PTE Academic, the Pearson Test of English, is the English test you book through Pearson and take on a computer at a Pearson test centre. It’s accepted by universities in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, Ireland and the USA, and for Australian and UK visas. It’s popular because it’s taken in one short sitting and results usually arrive within two days. Booking it is expensive, so you should practise properly before test day. You don’t need to pay for practice tests to do that: Pearson and many independent PTE sites offer free ones.
PTE Academic changed in August 2025, when Pearson added two new speaking tasks. So we’ve favoured free resources that are up to date, and we’ve collected 50 of them in one place, with a link to each: official Pearson practice, free full mock tests, free section tests, free practice for every question type, and free university tools for the skills PTE marks. Some entries are a set of several tests, so in total there are far more than 50 practice tests here. Every link was checked in October 2026.
First, a quick reminder of the PTE Academic format
- About 2 hours, in 3 parts, all on one computer, with 22 scored question types.
- Part 1, Speaking & Writing (76 to 84 minutes): Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Answer Short Question, Summarize Group Discussion, Respond to a Situation, Summarize Written Text and Write Essay. It starts with an unscored Personal Introduction.
- Part 2, Reading (23 to 30 minutes): Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks, Multiple Choice (single and multiple answers), Re-order Paragraphs and Fill in the Blanks.
- Part 3, Listening (31 to 39 minutes): Summarize Spoken Text, Multiple Choice (single and multiple answers), Fill in the Blanks, Highlight Correct Summary, Select Missing Word, Highlight Incorrect Words and Write from Dictation.
- New since August 2025: Summarize Group Discussion (you hear a discussion between several speakers and summarise it out loud) and Respond to a Situation (you hear and read about a situation, then answer a question about it out loud). Older practice material won’t have them.
- Scores: an overall score from 10 to 90, plus scores for Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. Many tasks count towards more than one skill.
- Marking: mostly by AI, with human experts also checking the content of some speaking and writing answers.
If you need PTE for a UK visa, you may need PTE Academic UKVI. It has exactly the same format, so all the practice below works for it too. PTE Core is a different test, mainly for Canadian immigration, so make sure your practice is for PTE Academic.
Official PTE practice from Pearson
Pearson’s free preparation is in Smart Prep, which you reach by creating a free myPTE account. You don’t need to have booked a test. Pearson also explains every question type on its website, with videos, sample questions and tips.
1. Smart Prep Guided Practice Test (short full test)
A free, condensed version of the whole PTE Academic test, with sample answers so you can compare your responses. It’s the best place to start. Start here.
2. Smart Prep Guided Speaking test
A free guided Speaking test. Record your answers, listen back, then compare them with Pearson’s sample answers. Start here.
3. Smart Prep Guided Writing test
A free guided Writing test with sample responses for Summarize Written Text and Write Essay. Start here.
4. Smart Prep Guided Reading test
A free guided Reading test. You see which answers were right and wrong, and can try again until you get them. Start here.
5. Smart Prep Guided Listening test
A free guided Listening test with answers, covering the Listening question types. Start here.
6. Smart Prep video courses and introductory videos
Free video courses and introductions to the test in your Smart Prep account. Scroll to “Free preparation” for the sign-up link. Find out more.
7. Smart Prep study plan and test tips
A free step-by-step study plan and strategies for every question type, also in Smart Prep. Find out more.
8. Official guide to Part 1: Speaking & Writing
Pearson’s own explanation of every Speaking and Writing question type, with videos, sample questions, timings, test tips and how each one is scored. It includes the two new tasks. Start here.
9. Official guide to Part 2: Reading
Every Reading question type explained, with sample questions, tips and scoring. Note the warning about losing marks for wrong answers in Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers. Start here.
10. Official guide to Part 3: Listening
Every Listening question type explained, with sample audio, tips and scoring. Start here.
11. Official PTE Academic scoring guide
How the 10 to 90 score works, which tasks count towards which skills, and a free downloadable Score Guide. Start here.
12. Pearson’s guide to the 2025 PTE changes
A short official video and FAQ on what changed in August 2025, including tips for the two new speaking question types. Start here.
13. Pearson PTE articles
Free official advice on preparing for PTE, test day and scores. Read here.
Free full PTE mock tests
These independent sites aren’t official, so quality varies, and their scores are only estimates. Some ask for an email address or a free account.
14. Gurully free full mock test
A free full-length mock test in the current format, with instant AI scoring, after you sign up. Start here.
15. Arno free full mock test
Your first full-length mock test is free, with no credit card. It covers all 22 question types and gives scores for each skill, plus feedback on your speaking and writing. Start here.
16. LandingPrep free full mock tests
Full-length, timed PTE Academic mock tests with an instant estimated score and answer review. No sign-up and no attempt limit. Start here.
17. PTEMock Academic Full Test 1
Test 1 is a free complete mock of about two hours. Reading and Listening are scored instantly, and Speaking and Writing are scored by experts, with a pronunciation report by email. Start here.
18. PTE Mocks free mini test
A free 20-minute mini test with AI scoring, if you want a quick check before a full mock. You sign in with your email address. Start here.
19. Alfa PTE free full mock tests
Free full-length mock tests with score analytics when you create a free account. Start here.
Free section tests
20. PTE Mocks Speaking sample test
The first Speaking sample test is free with no sign-up, and comes with an AI-scored breakdown for each task. Start here.
21. PTE Mocks Writing sample test
The first Writing sample test is also free with no sign-up, with AI scoring. Start here.
22. PTE Mocks Reading sample test
A free Reading sample test with no sign-up and a per-task score breakdown. Start here.
23. PTE Mocks Listening sample test
A free Listening sample test with no sign-up and a per-task score breakdown. Start here.
24. PTEMock Speaking Test 1
A free Speaking test that scores your real voice for pronunciation and fluency, word by word. Start here.
25. PTEMock Writing Test 1
A free Writing test, scored by experts against the official criteria, with feedback. Start here.
26. PTEMock Reading Test 1
A free Reading test, scored instantly. Start here.
27. PTEMock Listening Test 1
A free Listening test, scored instantly. Start here.
28. Alfa PTE sectional mock tests
Free tests for each section with a free account, if you want to focus on one skill at a time. Start here.
Free practice for every question type
29. Gurully free practice questions
Free practice questions for each question type, with explanations of every task, including Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation. Practise here.
30. APEUni app
A popular free app with thousands of practice questions and AI scoring for speaking. Some features are paid. It’s also on Android. Get the app.
31. OpenExamPrep free PTE questions
Over 100 free PTE Academic practice questions with explanations. No sign-up needed. Practise here.
32. PTEMock free question practice
A set of free practice questions for each task, as well as the free tests above. Practise here.
33. PTE Mocks walkthrough of every task
A free guide to what you’ll see on screen for every task, in test order, with the scoring criteria and a key tip for each. Read it here.
34. PTE Mocks tips for every question type
Free strategies for each of the 22 question types, including the new ones. Read it here.
35. Alfa PTE guide to the new question types
A clear explanation of Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation, with sample questions. Read it here.
36. PTEMock sample essays
Sample Write Essay answers with scores and comments, so you can see what high-scoring essays look like. Read them here.
37. PTEMock sample speaking responses
Sample answers for Describe Image and other speaking tasks. Listen here.
38. PTEMock PTE vocabulary list
A free list of high-frequency words for all four skills. Study it here.
Free university tools for the skills PTE marks
These aren’t PTE-specific, but they’re free and they target exactly what PTE scores: academic vocabulary, essay language, spelling, grammar and pronunciation.
39. University of Manchester: Academic Phrasebank
A free bank of academic phrases for introducing ideas, comparing, giving examples and concluding. Very useful for Write Essay and Summarize Written Text. Start here.
40. Victoria University of Wellington: Academic Word List
The 570 word families that come up most often in academic texts, which you’ll meet throughout the Reading and Listening sections. Start here.
41. University of Cambridge: Write & Improve
A free writing tool from the University of Cambridge. Write an essay and get instant automatic feedback on grammar and vocabulary. Start here.
42. Purdue OWL (Purdue University)
Purdue University’s free Online Writing Lab, with clear explanations of grammar, punctuation and academic style. Start here.
Free pronunciation, listening and typing practice
43. BBC Learning English pronunciation
Free short videos on English sounds, stress and connected speech. Pronunciation and fluency affect many PTE speaking scores. Watch here.
44. YouGlish
Type in any word and hear it said by real speakers in thousands of YouTube videos. Great for checking words before Read Aloud. Try it here.
45. BBC Learning English
Free courses, short programmes and quizzes from the BBC, for everyday listening practice. Listen here.
46. VOA Learning English
Free news and lessons in clear English with transcripts, from Voice of America. Good practice for Write from Dictation and Summarize Spoken Text. Listen here.
47. Typing.com
Free typing lessons and tests. In PTE you type your essays and summaries against the clock, and spelling is marked, so fast, accurate typing helps. Practise here.
Free PTE video lessons
48. E2 PTE (YouTube)
A popular free YouTube channel with strategy videos for every PTE question type, including the new ones. Watch here.
49. PTE Magic (YouTube)
Free PTE strategy videos and practice from an Australian PTE coaching school. Watch here.
50. Alfa Education (YouTube)
Free PTE tips and practice videos from the team behind Alfa PTE. Watch here.
How to get the most from free PTE practice tests
- Start with an official test: do Pearson’s Guided Practice Test in Smart Prep first so you know the real format.
- Check it’s up to date: practice material from before August 2025 won’t have Summarize Group Discussion or Respond to a Situation.
- Use a headset and microphone: PTE speaking is recorded and marked by AI, so practise speaking into a microphone, clearly and at a steady pace.
- Don’t pause or restart when you speak: the microphone closes if you’re silent for 3 seconds, and hesitation lowers your fluency score.
- Watch the word counts and spelling: answers outside the word limits lose marks, and spelling is scored. Leave time to check.
- Treat unofficial scores as estimates: use them to track your progress, not to predict your exact result.
Which PTE score do you need?
Universities usually ask for an overall PTE Academic score somewhere between the high 50s and the mid 60s, often with a minimum in each skill. Competitive courses and professional registration can need more. Visas have their own requirements. Always check the exact requirement on your course page. Our country guides for Australia, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and the USA explain how studying there works. For help choosing where to apply, take our free study abroad assessment. Taking another test too? See our free IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT and ACT practice test guides.
All links and free offers were checked in October 2026. Websites change what they offer free from time to time, so check the details on each site before you sign up. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Pearson, PTE or any of the other providers listed. PTE and PTE Academic are trademarks of Pearson.