Το PTE General - Level 3 (Upper Intermediate)

PTE Level 3corresponds to level Β2 (GOOD KNOWLEDGE ) of the Common European Framework. Pearson Language Tests provide exams for the assessment and certification of the use of the English language by students of other languages. We carry out the Pearson Test of English General (PTE General) exams in collaboration with one of the biggest certification bodies in Great Britain Edexcel (One of Pearson’s companies).

London Exams Hellas was established in 2003 and it is the exclusive representative of Edexcel International-Pearson Language Tests in Greece for PTE General exams. PTE General exams are carried out all over Greece twice a year every December and May with exclusive conducting body Palso.

PTE is composed of four parts with a duration of 2 hours and there isn’t a break between the parts of the exam:

More specifically:The first three parts (Listening, Reading, Writing) comprise the written exams and they are taken the same day. The last part, that is speaking, takes place the same day with the written exams, either the following day or the following weekend of the written exams depending on the number of students that participate.

1) Listening: The Listening exam is composed of three parts. In the first part (Speaking comprehension), there are ten small recorded monologues or dialogues that the examinees are asked to answer with three multiple choice questions.In the second part (Spelling), the examinees listen to a speaker talking and they have to write exactly what he says with the right spelling. The listening part is heard twice. The second time with pauses, giving the candidates time to write word for word what they hear. The words that the examinees must write after each pause do not exceed six on average. In the third part (Speaking comprehension), candidates listen to two recordings either monologues or dialoguesand fill in five gaps in every recording based on the information they have heard, that is they answer ten questions in total.

2)Reading:Reading is composed of four parts. The first part is composed of five small texts with a gap in each one of them and the candidate must choose one of the three given choices. In the second part, the candidate reads a text and answers five questions or fills in five sentences of the three suggested options given for each question. The third part of this exam is composed of two texts in which the examinees are asked to answer eight questions giving a one word answer or a short answer. Finally, in the fourth part, the candidate reads a text and uses information from this text to complete seven gaps in sentences mentioned in the text.

3)Writing: The writing exam includes two topics. The first topic is90-120 words and it is an e-mail, formal or friendly, based on information given in the last Reading text. The second topic is 150-200 words , the candidate is asked to choose one of the two suggested topics. The format and the structure of the topic can be informative (e.g. a leaflet, a review of an entry, an article, instructions), review (e.g. review, report, essay) or analytical (e.g. essay, analysis of issue of argument, explanation.)


4)Speaking: In the speaking exam, each candidate is examined individually and the total duration of the exam is 7 minutes. The speaking exam is composed of 4 parts. The first one and a half minute, the candidate is asked to give basic personal information about himself and his interests (Sustained Monologue). In the second phase of the speaking exam which lasts about two minutes the candidate is asked to discuss with the examiner a question developing arguments and an opposition (Discussion). In the third stage of the speaking exam which lasts about one and a half minute, the candidate must talk about two pictures that are related, describe them and answer an examiner’s question related to the pictures (Picture Description). Finally, in the last stage that lasts two minutes the candidate is involved in a dialogue (roleplay) with the examiner. There is an alleged problem and the candidate must show his ability to use speech correctly and respond to such kind of situations (e.g. you bought an expensive computer from a store and when you opened the box you realised that the screen is broken. The examiner pretends to be the salesperson and the candidate the customer that goes to the shop to ask his money back). The speaking exam is completed with the fourth stage with a total duration of seven minutes.

The written part receives 75 points in total (30 Listening, 25 Reading and 20 Writing) and the speaking part receives 25 , that is the scoring is cumulative on the scale of 100. The passing score of the exam is approximately 50% of the total score of the written and speaking exam. The results are available five to eight weeks after the day of the exams.