PTE GENERAL - LEVEL 3 (B2): UPPER INTERMEDIATE

Who is this test for?

This test is for test takers who use or will use an upper intermediate level of English for their
personal, social, educational or working life.
Test takers will be expected to understand and respond appropriately to the purpose, information
and points of view in spoken and written communication of the kind required in a variety of study,
work, everyday and leisure-related contexts in daily life.

How is this test structured?

The test has a written paper and a spoken test. The written paper is divided into nine tasks which
are linked to a theme. At Level 3 the theme tends to be quite abstract, such as global issues like
pollution and conservation.

Written test = Total time 2 hours

SECTION SKILLS ITEM TYPES OBJECTIVES NUMBER

OF
QUESTIONS
1 Listening Multiple choice Understand the main idea of a 10
short spoken text
20 min.

2 Listening & Dictation Understand and write down ---

Writing accurately a spoken text
3 Listening Text note completion Understand specific 10
information of a longer
spoken text
4 Reading Multiple choice Gap- Understand the purpose, 5
fill structure and main idea of
short text
5 Reading Multiple choice Understand the main ideas of 5
1 hour and 40 min.

a longer written text

6 Reading Comprehension Understand the main ideas of 8
questions (short short written text
answer)
7 Reading Text, sentence or note Understanding specific 7
completion information in a longer
written text
8 Writing Write correspondence Write a short letter, email or ---
blog entry
9 Writing Write a short text Write a short text from own ---
experience, knowledge or
imagination
Spoken test (7 minutes)

The spoken test consists of a timed interaction between a test taker and an interlocutor. There are 4
sections to the test.
1. sustained monologue
2. discussion
3. describe picture
4. role play

SECTION SKILLS ITEM TYPES OBJECTIVES TIMING

10 Speaking Monologue Speak continuously in topics of personal 1.5
interest minutes
11 Speaking Discussion Discuss a real-life issue, taking a position 2 minutes
either for or against

12 Speaking Describe a Describe a picture and interpret one aspect 1.5minutes

picture of it

13 Speaking Role Play Talk to resolve a problem in an everyday 2 minutes

situation