PTE Core Preparation: Exam Tips, Test Prep Notes & More

If you are unsure about what to do and what not to do before your PTE Core test, you have come to the right place.

Our PTE Core preparation blog will reveal what to expect on your test day and how to prepare your best beforehand, so check them out below!

Key Takeaways

• This blog will explain what to expect before, during, and after your PTE Core test day.
• Reading useful blogs that include tips and tricks for the PTE Core test is a great way to prepare for your PTE Core exam.
• PTE Magic courses provide highly effective methods to help test-takers reach their PTE Core goals.

Related:

• How to book a PTE Core test
• PTE Core exam dates (updated)
• PTE Academic exam – A complete guide

What to Expect on Your Test Day

You will be out immediately if your ID details do not match your test booking information.

In this section, PTE Magic will guide you through what to expect before, during, and after your PTE Core test day. Stay tuned!

Before Your Test

Test-takers should arrive at the centre at least 30 minutes before the scheduled test time. Remember, being late means you will not have the chance to take the test.

It’s crucial to bring along your identity document. You must have your passport for the PTE Core test, but if you are in Canada, the Canadian Permanent Resident card is also acceptable. 

For your information, the Test Administrator is strict about the ID check process, including palm scanning and taking a photo of you. Therefore, you must prepare a useable and non-expired passport before you attend the PTE Core test. You will be out immediately if your ID details do not match your test booking information.

If you are not 100% sure about the test centre rules, no worries. The Test Administrator will explain everything in detail before you start the test. You can also visit the official Pearson website to understand each test’s specific process better. For example, you can learn how to wear a headset effectively to maximise your speaking scores. 

Last, you must put all personal items in the centre’s storage. No one can access their belongings until after finishing the test.

During Your Test

As mentioned above, the PTE Core exam will take two hours to check your English skills. You must follow the Administrator’s instructions when beginning the test. 

During the test, you will sit in a test booth similar to a small room. The booth includes a desktop set, a headset, and a pencil with a notepad. The Administrator will also give you detailed instructions on how to use these tools. 

Many Pearson test centres are small, therefore, they usually include about 10 people per test. Chances are you will sit close to other people, and you might hear their voices during the speaking session. Don’t be stressed about this – the PTE headset is quality enough to block out other test-takers’ speeches.

A reminder for people who do not use a QWERTY keyboard: the PTE Core test uses this type of keyboard. PTE Magic suggests practising with a QWERTY keyboard before test day to get used to it.

Also, please note that you must not cheat. Cheating in the PTE Core test is wrong as with other tests and exams. The test has a recording system to prevent any cheating behaviours, so follow the rules and do your best.  

After Your Test

You can view your PTE Core score on the official Pearson website

After finishing your test, you are allowed to leave the test centre. Remember that it will take around five business days for your test results. 

Test-takers can view their PTE Core score online at the official Pearson website. If you want to know the details, here is our step-by-step guide:

1. Visit the official Pearson PTE website.
2. Log in to your PTE account by filling out your username and password.
3. Once on the Pearson website, click the “My Account” option.
4. Choose the “View Score Report” to view your PTE Core results in detail. 

If you have any errors while trying to view the results, try to contact Pearson customer service as soon as possible.

Getting Ready for Your PTE Core Test Preparation

Below, we will give you the PTE Core preparation tips to help you achieve your best PTE Core score. See these crucial tips for a good PTE Core start:

Understand the Test Format

The test will be divided into three parts: Speaking & Writing,  Reading, and Listening. 

For the first part, they combine the two skills of speaking and writing. This part usually takes 77-93 minutes to finish. You will normally see these types of questions:

• Read Aloud
• Repeat Sentence
• Describe Image
• Re-tell Lecture
• Answer Short Questions
• Summarise Written Text

Reading is the second part of the test. You will meet questions such as:

• Multiple-choice questions
• Re-order paragraphs
• Reading
• Fill in the blanks

Lastly, here are the tasks categorised under the Writing section:

• Summarise spoken text
• Multiple-choice questions
• Fill in the blanks
• Highlight correct summary
• Select missing word

Overall, you can plan a better strategy once you know all the tasks included in the PTE Core test. If you are still struggling to decide on a good strategy, see the next section for more details.

Enrol in Online Courses

Some online courses provide highly effective methods to help test-takers reach their PTE Core goals. PTE Magic is one such platform.

PTE Magic knows how to get the best out of you with our effective strategies

When you enrol in PTE Magic courses, you will have full access to our unlimited live classes and explore all our proven helpful tips and tricks. We also have many mock tests to familiarize you with the PTE exam. Plus, you will receive detailed feedback from our top professional trainers who have successfully passed the PTE exam.

The key to success is practice. Online courses like PTE Magic know how to get the best out of you with our effective strategy designed for each person. Check out our online courses today to pursue your dream score faster than ever!

Explore PTE Magic’s Helpful Blogs

You don’t have to look far, PTE Magic has your back!

Our wide range of blogs covers various PTE core-related topics, from an overview of the test’s structure to tips for high scores in all the PTE tasks. While diving into our massive amount of blogs, you will also find valuable insights into specific test sections.

With our practical approach, test-takers can apply their knowledge more effectively, rather than just remembering boring information. Plus, we update the blogs frequently so you will always have something new to learn.

The Bottom Line

Getting ready is the skill needed to start your PTE Core preparation process successfully. As Stephen Hawking once said: “The more you learn, the more you know.”, so make sure to explore our helpful blogs to increase your chance of succeeding in your PTE goal!

Last updated on 29/05/2024