Why is PTE Rising in Popularity?

There has been a significant increase of approximately 90% in PTE test-takers in the past two years i.e. 2022 and 2023, as per the latest financial reports released by Pearson. This indicated a noticeable shift in international students' choices for selecting English proficiency tests. Traditionally, IELTS and TOEFL used to be the popular English tests for students seeking to study abroad. However, PTE is now rising to be one of their competitors.

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The real question here is ‘Why is PTE rising in popularity?’ Students prefer PTE over other English proficiency tests due to many reasons including PTE's acceptance by the Canadian government for economic migration and student visas. The test is now acceptable across 7 continents and more than 70 countries showing its credibility worldwide. So, what are the reasons for this increasing trend for this test? Read the article below to learn more about the factors contributing to ‘Why is PTE rising in popularity?’.

PTE Exam Highlights:

Reasons For The Rising Popularity of PTE

Some of the reasons for the rising demand for the Pearson Test of English are mentioned below:

• AI Computer-based test

• Short test duration

• Quick result

• Widely acceptable in universities abroad

• Flexible Test Dates

AI Computer-based test

The PTE Academic exam is fully based on AI testing. Pearson uses artificial intelligence to grade and evaluate aspirant’s English command across 4 sections: Reading, Speaking, Listening, and Writing. It provides consistency in scoring. Unlike other English tests such as IELTS and TOEFL that focus on paper-based exams. A human intervention and bias might impact the outcome accuracy which is not the case in PTE.

Short test duration

One of the reasons why PTE popularity has increased over the years is its exam duration. It offers a shorter test duration for international students, unlike IELTS or TOEFL. The PTE exam duration is around 2 hours in a single session.

Moreover, the IELTS Speaking test generally does not take place on the same day and candidates are required to appear for it within 7 days of the time of the exam. In PTE, all four language tasks are tested on the same day. This reduces unnecessary time and effort allowing the students to perform the best as per their abilities.

Quick PTE result

Instant PTE results of fully computer-based exam is one of the primary reasons for taking it instead of IELTS or TOEFL. Pearson offers students fast results as they receive their scores within 2 days of testing with a maximum waiting time of just 5 business days. Other English tests such as IELTS and TOEFL take more than time usually two weeks to release their results. It benefits students who are juggling between university application deadlines and visa processes. Moreover, the results are very transparent which includes detailed feedback on the aspirant’s performance in every task.

Widely acceptable in universities abroad

PTE is a credible English test. It is acceptable and recognised in more than 70 countries and 7 continents making it a valuable and reliable source of English testing. Prominent universities in some of the top study-abroad destinations such as the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, etc accept PTE exams for English language requirements. This indicates that it is a globally recognized test. Moreover, this exam has been recognised by several immigration bodies for student visas and economic migration, such as the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Also check: Best Colleges/Universities Abroad accepting PTE Academic Score

Flexible Test Dates

There is a flexible test scheduling in the case of PTE for international students since it is a fully computerized test. So, aspirants can select their preferred location, time, and PTE date slots to take the test. The PTE registration process is quite simple and is available online. Aspirants can book the exam at least 24 hours prior to the test date. This increases the convenience for students when they have limited time to deal with university applications and visa processes.