Study Guides
PTE Core Study Guides
Tips, strategies, and stories to help you master the PTE Core test.
Every PTE Core study guide
PTE Core tests four skills across three parts in a single two-hour sitting, and each question type is scored against its own criteria. These guides break the exam down one question type at a time: what the screen looks like, how long you get, what the graders reward, and the mistakes that quietly cost marks.
Alongside the question-type guides there are two reference pieces worth reading early: the score to CLB conversion chart, which tells you what score you actually need for your immigration stream, and the PTE Core versus PTE Academic comparison, which confirms you are preparing for the right test.
Are the PTE Core study guides free?
Yes. Every study guide is free to read and does not require an account. They cover each question type's format, timing, scoring criteria and common mistakes, with worked examples and reusable templates.
Which guide should I read first?
If you are new to the exam, start with the PTE Core Speaking and Writing complete guide, then the score to CLB conversion chart so you know what score you actually need. After that, work through the guides for the question types your first mock test flagged as weakest.
What is the difference between PTE Core and PTE Academic?
PTE Core is accepted by IRCC for Canadian permanent residence, work permits and citizenship, and uses everyday and workplace English. PTE Academic is aimed at university admission and student visas and uses academic content. The question types differ between the two, so practice material is not interchangeable. There is a dedicated guide comparing them.
How do PTE Core scores convert to CLB levels?
PTE Core reports a score for each of the four skills, and IRCC publishes a table mapping those scores to Canadian Language Benchmark levels. The mapping is not identical across skills, so the same raw score can land on different CLB levels depending on the skill. The score to CLB conversion chart guide sets out the full table.