Many UK universities
target 50–60Most undergraduate UK courses ask for 50–60, with some demanding 59–63.
PTE scoring
PTE score guide: what your number means
The PTE Academic is reported on a scaled score from 10 to 90. See how it maps to CEFR bands, common university requirements, and the estimates shown here.
The scales
The two PTE scales
They are the same number written two ways. Pearson reports 10 to 90; many universities quote 60 to 120. To convert, add 50.
10 – 90
Pearson’s reported scale
Half-point increments
60 – 120
The same score, shifted
What universities publish
+ 50
The conversion
Both directions
Mapping
Score and CEFR band
These are Pearson's published bands, from the Institution Score Guide and pearsonpte.com: 85–90 is C2, 76–84 is C1, 59–75 is B2, 43–58 is B1, 30–42 is A2, and 10–29 is A1 or below. Pearson publishes bands for the overall score only — there are no public per-skill bands.
| Score (10–90) | Score (60–120) | CEFR | Level | Typically sufficient for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 140 | C2 | Exceptional | Above every university requirement |
| 85 | 135 | C2 | Exceptional | Above every university requirement |
| 84 | 134 | C1 | Advanced | Competitive courses |
| 76 | 126 | C1 | Advanced | Strong applications, competitive courses |
| 75 | 125 | B2 | Upper intermediate | Top of the B2 band |
| 69 | 119 | B2 | Upper intermediate | Postgraduate and professional programmes |
| 63 | 113 | B2 | Upper intermediate | A common minimum requirement |
| 59 | 109 | B2 | Upper intermediate | Bottom of the B2 band |
| 58 | 108 | B1 | Intermediate | Many UK undergraduate courses |
| 50 | 100 | B1 | Intermediate | The usual UK undergraduate floor |
| 43 | 93 | B1 | Intermediate | Bottom of the B1 band |
| 42 | 92 | A2 | Elementary | Pre-sessional English programmes |
| 30 | 80 | A2 | Elementary | Below most university requirements |
| 29 | 79 | A1 | Basic | Well below the test threshold |
Targets
What universities require
Postgraduate / taught
target 60–70Common minimum for taught postgraduate and professional programmes.
Teacher registration
target 63+Required by several teaching councils before registration.
Competitive courses
target 70+Medicine, dentistry and law frequently set higher thresholds.
Requirements change. Always check the specific course page rather than relying on a general threshold.
Method
How this site estimates your score
Being precise about this matters more than the number itself, so here is exactly what happens when you press finish.
1 Every published rule is implemented exactly
All-or-nothing items, one point per blank, one point per word spelled correctly, and the one-point deduction on the three types that use negative marking. Re-order Paragraphs is scored per correctly ordered adjacent pair, so a run of three boxes earns two points and the item maximum is one less than the number of boxes. The CEFR bands are Pearson’s.
2 Speaking and writing use a transparent rubric
Pearson scores constructed responses with a proprietary model that cannot be reproduced, so this site reads the published trait scales and estimates the same four constructs from signals a browser can measure: content coverage, form, structure and range, plus measured pace, pause frequency, pitch and energy variation for speaking.
3 The zero rules are respected
The score guide states that when Content or Form scores zero, no points are awarded for the item at all. So an off-topic essay, an essay under 120 words, a summary that is not a single sentence, and a response with no content from the source all score zero however fluently they were delivered. That gate is implemented, not approximated.
4 Eight types feed two skills at once
Repeat Sentence, Re-tell Lecture and Summarize Group Discussion each count towards both Listening and Speaking. Summarize Written Text counts towards Reading and Writing; Summarize Spoken Text and Write from Dictation towards Listening and Writing; Highlight Correct Summary and Highlight Incorrect Words towards Listening and Reading. A single-skill model would misstate all four skill scores.
The conversion curve, illustrated
| Points earned | Score (10–90) | Score (60–120) | CEFR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 10 | 60 | A1 |
| 25% | 32.5 | 82.5 | A2 |
| 50% | 52.5 | 102.5 | B1 |
| 70% | 67.5 | 117.5 | B2 |
| 85% | 79 | 129 | C1 |
| 100% | 90 | 140 | C2 |
Next steps
How to improve your score fastest
- Use the accuracy-by-question-type breakdown on your results page. Most candidates lose more points on Fill in the Blanks and Re-order Paragraphs than on the speaking tasks they worry about.
- Fix Re-order Paragraphs first. It has no partial credit, so it is the cheapest place to pick up whole marks by learning to follow pronouns and time markers.
- Practice Repeat Sentence daily. It is the largest single block of items in Part 1 and improves listening, speaking and pronunciation at the same time.
- Write the essay under time pressure. Structure alone protects the coherence score, and it is the part candidates most often lose by planning too long.
- Re-sit a full mock every four to seven days. The format is the thing being trained, not just the language.
High-yield tools
Essential High-Yield Preparation Tools
Maximize your preparation efficiency by focusing on the 6 critical question types that generate 70% of your total score, and adopt proven structures for subjective tasks.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is a good PTE score?
For most undergraduate UK university applications, 50 to 60 is the usual requirement, with many courses asking for 59 to 63. Taught postgraduate and professional programmes commonly ask for 60 to 70. Competitive subjects such as medicine and law frequently require 70 or above.
What is the difference between the PTE 10-90 and 60-120 scales?
They are the same score expressed twice. The 10 to 90 scale is the one Pearson reports; the 60 to 120 scale is simply the same number with 50 added. A score of 63 out of 90 is 113 out of 120.
Does PTE Academic have a passing score?
No. There is no pass mark. Each institution sets its own requirement, and for UK student visas the relevant standard is set separately by immigration policy rather than by the test.
How is the overall PTE score calculated?
Every item is scored and the result is combined across the four communicative skills — Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening — into a scaled score from 10 to 90 in half-point increments. Reading and Listening are scored exactly. Speaking and Writing are scored on content, form, oral fluency, pronunciation and range.
How long is a PTE score valid?
Pearson test results are valid for two years from the test date. Most institutions require results that are no more than two years old at the point of application.
Can I retake the PTE Academic?
Yes, but you can only book one test at a time. If you sit the test and do not achieve the score you need, you must wait for your results before booking another attempt.
Get a scored mock
See where your current score actually sits on this scale.