Taking PTE Academic

How old do I need to be to take PTE Academic?

You must be at least 16 years of age to take PTE Academic. If you are 16 or 17 when you register, you will be asked to provide a signed Parental Consent Form, which acts as proof that your parents give their permission for you to take the test. For the form click here.

Please fill out the form and return it either by fax or email to:

AMERICAS:

E-mail: pte-acustomersupportamericas@pearson.com
Fax: +1 651-389-0507

ASIA PACIFIC:

E-mail: pte-acustomersupportapac@pearson.com
Fax: +1 651-389-0507

EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA:

E-mail: pte-acustomersupportemea@pearson.com
Fax: +44 (0)161 855 7020

How can I pay for the test?

You can pay for the test using a credit card (MasterCard, VISA, American Express, or JCB), debit card (VISA or MasterCard only) or voucher or promotion code (please note that if your voucher or promotion code does not entitle you to a 100% discount, you will need to pay the balance using one of the credit or debit cards listed above). We do not accept payment by PayPal for the test.

Do I have to use my own credit card?

The credit or debit used to pay for test does not have to be in your name—therefore it is acceptable for your parent or guardian, for example, to pay using their card.

Are there any helpful tips for registering and scheduling a PTE Academic test?

Use a valid and secure email address that you can regularly check. This is where your Username and Password will be sent, as well as your booking confirmation, notification that your results are available, and further notices from Pearson.

Once you have received an email from Pearson, you should add the Pearson email address to your address book. This will prevent any Pearson email messages from going to your junk/spam email folder and possibly being forgotten or deleted.

What happens if the name I register with does not match the identification I present on test day?

If the name on your test taker account and the name on the identification you take to the test center do not match, you will not be allowed to take the test, and you will lose your test fee. It is your responsibility to ensure that the name you use to book your test matches exactly with the name on your ID.

When registering, what should I do if my given name is the same as my family name?

If you only have one name that is both your given name and family name, please enter it in the 'Family Name' field. Enter a full stop/period in the 'Given Name' field.

More information about how to register your name online can be found in the Test Taker Handbook.

When registering, what should I do if my name is too long to fit in the available space?

If your name is too long to fit in the available space, please enter as many characters as possible. Then contact Pearson Customer Service to inform them that there may be a difference between the name on your account and the name on your ID.

More information about how to register your name online can be found in the Test Taker Handbook.

Are my Username and Password for my PTE Academic registration web account case sensitive?

Yes, both your Username and Password are case sensitive.

Is the personal information I provide when I register protected in any way?

When you register for PTE Academic, schedule a test, or arrive at a test center, Pearson collects personal data from you. All your personal data will be collected, transmitted, and stored in a safe and secure way, and only be used for our expressly stated purposes. Our full Privacy Policy can be viewed on our website, www.pearsonpte.com, and any questions should be sent to Pearson Language Tests via the 'Contact Us' form on the website.

How far in advance of applying to university should I take the test?

Your PTE Academic scores will be valid for two years from the test date, so you can take the test as early as you like before your application deadline.

What computer skills do I need to take PTE Academic?

You do not need any special computer skills to take PTE Academic—instructions on how to navigate through the test will be clearly provided. You can get used to moving through the test by taking one of our practice tests, or viewing the tutorial on our website. PTE Academic tests are taken using QWERTY keyboards (keyboards with that sequence of letters in the top left line) so you may wish to practice with that type of keyboard before taking the test.

What do I do if I need help?

You can contact the Pearson Customer Service team in your region by email or telephone

Can I take a PTE Academic outside of my country of citizenship?

You may take PTE Academic at any participating Pearson VUE test center in the world. However, if you are taking the test outside your home country, you should pay particular attention to the identification requirements which apply. Normally, if you are taking a test outside your home country, you will need to show your passport as identification at the test center.

Can I claim a refund of the test fee if I did not take the test?

Our cancellation policies are explained on page 8 of the Test Taker Handbook. If you wish to cancel your test, you must do so before the appointment date and you may receive a partial refund. If you do not attend the test center on the day of your appointment your test will be marked as a 'No Show' and you won't get a refund unless you can prove extreme circumstances prevented you from attending.

What if the test I scheduled needs to be cancelled on the day due to circumstances beyond my control (e.g. serious natural disasters), can I claim a refund or reschedule my test without being charged any additional fee?

If you need to cancel your test, you should contact the Pearson Customer Service team in your region as soon as possible. You should explain the reasons why you are unable to attend for your test, and they will be able to advise you. In circumstances of natural disaster, Pearson will endeavour to reschedule your test to a later date free of charge.

What do I do if I forget the username and password for my PTE Academic online account?

You can visit the registration and booking website and click on the links for 'Forgotten username' or 'Forgotten password'. Alternatively you can contact the Pearson Customer Service team in your region.

Why can't I choose a new password?

To keep your online account secure, Pearson requires you to use a strong password—you cannot use any password which does not meet strict criteria. You should use a combination of upper and lower case letters, and include both numbers and symbols to make the password as strong as possible. It should also be more than 8 characters long.

How much does it cost to take PTE Academic?

PTE Academic is competitively priced between US$150 to US$210 depending on where you choose to take the test.

How many times and how often can I take PTE Academic?

You can take the test as often as you wish, but you can only schedule one test at a time. Another test can be scheduled immediately after you receive your results provided that a minimum of 5 days have passed from your last appointment.

When will PTE Academic be available and where can I take the test?

During the launch period, PTE Academic will be available in 36 territories including China, India, the US, Japan, South Korea, Australia, the UK, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Canada. The test will be delivered through Pearson VUE’s secure network of computer-based testing centers.

How do I schedule and pay for a test?

You can register, schedule, and pay for a test via our secure online registration and booking website. You can then create an account, search for available appointments, schedule your test and pay the test fee. For further information on exactly how to register and schedule a test, please refer to the Test Taker Handbook. You can also register and schedule via one of Pearson's Customer Service centers.

How do I request testing accommodations?

To request an accommodation please contact customer service in your region to discuss your requirements.

In some cases you may be asked to complete and return an accommodations request form which is available for download here.

You should print and return by fax or by post to the accommodations team in your region:

AMERICAS & ASIA PACIFIC:
Fax: 651-389-0507
Address:
PTE Academic - Accommodations
5601 Green Valley Drive
Bloomington MN 55437
USA

EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA:
Fax: +44 (0)161 855 7020
Address:
PTE Academic - Accommodations
PO Box 381
Manchester
M50 3UW
UK

Please do not use email to return the form.

Please complete and return this form only if you have been advised to do so by customer service.

Depending on the nature of your request, it may take up to 6 weeks to process your application. Therefore, please ensure that you leave sufficient time before the date on which you would like to take the test. Please refer to page 7 of the test taker handbook.

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