All about the PTE Core Exam

The New and Easy Way to Immigrate to Canada
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What is PTE Core?

PTE Core is a brand new English language proficiency test that has been announced by Pearson’s group, the world's leading learning company & is going on board in February 2024. It is designed to assess general English skills for everyday situations, rather than academic English skills. It has been approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for all Canadian government economic visa categories including migration, work, or citizenship visas, and is aligned with the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level. It is a fully digital test consisting of four sections: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking, and uses AI to evaluate and score the test taker's English level.
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Who needs to give PTE Core?

PTE Core is designed for someone who wants to migrate to Canada or work there. One can also take PTE Core if they are seeking Canadian citizenship. PTE Core is accepted by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for all Canadian government economic visa categories.

Why choose PTE Core?

PTE Core offers many benefits for Canadian immigration applicants, such as:

Fast and convenient:
You can book your test online, choose from a wide range of test dates and locations, and get your results within two days
Fair and accurate:
You can trust your PTE Core score, as it is marked by AI, not humans, and reflects your true English ability
Flexible and adaptable:
You can take PTE Core in your preferred language, and use your score for multiple visa applications, as it is valid for two years.
Affordable and accessible:
You can save money and time by taking PTE Core, as it has a lower fee and a shorter duration than other English tests.

PTE Core Test Format

Part 1: Speaking & Writing

This part will take approximately 50 minutes to complete

Personal Introduction
Read Aloud
Repeat Sentence
Describe Image
Respond to a Situation
Answer Short Question
Summarize Written Text
Write Email

Part 2: Reading

This part will take approximately 30 minutes to complete

Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
Reorder Paragraph
Fill in the Blanks
Multiple Choice, Single Answer

Part 3: Listening

This part will take approximately 30 minutes to complete

Summarize Spoken Text
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
Fill in the Blanks
Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Select Missing Word
Highlight Incorrect Words
Write from Dictation

Difference between PTE Core & PTE Academic

ChangesPTE AcademicPTE Core
Question ReplacedRetell LectureRespond to a Situation
Question ReplacedWrite EssayWrite Email
Summarize Written Text5 - 75 words25 - 50 words
Summarize Spoken Text50 - 70 words, 10 mins20 - 30 words, 8 mins
Highlight Correct Summary

As per the above-marked differences, 4 new practice questions for PTE Core have been added to Alfa PTE for users to practice. All these questions are powered by AI scoring and users will get instant feedback on their responses. These 4 questions are as follows:

Respond to a Situation


This question requires you to listen to and read a scenario. You will have 20 seconds to prepare your answer. After you hear a beep, you will have 40 seconds to respond. Please give a full and clear answer.

Sample Question 1:
As a university student sharing a dorm with a consistently messy and inconsiderate roommate, you’ve attempted discussions without success. Frustrated and unsure of what to do, you plan to consult your resident advisor. What do you say to your RA?

Write Email


This task requires you to write an e-mail based on a scenario. You will have nine minutes to complete this task. You should write at least 100 words in your e-mail. Use full sentences in your writing.

Sample Question 1:
You are a volunteer at a local animal shelter and you want to invite more adults to adopt a pet. Write an email to the subscribers of your newsletter, introducing three animals that are looking for a new home.
Your introductions must be based on the following three themes:
- Personality
- Health
- Compatibility
You should include all three themes. Provide supporting photos for your introductions.

For the below two questions Summarize Written Text & Summarize Spoken Text, there isn't any change except for the word limit reduction in both & time limit reduction in the latter. To practice these 2 questions along with the other 17 PTE Core questions, please log in to the website.

Summarize Written Text


This task asks you to write a summary of the text below. You should use 25 to 30 words in your summary. Write your summary in the box at the end of the screen. You have 8 minutes to complete this task. Your summary will be evaluated on your writing quality and how well you capture the main points in the email.

Summarize Spoken Text


This task asks you to summarize a lecture for a classmate who missed it. Write 15 to 25 words in your summary. You have 5 minutes to complete this task. Your summary will be evaluated on how well you write and capture the main points of the lecture.

How to prepare for PTE Core?

PTE Core is designed to be easy and user-friendly, but you still need to prepare well to achieve your desired score. Here are some tips and resources to help you prepare for PTE Core:

Understand the test format and scoring:
PTE Core consists of four sections: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Each section has different types of questions and tasks that assess your English skills. You can find more information about the test format and scoring on the official PTE Core website.
Practice with sample questions and tests:
PTE Core provides free sample questions and a practice test that you can access online. These will help you familiarize yourself with the test format, question types, and difficulty level. You can also get feedback on your performance and areas of improvement. You can find the sample questions and practice test on the official PTE Core website.
Improve your English skills and strategies:
PTE Core tests your English skills in everyday situations, so you need to improve your vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and fluency. You also need to learn the best strategies and techniques for each question type and task. You can find useful tips and advice on the official PTE Core website. You can also enroll in a PTE Core preparation course or use a PTE Core preparation book to boost your confidence and skills.
Register and book your test:
Once you are ready to take PTE Core, you need to register and book your test online. You can choose from a wide range of test dates and locations, or opt for a home test if you prefer. You need to pay the test fee and provide some personal and visa information. You can find more information about how to register and book your test on the official PTE Core website

How Alfa PTE could Help You Prepare for PTE Core?

PTE Core is designed to be easy and user-friendly, but you still need to prepare well to achieve your desired score. Here are some tips and resources to help you prepare for PTE Core:

Alfa PTE offers a complete solution for PTE preparation, including online practice material, mock tests, templates, strategy videos & more on its sophisticated practice website and mobile app. This practice platform has been specifically tailored to help students succeed in the PTE exam.

Alfa PTE provides comprehensive preparation lessons on reading, writing, speaking, and listening, as well as specific PTE exam strategies and techniques. 

Alfa PTE has a large collection of real exam PTE questions and various tools that will help users prepare all PTE question types and tasks, including PTE Core questions such as Respond to a Situation and Write Email. 

Alfa PTE uses AI to evaluate and score your PTE responses, giving you an instant score along with detailed feedback and analysis of your performance and areas of improvement. 

Alfa PTE has a user-friendly website and mobile app that you can access anytime and anywhere. 

How to book PTE Core?

You can book PTE Core online in a few simple steps:

Create an account on the official PTE Core website
Choose your preferred test date, location, and language.
Pay the test fee and provide some personal and visa information.
Receive a confirmation email with your test details and instructions.

You can also book PTE Core by phone or in person at a test center. You can find more information about how to book PTE Core on the official PTE Core website https://www.pearsonpte.com/pte-core

How to take PTE Core?

You can take PTE Core on a computer at a Pearson’s test center. Here are some things you need to know before taking PTE Core. At the test center, you need to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled test time. You need to bring your valid ID and confirmation email. You will be checked in and assigned a locker to store your belongings. You will be given a headset and a pen and paper. You will be seated at a computer in a secure and quiet room. You will have a short tutorial before the test starts. You will have a total of two hours to complete the four sections of the test.You will not be allowed to leave the room or use any devices during the test. You will be checked out and collect your belongings after the test.

How to get PTE Core results?

According to Pearson, you will get your PTE Core results within two days of taking the test. You will receive an email notification when your results are ready. You can access your results online by logging into your account on the official PTE Core website. You will see your overall score and your scores for each section and skill. You will also see your CLB level and a detailed score report that explains your strengths and weaknesses. You can download and print your results as a PDF file. You can find more information about how to get PTE Core results on the official PTE Core website.

How to contact Pearson for PTE Core?

If you have any questions or concerns about the PTE Core, you can reach Pearson’s customer support through phone, email, or chat service. The contact details can be found on Pearson’s official website. We hope this information helps you understand PTE Core better.

For more resources and to practice PTE Core, register today on Alfa PTE. If you have any questions or concerns about how to start your PTE Core preparation, our team at Alfa PTE is here to assist you. Simply fill in the following form, and we will get back to you promptly.

Learn more about the PTE Core exam format

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