PTE Academic Automated Scoring pattern
Pearson Test of English Academic uses state-of-the-art technology for test scoring. Research supports that, in many ways, automated scoring gives more analytical, objective results than humans do. Unlike human judgment, which is prone to be influenced by a variety of factors, an automated scoring system is impartial.
Automated scoring allows individual features of a language sample (spoken or written) to be analyzed independently so that weakness in one area of language does not affect the scoring of other areas. Human raters often exhibit “transfer of judgment” from one area of language to another. For example, test takers who speak smoothly may be marked as proficient even though their grammar is very poor.
Automated scoring, on the other hand, assesses the different language skills objectively.
PTE Integrated skills
As language skills do not occur in isolation, Pearson Test of English Academic uses a variety of integrated skills item types to reveal how well a test taker can use the English language for oral and written communication. Integrated skills items are important for assessing English language proficiency because, in an academic environment, students are often required to combine several language skills to perform a task, for example listening to or reading information and then responding orally.
PTE Academic features 20 different item types, each assessing one language skill or a combination of language skills.
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PTE SCORE REPORT INTERPRETATION
Basic Comparison between IELTS and PTE Academic
Moving to the next question
The test taker has the convenience of progressing to the next question by using the ‘next’ tab which further asks for a confirmation “Yes or No”. Only on confirmation, the screen moves to the next question.
Speaking Skill
IELTS | PTE Academic |
• Introduction
• Cue Card • Cross questioning |
• Read Aloud |
Comment: In PTE Academic the Speaking section is done with the computer which helps in the test takers confidence. Besides, the variety of questions in this skill gives him an opportunity to enhance his score. Since the scoring is automated, it is completely objective.
Writing Skill
IELTS | PTE Academic |
• Graph writing – 150 words
• Essay writing – 250 words |
• Summarize Written Text – 5-75 words
• Essay writing – 200-300 words – with word count |
Comment: In PTE Academic the Writing module is taken by the student on the computer itself. This helps the test taker in presenting the content in a neat and effective manner.
Editing the paragraphs and sentences is made convenient due to the ‘cut’, copy and the ‘paste’ tab
The word count helps the test taker in aligning his essay and keeping within the word count limit
Reading Skill
IELTS | PTE Academic |
Length of Passage: 900-1200 words
Types of Questions: • Multiple Choice Questions • Fill ups • Headings • True/False/Not Given |
Length of Passage: 50-150 words
Types of Questions: • Multiple Choice Single Answer |
Comment: In PTE Academic each Reading passage has only 1 question associated with which makes it convenient for the test taker to approach each question.
Listening Skill
IELTS | PTE Academic |
Track length – 7-8 minutes
Attempt while listening
Types of questions: • Multiple Choice Questions • Fill ups • Maps |
Track length – 45-60 seconds
Attempt after listening
Types of Questions: • Multiple Choice Multiple Answers |
Comment – The major difference is that in PTE Academic the test taker needs to answer the questions after listening to the track or answer while the transcript can be seen on the screen
Below are the test score equivalence :
English Language Tests for Student Visas | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | Test Score Band | ||||||||||
IELTS | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 9.0 |
TOEFL iBT | 31 | 32 | 35 | 46 | 60 | 79 | 94 | 102 | 110 | 115 | 118 |
PTE Academic | 29 | 30 | 36 | 42 | 50 | 58 | 65 | 73 | 79 | 83 | 86 |
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) | 32 | 36 | 41 | 47 | 52 | 58 | 67 | 74 | 80 | 87 | 93 |
OET | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
TOEFL PBT | 433 | 450 | 500 | 527 | 550 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
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