What is PTE Academic 

Pearson VUE is the global leader in computer-based testing, offering exams through one of the world's largest network of test centers in over 165 countries. Pearson VUE is a business of Pearson.
From October 2009, PTE Academic will be available via selective Pearson VUE testing centers.
Pearson Language Tests (PLT), is part of Pearson plc, the world's leading international education and information company. PLT delivers the Pearson Test of English General (PTE General) and the Pearson Test of English Young Learners (PTE Young Learners) in association with one of the UK's largest examining bodies, Edexcel. In 2009, PLT launches PTE Academic, endorsed by Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®).
The new test will measure you on a number of different skills—your Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing skills, and also your fluency, grammar, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse skills. The score report is explained in more detail in the "How Are My Scores Reported" section of this website.
No, PTE Academic is not a subject-specific test. Items on PTE Academic cover a wide range of subjects. Irrespective of the content, you are not being assessed on your knowledge of the subject.
PTE Academic:
- offers a high level of reliability and validity; therefore both you and those institutions to whom you send scores can be confident that your score is an accurate measure of your academic English language ability;
- eliminates the need to take the actual test to practice by offering dedicated and fully scored online practice test;
- gives you the flexibility to choose and book a test at your convenience via the secure Pearson VUE website;
- tests all skills in one three-hour session giving you a more convenient test experience;
- score reports will typically be available to you within five business days—significantly quicker than other tests in the same market;
- score reports provide you with an overall score, as well as scores for each communicative skill (Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing) and enabling skill (fluency, grammar, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, written discourse);
- offers you the chance to send an unlimited number of score reports to your chosen institutions with no additional fee.
GMAC® endorses PTE Academic to higher education institutions seeking an accurate and authentic measure of English language proficiency skills. There are a growing number of institutions worldwide who accept PTE Academic scores.
Pearson is an international media company with world-leading businesses in education, business information and consumer publishing. Pearson Education is the world’s leading education company. Penguin is one of the world’s pre-eminent English language consumer book publishers and the Financial Times Group is a highly regarded global source of business news and analysis.
PTE Academic is a new international computer-based academic English language test, delivering real-life measures of test takers' language ability to universities, higher education institutions, government departments and other organizations requiring academic-level English. The new test will accurately measure the Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing ability of candidates who are non-native speakers of English and who want to study at institutions where English is the principal language of instruction. PTE Academic is endorsed by Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®).
If you are a non-native speaker of English and need to demonstrate your academic English language ability, PTE Academic is the test for you.
PTE Academic is accepted by a wide range of universities, higher education institutions, government departments and many other organizations requiring academic-level English. Details of institutions and organizations recognizing PTE Academic are available here.