What Are PTE Home A1 A2 B1 Tests? (Formats, Scoring, Tips)

What are PTE Home A1 A2 B1 tests?

This blog provides details of these test formats, scoring systems, and tips.

Stay tuned and scroll down to discover more!

Key Takeaways

• Similar to PTE Academic and PTE Core, PTE Home is a computer-based English proficiency test.
• PTE Home has three levels to match various visa requirements, focusing solely on speaking and listening skills. The details are below.
• If you want to seek more online courses other than the limited resources from Pearson, check out PTE Magic.

Related:

• PTE online courses that can change the game for you!
• PTE exam preparation – How to study properly for your next test
• How to be productive when learning PTE online

What Are PTE Home A1 A2 B1 Tests?

Similar to PTE Academic and PTE Core, PTE Home is a computer-based English proficiency test. The difference is that this test is for test-takers who want to apply for visas, mainly in the UK.

PTE Home has three levels to match various visa requirements, focusing solely on speaking and listening skills. Additionally, the test uses various accents, including British, American, and even non-native speakers. 

We will go into the details of each test below:

• PTE Home A1: The English proficiency test for people applying for UK visas, including Spouse, Parent of a Dependent, Representative of an Overseas Business, and Sportsperson. You can consider this test as a quicker and simpler Secure English Language Test (SELT). The English tested in this exam is focused on basic speaking and listening skills.
• PTE Home A2: This test is for candidates who want to extend their UK family visa, especially spouses or parents of dependents looking to stay longer in the UK. The UK Home Office approves this test. Passing this test means you can communicate at CEFR level A2 in English. 
• PTE Home B1: Test-takers who need a language test for UK settlement or citizenship may find PTE Home B1 an ideal option. The test targets anyone who is looking to submit settlement applications, including for Indefinite Leave to Remain and UK citizenship. It assesses your English speaking and listening abilities.  

PTE Home Test Format

PTE Home A1

• Repeat Sentence: This is a straightforward task. However, test-takers must pay attention to achieve full scores. You’ll hear a short sentence that lasts for a few seconds. Your job is to repeat it exactly. Pearson gives candidates a total of 22 questions, therefore, every word counts.
• Describe Image: This task shows five images, which can be a chart, a map, or other context. Test-takers need to capture what they see and then describe it in words. This is a test of observation and expression.
• Conversation: Listen and Answer: You’ll hear a short conversation in this task. After that, the task will ask you a question related to what you’ve heard. The key is to remember important details. The 5 questions in this task will evaluate your ability to focus and respond.

PTE Home A2

• Repeat Sentence: Similar to the PTE Home A1, test-takers will hear a short sentence and must repeat it exactly as they heard it. You will encounter around 22 to 23 questions in this task.
• Describe Image: There will be 4 or 5 questions that include images of a graph, a chart, or a map. Think fast and stay focused to earn your highest points.
• Retell Story: Unlike PTE Home A1, the last section of the PTE Home A2 is the Retell Story task. This task focuses solely on listening skills, which require candidates to hear a story and then retell it in their own words. Test-takers who summarise and convey the story’s meaning clearly will get higher points.

PTE Home B1

• Repeat Sentence: The requirements are similar to the two previous PTE Home tests. You will encounter 17 questions in this task. Remember to listen carefully to avoid missing any words.
• Describe Image: This task is also similar to what you’ll encounter in the PTE Home A1 and A2.
• Retell Story: This task’s requirements are similar to the PTE Home A2 test.
• Story: Listen and Answer: After hearing a story, the task will ask test-takers three questions about it. The purpose is to test your listening and comprehension skills. There will be 4 to 5 questions, therefore, stay focused to answer correctly.

PTE Home Tests’ Scoring Systems

The scoring systems of the PTE Home tests are simple. All three tests use the pass-or-fail system, which means no grades and no percentages because you only get the result as “pass” or “fail”. 

Test-takers won’t have to wait long as their results are typically available within 48 hours. Additionally, you will receive a SELT URN number for your visa application.

For your information, every PTE Home test is scored by a computer – similar to all PTE tests. This system helps provide results that eliminate bias. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about making a good impression. Instead, pay attention to answering as clearly and correctly as possible.

Best Tips To Prepare For The PTE Home Tests

Access Official Prep Materials

Pearson has made test-takers’ PTE Home preparation process much easier. You just need to create or sign in to your myPTE account to access their official study resources. 

The good thing is you don’t need to jump between websites to gather practice materials. With a myPTE account, learners can access their introductory videos that thoroughly explain the exam’s content and how to answer each task.

Aside from videos, Pearson also has practice tasks designed to help you better understand the test. Additionally, they provide a Test Taker Handbook that contains detailed information about the entire test experience.

Seek Online Courses

If you want to seek more online courses other than the limited resources from Pearson, check out PTE Magic. Our platform provides various helpful study materials, including mock tests, question banks, practice tips, customised courses, and many more.

Our mock tests are designed using an AI-scoring system that can mimic the real exam experiences. You will receive your results within 5 seconds, thus saving time for your daily busy schedules.

Additionally, PTE Magic updates blogs regarding news and tips related to every corner of the PTE test. They are reviewed and supervised by experts who have been professional PTE trainers for years.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve gained helpful insights into PTE Home A1 A2 B1 tests after reading this blog. Discover all PTE Magic’s study resources to achieve your PTE dream faster and more effectively!

Last updated on 02/12/2024