PTE results time and how long a score is valid
PTE Academic results usually arrive within two business days, and can take up to five business days. Pearson says a score is valid for two years from the test date and that an expired score can no longer be used for study or visa applications. Home Affairs sets its own test window for each visa, which is 3 years on most of the pages we read. Our reading: plan around the two-year Pearson limit.
Two clocks run on your score
One is Pearson's. The other is the visa's.
How old can the test be, by visa
| Visa or rule | How old the test can be | Home Affairs says |
|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand 482 (Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams) | 3 years | take the test within 3 years before you apply |
| Competent English (set by the visa subclass) | 3 years | You achieved one of the test scores in Table 1 or Table 2, in the 3 years before your visa application, depending on the visa subclass. |
| Employer Nomination 186 | 3 years | Your English test results cannot have been issued more than three years before you make your application. |
| Student 500 | 2 years | You must have completed the English language test: within the 2 years before you lodged your visa application, if you are Regular Evidence level; or within the 2 years before a decision is made on your visa application, if you are Streamlined Evidence level and the Department has requested evidence. |
How long results take
Pearson words it differently on different pages. All of them put the usual wait at about two days.
| Pearson page | What it says |
|---|---|
| PTE Academic (FAQ) | Most test takers get their PTE Academic results within two business days after taking the test. In some cases, results may take up to five business days, depending on processing times. |
| Australia page | Book quickly. Take a 2-hour test. Get your results typically in less than 48 hours. |
| Scoring page | Once you have completed your test, we will send you your score report typically within 48 hours. |
| Help centre | Test results are delivered in just 5 working days (and typically within 48 hours). |
Sending your score
PTE Academic proudly gives all test takers the freedom to send your scores to as many organizations as you like, without an additional fee.
Pearson says to ask for a rescore before you share your score: If you are considering requesting a rescore, you should do so before sharing your score in any applications you are making.
Rescore and technical review
Two separate services, both with short deadlines.
| Service | What Pearson says |
|---|---|
| Rescore | While the PTE test is a machine-scored test, a rescore is carried out by a human scorer. If your score changes, it will overwrite your old score, and you will no longer be able to use your previous score. |
| Rescore fee and deadline | The fee for requesting a rescore is $160 USD. To request a rescore, please phone the Customer Support team within 14 calendar days of your score being made available to you. |
| Rescore: what else to know | If your overall or communicative skills scores change, the rescore fee will be refunded. You cannot request a rescore if you have already scheduled another test. You can only request a rescore once per test registration. |
| Technical review | If you believe that your reported speaking score was affected by a technical issue, you may request a technical review. The technical review service will not change your scores. The fee for the technical review service is $50 USD, which must be paid before the service commences. Requests for a technical review must be made within 15 business days of your receiving your test results. |
If you need to retake
Pearson's retake policy, effective from 8 August 2024.
- You can only book your new test once you have received the scores from your last test
- You can only book one test at a time
- Tests can be booked up to 6 months in advance
- You can take the test more than once a month. However, you can only take the test up to 12 times within a 12-month window.
- Do not open a second account to get round these rules. Pearson says it will delay the release of future test scores.
Common questions
Pearson: “Most test takers get their PTE Academic results within two business days after taking the test. In some cases, results may take up to five business days, depending on processing times.” Its Australia page says: “Book quickly. Take a 2-hour test. Get your results typically in less than 48 hours.”
A PTE Academic score is valid for two years from the test date. After this period, the score expires and can no longer be used for study or visa applications. If your score expires, you will need to take the PTE Academic test again to obtain a new valid score.
Home Affairs lets some visas accept a test taken up to 3 years before you apply. Pearson says its score is valid for two years from the test date and that an expired score can no longer be used for visa applications. Our reading: plan around the two years.
Home Affairs sets the window on each visa page and Pearson sets two years on the score. For the visas quoted above, Home Affairs says 3 years before you apply for the 482 (Core Skills and Specialist Skills), the 186 and the Competent English rule, and 2 years for the Student visa.
PTE Academic proudly gives all test takers the freedom to send your scores to as many organizations as you like, without an additional fee.
Yes, for a fee. The fee for requesting a rescore is $160 USD. To request a rescore, please phone the Customer Support team within 14 calendar days of your score being made available to you. If your score changes, it will overwrite your old score, and you will no longer be able to use your previous score.
You can take the test more than once a month. However, you can only take the test up to 12 times within a 12-month window.
Pearson says: “Most test takers get their PTE Academic results within two business days after taking the test. In some cases, results may take up to five business days, depending on processing times.” Its scoring page says: “Once you have completed your test, we will send you your score report typically within 48 hours.” Pearson's booking guide says: “That’s it! You will have booked your PTE test. Your test details will appear in your myPTE account, and we'll send you an email with all the information.” The Pearson pages we read do not describe the exact screen where an Academic score appears, so sign in to that account first. For PTE Core, Pearson says: “Receive your results usually in just 2 days and share your score with IRCC using your Score Report Code or by sending it directly from your myPTE account.” If you think your score is wrong, see the rescore section of this page. For PTE Core timing see PTE Core dates and price.
The two hours is the test, not the wait. Pearson says: “You will have two hours to complete a PTE Academic, PTE Academic UKVI or a PTE Core test” The wait comes after it. Pearson's Australia page says: “Book quickly. Take a 2-hour test. Get your results typically in less than 48 hours.” and its help pages say: “Most test takers get their PTE Academic results within two business days after taking the test. In some cases, results may take up to five business days, depending on processing times.”
Pearson says: “While the PTE test is a machine-scored test, a rescore is carried out by a human scorer.” “If your score changes, it will overwrite your old score, and you will no longer be able to use your previous score.” “If your overall or communicative skills scores change, the rescore fee will be refunded.” “You can only request a rescore once per test registration.” “You cannot request a rescore if you have already scheduled another test.” Pearson also says: “If you are considering requesting a rescore, you should do so before sharing your score in any applications you are making.” The fee and the deadline are in the rescore section of this page.