PTE Academic Success Story

Hello Everyone,

I would like to share my success story with PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic).
Like many others, I am also a person who is aspiring to get a PR for Australia or UK inorder to get a better quality of lifestyle.

About me

 I am from southern part of India. I have done my bachelors in Computer Engineering and Masters in Business Administration. Though, all my schooling was in English medium, I am not very fluent in speaking. I have my own pace of speaking. Listening has not been a problem till now. Thanks to all the English movies that helped me to climb this far. Writing, again, I have my own level of vocabulary, which is just average.

Getting introduced to PTE-A

When the idea of migrating to an another country came to my mind, I guess in late 2014, only IELTS was accepted by Australia. Thanks to many of the community forums and the members who introduced me to PTE Academic. I was immediately impressed by the quick, easy booking and immediate results. By that time it was already Jan 2015 and I have started my preparation for IELTS.
As all of you would have known, The score required in PTE equivalent to 7 band of IELTS is 65 and for 8 band is 79 (in each module).

IELTS	PTE Academic
7	65
8	79

  

Test Formats and Study Resources

Then, I started my research towards PTE-A. I was excited to know that, unlike IELTS, entire exam of PTE is given in a computer. I am very good at computer based tests rather than paper based or face-to-face interviews. This again gave me a kick to go towards PTE.

As far as Test Formats are concerned, its very simple, and there are lots of resources to explain in detail. Entire test format along with a tutorial and helpful tips are available in the official website in the following link: http://pearsonpte.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Tutorial.pdf

After checking this tutorial, I was very confident that the test is absolutely accurate and meaningful to check our competence level. Now the search for study resource started.

With the help of the study materials mentioned in the official website: http://pearsonpte.com/test-takers/preparation/ , I immediately went to buy the book "The Official Guide to the Pearson Test of English Academic New Edition Pack".

This book explains in detail about the test formats, scoring, registration and preparation. Additionally, it has some very useful tips and tricks for practising towards the test and improving the score. 

This book came with 3 practice tests, which were very useful. They are not scored and only are partially time restricted.

It took around a week time for me to finish the entire book and the 3 practice tests. After which I thought of giving a try with the Practice Test A.

The 2 tests available officially can be found in http://pearsonpte.com/test-takers/preparation/online-scored-practice-test/ 

It costs $35. Any credit/debit card can be used to book the test. But make sure the card/account is allowed to make international purchases. I was clueless about this point initially and wasted around 3 days getting in contact with customer care persons.

Feedback about Practice test A

1. Buying any Practice test will give you access to 30 days of Test boosters. test boosters are similar to 3 practice test from the CD of official book. They are not scored.

2. Practice test can be bought today and the test can be taken at a later point of time. This allows to practice on the test boosters prior to the practice test.

3. Practice test gives exact feel of the main test. It is time restricted, scored and gives you exact feel of having the real test. Make sure you make good use of it. 

4. Prepare with test boosters and other resources well before taking practice test, as practice test bought once can be taken only once. Each another time costs you another $35.

I scored  Listening (L)- 73 Reading(R)- 63 Speaking(S)- 75 Writing(W)- 72

I was in need of  65 in each modules. I prepared a lot for speaking part, as I was not confident on me.

The scores alarmed me that I need to concentrate a lot in reading part. 

I was pretty happy as I became very confident that I could clear the main exam with 65 in all modules. I booked the main exam 1 week after taking the practice test.

"Practice tests Plus" Book.

I went ahead to buy this book, as I needed more practice and did not want to take risk. The book came just 3 days before my main exam. 

This book is basically for the teachers of the PTE academic. This book costs around 3 times more than the previous book (at the time when I bought). But looking at the examples, tips and tricks and the 4 practice tests which included in the CD, I felt it was really worth the money. I took leave for my work a day before my exam and was practising hard. I would have practised at-least 5 times all the examples given in this book.

Booking the Test

Lots of community forums and the members had discussed a lot about the test centres and the difficulties faced by them due to the distraction by the fellow test takers, because they were made to sit too closely. I understood that visiting a test centre before booking the exam will be a good idea. After giving lot of analysis, I booked the test in a test centre in the nearby city, where the in-charge said only few persons are allowed to take the test everyday and it is not always full house.

On the Test day

I was really fortunate to have only one fellow test taker. After checking the documents and biometrics, I was allowed inside the test hall. Then there is the equipment test. The microphone, headset, mouse, keyboard can be checked. They provided a erasable notepad and a marker pen. They are more than sufficient to take notes. 

I kept myself cool before starting the test. During the first part (Speaking), I really was very confident. I felt the test is similar to practice test or even more easier (may be because of extra practice).

Keep track of time: During Reading part, just before the optional break, I forgot to keep track of the time. I ran out of time and during the last minutes I got upset because of this . 

Overall I was happy with the test, apart from Reading part. I was desperately waiting for the 24 hours for the result . Normally result will be announced in a day or two.

Result Next day

I got the result next day. 

It was L80, S84, R65, W79. I passed!!!!! . Oh really... yes, I am into IELTS 7 band and am eligible for applying EOI.

Considering the time loss happened during Reading part, I was really happy about my result. I could have tried for 79 band (because I lost that only because of R part), but that was not the basic motive.

Thanks a lot of everyone who is reading this blog. Hope my success story helps/inspires someone.

All the best for you people.


Do drop in some comments/questions and let me see if I could answer few.

 

Regards,

Guru