PTE Score Chart & Report Explained: A Complete Guide
You’ve taken the PTE exam, and after a short wait, the results email lands in your inbox. You open it and see your official PTE Score Report—a page filled with numbers, graphs, and a lot of information. It’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed and ask, “Okay… but what does all of this actually mean?”
Don’t worry. This guide is here to help you understand every single part of your report in simple, clear terms. Think of your score report not as a final grade, but as a personal roadmap. It’s a tool that shows you exactly where your English skills are strong and which specific areas you can work on to improve. Learning to read this map is the key to reaching your goals.
What is a PTE Score Chart & Report?
Let’s start with the basics. A PTE Score Chart is a simple comparison tool. It helps you see how your PTE score matches up against other big English tests like IELTS or TOEFL. The PTE Score Report is your personal document from Pearson that shows your actual results.
Together, these two things give you the full story of your English ability: where you stand now, and how that compares to the requirements of universities and governments around the world.
Your Main Score Explained (The 10-90 Scale)
The first thing you’ll notice on your report is the big number at the top, your Overall Score. It’s a number between 10 and 90. So, what makes a score “good”? It all depends on your goal, but here’s a simple breakdown of what the score ranges generally mean:
- 10-42 (Basic to Limited): You can handle simple, everyday conversations.
- 43-58 (Competent): You have a solid handle on the language and can cope in most situations. This is often the minimum score needed for university foundation courses.
- 59-75 (Good): You’re a confident English user. A score of 65 or higher is a common requirement for many university bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
- 76-84 (Very Good): You have an advanced command of English. A score of 79+ is a major goal for many people, especially for competitive programs or for getting maximum immigration points.
- 85-90 (Expert): You are at a near-native level of proficiency. This is an outstanding achievement.
PTE Score Comparisons: Translating Your Score for the Real World
Let’s be honest, the main reason you care about your score is to see if it meets the requirements for your university or visa. Here’s how your PTE score translates.
PTE vs. IELTS Score Comparison
This is the most common comparison. If an Australian university asks for an “IELTS 7.0,” what does that mean for you?
| PTE Score | IELTS Band |
| 86-90 | 9.0 |
| 83-85 | 8.5 |
| 79-82 | 8.0 |
| 73-78 | 7.5 |
| 65-72 | 7.0 |
| 59-64 | 6.5 |
| 51-58 | 6.0 |
| 43-50 | 5.5 |
So, for that IELTS 7.0 requirement, you’re aiming for a PTE score of at least 65.
PTE vs. TOEFL iBT Score Comparison
TOEFL is another major test, especially popular for universities in the USA.
| PTE Score | TOEFL iBT Score |
| 86-90 | 120 |
| 83-85 | 118-119 |
| 79-82 | 110-117 |
| 73-78 | 102-109 |
| 65-72 | 94-101 |
| 59-64 | 79-93 |
| 51-58 | 60-78 |
| 43-50 | 46-59 |
PTE vs. CEFR Level Comparison
The CEFR is a European framework used to describe language ability levels from A1 (beginner) to C2 (mastery).
| PTE Score | CEFR Level |
| 85-90 | C2 |
| 76-84 | C1 |
| 59-75 | B2 |
| 43-58 | B1 |
| 30-42 | A2 |
| 10-29 | A1 |
Most academic institutions require at least a B2 level, which is why a PTE score of 59 is often a key threshold.
A Detailed Analysis of the PTE Score Report (Sample Walkthrough)
Now, let’s look at a real report to see how this all comes together.
We’ll use this sample report to walk through each section, just as you’ll see it on your own.
Section 1: Your Details & Overall Score
The top of the report has your photo and ID information. The big, can’t-miss-it number is your Overall Score. Our sample student scored 72. Looking at our charts, we know this is a great score—it’s equal to an IELTS 7.0 and sits comfortably in the B2 CEFR level. This student is ready for academic study.
Section 2: Your Communicative Skills Scores
This is the first layer of detail, showing your scores for the four main skills.
- Listening: 78
- Reading: 90
- Speaking: 64
- Writing: 82
Right away, we can see a story. This student is a rockstar at Reading (a perfect 90!) and very strong in Writing and Listening. But their Speaking score of 64 is much lower than the others. This is the first big clue about what they need to practice.
Section 3: The Enabling Skills (The Real Secret to Improving)
A full score report also shows your “Enabling Skills.” This is the most useful part of the entire report. These six scores are like a doctor’s diagnosis—they tell you why your main scores are what they are.
- Grammar: How well you control your sentences. Low score? You might be making small mistakes with tenses or plurals.
- Oral Fluency: How smoothly and naturally you speak. This isn’t about speed! It’s about a steady, confident rhythm. If your Speaking score is low, this is often the reason.
- Pronunciation: How clearly you say your words. If the computer has a hard time understanding you, this score will be low.
- Spelling: Simple enough—are your words spelled correctly? Every little typo matters.
- Vocabulary: Do you use the right words for the right situation? It’s about using appropriate words, not necessarily “big” ones.
- Written Discourse: How well you organize your writing. Does it flow logically? This is key for your essay score.
For our sample student with a Speaking score of 64, it’s almost certain their report would show lower scores for Oral Fluency and Pronunciation. Now they have a specific problem to solve.
PTE Scoring Explained: Where Do the Points Come From?
The PTE is clever because many questions give you points in more than one area. A task like “Write from Dictation” tests your Listening and your Writing. Understanding this helps you practice more efficiently.
PTE Score Chart for Speaking and Writing
This is the longest section of the exam, taking about 77 to 93 minutes.
| Task | Number of items | How it’s Scored | Skills Tested & Scored |
| Read aloud | 6-7 | Partial credit | Reading & Speaking; Oral fluency, pronunciation |
| Repeat sentence | 10-12 | Partial credit | Listening & Speaking; Oral fluency, pronunciation |
| Describe image | 6-7 | Partial credit | Speaking; Oral fluency, pronunciation |
| Re-tell lecture | 3-4 | Partial credit | Listening & Speaking; Oral fluency, pronunciation |
| Answer short question | 10-12 | Correct/ incorrect | Listening & Speaking; Vocabulary |
| Summarise written text | 2-3 | Partial credit | Reading & Writing; Grammar, vocabulary |
| Write essay | 1-2 | Partial credit | Writing; Grammar, vocabulary, spelling, structure |
You can always practice reading and speaking at OnePTE to improve your skill.
PTE Score Chart for Reading Section
This section takes between 32 and 41 minutes.
| Task | Number of items | How it’s Scored | Skills Tested & Scored |
| Multiple-choice, Multiple Answer | 2-3 | Partial credit (points off for wrong answers) | Reading |
| Re-order paragraphs | 2-3 | Partial credit (for each correct pair) | Reading |
| Reading: Fill in the blanks | 4-5 | Partial credit (for each blank) | Reading |
| Reading & Writing: Fill in the blanks | 5-6 | Partial credit (for each blank) | Reading & Writing |
| Multiple-choice, Single Answer | 2-3 | Correct/ incorrect | Reading |
Try 👉 PTE Reading Practice
PTE Score Chart for Listening Section
This section takes 30 to 43 minutes, and you only hear each audio once.
| Task | Number of items | How it’s Scored | Skills Tested & Scored |
| Summarise spoken text | 2-3 | Partial credit | Listening & Writing; Grammar, vocabulary, spelling |
| Multiple–choice, Multiple Answer | 2-3 | Partial credit (points off for wrong answers) | Listening |
| Fill in the blanks | 2-3 | Partial credit (for each correct word) | Listening & Writing |
| Highlight correct summary | 2-3 | Correct/ incorrect | Listening & Reading |
| Multiple-choice, Single Answer | 2-3 | Correct/ incorrect | Listening |
| Select missing word | 2-3 | Correct/ incorrect | Listening |
| Highlight incorrect words | 2-3 | Partial credit (points off for wrong answers) | Listening & Reading |
| Write from dictation | 3-4 | Partial credit (for each correct word) | Listening & Writing |
Check out our listening practice section to practice more and more.
How to Check and Send Your PTE Scores
Getting and sharing your score is a simple, secure process.
How to See Your Score Report
- Pearson will email you when your score is ready (usually within 48 hours).
- Log in to your myPTE account.
- Click “View Score Reports” to see your result.
How to Send Your Scores to Universities
You don’t download a PDF. Instead, you send it directly through your account.
- Click “Send Scores” in your myPTE account.
- Search for the universities or organizations you want to send it to.
- Confirm your choice. It’s free, and you can send it to as many places as you like.
Your Personal Action Plan: Turning Your Report into a High Score
Now for the best part. Let’s use the report to create a study plan. For our sample student with the Speaking score of 64:
- The Goal: Improve Oral Fluency and Pronunciation.
- The Plan:
- Daily Practice: Spend most of your time on speaking tasks. Practice 20 Read Aloud questions, focusing on speaking smoothly and clearly. Then do 20 Repeat Sentence questions to work on your rhythm.
- Test Your Progress: After a week, take a PTE Speaking Sectional Mock Test. This will show you if your focused practice is working under exam pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What’s the minimum PTE score for Australia in 2025?
It depends on your visa. For student visas, it’s often 50+. For skilled migration, you’ll generally need 65+ (“Proficient”) for more points, and 79+ (“Superior”) for the maximum points. Always check the official immigration website for your specific visa.
2. How long is my PTE score valid for?
Your score is valid for two years from your test date.
3. I’m not happy with my score. Can I retake the test?
Yes, absolutely. You can take the PTE as many times as you need to. You just have to wait until you get your score back from one test before you can book another.
4. What is a “good” score in PTE?
A “good” score is whatever score you need to achieve your dream! For many universities, 65 is the magic number. For immigration, it might be 79. The best score is the one that gets you where you want to go.
The best way to start this whole process is to get your own report and see your personal roadmap.
Take our free, full-length PTE mock test and get your own detailed score report today. It’s the smartest way to begin your preparation and focus on what really matters.
