PTE Marks Distribution Chart 2025: Latest Question Weightage, Scoring Guide & Importance | PTE Guide
Pearson PTE Academic is a computer-based exam designed to assess your English language proficiency in a real-world academic context. Pearson has developed an automated scoring system that evaluates your performance without human involvement. In this blog post, we’ll explore the latest PTE Academic 2025 scoring breakdown and question weightages, providing a clear guide to maximize your score out of 90.
Understanding the PTE Academic 2025 Scoring System
- Each section of the PTE Academic is scored based on specific communicative and enabling skills.
- The total score ranges from 10 to 90, with individual section scores contributing to the overall result.
- Short-answer questions, like Answer Short Question and Fill in the Blanks, award 1 point for correct answers and 0 for incorrect ones.
- Tasks like Essay and Summarise Written Text require responses within specific word limits and are evaluated for content, grammar, and vocabulary.
- Speaking and Writing tasks are scored on enabling skills such as grammar, oral fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and written discourse.
- Some multiple-choice questions, such as Reading and Listening Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers), may deduct points for incorrect answers, but the minimum score per question is zero.
PTE Marks Distribution Chart 2025
Based on the PTE Marks Distribution Chart 2025, we categorize PTE Exam 2025 question types by their scoring importance as follows:
- Read Aloud
- Repeat Sentence
- Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks
- Write from Dictation
- Important PTE Question Types
- Describe Image
- Retell Lecture
- Moderately Important PTE Question Types
- Reading: Fill in the Blanks
- Listening: Fill in the Blanks
- Highlight Incorrect Words
- Lower-Impact PTE Question Types
- Answer Short Question
- Reading: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
- Re-order Paragraphs
- Reading: Multiple Choice, Single Answer
- Listening: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
- Highlight Correct Summary
- Select Missing Word
Focus your preparation on high-impact tasks to optimize your PTE Academic score, as they contribute significantly to your overall result.
How PTE Academic Questions Are Scored in 2025
Below, we detail each PTE question type and its scoring criteria to help you prepare effectively.
PTE Speaking and Writing
The Speaking and Writing section lasts 30–35 minutes and includes 7 question types, assessing both speaking and writing skills.
1. Read Aloud (RA): A text appears on the screen, and you read it aloud.
- Prompt Length: Up to 60 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and Speaking
- Time to Answer: Varies by text length
- Preparation Time: 30–40 seconds to read and prepare.
- Recording stops if silent for over 3 seconds.
- Scored on: Content, Oral Fluency, and Pronunciation
Content
5
Oral Fluency
5
Pronunciation
5
For more details, strategies, tips, and tricks about the Read Aloud PTE task, read the below article:
Read Aloud PTE 2025, Read Aloud Tips and Tricks, Read Aloud One Line Strategy, PTE Speaking Practice | PTE Guide
2. Repeat Sentence (RS): After listening to a sentence, repeat it exactly as heard.
- Prompt Length: 3–9 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and Speaking
- Time to Answer: 15 seconds
- Scored on: Content, Oral Fluency, and Pronunciation
|
Content |
5 |
|
Oral Fluency |
5 |
|
Pronunciation |
5 |
For more details, strategies, tips and tricks about the Repeat Sentence PTE task, read the below article:
3. Describe Image (DI): In this PTE task, an image appears on the screen. Describe the image in detail.
- Prompt Length: Not Applicable
- Skills Assessed: Speaking
- Time to Answer: 40 seconds
- You have 25 seconds to study the image and prepare your response.
- Describe Image is scored based on 3 parameters: Content, Oral Fluency, and Pronunciation
Content
5
Oral Fluency
5
Pronunciation
5
4. Retell Lecture (RL): In this PTE task, after listening to or watching a lecture, retell the lecture in your own words.
- Prompt Length: Up to 90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and Speaking
- Time to Answer: 40 seconds
- The audio begins to play automatically. You may also see an image related to the audio.
- After the audio finishes, you have 10 seconds to prepare.
- Tip: While the audio is playing, you can take notes on the erasable noteboard provided.
- Retell Lecture is scored based on 3 parameters: Content, Oral Fluency, and Pronunciation
Content
5
Oral Fluency
5
Pronunciation
5
5. Answer Short Question (ASQ): In this PTE task, after listening to a question, answer with a single word or a few words.
- Prompt Length: 3–9 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and Speaking
- Time to Answer: 10 seconds
- The audio begins to play automatically. You may also see an image.
- Speak into the microphone immediately (no tone) and answer with one or a few words.
- If silent for over 3 seconds, the recording stops.
- ASQ is scored as follows:
Correct
1 for each
|
Correct |
1 for each |
PTE Writing
The PTE Writing section, part of the combined Speaking and Writing section (30–35 minutes), consists of 2 question types assessing writing skills.
1. Summarise Written Text (SWT): In this PTE task, after reading the text, write a one-sentence summary of the passage.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and Writing
- Time to Answer: 10 minutes
- Write a single sentence of 5–75 words, capturing the main points of the passage.
- The word count at the bottom of the screen tracks the number of words written.
- Use the cut, copy, and paste buttons to construct your summary.
- Summarise Written Text is scored based on 4 parameters: Content, Form, Grammar, and Vocabulary
Content
2
Form
2
Grammar
2
Vocabulary
2
For more details, strategies, tips and tricks about the Summarize Written Text PTE task, read the below article:
Summarize Written Text PTE 2025 - Writing Summary, Word Limit, Score, SWT Template, Tips & Tricks, PTE SWT with Answers Pdf | PTE Guide
2. Essay: In this PTE task, write a 200–300 word essay on a given topic.
- Prompt Length: 2–3 sentences
- Skills Assessed: Writing
- Time to Answer: 20 minutes
- Write between 200 and 300 words.
- The word count at the bottom of the screen tracks the number of words written.
- Use the cut, copy, and paste buttons to construct your essay.
- The essay is scored based on 7 parameters: Content, Form, Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling, Development, Structure and Coherence, and General Linguistic Range
Content
3
Form
2
Grammar
2
Spelling
2
Vocabulary
2
Development, Structure and Coherence
2
General Linguistic Range
2
For more details, strategies, tips and tricks about the Essay Writing PTE task, read the below article:
PTE Reading
The PTE Reading section is 22–28 minutes long, with no individual question timings, and consists of 5 question types with 13–18 questions in total.
1. Reading & Writing - Fill in the Blanks (R&W Blanks): In this PTE task, text appears on-screen with several gaps. Select words from a drop-down list to fill the gaps.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading and Writing
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- Choose the most appropriate word from the drop-down list for each gap to complete the text.
- R&W Blanks is scored as follows:
Correct
1 for each blank
For more details, strategies, tips and tricks for Reading and Writing Blanks, read the below article:
2. Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers: In this PTE task, after reading the text, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone by selecting more than one response.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- Select all correct response options from the list provided.
- Points are awarded for correct selections and deducted for incorrect ones, with a minimum score of 0.
- MCQ Multiple Answers is scored as follows:
Correct
1 for each answer
Incorrect
-1 for each answer
Minimum
0
3. Re-order Paragraphs (RO): In this PTE task, several text boxes appear on the screen in random order. Arrange the text boxes in the correct order.
4. Reading - Fill in the Blanks: In this PTE task, text appears on a screen with several gaps. Drag words from the box below to fill the gaps.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 150 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- Drag and drop the text boxes to restore the original order of the text.
- Your ability to understand the organization and cohesion of an academic text is assessed.
- Partial credit is awarded for each correct pair of adjacent text boxes.
- Re-order Paragraphs is scored as follows:
Correct Pair
1 for each adjacent pair
4. Reading - Fill in the Blanks: In this PTE task, text appears on a screen with several gaps. Drag words from the box below to fill the gaps.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 80 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- Fill the gaps in the passage by dragging words from the provided list in the blue box.
- More words are provided than gaps, so not all words will be used.
- Reading Fill in the Blanks is scored as follows:
Correct
1 for each blank
For more details, strategies, tips and tricks for Reading Fill in the Blanks read the below article:
5. Multiple Choice, Single Answer: In this PTE task, after reading the text, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone by selecting one response.
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- Select the single correct response from the provided options.
- Only one response is correct; incorrect or no responses receive no credit.
- Reading MCQ Single Answer is scored as follows:
Correct
|
Correct |
1 |
PTE Listening
The PTE Listening section is 20–30 minutes long, with no individual question timings, and consists of 8 question types with 6–12 questions in total. Questions are based on audio or video clips that play automatically once. You are allowed to take notes. 1. Summarise Spoken Text (SST): In this PTE question type, after listening to a recording, write a 50–70 word summary.
- Prompt Length: 60–90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and Writing
- Time to Answer: 10 minutes (including listening and writing)
- Write a summary of 50–70 words capturing the main points of the recording.
- The word count at the bottom of the screen tracks the number of words written.
- Use the cut, copy, and paste buttons to construct your summary.
- SST is scored based on 4 parameters:
Content
2
Form
2
Grammar
2
Vocabulary
2
For more details, strategies, tips and tricks, and templates for the Summarize Spoken Text PTE task read the below article:
2. Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers: In this PTE task, after listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone by selecting more than one response.
- Prompt Length: 40–90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- Select all correct response options from the list provided.
- Points are awarded for correct selections and deducted for incorrect ones, with a minimum score of 0.
- MCQ Multiple Answers is scored as follows:
Correct
1 for each answer
Incorrect
-1 for each answer
Minimum
0
3. Listening - Fill in the Blanks: In this PTE question type, a transcript of a recording appears on the screen with several gaps. After listening to the recording, type the missing word in each gap.
- Prompt Length: 30–60 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and Writing
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- Correctly spelled words in all blanks yield the maximum score; partial credit applies for incorrect or misspelled words.
- Take notes on the erasable note board during the audio to help fill in the gaps.
- Listening Blanks are scored as follows:
Correct
1 for each blank
4. Highlight Correct Summary (HCS): In this PTE question type, after listening to a recording, select the paragraph that best summarizes the recording.
- Prompt Length: 30–90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and Reading
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- Only one of the provided response options is correct.
- Listen first, take notes on the erasable note board, then read and select the correct summary.
- Highlight Correct Summary is scored as follows:
Correct
1
5. Listening - Multiple Choice, Single Answer: In this PTE question type, after listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone by selecting one response.
- Prompt Length: 30–90 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- Select the single correct response from the provided options.
- Only one response is correct; incorrect or no responses receive no credit.
- Listening - MCQ Single Answer is scored as follows:
Correct
Correct
1
6. Select Missing Word (SMW): In this PTE question type, after listening to a recording, select the missing word or phrase that completes the recording from a list of options.
- Prompt Length: 20–70 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- The last word or phrase in the recording is replaced by a beep; select the correct option to complete it.
- Only one of the provided response options is correct.
- Your ability to predict the speaker’s words based on contextual clues is assessed.
- Select Missing Word is scored as follows:
Correct
1
7. Highlight Incorrect Words (HIW): In this PTE question type, a transcript of a recording appears on the screen. While listening, identify words in the transcript that differ from what is said.
- Prompt Length: 15–50 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and Reading
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- Select the words in the transcript that do not match the speaker’s words.
- Correct selections earn points; incorrect selections deduct points, with a minimum score of 0.
- Highlight Incorrect Words is scored as follows:
Correct
1 for each word
Incorrect
-1 for each word
Minimum
0
8. Write From Dictation (WFD): In this PTE task, after listening to a sentence, type it exactly as heard.
Note: All information in this article is sourced from the official Pearson PTE website. For detailed information on PTE scoring and marks distribution, refer to the official PTE Score Guide available here.
Use the PTE Guide App for comprehensive Pearson PTE Exam preparation. It offers a step-by-step guide, covering everything from an introduction to PTE to booking and taking the exam.
- Prompt Length: 3–5 seconds
- Skills Assessed: Listening and Writing
- Time to Answer: Not Applicable
- Type the sentence into the response box, ensuring correct spelling.
- Take notes on the erasable note board during the audio to aid recall.
- Your ability to accurately understand, remember, and reproduce the sentence is assessed.
- Partial credit is awarded for each correct word typed in the correct order.
- Write From Dictation is scored as follows:
Correct
1 for each word
Incorrect
0 for each word
For more details, strategies, tips and tricks for the Write From Dictation PTE task read the below article:
PTE Guide App
Use the PTE Guide App for comprehensive Pearson PTE Exam preparation. It offers a step-by-step guide, covering everything from an introduction to PTE to booking and taking the exam.Thank you for reading this article. Please share it with friends and on social media. Visit the PTE Guide App for more updates and information related to the Pearson PTE exam.
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