PTE scores and CEFR levels
Pearson aligns PTE Academic scores with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The calculator uses these published bands for every score you enter.
| CEFR level | PTE Academic score |
|---|---|
| C2 | 85 to 90 |
| C1 | 76 to 84 |
| B2 | 59 to 75 |
| B1 | 43 to 58 |
| A2 | 30 to 42 |
| A1 | 10 to 29 |
Source: Pearson PTE, "Understand your PTE Academic score".
Why the overall score is not calculated
Your score report shows an overall score and four skill scores, all on the 10 to 90 scale. Pearson does not publish a formula for combining the skill scores into the overall score, so any calculator that "works out" your overall score from four numbers is guessing. This tool only compares the scores you enter with your target.
Many questions also feed two skills at once. Our guide to PTE scoring explains which question types count toward each skill, which helps you decide where extra practice pays off most.
Finding the score you need
Requirements are set by each university, employer and government program, and they change. Look for the English language requirements on the official admissions or visa page, note the minimum overall score and any minimum for each skill, and enter them as your target. If a requirement is written for another test, ask the organization which PTE score they accept rather than converting it yourself.
Closing a gap
If you are a few points short in one skill, targeted practice usually helps more than repeating full tests. Start with the question types that feed that skill: speaking, writing, reading or listening. Each section has 50 free tests with a score estimate at the end.