3-4	Partial Scoring	Listening & Writing

Note: The minimum and maximum time indicated for the sections of each part of the test do not add up to the total time stated above. None of the test takers will get the maximum or minimum time indicated.

 

Having known the scoring pattern of PTE Exam, you can now put your efforts in the right direction. For better assistance or guidance on all the four modules or to improve your performance, you can go for PTE Coaching and also visit our Online Portal PTE Tutorials.