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Pearson offers five different PTE tests. Each test is unique, with different purposes, lengths, and test formats. This article will walk through the different English exams offered by Pearson and how to decide which of these tests your student should take.
Here are the different tests offered by Pearson:
- PTE Academic
- PTE UKVI
- PTE A1
- PTE A2
- PTE B1
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PTE A1, A2 & B2
PTE A1, PTE A2, and PTE B2 exams should be taken by people who are hoping to live and work in the UK.
These tests are less academically focused. They are also generally less difficult than the PTE Academic & PTE UKVI exams.
Here is a summary of each of these tests and their use cases:
| English Level | Use Cases | Test Format | Test Length | |
| PTE A1 | CEFR Level A1 |
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32 questions lasting up to 22 minutes |
| PTE A2 | CEFR Level A2 |
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30–33 questions lasting up to 25 minutes |
| PTE B2 | CEFR level B1 |
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32 questions lasting up to 22 minutes |
Looking for more PTE practice materials and resources to help your students prepare? Discover official preparation products
PTE Academic & PTE UKVI
The remaining two tests are the PTE Academic and the PTE UKVI (also known as the PTE Academic UKVI). These two tests are graded faster than any of the other English proficiency exams.
Similarities
The PTE Academic and the PTE UKVI are actually the same test.
Both tests are an integrated test meant to test your student’s speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills. They use the same questions and the tests are scored the same.
The PTE Academic & PTE UKVI were updated on November 16th, 2021. Changes to the tests included:
- Shorter Length: Changed from 3 hours to 2 hours
- Improved Feedback: Now provides personalized feedback on your student’s test performance as well as advice on how to improve
- Online Availability: The PTE Academic can now be taken online (depending on your institution and country)
Differences
The only functional difference between the PTE Academic and the PTE UKVI is the registration process. The PTE UKVI is only relevant for study abroad applications to the UK. The UKVI should be used when your student requires a SELT Unique Reference Number (URN) for their visa application.
PTE Academic & PTE UKVI Differences Summary
| UK | CAN | US | AUS & NZ | |
| Applicable Schools | 98% of schools | 177 / 436 | 1,190 / 5,300 | All schools |
| PTE Academic Use Cases | Student route visa (at degree level or above) | Study permit application (non-SDS stream) | Valid for student visas for many schools | Valid for all schools and all student visas |
| PTE UKVI Use Cases | Student route visa (below degree level or above but NOT at a higher education institution) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| PTE Academic & PTE UKVI Fees | £180 GBP |
PTE Academic: $300 CAD PTE UKIV: |
$215 USD |
$385 AUD |
Remember to always check which English Language Exams are accepted at the school your student wants to attend!
PTE Academic & PTE UKVI Vouchers
Pearson and ApplyBoard have partnered to offer discount PTE exam vouchers for PTE Academic, Online, and UKVI exams. With ApplyBoard’s vouchers, you can offer your students amazing discounts of 20% or more on their exam. Vouchers are valid for exams done at a test center or at home.
The steps are very simple:
- Purchase a voucher from ApplyBoard and receive a voucher code via email.
- Provide the test voucher code to your student so they can use it during the registration process for their PTE Academic or UKVI exams.
Curious about other English Proficiency Tests and vouchers, such as TOEFL or IELTS, and which is the right one for your students? Learn more about choosing an English Proficiency Test
Learn more on how to redeem voucher codes here.
