It’s important to comprehend the PTE Core band score chart before taking the test.

It provides a comprehensive standardized measurement of test-takers’ language proficiency.

If you still feel confused about this, don’t worry.

This article by PTE Magic will offer deep insights into the PTE Core score chart and helpful tips for calculating your result.

(See our Vietnamese version here)

Key Takeaways 

• The total score reflects your overall performance throughout the PTE Core test, which is not an average of four skill scores. 
• The PTE Core result is evaluated using an AI scoring system to ensure the most accurate score.
• The score band ranges from 10 to 90; each question type has different scoring criteria.
• The PTE Core score can be converted to IELTS and TOEFL scores for easy evaluation.

Related:

• PTE Core preparation tips & strategies
• PTE Core booking guide

How Is The PTE Test Scored?

Your result is often shown in the PTE Core score report. It presents your overall test score and scores of four comprehensive skills, including writing, reading, listening, and speaking. 

The overall score is based on your overall performance during the entire test. However, it’s not the average score of all four components.

In the PTE Core exam, you must complete between 49 and 54 tasks with more than 20 different question types. The overall score ranges from 10 to 90 points, and each skill scores from 10 to 90 points.

Some tasks that evaluate multiple skills at once are called integrated skills tasks. They can assess listening and speaking, writing and reading, or listening and reading simultaneously. 

Those tasks’ scores are counted as two communicative skills, contributing to the overall score. 

The PTE Core Band Score Chart: What Does It Mean?

The PTE Core scoring is evaluated under the PTE band score chart. It is widely accepted by more than 3,300 prestigious educational institutions worldwide and approved by Canada for visa purposes. 

The PTE Core score band uses an automated scoring system designed to match the marking process of seasoned examiners. The system uses complex algorithms and state-of-the-art programs that use data from about 10,000 test-takers speaking more than 120 languages. 

The PTE Core band score is valid for 2 years. Therefore, you should apply it to your organizations or for Canadian citizenship before expiration.  

The PTE Score Chart Evaluation

Here is the comprehensive evaluation table of the PTE Core score: 

PTE Scores	Level of Excellence
30 -36	Limited
36 – 43	Modest
43 – 50	Modest
50 – 58	Competent
58 – 65	Competent
65 – 79	Good
79 – 86	Very Good
86 – 90	Expert

As you can see, achieving the 86-90 band in the PTE Core test seems challenging. In most cases, an above-60 average score is regarded as a good result that many universities and organizations require. 

Breakdown of PTE Score Range

Here is the concise breakdown of the PTE Core score range that you should know: 

PTE Scores	Skill Explanation
10 – 29	Test takers show a basic grasp of the language by using fundamental phrases and showing everyday expressions. They can have basic introductory conversations and develop some interaction skills.
30 – 42	Test takers can apply their communicative skills to discuss several topics. They can also write and speak daily phrases coupled with basic expressions. They are better at interacting and sharing basic personal information.
43 – 50	Test takers can understand the language standard fundamentally and have the ability to explain their experiences in words. They can also give their opinions and discuss some general topics.
51 – 58	Test takers have a good grasp of language. They can share information about their real-life experiences and record and broadcast details.
59 – 75	Test takers are fluent in communicating and interacting with English-speaking people with negligible mistakes. They are also able to highlight and emphasize important information in speeches.
75 – 84	Test takers can understand many different texts and speeches in diverse contexts. They also show effective communication skills and the ability to discuss topics confidently.
Above 85	The test takers’ language proficiency is expert; they can understand English natives. They can also speak smoothly and write texts clearly with minimum errors.

PTE Core Overall Score Calculation For Each Skill

Here is a detailed PTE Core score chart for each skill, such as speaking and writing, reading, and listening. 

PTE Score Chart For Speaking And Writing

Question type	Time allowed	Number of items	Scoring	Evaluate skills
Read aloud	Around 30-31 minutes	6-7	Partial credit	Reading and speaking, pronunciation skills
Repeat sentence		10-12	Partial credit	Listening and speaking, pronunciation skills
Describe image		3-4	Partial credit	Speaking and pronunciation skills
Respond to a situation		2-4	Partial credit	Speaking, pronunciation skills
Answer short questions		5-6	Correct/ Incorrect	Listening and speaking
Summarize written text	10 minutes	1-2	Partial credit	Reading and writing, vocabulary, and grammar resources
Write email	9 minutes	2-3	Partial credit	Writing, vocabulary, and grammar resources

PTE Score Chart For Reading

Question type	Time allowed	Number of items	Scoring	Evaluate skills
Multiple- choice, single answer	Around 30 minutes	1-2	Correct/ Incorrect	Reading
Multiple- choice, multiple answers		1-2	Partial credit	Reading
Re-order paragraphs		2-3	Partial credit	Reading
Reading: Fill in the blanks		4-5	Partial credit	Reading
Reading and writing: Fill in the blanks		5-6	Correct/ Incorrect	Reading and writing

PTE Score Chart For Listening

Question type	Time allowed	Number of items	Scoring	Evaluate skills
Summarize spoken text	8 minutes	1-2	Partial credit	Listening and writing, grammar, and vocabulary resources
Multiple- choice, multiple answers	Around 22 minutes	1-2	Partial credit	Listening
Listening: Fill in the blanks		2-3	Partial credit	Listening
Multiple- choice, single answer		1-2	Correct/ Incorrect	Listening
Select missing word		1-2	Correct/ Incorrect	Listening
Highlight incorrect words		1-2	Partial credit	Listening
Write from dictation		3-4	Partial credit	Listening

How To Convert PTE Core Score To IELTS?

IELTS	PTE Core  (overall)	PTE Core (listening)	PTE Core (reading)	PTE Core (speaking)	PTE Core  (writing)
5	40.8	40.2	43.0	40.2	43.1
5.5	45.4	42.7	47.9	42.2	51.0
6	51.6	48.1	53.5	46.2	62.2
6.5	58.5	56.8	60.6	53.5	74.1
7	66.3	66.2	67.6	65.3	82.3
7.5	74.6	73.9	73.7	75.3	87.5
8	82.3	79.4	78.4	80.9	89.4

How To Convert PTE Core Score To TOEFL?

PTE Core score	TOEFL score
84 – 90	120
80 – 84	115 – 119
75 – 80	109 – 115
70 – 75	102 – 109
65 – 70	95 – 102
60 – 65	89 – 95
55 – 60	82 – 89
50 – 55	74 – 82
45 – 50	63 – 74
40 – 45	48 – 63
0 – 40	0 – 48

What If Your PTE Core Score Is Wrong?

Sometimes, you are unsatisfied with your test result and assume your score has been mistaken. Under this circumstance, you should first visit the Skills Profile on the official Pearson PTE website. Then, check for any variations between your overall score and score for each skill. 

Given that there are no differences, you can request examiners to rescore or ask for a reevaluation from Pearson. Remember that you can only send the request within 14 days of receiving the test result. 

Also, the score is highly reliable due to the AI scoring system. A rescore can only be requested if a technical error occurred during the test.

You must wait a few days before sending the final report to your email. If the original score changes, the report will be reissued to reflect your new score, so don’t worry!

The Bottom Line

This article offers comprehensive insights into the PTE Core band score chart. Now, you can understand the score chart for each skill and the score conversion between PTE and IELTS or TOEFL.

We hope you research the scoring standard clearly and rely on it to plan an effective study path. Good luck!