Lesson 1 of 136 min read
Orientation & Score Targets
Start here to set your Reading target and learn the test shape. Compare Academic and Core before you practise.
Where does Reading sit in the PTE test?
Both exams follow the same order: Speaking & Writing, then Reading, then Listening. Reading is Part 2, so you take it after Speaking & Writing. One clock runs for the whole Reading part; these Reading tasks do not have separate timers.
PTE Academic
| Part | Time |
|---|---|
| Part 1 · Speaking & Writing | 76–84 minutes |
| Part 2 · Reading | 23–30 minutes |
| Part 3 · Listening | 31–39 minutes |
Pearson describes the test as taking around 2 hours. The Score Guide allows up to 2 hours 15 minutes, so leave room for the longer case when planning your day.
PTE Core
| Part | Time |
|---|---|
| Part 1 · Speaking & Writing | 50–65 minutes |
| Part 2 · Reading | 27–37 minutes |
| Part 3 · Listening | 22–37 minutes |
The Core Score Guide gives a total length of 2 hours. Core Reading has fewer items but more section time than Academic. Use that extra time to read carefully, not to expect extra questions.
What score do you actually need?
PTE reports an overall score and four skill scores on a 10–90 scale. Overall score is not a simple average. Your Reading target depends on your course, visa, or immigration program.
- Find your exact official requirement.
- Write down the required Reading score and any overall or other-skill minimums.
- Choose Academic or Core before booking. Check again if your goal changes.
A high overall score cannot replace a missed Reading minimum. Requirements can change, so use the linked official page for your route.
PTE Academic
Academic is used for university study and some Australian and New Zealand routes. Typical university overall minimums are shown below; your institution may add skill minimums.
Academic score guidance and official tables
Pearson's Score Guide lists these typical overall ranges:
| Course level | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Foundation | 36–50 |
| Undergraduate | 51–60 |
| Postgraduate | 57–67 |
For tests taken from 7 August 2025, Australian Home Affairs Reading minimums are:
| Level | Reading |
|---|---|
| Competent English | 48 |
| Proficient English | 59 |
| Superior English | 70 |
Some employer routes use Vocational English. The points table covers extra English points. IELTS Reading 7.0 is roughly PTE Reading 59–64; Pearson describes this alignment as an estimate.
PTE Core
Core is used for Canadian immigration. Read the CLB requirement for your program, then set the matching PTE Core Reading target. Practise Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks as a two-skill task.
Core score guidance and official tables
Use Pearson's PTE Core to CLB conversion and confirm the current rule on IRCC's language-test page. Each skill contributes separately to CRS points.
| Program | Minimum CLB | PTE Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker (FSW); Canadian Experience Class (CEC), NOC/TEER 0–1 | CLB 7 | 60 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC), NOC/TEER 2–3 | CLB 5 | 42 |
| Federal Skilled Trades (FST) | CLB 4 | 33 |
| Citizenship | N/A | Reading not assessed |
Check current IRCC rules before relying on a score or test-date limit.
Which PTE test do I need?
Canada (IRCC, Express Entry, provincial nominee programs and citizenship) accepts PTE Core. Australia (Home Affairs) accepts PTE Academic. Most UK visas require PTE Academic UKVI (SELT); family visas at A1/A2 use PTE Home. Immigration New Zealand accepts PTE Academic. Universities set their own requirements.
- Related reading: Listening score targets, Speaking score targets, Writing score targets
How many Reading questions will you see?
Reading uses five task types. Counts vary by test form, so use these ranges for pacing rather than memorising an exact order.
PTE Academic
| Task | Items | Text length |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer | 2–3 | up to 300 words |
| Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers | 2–3 | up to 350 words |
| Re-order Paragraphs | 2–3 | up to 150 words |
| Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop) | 4–5 | up to 80 words |
| Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) | 5–6 | up to 300 words |
Total: 15–20 Reading items. Academic's dropdown Fill in the Blanks scores Reading only.
PTE Core
| Task | Items | Text length |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 1–2 | up to 110 words |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | 1–2 | up to 275 words |
| Reorder paragraph | 2–3 | up to 110 words |
| Fill in the Blanks | 4–5 | up to 80 words |
| Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks | 5–6 | up to 200 words |
Total: 13–18 Reading items. Practise Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks as a two-skill task: it scores Reading and Writing.
- Plan for the difference: Core has fewer items, shorter passages on most tasks, and a longer Reading clock. Academic has more items and longer passages. Practise with the exam you will take.
Which other tasks also score your Reading skill?
Part 2 is not the only source of Reading points. Summarize Written Text and Highlight Incorrect Words also contribute. Academic also includes Highlight Correct Summary. In Core, Read Aloud contributes to Reading; in Academic it scores Speaking only.
See How PTE Reading Is Scored for the full task and scoring breakdown.
Continue learning
Related lessons and more practice
Choose your exam, record your Reading target, then learn the screen and timing rules in Test Format, Timing & Interface. Later, How PTE Reading Is Scored explains partial credit and negative marking.
- Browse all five Reading practice tasks
- Search the full PTE question bank across all four skills
- See the PTE Reading Course outline
- Compare formats in the mock exam library