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Pearson Longman, a division of Pearson Education, is a leading publisher of language programs for middle school students, high school students and adult learners in English as a Second Language. In addition to its multi-level English courses, skills texts, test prep books and videos, Pearson Longman publishes more than 30 separate dictionaries for customers in over 150 countries. Longman Multimedia Programs provide interactive resources for teachers and learners of English. Increasingly, Pearson is working in partnership and directly in the actual teaching and learning of English as a second or foreign language.

PTE General aims to assess and reward positive and progressive achievement in English language learning. The test has been designed to motivate learners and can provide feedback to schools, parents and teachers. Where a test taker does not achieve the required level, feedback is given on areas of weakness. All test takers receive feedback on their performance.

Clearly learners progress at differing rates but, broadly speaking, Level A1 Foundation represents between three to six months part-time study and Levels 1 to 3 each represent one year of part-time study for many of our adult test takers. Level 4 often represents a further 18 months’ study from Level 3, as might the transition from Level 4 to Level 5.

Each level of PTE General (except A1 Foundation Level) is an ongoing, incremental and cumulative body of knowledge, not a discrete category without relation to prior learning. Thus, as test takers enter each new level of PTE General, it is presupposed they are familiar with, and can successfully engage in, the communicative tasks, language skills and structural and language content of the levels which precede their current area of study.

PTE Young Learners (formerly known as LTEfC) aim to assess and reward positive and progressive achievement in English language learning. The tests have been designed to motivate children and can provide feedback to schools, parents and teachers. All test takers receive detailed feedback on their performance.

The test is most suitable for children around the ages of 8 to 13.

Levels A1 Foundation, 1, 2 and 3 are suitable for adult and teenage learners, aged 14 upwards.

Levels 4 and 5 are recognized pre-entry qualifications at a number of UK universities and institutes of higher education and are therefore designed for young people aged 17+.

Children aged between 8 and 13 may prefer to sit tests from PTE Young Learners before progressing onto PTE General at Level 1 or 2.  At these levels of proficiency, the scenario and tasks require a higher level of maturity.

The types of tasks that test takers have to do in the tests are similar to those found in most modern communicative course books.  Also, the topics used in most course books are similar to those used in the tests.  Most modern course books will provide practice relevant to the test.  There is, therefore, no need to follow a specific PTE General course. 

Scheduled sessions are in May, June, November and December for PTE General and in May, June and November for PTE Young Learners.

We encourage schools, language schools and colleges to become registered test centers so that they can enter their own and external test takers for the tests. Pearson Language Tests (PLT) will require documentary evidence from all prospective centers to ensure that it is satisfied that the center will conduct the tests according to the regulations, so ensuring that integrity is upheld. PLT has representatives internationally. In some countries, there are locally-based agents or representatives.

The scores awarded for the tests at each level are Distinction, Merit, Pass or Fail.