🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Admissions

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) Syllabus

Computer-based English language proficiency test accepted by UK universities and for visa applications.. The complete Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) outline — 7 subjects, 27 chapters and 88 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.

7Subjects

27Chapters

88Topics

146Sub-topics

366Flashcards

~95hEst. first pass

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) subjects

Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.

Test Overview, Format and Scoring

4 chapters · 14 topics · 29 sub-topics

~15h first pass · 56 flashcards Speaking

4 chapters · 14 topics · 28 sub-topics

~15h first pass · 51 flashcards Writing

3 chapters · 12 topics · 22 sub-topics

~15h first pass · 50 flashcards Reading

4 chapters · 12 topics · 21 sub-topics

~15h first pass · 51 flashcards Listening

4 chapters · 12 topics · 16 sub-topics

~10h first pass · 51 flashcards Enabling Skills and Cross-Skill Competencies

4 chapters · 12 topics · 13 sub-topics

~10h first pass · 51 flashcards Test Preparation, Strategy and Logistics

4 chapters · 12 topics · 17 sub-topics

~10h first pass · 56 flashcards

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) flashcard decks

366 question-and-answer cards across 7 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.

How to work through the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) syllabus

The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.

Weight your plan accordingly: Test Overview, Format and Scoring carries 14 topics while Test Preparation, Strategy and Logistics carries 12. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic).

The ~95 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) syllabus FAQ

What subjects are in the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) syllabus?

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) covers 7 subjects: Test Overview, Format and Scoring, Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening, Enabling Skills and Cross-Skill Competencies and Test Preparation, Strategy and Logistics. Together they contain 27 chapters and 88 named topics.

How big is the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) syllabus?

The full Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) outline breaks down into 27 chapters, 88 topics and 146 sub-topics. Test Overview, Format and Scoring is the largest single subject with 14 topics across 4 chapters.

How long does it take to cover the whole Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) syllabus?

Roughly 95 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 5 weeks.

Are there Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) flashcards?

Yes — 366 question-and-answer flashcards across 7 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.

Is this Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) syllabus free to use?

Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too, in United Kingdom and everywhere else. No account is needed to start.

Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) syllabus

Aptitude test that must be passed before enrolling on a Bar training course to become a barrister.

7 subjects · 23 chapters · 84 topics · 355 cards Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) syllabus

Standardized test taken by applicants to UK MBA and business master's programmes.

6 subjects · 23 chapters · 80 topics · 305 cards Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) syllabus

Standardized graduate admissions test accepted by various UK postgraduate and business programmes.

8 subjects · 28 chapters · 94 topics · 405 cards International English Language Testing System (IELTS) syllabus

English language proficiency test required for university admission and UK visas for non-native speakers.

7 subjects · 28 chapters · 116 topics · 352 cards Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) syllabus

Subject-specific admissions test for mathematics and computer science applicants at Oxford, Imperial and Warwick.

8 subjects · 25 chapters · 76 topics · 396 cards Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) syllabus

Advanced mathematics exams used as an admissions requirement for maths courses at Cambridge, Warwick and other universities.

7 subjects · 27 chapters · 148 topics · 355 cards Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) syllabus

English language proficiency test accepted by many UK universities for international applicants.

6 subjects · 21 chapters · 79 topics · 302 cards Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) syllabus

Mathematics aptitude test used by some UK universities for maths, economics and computer science applicants.

7 subjects · 24 chapters · 80 topics · 353 cards Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) syllabus

Critical thinking and problem-solving test used by Oxford and some other universities for courses like PPE and economics.

6 subjects · 22 chapters · 81 topics · 305 cards

Browse all 21 Admissions syllabuses → · All United Kingdom exams →