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Australia · English test

PTE General test vs PTE Academic, Core and Home

Pearson lists the PTE General test as Pearson English International Certificate (PTE General), a separate test that certifies an English level from A1 to C2. It isn’t the one Pearson names for Australian, New Zealand, UK or Canadian visas. Those use PTE Academic, PTE Academic UKVI, PTE Core or PTE Home, depending on the country and the visa.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

The types of PTE test and what each is for

For UK university study, Pearson says to take standard PTE Academic, not the UKVI version.

TestWhat it’s forFormat
PTE AcademicUniversity study, and visas for Australia and New ZealandAbout 2 hours on computer at a centre, all four skills
PTE Academic UKVIUK work visas that need a four-skill test, and study below degree levelThe same test as PTE Academic, with a SELT number on the report
PTE CoreCanadian permanent residence, citizenship and postgraduate work permitsAbout 2 hours at a centre, everyday English
PTE Home (A1, A2, B1)UK family visas, extensions, settlement and citizenship30 minutes of speaking and listening at a centre
International Certificate (PTE General)Proving a general English level, A1 to C2A separate test from Pearson English, with six levels

Can you use the PTE General test for a visa?

If your visa is Australian, it’s PTE Academic. Pearson’s Australian visa page lists PTE Academic for the student visa and the skilled subclasses, and it doesn’t list PTE General. For Canada it’s PTE Core, and for the UK it’s PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Home.

PTE scores for Australian visas →PTE Core for Canada →

How the PTE General test works

Pearson’s October 2023 specification describes the computer-based International Certificate as an online, on-demand test of reading, writing, listening and speaking for learners aged 14 and over. It reports a CEFR level from A1 to C2, and in England it’s regulated by Ofqual as the Pearson Edexcel Certificate in ESOL International. The A1 and A2 tests take about an hour and 15 minutes.

The specification says you book and take it through Pearson’s English Test Hub platform, not through myPTE.

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Everything else, in one place

OverviewPTE AcademicScoringHow PTE Academic scoring worksBookingHow to book your PTE testCostPTE exam fee in AustraliaOnline testCan you take PTE Academic online?Test formatPTE Academic test format: three parts, 22 question typesSpeakingPTE speaking: the tasks and how they’re scoredWritingPTE writing: the essay, the summaries and the markingReadingPTE Academic reading: five question typesListeningPTE Academic listening: eight question typesResultsPTE results: when they come and how long they lastAustralian visasPTE Academic for Australian PR and other visasPTE vs IELTSPTE Academic equivalent to IELTS scoresPTE CorePTE Core: the PTE test for CanadaTest centresPTE test centres in AustraliaTest datesPTE Academic dates and test availabilityHandbookPTE Academic handbook and official guidesPractice testPTE mock test: 20 free practice questionsWhere to learnWhere to do your PTE preparationStudy plannerHow to prepare for PTE Academic: your study planner
Sources: Pearson PTE, Pearson and 3 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.