# How to book PTE Academic

Which PTE test to book, the passport rule, payment, rescheduling and refunds, test day and results, from Pearson's own policies.

## Pick the right PTE test

| Test | Use it for |
| --- | --- |
| PTE Academic | University study anywhere, and Australian and New Zealand visas |
| PTE Academic UKVI | UK visas that need a Secure English Language Test. The same test, with a reference number for your application |
| PTE Core | Canadian permanent residence and citizenship |
| PTE Home | Some UK family and settlement visas. Despite the name, it's taken at a test centre |

*Source: Pearson, which test is right for me*

Every PTE test is taken at a Pearson test centre; there's no at-home version.

## Book in four steps

1. Find a seat: on pearsonpte.com choose PTE Academic, then a test centre, date and time. You can book up to 6 months ahead, and hold one booking at a time.
2. Create a myPTE account with your details exactly as they appear on your passport (see below).
3. Check the details, confirm the appointment and pay. Pearson takes cards, Google Pay and Apple Pay (and PayU in India), but not PayPal.
4. Prepare with the real task types. Our [free practice for all 22 tasks](/pte/practice) uses the test's timing.

You can also book by phone through Pearson's customer service. If you need accommodations (extra time, for example), request them before you book: Pearson asks for the form at least six weeks before the test.

## Your name and ID

This is where most bookings go wrong. Your name, date of birth, citizenship and gender in myPTE must match your ID exactly. If they don't, you won't be allowed to sit the test and you won't get a refund.

- Bring your original passport: valid, not expired, and issued no more than 10 years ago. Photocopies, even certified ones, aren't accepted.
- Put all your given names, including middle names, in Given name(s), and your family name in Surname, in Roman letters.
- Other IDs only work for citizens testing in their own country when that country is on Pearson's exceptions list. India and Nepal aren't on it, so you'll need a passport.
- If your passport is with a visa application, ask for it back before test day.
- A hand injury that stops the palm scan? Tell Pearson before you book.

## Fees and payment

The fee depends on the country you test in: in India it's INR 18,900, in Nepal US$248.60, in Australia A$499. See the [PTE fee in 13 countries](/pte/fees), read from Pearson's [price finder](https://www.pearsonpte.com/test-centers-and-fees/), which shows the current price for each country; the booking page shows the total before you pay. Vouchers can pay the test fee but aren't refundable by Pearson.

## Rescheduling, cancelling and refunds

| When you change it | Reschedule | Cancel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| More than 14 days before | Free, up to 6 times | 100% refund |
| 14 days to more than 7 days before | Not possible: cancel and book again | 50% refund |
| 7 days or less before | Not possible | No refund |

*Source: Pearson refund and rescheduling policies (updated September 2026)*

Arrive late and you can't sit the test, and the fee is lost. For a medical or family emergency, Pearson may reschedule for free: use its emergency reschedule form.

## On test day

- Arrive at least 30 minutes early with your passport.
- Check-in takes your photo, signature and a palm vein scan. The signature also accepts the test taker agreement.
- Everything else goes in a locker you can't open until you finish: phones, watches, wallets, notes, food and drink.
- The test takes about 2 hours. There are no scheduled breaks; you can take one, but the clock keeps running.
- Other people will be speaking in nearby booths at the same time. Practising with background noise helps.

Check your microphone and typing speed beforehand with our [mic test](/pte/microphone-test) and [typing test](/pte/typing-test).

## Results and sending scores

Results usually arrive within 2 days, and always within 5. You get an email, and the score report is in myPTE. Send it to as many institutions as you like for free, up to seven at a time, from myPTE or by sharing your Score Report Code; it can take 48 hours to show for them. Scores are valid for 2 years, and Australia's Home Affairs department accepts them for up to 3 years after the test. A rescore is a paid service and can move your score up or down.

Not sure what your score means? See the [PTE score chart](/pte/score-chart).

## Retaking the test

There's no fixed waiting period, but you can only book your next test once you have the previous test's scores. You can sit PTE up to 12 times in any 12 months.

## PTE booking questions

### How much does PTE Academic cost?

It depends on the country you test in: INR 18,900 in India, US$248.60 in Nepal, A$499 in Australia, GBP 230 in the UK. Our PTE fees page lists 13 countries from Pearson's price finder, and the booking page shows the total before you pay.

### Can I take PTE Academic at home?

No. Pearson says all PTE tests are taken at a test centre. The online version launched in 2021 was never accepted for visas.

### Can I use my citizenship certificate instead of a passport?

Only if your country is on Pearson's list of ID exceptions and you're testing in your own country. India and Nepal aren't on that list, so Indian and Nepali test takers need a valid passport.

### How soon can I retake PTE?

As soon as your previous scores are out. You can only book the next test once you have them, and you can sit up to 12 tests in any 12 months.

### Does sending my scores to universities cost extra?

No. Sending scores from your myPTE account is free, to as many institutions as you like, up to seven at a time.

**Sources**
- [Pearson: which test is right for me?](https://www.pearsonpte.com/which-test-is-right-for-me/)
- [Pearson: PTE Academic test taker handbook, July 2025 (PDF)](https://www.pearsonpte.com/content/dam/ELL/pte/pearsonpte/pdfs/test-taker-handbook-pte-academic.pdf)
- [Pearson help centre: booking and managing your test](https://www.pearsonpte.com/help-center/booking-managing-test/)
- [Pearson policy: account creation](https://www.pearsonpte.com/policy-center/account-creation/)
- [Pearson policy: identification](https://www.pearsonpte.com/policy-center/identification-policy/)
- [Pearson: ID requirements, country exceptions (PDF)](https://www.pearsonpte.com/content/dam/ELL/pte/pearsonpte/policy-and-help-center/documents/pte-academic-id-requirements-country-regions-exceptions-variations.pdf)
- [Pearson: test centres and fees (price finder)](https://www.pearsonpte.com/test-centers-and-fees/)
- [Pearson policy: payment](https://www.pearsonpte.com/policy-center/payment-policy/)
- [Pearson policy: cancellations and rescheduling](https://www.pearsonpte.com/policy-center/cancellations-rescheduling/)
- [Pearson policy: refunds](https://www.pearsonpte.com/policy-center/refund-policy/)
- [Pearson policy: test centre rules](https://www.pearsonpte.com/policy-center/test-center-rules/)
- [Pearson: on test day](https://www.pearsonpte.com/preparation/on-test-day)
- [Pearson help centre: scoring](https://www.pearsonpte.com/help-center/scoring/)
- [Pearson policy: retakes](https://www.pearsonpte.com/policy-center/retake-policy/)