PTE General
Encyclopedia
PTE General are international English language exams for speakers of English as a foreign language (EFL
).
They are developed by Pearson Language Tests
, a new business unit of the Pearson
group which carries out language testing and certification. Pearson administer the exams with Edexcel
, one of the largest examining bodies of academic and vocational qualifications in the UK. Edexcel is a Pearson company. The exams are accredited by QCA
, the Qualification and Curriculum Authority.
PTE General are theme-based exams designed to test how well a learner can communicate in authentic and realistic situations, and not on how well they remember formal vocabulary and structures. For this reason, the tests use real-life scenarios rather than grammatical
exercises. They test the four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
There are six levels which are mapped to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
. The Framework was developed by the Council of Europe
to enable language learners, teachers, universities or potential employers to compare and relate language qualifications by level.
Reading, writing, listening and speaking are tested at all levels. The alignment of the London Tests of English to the CEFR has been established by mapping the test specifications to the CEFR descriptors. This mapping process was submitted to an external audit by University of Westminster. Work is in progress to further improve the robustness of the alignment on the basis of empirical data.
Schools Examination Board in 1982. The Examination Board merged with Business & Technological Council
(BTEC) in 1996 to become Edexcel, the largest examining body of academic and vocational in the UK.
Theory to language testing. Schema Theory was developed by psychologists such as R.C.Anderson and Frederic Bartlett
. Schemata are learned models suggesting relationships between objects and help structure future learning. (Schemata is the plural and schema is the singular form of this word.)
PTE General tasks are related through a common theme which allows candidates to activate the different domains of knowledge they have acquired and thus further enhance second language acquisition. It also provides a coherent thread for candidates to guide them through the various tasks.
The tasks can be interrelated through a common topic or a scenario where the different tasks “build” a story and integrate different language skills.
(QCA). The QCA is the British regulatory body that monitors qualifications in schools, colleges and in the workplace.
(a Pearson company) and successful candidates receive a certificate of attainment from Edexcel. In some countries (Poland, Greece) the oral interview is assessed by locally trained assessors, whereas in other countries (France, Italy) they are entirely graded in London. The exams are taken in over 45 countries around the world.
English language learning and teaching
English as a second language , English for speakers of other languages and English as a foreign language all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with different native languages. The precise usage, including the different use of the terms ESL and ESOL in different countries, is...
).
They are developed by Pearson Language Tests
Pearson Language Tests
Pearson Language Tests is a unit of the Pearson PLC group, dedicated to assessing and validating the English language usage of non-native English speakers...
, a new business unit of the Pearson
Pearson PLC
Pearson plc is a global media and education company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is both the largest education company and the largest book publisher in the world, with consumer imprints including Penguin, Dorling Kindersley and Ladybird...
group which carries out language testing and certification. Pearson administer the exams with Edexcel
Edexcel
Edexcel, a UK company, is one of England, Wales and Northern Ireland's five main examination boards, and is wholly owned by the private-sector Pearson PLC, a UK-based media and publishing conglomerate. Its name is a portmanteau word derived from the words "educational" and "excellence"...
, one of the largest examining bodies of academic and vocational qualifications in the UK. Edexcel is a Pearson company. The exams are accredited by QCA
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency is an exempt charity, and an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Children, Schools and Families...
, the Qualification and Curriculum Authority.
PTE General are theme-based exams designed to test how well a learner can communicate in authentic and realistic situations, and not on how well they remember formal vocabulary and structures. For this reason, the tests use real-life scenarios rather than grammatical
Grammar
In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. The term refers also to the study of such rules, and this field includes morphology, syntax, and phonology, often complemented by phonetics, semantics,...
exercises. They test the four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
There are six levels which are mapped to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, abbreviated as CEFR, is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe and, increasingly, in other countries...
. The Framework was developed by the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
to enable language learners, teachers, universities or potential employers to compare and relate language qualifications by level.
| CEFR level | PTE General | Exam time |
|---|---|---|
| C2 Proficient | Level 5 | 2h55 |
| C1 Advanced | Level 4 | 2h30 |
| B2 Upper Intermediate | Level 3 | 2h |
| B1 Intermediate | Level 2 | 1h35 |
| A2 Elementary | Level 1 | 1h30 |
| A1 Foundation | Level A1 | 1h15 |
Reading, writing, listening and speaking are tested at all levels. The alignment of the London Tests of English to the CEFR has been established by mapping the test specifications to the CEFR descriptors. This mapping process was submitted to an external audit by University of Westminster. Work is in progress to further improve the robustness of the alignment on the basis of empirical data.
History
PTE General were originally developed by the University of LondonUniversity of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
Schools Examination Board in 1982. The Examination Board merged with Business & Technological Council
Business And Technology Education Council (BTEC)
The Business and Technology Education Council is the British body which awards vocational qualifications. Such qualifications are commonly referred to as "BTECs"....
(BTEC) in 1996 to become Edexcel, the largest examining body of academic and vocational in the UK.
Schema Theory
PTE General were one of the first set of ESOL exams to apply the Notional-Functional Syllabus and SchemaSchema (psychology)
A schema , in psychology and cognitive science, describes any of several concepts including:* An organized pattern of thought or behavior.* A structured cluster of pre-conceived ideas....
Theory to language testing. Schema Theory was developed by psychologists such as R.C.Anderson and Frederic Bartlett
Frederic Bartlett
Sir Frederic Charles Bartlett FRS was a British psychologist and the first professor of experimental psychology at the University of Cambridge. He was one of the forerunners of cognitive psychology...
. Schemata are learned models suggesting relationships between objects and help structure future learning. (Schemata is the plural and schema is the singular form of this word.)
PTE General tasks are related through a common theme which allows candidates to activate the different domains of knowledge they have acquired and thus further enhance second language acquisition. It also provides a coherent thread for candidates to guide them through the various tasks.
The tasks can be interrelated through a common topic or a scenario where the different tasks “build” a story and integrate different language skills.
Accreditation
London Tests of English have been formally accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum AuthorityQualifications and Curriculum Authority
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency is an exempt charity, and an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Children, Schools and Families...
(QCA). The QCA is the British regulatory body that monitors qualifications in schools, colleges and in the workplace.
Certification
The Tests are prepared and marked by teams of professionals from EdexcelEdexcel
Edexcel, a UK company, is one of England, Wales and Northern Ireland's five main examination boards, and is wholly owned by the private-sector Pearson PLC, a UK-based media and publishing conglomerate. Its name is a portmanteau word derived from the words "educational" and "excellence"...
(a Pearson company) and successful candidates receive a certificate of attainment from Edexcel. In some countries (Poland, Greece) the oral interview is assessed by locally trained assessors, whereas in other countries (France, Italy) they are entirely graded in London. The exams are taken in over 45 countries around the world.
Technology
Pearson have developed an online marking system, ePEN, and a web-based test centre service system, Edexcel Online, to provide rapid feedback on the individual performance of students in the exams.International recognition
Levels 4 and 5 of the PTE General are accepted for entrance to universities in the UK and by a variety of international companies.See also
- CEFR
- Pearson Language TestsPearson Language TestsPearson Language Tests is a unit of the Pearson PLC group, dedicated to assessing and validating the English language usage of non-native English speakers...
- PTE Young LearnersPTE Young LearnersPTE Young Learners are international English language exams for young children who are learning English as a foreign language ....
- PTE Academic
- EdexcelEdexcelEdexcel, a UK company, is one of England, Wales and Northern Ireland's five main examination boards, and is wholly owned by the private-sector Pearson PLC, a UK-based media and publishing conglomerate. Its name is a portmanteau word derived from the words "educational" and "excellence"...