How long to prepare for PTE? The questions students ask (and honest answers)

Students ask how long PTE preparation takes more than almost anything else. These answers draw on YouTube comments, Reddit threads and Quora threads we read in October 2026, with wording lightly edited. The reports are self-selected and vary widely. Read them as a spread, not a promise.

Can I get 79+ in two weeks?

Some students report it, but the reports do not support a promise. YouTube commenters claim 90 after one week of study, while others report five attempts stuck at 60–64. Quora answers say 79+ usually takes two to three months. How long you need depends on your starting level, not on the calendar.

• A test taker on Reddit wrote that 2 weeks of prep gave a 78 overall, short of the 80 they aimed for.
• Another reports a 90 overall after about 2 weeks, on a first attempt.
• Start from a full timed mock. The gap between that score and your target decides the plan.

"I want to improve from 53 to 80+ is it possible in one month?" (a YouTube commenter)

Is 65 possible in 10 days?

It is possible for some students, but it depends on your starting score. A YouTube commenter reports 65 after 10 days, and another says two weeks is enough for a 60 to 65 target. A Quora asker with a 55 mock and no practice asked about 75 in ten days. Take a full mock first and measure the gap.

• A test taker on Reddit wrote that going from 46 to 59 is a much more realistic jump than 40 to 70.
• Small targets from a high base are the easiest to hit. Large jumps need more weeks, not more hours a day.

"If ur targeting 60 to 65, 2 weeks is enough" (a YouTube commenter, 70 likes)

How many hours a day do I need?

Quora answers give a wide range: 8 to 10 weeks at 1.5 to 2 hours a day, or 6 to 12 weeks at 10 to 15 hours a week. Those are single-person reports, not Pearson guidance. A better planning rule is time spent on your weakest traits, tracked by section from a baseline mock.

• A test taker on Reddit reports one hour a day for a month and asks why 79+ still felt tough.
• Another reports 6 weeks of 1 to 2 hours a day around a 9-to-5 job.
• Hours matter less than whether each hour targets a trait that cost you marks.

How do I prepare with a 9-to-6 job?

Plan short daily sessions and one long weekend session, and spend the time on recorded speaking and an error log. A Quora asker posed this question and we found no sourced plan, so the structure below is our suggestion, not a Pearson rule. Fit speaking into times when you can talk freely.

Our suggested week:

• Day 1: one full timed mock. List your section scores and your three weakest tasks.
• Weekdays, 60–90 minutes: one recorded speaking block (for example Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence and Describe Image), then listen back. Add a short listening-linked block with Repeat Sentence and Write from Dictation.
• Twice a week: one written task with corrections, such as Summarize Written Text or an essay.
• Weekend: one long block, and a full mock every second weekend.
• Last three days: lighter practice. One YouTube commenter reports relaxing three days out.

A test taker on Reddit shared a 2-hour routine: 20 minutes of Read Aloud, 25 of Describe Image, 20 of listening shadowing and 25 of a timed essay. Treat it as one example.

Which tasks should I spend most time on?

Start with tasks that have the most items and count towards two skills. Pearson lists 10 to 12 Repeat Sentence items, which count towards both Listening and Speaking. Quora answers also name Describe Image, Write Essay, Write from Dictation and Re-order Paragraphs. Your own baseline mock should decide the order.

• Write from Dictation counts towards both Listening and Writing, and each correctly spelled word is a point.
• A test taker on Reddit wrote that you should make a list of words you misspell in dictation and essays, and type them for 10 minutes a day.
• Reddit threads also claim certain tasks carry fixed percentages of the score. That is an unverified community claim, and we found no such weights from Pearson.

Task guides: PTE practice.

Can I skip some question types and still hit my target?

You can, but an item you skip earns nothing, and high-count tasks such as Repeat Sentence carry many items. A few YouTube commenters ask which types they can skip for an 82 in listening or speaking. Skipping can make sense on a task where you gain little. Decide from your mock results, not a guess.

• Check how many items a task has and which skills it counts towards before you drop it. See our Repeat Sentence guide.
• If a task is your lowest trait on every mock, fix it before you consider skipping it.
• A skipped task does not remove the skill. Listening-linked tasks feed Speaking too.
• Be wary of shortcuts. Read whether PTE templates still work in 2026 before you build a plan on them.

Can I take notes in Summarize Group Discussion?

Yes. Pearson says you can take notes on the erasable whiteboard while the audio plays. You hear up to 3 minutes of audio, then get 10 seconds to prepare and 2 minutes to speak. One commenter reports reading notes aloud to fill time, but Pearson says you must use your own words, so treat notes as prompts.

• Give each speaker one line: stance and main reason, in three to five words.
• A test taker on Reddit wrote: note one main claim from each speaker, then explain where they agree or disagree.
• Pearson's top Content descriptor rewards relating the speakers' views, not only listing them.

Full format and practice: Summarize Group Discussion.

How many attempts do people need?

Reports run from one attempt to five. YouTube commenters mention five attempts stuck at 60–64, three attempts at 55 needing 58, and two attempts at 40-plus needing 60. Using each attempt's section scores to choose what to fix is the part you control. Check your target on the official source for your route.

• Reddit has the other end: first-attempt 85 after 2 months, and a Superior score after 3 days, according to test takers there.
• The reports mix very different starting levels, so they do not predict yours.
• If your target comes from an Australian visa, see English tests for Australian visas for where the official scores are set.

Practise this on ScoreFluent

ScoreFluent is an AI English coach for seven exam families. It turns each answer into clear feedback and the next thing to practise. Take a baseline with the PTE mock test. A full mock costs 40 credits and includes Personalised Tips on every answer, and new accounts start with 40 free credits, so your first mock is covered. Then drill the weak tasks in PTE practice. Scores are practice estimates.

This page was written by the ScoreFluent team from questions students asked in public. ScoreFluent is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Pearson. Practice scores are estimates, not official results.