PTE Practice PDF with Answers: Printable Sample Papers

This page is a free PTE practice PDF with answers that you can print or save from your browser. It has 47 original items in 9 sets: reading fill in the blanks (dropdown and word bank), re-order paragraphs, multiple choice, a mixed reading sample paper and a writing set. Every set has an answer key on its own page, with a short reason for each answer.

Every passage was written for this site. None is a real, repeated or predicted exam question, and we do not copy Pearson's test items. Marking yourself gives a raw count of correct answers, not a PTE score. Listening and Speaking need audio or a recording, so a PDF cannot cover them: use the free PTE mock test on screen for those sections.

We found no free official PTE practice material PDF with answers on Pearson's site. Its free route is Smart Prep, which needs a myPTE account, and its paid products include the Official Guide to PTE Academic, Scored Practice Tests and AI Practice. The comparison table below shows what each one contains.

PTE sample papers with answers: what is in this pack

Choose a set, work through it without the key, then check the answers. Each set links to its matching practice page, where the same question type is marked as you go.

How to print or save as PDF

Use a button, then choose Save as PDF in your browser's print dialogue. Every set starts on a new page and each answer key starts on its own page, so you can hand out the questions without the answers.

Printable PTE reading and writing practice sets

Reading set (5 items)

Work through each item without looking at the answer key. Time yourself, then check the key on the last page. Each item tests one question type.

Jump to this answer key PTE Reading practice (all five types, marked as you go)

1. Reading: fill in the blanks (dropdown)

Choose the best word for each numbered gap from the options listed under that gap.

Urban beekeeping has grown quickly in many cities over the last decade. Rooftop hives can provide ______ (1) for bees that have lost meadow habitat to development. However, researchers caution that large numbers of hives in one small area may ______ (2) nectar sources, leaving less food for native pollinators. Successful projects therefore try to ______ (3) hive density to the amount of flowering plants nearby. Many councils now require hive registration, which helps authorities ______ (4) disease outbreaks. Finally, beekeepers are encouraged to ______ (5) local residents, since neighbours who understand the hobby tend to be more tolerant of the insects.

(1) shelter / debris / interest
(2) strain / ignore / fertilise
(3) match / exceed / ignore
(4) track / celebrate / weaken
(5) educate / evade / ignite

2. Reading: multiple choice, choose all that apply

Read the passage, then choose every statement that the passage supports. There are two correct answers.

The lighthouse at the harbour was automated in 1968. Before that, a keeper lived on site and recorded the weather every three hours. The keeper's logs are now used by climate researchers, who value the consistent timing of the entries. Automation reduced running costs, but it also ended the practice of keeping staff on remote islands.

Which statements are supported by the passage?

A. The lighthouse was automated before 1960.
B. Keepers recorded weather observations at regular intervals.
C. Climate researchers have found the logs unhelpful.
D. Automation lowered the cost of running the lighthouse.
E. The harbour was closed after 1968.

Your answers (letters): ____________________

3. Reading: re-order paragraphs

The four paragraphs below are shown in a scrambled order. Put them in the order that makes a coherent text, then write the letters in sequence.

A. Organisers now track which titles travel furthest, using a simple handwritten log pinned inside each shelf.
B. The idea began with a single shelf of donated books outside a laundrette.
C. Within two years, the scheme had spread to six neighbourhoods, each with its own volunteer keeper.
D. Local residents soon began leaving their own books, and the shelf needed a second visit each week.

Your order (letters): ____________________

4. Reading: fill in the blanks (drag words from a bank)

Fill each numbered gap with one word from the bank. Each word is used at most once. Two words are distractors.

Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, yet they support roughly a quarter of known marine species. Corals grow slowly, and warmer water can cause them to expel the algae that feed them, a process known as ______ (1). Recovery is possible if ______ (2) pressures such as runoff and overfishing are reduced. Scientists also study ______ (3) corals that tolerate heat better. Protecting reefs therefore requires action at both local and ______ (4) levels.

Word bank: bleaching, local, resilient, global, shallow, vertical

5. Reading: multiple choice, choose one answer

Read the passage, then choose the single best answer.

Researchers studying sleep found that participants who took a short walk after dinner reported falling asleep faster. The study included 40 volunteers, all of them office workers, which limits how far the results can be generalised. The authors did not test whether the effect lasted beyond one month.

What limitation does the passage identify?

A. The sample was too small to measure anything at all.
B. All participants came from a single type of job.
C. The walks were longer than recommended.
D. The study measured sleep duration but not sleep quality.

Your answer (letter): ____________________

Reading sample paper, mixed types (9 items)

A mixed paper with all five Reading question types in one sitting. Set your own timer, work straight through and then check the key. This is the Reading part only: Speaking, Writing and Listening need a screen, a microphone or audio.

Jump to this answer key Free PTE mock test with timed sections

1. Fill in the blanks (dropdown)

Choose the best word for each numbered gap from the options listed for that gap.

A business can be profitable on paper and still run into trouble if it neglects cash flow. Profit measures the ______ (1) between income and costs over a period, whereas cash flow tracks the actual movement of money in and out. A company that waits ninety days for customers to ______ (2) its invoices may be unable to pay its own suppliers on time, even though its sales are ______ (3).

(1) difference / repetition / location / history
(2) design / pay / inspect / cancel
(3) invisible / illegal / strong / unrecorded

2. Fill in the blanks (word bank)

Fill each numbered gap with one word from the bank. Each word is used once at most, and some words are spares.

Rust forms when iron reacts with ______ (1) and water, producing a flaky red-brown compound known as iron ______ (2). Painting or galvanising iron slows the process by keeping these substances away from the metal.

Word bank: oxygen, oxide, nitrogen, alloy, helium

3. Multiple choice, multiple answers

Read the passage, then choose every answer that the passage supports. More than one is correct.

A novel told in the first person lets readers see events only through one character's eyes. The narrator may be honest, but may also be mistaken, forgetful or biased, and attentive readers learn to compare what the narrator says with what other characters do. A third-person narrator who knows the thoughts of every character offers a wider view, but loses some of the intimacy of a single voice. Many writers move between the two approaches in different chapters, choosing the one that best suits the scene.

Which of the following statements are supported by the passage? Select all that apply.

A. First-person narrators are always dishonest.
B. Third-person narration is more intimate than a single voice.
C. A first-person narrator may be biased or mistaken.
D. A third-person narrator who knows every thought gives a wider view.
E. Some writers use different narrative approaches in different chapters.

Your answers (letters): ____________________

4. Re-order paragraphs

The sentences below are in a scrambled order. Put them in the order that makes a coherent text, then write the letters in sequence.

A. This makes it more likely that the sample reflects the wider population, rather than only one group within it.
B. A survey cannot ask every member of a large population, so researchers usually question a sample.
C. By contrast, a convenient sample, such as people who happen to walk past a researcher, may look similar but can hide a systematic bias.
D. If that sample is chosen at random, each person has an equal chance of being included.

Your order (letters): ____________________

5. Multiple choice, single answer

Read the passage, then choose the single best answer.

Sociologists often describe migration using push and pull factors. Push factors are conditions that encourage people to leave a place, such as a shortage of paid work. Pull factors are the attractions of a destination, such as university places or higher wages. In practice, few decisions rest on a single factor. Researchers also stress the role of social networks: a migrant who already has relatives or friends in the destination can offer advice, temporary housing and introductions to employers. These connections lower the cost and uncertainty of moving, which helps explain why people from one town so often settle in the same neighbourhood abroad.

According to the passage, why do social networks matter in migration?

A. They make moving less costly and less uncertain
B. They remove the need for any pull factors
C. They prevent people from settling near one another
D. They guarantee that migrants will find paid work

Your answer (letter): ____________________

6. Fill in the blanks (dropdown)

Choose the best word for each numbered gap from the options listed for that gap.

Regular aerobic exercise gradually changes the way the heart works. Because the heart muscle becomes ______ (1), each beat pumps more blood, so the heart does not need to beat as often at ______ (2). As a result, athletes frequently have a lower resting heart rate than people who are ______ (3) active.

(1) smaller / slower / colder / stronger
(2) rest / speed / random / altitude
(3) more / less / fully / equally

7. Fill in the blanks (word bank)

Fill each numbered gap with one word from the bank. Each word is used once at most, and some words are spares.

Two measurements may rise and fall together without one ______ (1) the other. Often a hidden factor, called a ______ (2) variable, influences both, which is why statisticians warn against drawing firm conclusions from a pattern alone.

Word bank: causing, confounding, averaging, repeating, ranking

8. Multiple choice, single answer

Read the passage, then choose the single best answer.

Water alone cleans grease poorly because oil and water do not mix. Soap solves this problem through the shape of its molecules. Each soap molecule has a head that is attracted to water and a long tail that is attracted to fats and oils. When soapy water meets a greasy surface, the tails burrow into the grease while the heads face outward into the water. Gradually the grease is broken into tiny droplets, each surrounded by soap molecules. Because the outsides of these droplets are water-attracting, they stay suspended and can be rinsed away instead of settling back onto the surface.

Why can soapy water carry grease away when plain water cannot?

A. Soap dissolves grease completely into the water
B. Soap heats the water enough to melt the grease
C. Soap molecules surround grease droplets so they stay suspended in water
D. Soap makes the surface rougher so grease falls off

Your answer (letter): ____________________

9. Multiple choice, multiple answers

Read the passage, then choose every answer that the passage supports. More than one is correct.

In management, the span of control is the number of employees who report directly to one manager. A wide span means a manager supervises many people, which tends to produce an organisation with fewer levels of management. This suits routine work, where staff are trained and need little supervision. A narrow span means each manager oversees only a few people. It is more common where tasks are complex or risky and close guidance matters, although it requires more managers and can slow decisions as instructions pass through more layers.

Which of the following statements are supported by the passage? Select all that apply.

A. A narrow span speeds up decision-making.
B. A wide span of control usually means fewer management levels.
C. Narrow spans are often used for complex or risky tasks.
D. Wide spans suit routine work done by trained staff.
E. Span of control is the total number of employees in a firm.

Your answers (letters): ____________________

Reading fill in the blanks, dropdown (5 passages)

Each passage has gaps with four options. Pick the word that fits the grammar and meaning of its sentence. Check the answer key only after you finish all five.

Jump to this answer key Reading fill in the blanks practice, marked as you go

1. Fill in the blanks (dropdown): Cities and cycling

Choose the best word for each numbered gap from the options listed for that gap.

Many cities are rethinking ______ (1) people travel in their daily lives. Dedicated cycle lanes, shared bicycle schemes and lower speed limits on residential streets have ______ (2) to a measurable rise in the number of people who cycle to work. Supporters argue that these changes reduce congestion and improve air quality. Critics, however, point out that new lanes can ______ (3) parking spaces and make deliveries harder for small businesses. Researchers who have studied the ______ (4) of such schemes generally agree that the benefits are greatest when lanes form a connected network rather than isolated sections. Local authorities therefore tend to ______ (5) public consultation before making major changes.

(1) what / how / whose / whether
(2) led / drawn / carried / pushed
(3) remove / removes / removing / removal
(4) effective / effectively / effectiveness / efficiently
(5) hold / holds / holding / held

2. Fill in the blanks (dropdown): Coral reefs

Choose the best word for each numbered gap from the options listed for that gap.

Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, yet they are ______ (1) vulnerable to changes in ocean temperature. When water stays too warm for long periods, corals expel the tiny algae that live in their tissues and supply most of their food. This process, known as bleaching, does not ______ (2) kill a reef immediately, but it weakens the colony and makes recovery harder. Scientists have found that reefs with a ______ (3) range of species often recover faster after a disturbance. As a result, many conservation teams now focus on protecting the healthiest sections, ______ (4) they can supply larvae to damaged areas nearby. Long-term monitoring remains essential, because the ______ (5) of these measures can only be judged over several years.

(1) increase / increasing / increasingly / increases
(2) necessary / necessarily / necessity / necessitate
(3) widen / wide / widely / width
(4) because / although / unless / whereas
(5) success / successful / succeed / successfully

3. Fill in the blanks (dropdown): Public libraries

Choose the best word for each numbered gap from the options listed for that gap.

Public libraries have changed considerably over the past two decades. Although they still lend books, many now offer computer access, language classes and workshops for small business owners. Librarians say this shift reflects a ______ (1) recognition that information is no longer found only in printed form. Funding has ______ (2) unpredictable in many regions, which has forced branches to ______ (3) their opening hours or rely on volunteers. Yet visitor numbers have remained ______ (4), suggesting that people still value a quiet, free space in their neighbourhood.

(1) grew / growing / grow / grows
(2) become / becomes / becoming / became
(3) reduce / reduced / reducing / reduction
(4) steadily / steady / steadiness / steadying

4. Fill in the blanks (dropdown): Kelp forests and sea otters

Choose the best word for each numbered gap from the options listed for that gap.

Kelp forests grow in cool, nutrient-rich coastal water and provide food and shelter for a ______ (1) of fish, invertebrates and marine mammals. Sea otters play a key role, because they ______ (2) on sea urchins, which would otherwise graze the kelp down to bare rock. When otter numbers fall, urchin populations can ______ (3) rapidly, leaving areas known as urchin barrens. Restoration projects therefore aim to ______ (4) a balance between predators and grazers rather than simply replanting kelp. Such work is slow, but early results have been ______ (5).

(1) various / variety / vary / varied
(2) hunt / chase / prey / attack
(3) vanish / shrink / dissolve / multiply
(4) strike / throw / pull / knock
(5) encouraged / encouraging / encourage / encouragement

5. Fill in the blanks (dropdown): Mixed-use neighbourhoods

Choose the best word for each numbered gap from the options listed for that gap.

Mixed-use development combines homes, shops and workplaces in the same district. Planners favour it because residents can ______ (1) many daily needs on foot, which reduces dependence on cars. Critics note that the approach can ______ (2) property prices, since desirable neighbourhoods attract more buyers. To address this, some councils require developers to ______ (3) a share of new homes at below-market rents. The ______ (4) of these rules varies widely between regions, and their long-term effect is still being studied.

(1) reach / hold / meet / catch
(2) rise / arise / rose / raise
(3) reserve / reverse / reserved / reserving
(4) strict / strictness / strictly / stricter

Reading fill in the blanks, word bank (5 passages)

Each passage comes with a word bank that includes spare words. Use every gap's grammar clue (verb form, noun, adjective) to choose the word.

Jump to this answer key Reading fill in the blanks practice, marked as you go

1. Fill in the blanks (word bank): Volcanic islands

Fill each numbered gap with one word from the bank. Each word is used once at most, and some words are spares.

Volcanic islands form when magma rises through a weak point in the Earth's crust. Over time, repeated eruptions ______ (1) layer upon layer of lava until the mass breaks the sea surface. Wind and rain then begin to ______ (2) the rock, and seeds carried by birds may take root. Scientists use the ______ (3) of plant colonisation to estimate how long life has ______ (4) there. Because the islands are isolated, new species ______ (5) over generations into forms found nowhere else.

Word bank: deposit, erode, evolve, existed, glacier, pattern, silent

2. Fill in the blanks (word bank): How sleep works

Fill each numbered gap with one word from the bank. Each word is used once at most, and some words are spares.

Sleep is a cycle of stages that repeat each night. Light sleep comes first, followed by deeper stages in which the body repairs tissue and ______ (1) memories. Dreaming occurs mainly in REM sleep, when brain activity ______ (2) that of the waking state. People who are ______ (3) of sleep often struggle to concentrate. A regular bedtime helps to ______ (4) the body's natural rhythm. A short nap can help to ______ (5) energy lost during the day.

Word bank: consolidate, deprived, fragment, ignores, regulate, resembles, restore

3. Fill in the blanks (word bank): The story of tea

Fill each numbered gap with one word from the bank. Each word is used once at most, and some words are spares.

Tea was first grown in southern China, where it was valued as medicine. Trade routes carried it to Europe, and merchants began to ______ (1) it in large quantities. Each processing method, for green, black or oolong tea, ______ (2) the final flavour. Growers often prefer high altitudes, because cool air slows growth and ______ (3) more complex aromas. Today, tea is ______ (4) among the most widely consumed drinks. Its ______ (5) has helped it spread worldwide.

Word bank: affects, bitter, develops, export, harvest, popularity, ranked

4. Fill in the blanks (word bank): Hydrothermal vents

Fill each numbered gap with one word from the bank. Each word is used once at most, and some words are spares.

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents ______ (1) superheated water rich in minerals. There is no sunlight at these depths, so bacteria ______ (2) chemical energy instead, and larger animals depend on them for food. Many vent species have ______ (3) to survive extreme pressure and heat. Because the vents are scattered along ocean ridges, each community is isolated from the next. Scientists first ______ (4) these communities in 1977, and new ones are still being found.

Word bank: adapted, discovered, fragile, harness, ignore, release

5. Fill in the blanks (word bank): Planning a city

Fill each numbered gap with one word from the bank. Each word is used once at most, and some words are spares.

A well-designed city ______ (1) residents with reliable public transport. Planners try to ______ (2) housing close to jobs, schools and shops so that journeys remain short. Densely built districts also make it cheaper to ______ (3) water, power and waste services to every home. However, rapid population growth can ______ (4) the infrastructure, causing delays and overcrowding. Residents often judge a city by how easily they can move around it.

Word bank: deliver, evaporate, locate, modest, provides, strain

Re-order paragraphs, set A (5 items)

Find the opening sentence first, then look for pronouns, linking words and time order that connect each sentence to the one before it.

Jump to this answer key Reorder paragraphs practice with shuffled sets

1. Re-order paragraphs

The sentences below are in a scrambled order. Put them in the order that makes a coherent text, then write the letters in sequence.

A. Eventually the ice moves slowly under its own weight, carving valleys as it advances.
B. Glaciers form when snowfall lasts longer than the melt season, so the snow gradually packs into dense ice.
C. When the climate warms, many glaciers shrink, leaving behind ridges and lakes that reveal their former size.
D. Over many years, the weight of newer layers presses older ice downward and outward.

Your order (letters): ____________________

2. Re-order paragraphs

The sentences below are in a scrambled order. Put them in the order that makes a coherent text, then write the letters in sequence.

A. In doing so they add grammar and vocabulary, and the result is a full language known as a creole.
B. A pidgin has a small vocabulary and very few grammatical rules, because its purpose is limited to practical exchange.
C. When traders who speak different languages meet regularly, they often develop a simple shared system of communication called a pidgin.
D. If children grow up hearing a pidgin as their main language, however, they tend to expand it.

Your order (letters): ____________________

3. Re-order paragraphs

The sentences below are in a scrambled order. Put them in the order that makes a coherent text, then write the letters in sequence.

A. More recently, planners in several cities have narrowed lanes and widened pavements to change this balance.
B. Many cities built wide roads in the twentieth century to move cars quickly through their centres.
C. Shops on such streets often report more passing customers on foot, although results vary from place to place.
D. These roads did carry traffic, but they also separated neighbourhoods and made walking unpleasant.

Your order (letters): ____________________

4. Re-order paragraphs

The sentences below are in a scrambled order. Put them in the order that makes a coherent text, then write the letters in sequence.

A. The Sun's pull adds to this pattern, so tides are strongest when the Sun and Moon line up.
B. Ocean tides are caused mainly by the gravitational pull of the Moon on the water of the Earth.
C. Finally, local features such as bays and narrow channels can magnify or reduce the height of the tide at a particular coast.
D. As the Earth rotates, a given coastline passes through each bulge in turn, which is why most places experience two high tides a day.
E. The water closest to the Moon is pulled towards it, creating a bulge, and a second bulge forms on the opposite side of the planet.

Your order (letters): ____________________

5. Re-order paragraphs

The sentences below are in a scrambled order. Put them in the order that makes a coherent text, then write the letters in sequence.

A. In winter the pattern reverses, and dry air flows from the land towards the sea.
B. In summer, land heats faster than the sea, so warm air rises over the land and draws in moist air from the ocean.
C. Monsoons are seasonal winds that reverse direction during the year.
D. As this air rises and cools, the moisture condenses and falls as heavy seasonal rain.

Your order (letters): ____________________

Re-order paragraphs, set B (4 items)

A second set for repeat practice. Write the letters in sequence for each item, then check the key.

Jump to this answer key Reorder paragraphs practice with shuffled sets

1. Re-order paragraphs

The sentences below are in a scrambled order. Put them in the order that makes a coherent text, then write the letters in sequence.

A. Only then do they remove the soil, layer by layer, noting where every object was found.
B. Archaeological excavation begins long before anyone picks up a trowel.
C. This careful record matters because digging destroys the evidence, and the notes are all that remain of the original context.
D. Teams first survey the site, mapping its surface and recording any visible features.

Your order (letters): ____________________

2. Re-order paragraphs

The sentences below are in a scrambled order. Put them in the order that makes a coherent text, then write the letters in sequence.

A. Critics reply that it can be unfair to drivers who have no practical alternative.
B. Many cities are trying to reduce traffic by changing how people pay for road space.
C. Because of such objections, many schemes are paired with improvements to public transport.
D. Supporters argue that the charge encourages people to use buses, trains or bicycles instead.
E. One approach is a charge on vehicles that enter a busy central zone at certain hours.

Your order (letters): ____________________

3. Re-order paragraphs

The sentences below are in a scrambled order. Put them in the order that makes a coherent text, then write the letters in sequence.

A. For that reason, many ethicists argue that automated decisions affecting people's lives should come with an explanation and a way to appeal.
B. Such systems can process applications quickly, but their reasoning is often hard for ordinary people to follow.
C. Organisations increasingly use software to help decide who receives a loan or an interview.
D. This raises an ethical question, because someone refused a loan may reasonably want to know why.

Your order (letters): ____________________

4. Re-order paragraphs

The sentences below are in a scrambled order. Put them in the order that makes a coherent text, then write the letters in sequence.

A. In nature, such acid comes from rainwater, which absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and soil.
B. Much later, once the passages contain air, dripping water can leave behind mineral deposits that build into hanging formations.
C. Many caves form in limestone, a rock that dissolves slowly in weak acid.
D. As this water seeps along cracks, it dissolves the rock and gradually widens the cracks into passages.

Your order (letters): ____________________

Multiple choice, single answer (6 items)

Choose the one best answer for each passage. Decide using only what the passage says, not what you already know.

Jump to this answer key PTE Reading practice (all five types)

1. Multiple choice, single answer

Read the passage, then choose the single best answer.

Coral reefs get their colour and much of their food from microscopic algae that live inside the coral's tissue. When seawater stays unusually warm for weeks, the coral becomes stressed and expels these algae, leaving its pale skeleton visible through transparent tissue. This is called bleaching. A bleached coral is not necessarily dead: if temperatures fall soon enough, algae can return and the coral can recover. If the heat persists, however, the coral starves, and the reef may be overgrown by seaweed that offers far less shelter to fish.

What does the passage suggest about a bleached coral?

A. It has already died and cannot recover.
B. It may recover if cooler water returns in time.
C. It has been damaged mainly by seaweed.
D. It produces its own food without algae.

Your answer (letter): ____________________

2. Multiple choice, single answer

Read the passage, then choose the single best answer.

Economists use the term opportunity cost to describe the value of the best alternative that is given up when a choice is made. Suppose a farmer can plant a field with either wheat or barley, but not both. If wheat would earn more, then the opportunity cost of planting barley is the profit lost by not growing wheat. The idea is useful because it shows that even a choice that makes a profit may be a poor one, if a different choice would have earned more. It also applies to time: an hour spent on one task cannot be spent on another.

Which situation best illustrates opportunity cost as described in the passage?

A. A shop lowers its prices to attract more customers.
B. A company borrows money to buy new machinery.
C. A worker is paid more for working additional hours.
D. A farmer earns a profit but would have earned more with another crop.

Your answer (letter): ____________________

3. Multiple choice, single answer

Read the passage, then choose the single best answer.

Before the mid-fifteenth century, books in Europe were copied by hand, which made each one slow and expensive to produce. The introduction of movable metal type allowed printers to arrange letters into pages, print many copies, and then reuse the letters for the next job. As printing workshops spread, the cost of books fell and more people had a reason to learn to read. The technology did not change what people wanted to read overnight, but it did change how quickly an idea could travel from one town to another.

What is the main effect of movable type described in the passage?

A. It made hand-copied books more valuable.
B. It immediately changed the kinds of books people wanted.
C. It lowered the cost of books and sped up the spread of ideas.
D. It reduced the number of people who could read.

Your answer (letter): ____________________

4. Multiple choice, single answer

Read the passage, then choose the single best answer.

Archaeologists often date wooden remains using dendrochronology, the study of tree rings. In many climates a tree adds one ring of growth each year, and the width of that ring varies with rainfall and temperature. Because trees growing in the same region show the same pattern of wide and narrow rings, researchers can match the pattern in a beam from an old building against a long reference sequence built from overlapping timbers. When the patterns line up, the year in which the outer ring formed can be read off, sometimes to a single year. The method works only where trees record clear seasonal change and where a suitable reference sequence already exists.

What does the passage identify as a limitation of dendrochronology?

A. It can only give dates accurate to within a century
B. It requires trees that show seasonal growth and a reference sequence
C. It cannot be used on timber taken from buildings
D. It depends on measuring the age of the soil around the wood

Your answer (letter): ____________________

5. Multiple choice, single answer

Read the passage, then choose the single best answer.

Crop rotation means growing different crops on the same field in a planned sequence rather than planting the same one every year. Legumes such as beans and clover host bacteria that convert nitrogen from the air into a form plants can use, so a field that has carried legumes often needs less added fertiliser for the next crop. Rotation also interrupts the life cycles of pests and diseases that target a single crop, because the organisms find no host in the following season. Farmers must weigh these benefits against the need to plan equipment, storage and markets for several different crops.

Why does growing legumes often reduce the fertiliser needed afterwards?

A. Legumes kill the pests that live in the soil
B. Legumes need no nutrients and so leave more in the field
C. Bacteria associated with legumes make nitrogen available to plants
D. Legumes are harvested earlier than other crops

Your answer (letter): ____________________

6. Multiple choice, single answer

Read the passage, then choose the single best answer.

When a nerve cell fires, it releases chemical messengers called neurotransmitters into the tiny gap between itself and the next cell. The messengers bind to receptors on the receiving cell and either make it more likely to fire or less likely. Afterwards, many neurotransmitters are drawn back into the sending cell or broken down, which clears the gap and prepares it for the next signal. Several common medicines work by changing this clearing process, so that a messenger remains active for longer. Scientists stress, however, that mood and behaviour depend on networks of many cells, not on a single chemical.

Which point does the author make in the final sentence?

A. Medicines have no effect on neurotransmitters
B. Behaviour cannot be studied scientifically
C. A single chemical is not enough to explain mood and behaviour
D. Networks of cells are less important than receptors

Your answer (letter): ____________________

Multiple choice, multiple answers (6 items)

More than one option is correct in each item. Choose only the options that the passage supports; a wrong pick is worse than a skipped one.

Jump to this answer key PTE Reading practice (all five types)

1. Multiple choice, multiple answers

Read the passage, then choose every answer that the passage supports. More than one is correct.

Wind and solar power produce electricity only when the wind blows or the sun shines, so their output rises and falls through the day. Grid operators manage this variation in several ways. Batteries and pumped-water storage can hold surplus energy for later use. Long power lines connect regions with different weather, so a calm area can draw on a windy one. Some consumers, such as factories, can also agree to use less electricity at peak times. None of these measures removes the variation completely, but together they make a grid with a large share of renewable power much easier to run.

Which of the following are described as ways of managing variable renewable output? Select all that apply.

A. Banning factories from using electricity
B. Storing surplus energy in batteries
C. Asking some consumers to reduce use at peak times
D. Building wind turbines only in calm areas
E. Connecting regions with different weather

Your answers (letters): ____________________

2. Multiple choice, multiple answers

Read the passage, then choose every answer that the passage supports. More than one is correct.

In 1854 a cholera outbreak struck one district of London. A physician named John Snow marked each reported case on a map and noticed that the cases clustered around a single public water pump. He asked local officials to remove the pump's handle, and new cases declined, although the outbreak may already have been fading. At that time many people believed that disease spread through foul air. Snow's careful mapping of where cases occurred gave weight to the alternative view that contaminated water was responsible, and it became an early example of using data to guide public health decisions.

Which statements are supported by the passage? Select all that apply.

A. Most cases occurred far from the pump he investigated.
B. Snow recorded the location of reported cases on a map.
C. The passage proves that removing the handle ended the outbreak.
D. Many people at the time blamed foul air for disease.
E. Snow's work supported the idea that water could carry disease.

Your answers (letters): ____________________

3. Multiple choice, multiple answers

Read the passage, then choose every answer that the passage supports. More than one is correct.

Psychologists have long studied how the timing of study sessions affects memory. In the so-called spacing effect, material reviewed several times over days or weeks is remembered better than the same material reviewed for the same total time in one long session. One explanation is that each return to the material forces the learner to retrieve it from memory, which strengthens it. Cramming can still produce acceptable results for a test the next morning, but the information tends to fade quickly afterwards. Spacing takes more planning, yet many learners find that it saves effort over a whole course.

According to the passage, which of the following are true? Select all that apply.

A. Spaced review usually leads to better long-term memory than one long session.
B. Cramming never helps with a test on the following day.
C. Retrieving information repeatedly may help to strengthen it.
D. Information learned by cramming tends to be forgotten quickly.
E. Spacing requires less planning than cramming.

Your answers (letters): ____________________

4. Multiple choice, multiple answers

Read the passage, then choose every answer that the passage supports. More than one is correct.

Astronomers measure the distance to nearby stars using parallax. As the Earth travels around the Sun, a nearby star seems to shift slightly against the far more distant stars behind it. By photographing the same star six months apart, when the Earth is on opposite sides of its orbit, astronomers can measure the size of this shift. The smaller the shift, the farther away the star is. Parallax is reliable for stars within a limited range, because beyond that range the shift becomes too small to measure accurately, and other methods must be used.

Which of the following statements are supported by the passage? Select all that apply.

A. A larger shift means the star is farther away.
B. Photographs for parallax are taken six months apart.
C. A nearby star appears to shift against distant stars during the year.
D. Other methods are needed for stars beyond the range of parallax.
E. Parallax works equally well for stars at any distance.

Your answers (letters): ____________________

5. Multiple choice, multiple answers

Read the passage, then choose every answer that the passage supports. More than one is correct.

A school district has revised its homework policy for primary pupils. Pupils in the first three years will no longer receive written homework, although teachers may suggest daily reading at home. Older primary pupils will have no more than thirty minutes of homework on weeknights, and none at weekends or during school holidays. The district said the change followed consultation with parents and teachers, and that it will review the policy after one full school year. Secondary schools in the district are not affected.

According to the passage, which of the following are true? Select all that apply.

A. Written homework has ended for the first three years.
B. Weekend homework is limited to one hour.
C. Older primary pupils may have up to thirty minutes on weeknights.
D. Secondary schools must follow the same rules.
E. The policy will be reviewed after a year.

Your answers (letters): ____________________

6. Multiple choice, multiple answers

Read the passage, then choose every answer that the passage supports. More than one is correct.

Architects designing tall buildings must account for wind. A tall tower acts like a sail, and wind flowing around it can shed swirling pockets of air that push the structure from side to side. Designers reduce this movement in several ways. They may round or taper the building so the air flows around it smoothly, add openings that let wind pass through, or install a heavy mass near the top that swings against the building's motion. Wind tunnel tests on small models are used to check these choices before construction begins.

Which of the following are methods mentioned for reducing wind movement in tall buildings? Select all that apply.

A. Rounding or tapering the shape of the building
B. Covering the building in a smooth glass surface
C. Building only in areas where there is no wind
D. Adding openings through which wind can pass
E. Fitting a heavy mass near the top that swings against the motion

Your answers (letters): ____________________

Writing set (2 items)

Time yourself, write your response, then compare it with the sample answer or checklist on the answer key page. Count your words with a word counter before you check.

Jump to this answer key PTE Writing practice with a word checker

1. Writing: summarise written text

Read the passage, then write one sentence that summarises the main point. Keep the summary between 5 and 75 words and use your own wording.

Many people assume that learning a second language is mainly a matter of memorising vocabulary. Research suggests that comprehension develops more quickly when learners hear and read language in meaningful contexts. Vocabulary still matters, but learners who only memorise word lists often struggle to follow native speech at normal speed. Teachers therefore recommend mixing short listening tasks, reading of authentic texts and regular speaking practice. Progress is usually slow at first, and gains become visible only after consistent weekly effort.

2. Writing: essay planning

Read the prompt, spend a few minutes on the plan, then write a response. Use the plan as a checklist rather than memorising a template.

Some people believe that cities should prioritise public transport over new road building. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons and examples to support your answer.

Planning outline (use as a checklist):

Position: state clearly whether you agree, disagree or partly agree in the first paragraph.
Reason 1: explain how better public transport reduces congestion or pollution, with one concrete example.
Reason 2: explain a cost or access benefit, such as helping people without cars reach jobs or schools.
Counter-point: acknowledge one limit of your position, for example rural areas or peak-hour overcrowding.
Conclusion: restate your position in different words and point to one practical next step.

Answer keys with explanations

Check your answers, then read the reason for each one. Fill in the blanks, multiple choice and re-order items each get a short explanation.

Answer key: Reading set (5 items)

13 answers to check. Count the ones you got right as a practice tally. It is a raw count, not a PTE score or an estimate of one.

1. Reading: fill in the blanks (dropdown)
- (1) shelter (2) strain (3) match (4) track (5) educate
Why: Each gap needs the word that fits the meaning of the sentence. 'Shelter' fits a habitat need, 'strain' fits the idea of a resource being overused, 'match' fits a density-to-plants relationship, 'track' fits registration and disease control, and 'educate' fits engaging neighbours.
2. Reading: multiple choice, choose all that apply
- Correct: B. Keepers recorded weather observations at regular intervals.
- Correct: D. Automation lowered the cost of running the lighthouse.
Why: B is stated directly (every three hours). D is stated directly (automation reduced running costs). A contradicts the 1968 date, C contradicts the passage, and E is not mentioned.
3. Reading: re-order paragraphs
- Correct order: B, D, C, A
Why: B introduces the origin. D describes the first growth from residents. C describes the wider spread that follows. A closes the text with the tracking step, which only makes sense once the scheme is large.
4. Reading: fill in the blanks (drag words from a bank)
- (1) bleaching (2) local (3) resilient (4) global
Why: The passage defines bleaching in gap 1. Gap 2 needs the adjective that describes pressures on the reef itself. Gap 3 describes corals that tolerate heat. Gap 4 is the level that contrasts with local. 'Shallow' and 'vertical' do not fit any gap.
5. Reading: multiple choice, choose one answer
- Correct: B. All participants came from a single type of job.
Why: The passage says all volunteers were office workers and that this limits generalisation, which is option B. The passage does not say the sample was too small to measure anything, does not mention walk length, and does not discuss sleep quality.

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Answer key: Reading sample paper, mixed types (9 items)

19 answers to check. Count the ones you got right as a practice tally. It is a raw count, not a PTE score or an estimate of one.

1. Fill in the blanks (dropdown)
- (1) difference (2) pay (3) strong
Why: Profit is the difference between income and costs. Customers pay invoices, and the contrast with cash shortage works because sales are strong. The other options do not fit the meaning or grammar.
2. Fill in the blanks (word bank)
- (1) oxygen (2) oxide
Why: Rusting needs oxygen and water, and the product is an iron oxide. Nitrogen and helium do not take part, and an alloy is a mixture of metals, not a compound that forms on iron.
3. Multiple choice, multiple answers
- Correct: C. A first-person narrator may be biased or mistaken.
- Correct: D. A third-person narrator who knows every thought gives a wider view.
- Correct: E. Some writers use different narrative approaches in different chapters.
Why: The text says a first-person narrator can be mistaken or biased, that an all-knowing third-person narrator gives a wider view, and that writers may switch between the two. It does not say narrators are always dishonest, and it says third person loses some intimacy.
4. Re-order paragraphs
- Correct order: B, D, A, C
Why: The paragraph begins with why samples are needed, then describes random selection and its benefit ('This makes it more likely...'). It ends with a contrasting case, the convenient sample.
5. Multiple choice, single answer
- Correct: A. They make moving less costly and less uncertain
Why: The passage says networks lower the cost and uncertainty of moving. It does not say pull factors become unnecessary, that networks stop clustering (they help explain it), or that work is guaranteed.
6. Fill in the blanks (dropdown)
- (1) stronger (2) rest (3) less
Why: A stronger heart pumps more per beat. The lower rate applies at rest, which links to 'resting heart rate' in the next sentence. The comparison is with people who are less active.
7. Fill in the blanks (word bank)
- (1) causing (2) confounding
Why: The idea is that correlation does not prove causation. A confounding variable affects both measurements. The other words do not complete either phrase sensibly.
8. Multiple choice, single answer
- Correct: C. Soap molecules surround grease droplets so they stay suspended in water
Why: Tails enter the grease and heads face the water, so droplets are wrapped in water-attracting molecules and can be rinsed away. The passage does not mention dissolving, heating or roughening.
9. Multiple choice, multiple answers
- Correct: B. A wide span of control usually means fewer management levels.
- Correct: C. Narrow spans are often used for complex or risky tasks.
- Correct: D. Wide spans suit routine work done by trained staff.
Why: The passage links wide spans to fewer levels and routine work, and narrow spans to complex or risky tasks. It says narrow spans can slow decisions, and defines span as direct reports to one manager, not total staff.

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Answer key: Reading fill in the blanks, dropdown (5 passages)

23 answers to check. Count the ones you got right as a practice tally. It is a raw count, not a PTE score or an estimate of one.

1. Fill in the blanks (dropdown): Cities and cycling
- (1) how (2) led (3) remove (4) effectiveness (5) hold
Why: “How” introduces the way people travel. “Led” pairs with the “to” that follows it. “Remove” is the base verb needed after “can”. “Effectiveness” is the noun needed after “the”. “Hold” is the base verb after “tend to”.
2. Fill in the blanks (dropdown): Coral reefs
- (1) increasingly (2) necessarily (3) wide (4) because (5) success
Why: “Increasingly” modifies the adjective “vulnerable”. “Necessarily” fits a sentence that qualifies a claim with a negative. “Wide” is the adjective before “range”. “Because” gives the reason for protecting the healthiest sections. “Success” is the noun after “the”.
3. Fill in the blanks (dropdown): Public libraries
- (1) growing (2) become (3) reduce (4) steady
Why: “Growing” is the adjective before “recognition”. “Become” completes the present perfect with an adjective. “Reduce” is the base verb after “to”. “Steady” is the adjective after “remained”, where an adverb such as “steadily” would not fit.
4. Fill in the blanks (dropdown): Kelp forests and sea otters
- (1) variety (2) prey (3) multiply (4) strike (5) encouraging
Why: “A variety of” needs the noun. “Prey on” is the fixed phrasal verb. Only “multiply” fits a population that grows quickly and creates barrens. “Strike a balance” is the collocation. “Have been” is followed by the adjective “encouraging”.
5. Fill in the blanks (dropdown): Mixed-use neighbourhoods
- (1) meet (2) raise (3) reserve (4) strictness
Why: “Meet needs” is the collocation. “Raise” is the transitive verb that takes “prices” as its object. “Reserve” is the base verb after “to”. “The” must be followed by a noun, so “strictness”.

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Answer key: Reading fill in the blanks, word bank (5 passages)

23 answers to check. Count the ones you got right as a practice tally. It is a raw count, not a PTE score or an estimate of one.

1. Fill in the blanks (word bank): Volcanic islands
- (1) deposit (2) erode (3) pattern (4) existed (5) evolve
Why: “Deposit” means to lay down material in layers. “Erode” describes wind and rain wearing away rock. “Pattern” is the noun used with “of”. “Existed” is the past participle after “has”. “Evolve” suits change over many generations. “Glacier” and “silent” do not fit.
2. Fill in the blanks (word bank): How sleep works
- (1) consolidate (2) resembles (3) deprived (4) regulate (5) restore
Why: “Consolidate” is the verb used with memories. “Resembles” takes “that of” as its object. “Deprived” is followed by “of”. “Regulate” fits keeping a rhythm steady, and “restore” fits bringing back lost energy. “Fragment” and “ignores” do not fit.
3. Fill in the blanks (word bank): The story of tea
- (1) export (2) affects (3) develops (4) ranked (5) popularity
Why: “Export” fits merchants moving goods across borders. “Affects” is the verb for the method's influence on flavour. “Develops” is the third-person verb after “and”, parallel to “slows”. “Ranked” completes “is ranked among”. “Popularity” is the noun after “its”. “Harvest” and “bitter” do not fit.
4. Fill in the blanks (word bank): Hydrothermal vents
- (1) release (2) harness (3) adapted (4) discovered
Why: Vents “release” hot water. Bacteria “harness” chemical energy. Species have “adapted” to conditions. Scientists “discovered” the communities. “Ignore” and “fragile” do not fit.
5. Fill in the blanks (word bank): Planning a city
- (1) provides (2) locate (3) deliver (4) strain
Why: “Provides ... with” is the pattern. Planners “locate” housing. Utilities are “delivered” to homes. Growth “strains” infrastructure. “Evaporate” and “modest” do not fit.

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Answer key: Re-order paragraphs, set A (5 items)

5 answers to check. Count the ones you got right as a practice tally. It is a raw count, not a PTE score or an estimate of one.

1. Re-order paragraphs
- Correct order: B, D, A, C
Why: The first sentence introduces the topic (how glaciers form). The second explains compression, the third explains movement, and the last describes what happens when glaciers retreat. Look for the sentence that does not depend on anything before it.
2. Re-order paragraphs
- Correct order: C, B, D, A
Why: The paragraph begins by introducing pidgins. The second sentence describes their limits, the third introduces the contrast with children ('however'), and the last says what the children's expansion produces.
3. Re-order paragraphs
- Correct order: B, D, A, C
Why: The paragraph moves in time: past road building, its drawback, the recent response and finally the observed result. 'These roads' in the second sentence needs the first sentence before it, and 'such streets' needs the third.
4. Re-order paragraphs
- Correct order: B, E, D, A, C
Why: Start with the cause, then describe the bulges, then how rotation produces two tides a day. The Sun's added effect and the role of local coastlines come after the basic explanation.
5. Re-order paragraphs
- Correct order: C, B, D, A
Why: The paragraph begins by defining monsoons. The summer process follows, then the rainfall it causes, and the winter reversal comes last because it relies on the earlier description.

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Answer key: Re-order paragraphs, set B (4 items)

4 answers to check. Count the ones you got right as a practice tally. It is a raw count, not a PTE score or an estimate of one.

1. Re-order paragraphs
- Correct order: B, D, A, C
Why: The opening sentence sets up the idea of preparation. Surveying comes first, 'only then' introduces the digging, and the final sentence explains why the record matters.
2. Re-order paragraphs
- Correct order: B, E, D, A, C
Why: The topic sentence introduces the idea, the next names one approach, then come the argument for it and the objection. 'Because of such objections' responds to the criticism, so it must come last.
3. Re-order paragraphs
- Correct order: C, B, D, A
Why: The paragraph opens with the general practice, then notes the benefit and the difficulty (speed but opacity). The third sentence turns this into an ethical question, and the final sentence gives the proposed response, signalled by 'For that reason'.
4. Re-order paragraphs
- Correct order: C, A, D, B
Why: Start with the rock that caves form in, then explain why rainwater can dissolve it, then how passages widen. 'Much later' signals the final stage, when deposits form after the cave has opened up.

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Answer key: Multiple choice, single answer (6 items)

6 answers to check. Count the ones you got right as a practice tally. It is a raw count, not a PTE score or an estimate of one.

1. Multiple choice, single answer
- Correct: B. It may recover if cooler water returns in time.
Why: The passage says a bleached coral is not necessarily dead and that algae can return if temperatures fall soon enough. Seaweed is a later consequence of prolonged heat, not the cause, and the coral depends on algae for food.
2. Multiple choice, single answer
- Correct: D. A farmer earns a profit but would have earned more with another crop.
Why: The passage defines opportunity cost as the value of the best alternative given up, and says a profitable choice can still be poor if another would have earned more. The other options describe pricing, borrowing and pay, which the passage does not link to the concept.
3. Multiple choice, single answer
- Correct: C. It lowered the cost of books and sped up the spread of ideas.
Why: The passage says book costs fell and ideas could travel faster. It states that reading tastes did not change overnight, and it links printing to more people learning to read, not fewer.
4. Multiple choice, single answer
- Correct: B. It requires trees that show seasonal growth and a reference sequence
Why: The final sentence says the method works only where trees record clear seasonal change and a reference sequence exists. The passage says dates can be accurate to a single year and that building beams can be dated.
5. Multiple choice, single answer
- Correct: C. Bacteria associated with legumes make nitrogen available to plants
Why: The passage explains that bacteria hosted by legumes convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form. Pest control is a separate benefit of rotation, and the other options are not stated.
6. Multiple choice, single answer
- Correct: C. A single chemical is not enough to explain mood and behaviour
Why: The last sentence says mood and behaviour depend on networks of many cells, not one chemical. The other options either contradict the passage or go beyond it.

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Answer key: Multiple choice, multiple answers (6 items)

18 answers to check. Count the ones you got right as a practice tally. It is a raw count, not a PTE score or an estimate of one.

1. Multiple choice, multiple answers
- Correct: B. Storing surplus energy in batteries
- Correct: C. Asking some consumers to reduce use at peak times
- Correct: E. Connecting regions with different weather
Why: Storage, long-distance connections and flexible demand are all mentioned. Factories are asked to use less at peak times by agreement, not banned, and turbines in calm areas are never suggested.
2. Multiple choice, multiple answers
- Correct: B. Snow recorded the location of reported cases on a map.
- Correct: D. Many people at the time blamed foul air for disease.
- Correct: E. Snow's work supported the idea that water could carry disease.
Why: The map, the foul-air belief and the support for the contaminated-water view are all stated. Cases clustered near the pump, not far from it, and the passage notes the outbreak may already have been fading, so it does not prove the handle removal ended it.
3. Multiple choice, multiple answers
- Correct: A. Spaced review usually leads to better long-term memory than one long session.
- Correct: C. Retrieving information repeatedly may help to strengthen it.
- Correct: D. Information learned by cramming tends to be forgotten quickly.
Why: The passage supports spaced review, the strengthening effect of retrieval and the quick fading of crammed material. It says cramming can still give acceptable results the next day, and that spacing takes more planning, not less.
4. Multiple choice, multiple answers
- Correct: B. Photographs for parallax are taken six months apart.
- Correct: C. A nearby star appears to shift against distant stars during the year.
- Correct: D. Other methods are needed for stars beyond the range of parallax.
Why: The passage supports the apparent shift, the six-month interval and the need for other methods at long range. A smaller shift, not a larger one, means a greater distance, and parallax has a limited range.
5. Multiple choice, multiple answers
- Correct: A. Written homework has ended for the first three years.
- Correct: C. Older primary pupils may have up to thirty minutes on weeknights.
- Correct: E. The policy will be reviewed after a year.
Why: The passage states the end of written homework for younger pupils, the thirty-minute weeknight limit and the one-year review. There is no weekend homework, and secondary schools are not affected.
6. Multiple choice, multiple answers
- Correct: A. Rounding or tapering the shape of the building
- Correct: D. Adding openings through which wind can pass
- Correct: E. Fitting a heavy mass near the top that swings against the motion
Why: Shaping, openings and a swinging mass near the top are all named. The passage never suggests avoiding windy sites or using glass surfaces; wind tunnel tests check designs but do not reduce movement themselves.

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Answer key: Writing set (2 items)

1. Writing: summarise written text
- Sample summary: Learning a second language depends less on memorising words than on meaningful exposure through listening, reading and speaking, which together build comprehension and fluency over time.
- Check: One sentence only, ending with a full stop.
- Check: The main idea is present: vocabulary alone is not enough; meaningful exposure builds comprehension.
- Check: Supporting detail is selective, not a list of every example.
- Check: Wording is your own, not copied from the passage.
- Check: Word count is between 5 and 75.
2. Writing: essay planning
- Use the planning outline above. Your own position and examples matter more than any model text.

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Where to find official PTE practice material

Resource	Cost	What it contains
Smart Prep (Pearson)	Free with a myPTE account	Study plan, four full guided practice tests, sectional guided practice tests, video courses by skill and test tip documents
Scored Practice Tests (Pearson)	Paid	A 2-hour mock test in the real format with a full score report; three versions
Official Guide to PTE Academic (Pearson)	Paid book	Book with digital resources (videos, worksheets) and an online question bank
Official PTE Academic AI Practice (Pearson)	Paid, with access periods	Official practice questions and mock tests with instant AI scoring and feedback
This page	Free	Original printable Reading and Writing items with answer keys and short explanations

Prices vary by region and package, so check the official preparation page before you buy. We do not host or link to copyrighted books, leaked papers or repeated exam questions. Those copies are often unauthorised and out of date.

Official or unofficial: how to judge a PTE PDF

Who published it?Official material comes from Pearson's own site. A PDF on a file-sharing site with no publisher is unverified.
Does it say “real”, “repeated” or “leaked” questions? Treat that as a warning. Test items are copyrighted and change, so such files are unauthorised and may mislead you about the test.
Is there a date and a source? The format and scoring details change. A file with no date or source cannot be checked.
Does it match the task? Listening and Speaking need audio or recording, so a text-only file can only cover part of the skill.
Does it promise scores? No printed set can predict your result. Use an official scored practice test if you want an estimate from Pearson.

PTE test format and syllabus

PTE does not publish a syllabus PDF. Pearson describes PTE Academic as two hours long, in three parts. The table shows the parts and the number of question types in each, as listed on Pearson's preparation page for PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI.

Part	Skills	Question types
Part 1	Speaking & Writing	9
Part 2	Reading	5
Part 3	Listening	8

The official test format page links to a description of every question type. Check it for the current version before you plan your study.

Score targets (for comparison only)

These ranges come from Pearson's July 2025 PTE Academic and IELTS Academic concordance. They help you compare scores. They are not a prediction of your result.

IELTS band	PTE Academic overall
4.5	24–30
5.0	31–38
5.5	39–46
6.0	47–54
6.5	55–62
7.0	63–70
7.5	71–78
8.0	79–85
8.5	86–89
9.0	90

Source: Pearson: PTE Academic and IELTS Academic concordance summary (July 2025). Last checked 2026-10-09.

How to save this page as a PDF

Select a print button above, or press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on a Mac) to print the whole page.
Choose Save as PDF as the destination.
Set the scale to fit the page width if the text looks cut off.
Print the answer keys separately, or keep them on the last pages, and do not look at them while you practise.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free PTE practice PDF with answers?

We found no free official PTE practice book as a PDF. Pearson's free route is Smart Prep, which needs a myPTE account and offers a study plan, guided practice tests, video courses and test tip documents. This page gives you original Reading and Writing practice sets with an answer key and a short reason for each answer, which you can print or save as a PDF.

Can I download official PTE books as a PDF for free?

No, and we do not link to or host them. Copies of copyrighted books, leaked papers or repeated exam questions are often unauthorised, may be out of date and can give a false picture of the test. The official Guide to PTE Academic is sold by Pearson and includes digital resources.

Is there a PTE syllabus PDF for 2026?

PTE does not have a syllabus in the school sense. Pearson publishes a test format: PTE Academic takes 2 hours in three parts (Speaking & Writing, Reading, Listening) with 9, 5 and 8 question types. Check Pearson's preparation and test-format pages for the current version, because formats can change.

Are the questions on this page real PTE exam questions?

No. Every passage, prompt and answer on this page was written from scratch for practice. They are meant to feel like the task types, not to copy any real test item, and we never call them real or predicted questions.

Can I get a PTE listening practice PDF with audio?

A PDF cannot carry the audio or the recording you need for Listening and Speaking practice. Use the on-screen practice pages for those skills, and use this PDF for Reading and Writing, which work well on paper.

Where can I find a free PTE reading practice PDF with answers?

Use the Reading sets on this page: a quick five-item mixed set, a nine-item mixed sample paper, fill in the blanks, re-order paragraphs and multiple choice sets. Each has an answer key on a separate printable page with a short reason for each answer. For more Reading practice, use the online Reading pages, which mark your choices as you go.

Is there a PTE reading fill in the blanks PDF with answers?

Yes. This page has two original sets: five dropdown passages and five word-bank passages with spare words. Each answer key lists the correct word for every gap and a short reason, such as the grammar or meaning that rules the other options out. The passages are original practice texts, not real exam items.

Where can I get PTE sample papers with answers?

The Reading sample paper on this page has nine mixed items with an answer key. It is our own original practice, not a past or real exam paper. Pearson's official sample material is in its Smart Prep resources (free with a myPTE account) and its paid Scored Practice Tests.

Is there a full PTE mock test PDF with answers?

Not a complete one. A PDF cannot play the Listening audio or record your Speaking, so a printable full mock would miss two skills. Print the Reading sample paper and the Writing set here, then take the free timed mock test on screen for the other sections. Its results are raw counts, not a PTE score.

How do I print only the questions, or only the answer key?

Use the print buttons near the top of the sets, or the button on each set. They hide everything except the questions or the answer key before the print dialogue opens. If you press Ctrl+P instead, the whole page prints, with each set and each answer key starting on a new page.

PTE ka practice material PDF free mein kahan milega?

Start with Pearson's free Smart Prep (open it from your myPTE account) for official guidance, then print the original Reading and Writing set on this page. Avoid PDFs that claim to be real or leaked papers, because they are not authorised and may not match the current test.

PTE er practice PDF kothay pabo?

Use Pearson's free Smart Prep resources for official guidance, and print the original Reading and Writing set on this page. Unofficial copies that claim to be real exam papers are not reliable and we do not link to them.

Contoh soal PTE Academic dalam PDF ada?

This page has original sample Reading and Writing questions with answers that you can save as a PDF. For official information on the test, see Pearson's PTE Academic pages. Questions that claim to be real or leaked exam papers are not included here.

Is 79 in PTE a good score?

Whether 79 is good depends on your target institution or visa. In Pearson's July 2025 concordance, an overall PTE Academic score of 79 falls in the IELTS 8.0 band range. Check the requirement of your institution or visa before you aim for a specific number.

How long should I practise before the test?

Pearson's preparation guidance says many candidates prepare for two to four weeks, although the time depends on your current English level, your target and how familiar you are with the format. Spend the most time on the question types where your practice scores are lowest.

Where do I book a PTE test slot?

Book through Pearson's official PTE site, which lists test centres and available slots. Our fee guide explains the costs we have checked against official sources.

Keep practising

Last updated 10 October 2026. PTE is a trademark of Pearson. This site is independent and is not affiliated with Pearson.