This is a computer based laguage test designed for assessing language ability of a candidate. You have to book a test at an authorised centre and take the test on computer. This test doesn't have any sort of human intervention. The test result is finalised by the software.

The total time to take this test is three hours and there will be three main parts to the test: speaking and writing (together), listening and reading. There are twenty different question formats, ranging from multiple choice through to essay writing and interpreting information.

PTE Academic assesses real-life, academic English, so you will hear excerpts from lectures and view graphs and charts. You will hear a range of accents in the test, from British and American to non-native speakers, so you will be exposed to the type of accents you will encounter in everyday life.