PTE Accepted Countries & Universities for 2024

PTE has come a long way. It is being more widely accepted in 2024 than ever before. To justify this statement, here’s a simple statistic. Between 2009 and 2020, more than 50 countries accepted the PTE exam, specifically English-speaking countries like Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada. Here’s an overview of additional countries accepting the PTE exam.

As of 2024, more than 100 countries recognize PTE. Besides the English-speaking countries, the PTE is being accepted in Asia, the Middle East, and European countries. 

Initially, PTE primarily targeted specific English-speaking countries like Australia and the UK, with limited market presence compared to other established exams. However, because of its ability to produce quick results, recognition from governments and institutions, and technological advancements, it has gained recognition. As of 2024, the exam is globally accepted and it is increasingly comparable to TOEFL and IELTS in terms of popularity.  

In this article, we will focus on why taking this exam is important, the PTE exam pattern, PTE accepted countries and universities, how it is different from other exams and more.

PTE Accepted Countries

Here is the list of the countries accepting PTE scores:

USA	Malaysia	Germany	UAE
UK	Egypt	Czech Republic	Poland
New Zealand	South Africa	Norway	Brazil
Singapore	Argentina	Albania	Belgium
India	France	Ireland	Bulgaria
China	Switzerland	Sri Lanka	Philippines
Mexico	Spain	Turkey	Nigeria
Fiji	Japan	Thailand	Hong Kong
Canada	Ukraine	Saudi Arabia	Estonia
Australia	Russia	Vietnam	Denmark

Notable Universities Accepting PTE Test

Below are some of the notable universities that accept PTE scores. In addition to this, hundreds of other universities accept PTE proficiency test scores.

USA

University	Minimum Accepted PTE Score
Harvard University	75
Stanford University	75
Columbia University	68
Yale University	70 or higher
Arizona State University	53
George Mason University	59
Auburn University	53

UK

University	Minimum Accepted PTE Score
University Of Oxford	71
University Of Cambridge	60 to 70
University College London	70
University Of Manchester	More than 60
University Of Chester	61 to 65
The University Of Leicester	36 to 56
The University Of Liverpool	51 to 62

Canada

University	Minimum Accepted PTE Score
University Of Alberta	At least 61
University Of British Columbia	65
University Of Waterloo	63
McMaster University	60
University Of Ottawa	52 to 55
Western University	58
St. Thomas University	50

Australia

University	Minimum Accepted PTE Score
The University Of Melbourne	65
The University Of Sydney	65 with no individual component score lower than 58
The University Of New South Wales	65
The University Of Queensland	65 with no individual component score lower than 58
University Of Canberra	50
Canberra Institute Of Technology	48
Deakin University	50

New Zealand

University	Minimum Accepted PTE Score
University Of Auckland	65
University Of Canterbury	58 with no individual component lower than 50
University Of Otago	58 with no individual component lower than 50
Auckland University Of Technology	58 with no individual component lower than 50
Massey University	38 to 58
Lincoln University	50 to 58
Victoria University Of Wellington	50 to 58

Why Should You Take The PTE Test?

• The PTE is rising in popularity. According to Pearson’s annual report 2023, over 1 million tests were administered globally in 2023. This means its volume grew by 50% compared to the previous year.
• The acceptance of PTE exams has increased significantly. Today, 99% of Canadian universities, 100% of Australian universities, and 3,300 global universities, including prestigious schools like Stanford, Oxford, and Yale accept PTE test scores.
• The test is known for delivering results quickly, within 48 hours, making it the best option for students who need to submit their English proficiency test scores quickly.

PTE Exam Pattern

The PTE exam consists of 4 segments namely speaking, reading, writing, and listening. However, speaking and writing are clubbed together into one section. The total duration of the exam is approximately 3 hours.

Let’s look at each segment in detail:

Speaking And Writing

• Duration: Approximately 70 to 90 minutes.
• Components: The test format includes a personal introduction, read-aloud, describing an image, answering short answer questions, and more. 
• Score range: This section is scored 10 to 90 points on a scale. 

Reading

• Duration: Approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
• Components: The test format includes multiple choice (single answer), multiple choice (multiple answers), re-order paragraphs, and fill-in-the-blanks.
• Score range: This section is scored 10 to 90 points on a scale.

Listening

• Duration: Approximately 40 to 50 minutes.
• Components: The test format includes summarizing the spoken text, multiple choice (single answer), multiple choice (multiple answers), selecting missing words, writing from dictation, and more.   
• Score range: This section is scored 10 to 90 points on a scale.

Why PTE Is Accepted As An Alternative To Other English Tests

• The PTE exam is highly focused on academics compared to other exams. It integrates multiple skills like speaking, reading, and writing into a single test session, which perfectly mimics real academic scenarios. This is something you cannot experience with other exams.
• The PTE scorecard provides detailed feedback on each section, including performance insights on sub-skills like pronunciation, fluency, and grammar. On the other hand, IELTS does provide detailed feedback on each section but does not provide the same level of detailed feedback on sub-skills as PTE.
• Surveys indicate that the test-takers are satisfied with PTE’s quick results. According to survey data, the user satisfaction ranges between 85% and 90%. On the other hand, TOEFL test-takers user satisfaction in the context of results delivery is around 80% to 90%. Based on the figures, PTE test takers are more satisfied than TOEFL test takers.   
• The PTE exam uses an automated scoring system which other exams partially use. Automated scoring removes human bias, making the test more reliable.
• PTE uses adaptive testing with a variety of different questions. This means no two tests are the same. For example, if you and another person give a PTE test on the same day, both will get a different set of questions. This makes the assessment fair. On the contrary, IELTS uses non-adaptive testing methods while TOEFL uses partial adaptive-testing methods.

Drawbacks Of PTE

While there are many advantages of PTE, there are some drawbacks compared to other exams such as:

• PTE has a smaller network of test centers (600) when compared to IELTS (1,200) and TOEFL (4,500). This means it is less accessible compared to other exams.
• The PTE exam has to be completed in straight 3 hours without any breaks, which is not the case with other English proficiency exams. This can be challenging for some test takers.

How To Find Out If Universities Accept PTE Scores?

Here are some tips to find out if your university accepts PTE scores:

• Check the university website. Go to the “Admission Requirement Page” to know if the university accepts PTE scores.
• Contact the admission office of the university.
• Download the brochures from the university website. The brochure contains all the information related to admission requirements, including which English proficiency test the university accepts.
• Check out the PTE official website. On the website, you will have the list of universities that accept PTE scores.
• Take the help of study abroad consultants. The consultants will have a list of universities that accept PTE scores.

Tips For Good Scores In PTE Exam

• Familiarize yourself with the test format thoroughly.
• Practice with official materials. Take a scored practice from the official website. In addition to this, download the PTE Academic official app. The app includes a lot of practice sessions and feedback on each answer.
• Practice tests under strict time deadlines. The test is timed and each section has a time limit, therefore, complete the practice test within that limit.
• PTE tests multiple skills at once. For example, while writing you need to listen. Therefore, practicing multiple skills is essential for a good score.
• Focus on expanding your vocabulary because this might help you in your writing tasks. The use of different vocabulary in writing will help you earn more points.
• Take advantage of the official materials provided by the PTE. They contain practice sessions that mimic the actual test.
• Focus on pronunciation and fluency because these can earn you more points on the speaking test.

Conclusion

PTE is being widely accepted as an English proficiency test by many universities around the world, especially in countries like the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, and it is earning international recognition. This is because of its fast results, emphasis on English-academic scenarios, and unbiased scoring. Overall, the PTE exam is a widely accepted test that helps students pursue higher education in world-class universities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)