Reviewed by the finduni team · Last verified 16 September 2026 · Sources: Pearson: PTE Academic preparation
Start with your target score
Before you study anything, find the exact score you need. Your university offer or course page gives it, sometimes as an overall score and sometimes with a minimum in each skill.
If the requirement is written as an IELTS band, convert it with the PTE to IELTS score conversion guide, which uses Pearson's published concordance. Aim a little above the target, because scores vary from one sitting to the next.
Pearson's official free resources
Pearson's free preparation programme is Smart Prep. It includes:
- Study Plan
- Guided Practice Tests
- Online Courses
- Test Tips
Start here. Smart Prep shows you the real task types and how the test is delivered, which matters more than any shortcut you read about online.
Pearson's paid resources
Pearson also sells official material. You do not need all of it; pick what fills a gap.
- Scored Practice Tests
- Official PTE Academic AI Practice
- Official Guide to PTE Academic
- PTE Academic Question Bank
- Expert Self-Study Course
Scored practice is the most useful paid item for most students: it tells you whether you are ready to book, which is cheaper than finding out on test day.
A practical plan
- Get your baseline. Work through Smart Prep, then take a practice test to see where you stand in each skill.
- Work on your weakest skill first. Spend most of your time where your score is lowest, in short daily sessions rather than one long weekend session.
- Practise under test conditions. Use a computer, a headset and a timer, with no pausing or replaying.
- Test again before you book. Take a scored practice test. Book once you reach your target consistently, not once.
- Keep the last days light. Review your notes and do short timed practice rather than learning anything new.
When you are close, check how dates work and how early to book in PTE test dates in Nepal.
Typing practice
PTE Academic is taken on a computer, so every written answer is typed. Slow or careless typing costs time and marks.
- Practise on a full-size keyboard like the one at a test centre, not a phone or a laptop touchpad.
- Turn off autocorrect and spellcheck when you practise. The test will not fix your spelling for you.
- Type in full sentences with correct capital letters and punctuation.
- Read back what you typed before moving on; most lost marks are small slips.
Microphone practice
Your spoken answers are recorded through a headset microphone and scored from that recording, so how you sound on a microphone matters.
- Practise with a headset microphone, and record yourself so you can listen back.
- Speak at a steady, natural pace and a normal volume. Shouting or whispering does not help.
- Keep going if you make a small mistake. Long pauses and restarts hurt more than a slip.
- Practise with some background noise, because other test takers at the centre may be speaking at the same time.
- Keep the microphone in the same position every time, near your mouth but not touching it.
When you are ready to book
Book through the booking page. The current price is in the PTE fee guide, the cities you can sit it in are in PTE test centres in Nepal, and if your plans change, the rules are in PTE rescheduling and cancellation.