PTE Academic has no single world price, and Pearson does not print one on a page you can read without its interactive price finder. What Pearson does publish in plain text is the set of rules that decide how much of your money you keep if plans change — and those rules are strict, with two cut-offs that matter more than the fee itself. This page sets them out from Pearson's own policy pages, alongside the Myndaq PTE Academic course. For what is in the test, see the PTE Academic syllabus and question types.
What the test costs
Pearson states that fees for PTE Academic vary depending on the country, and shows the fee for your country through a price finder on its test-centres-and-fees page. With India selected, that finder shows:
- PTE Academic — INR 18,900.00
- PTE Academic UKVI — INR 18,900.00
- PTE Core — INR 18,900.00
So the UKVI version costs the same as the standard test in India, and the Core test (the Canadian-migration product) is priced identically. The finder also states there are 57 test centres across India. The figure is what Pearson's own finder displays; it can change, and the fee in your booking flow is the one you pay. Amounts quoted on agent and coaching sites are second-hand — read Pearson's finder for any other country.
Two things are fixed whatever the fee:
- It is one test. Speaking and Writing, Reading and Listening are taken together in a single sitting of about two hours, so there is no section-by-section pricing.
- It is taken at a test centre, on a computer. Pearson states that PTE Academic cannot be taken at home.
Before you book: the ID rule
Book with the identity document you will bring. Pearson's general rule is that the ID you present should be your valid passport, not expired and issued no more than ten years ago, and that the name, date of birth, citizenship and gender you book with must exactly match that document. Pearson keeps a list of country exceptions and variations on its ID policy page; check it for your country before booking with anything other than a passport.
If you need the test for a UK visa, book PTE Academic UKVI rather than PTE Academic. Pearson's Score Guide describes it as taken for UK visas and immigration purposes, with a Score Report identical in content but carrying a SELT URN number that lets the UK Government verify your score.
Cancelling: three tiers
Pearson counts in full calendar days before your test:
- More than 14 full calendar days before — full refund.
- Between 14 and 7 full calendar days before — 50% refund.
- 7 calendar days or less before — no refund.
The middle tier is where most candidates lose money by waiting to see how their preparation goes. If you are unsure at the two-week mark, that is the moment to decide.
Rescheduling: free, but only early
- Rescheduling is free if there are more than 14 full calendar days left before your test.
- With 14 days or less left, you cannot reschedule at all. The option disappears from your account; your only choices are to sit the test or cancel under the tiers above.
- A single booking can be rescheduled at most 6 times.
For medical or family emergencies Pearson has a Request Emergency Reschedule form, but it is explicit that acceptance of evidence is at its discretion and that there is no automatic right to rebook or to a refund if you cannot sit for those reasons.
Retaking
- You can book a new test only after you have received the scores from your last one. You cannot book back-to-back attempts in advance.
- You can take the test up to 12 times in a 12-month window; Pearson says permission for more may be granted in some cases.
Because results usually arrive within two business days — and in some cases up to five — the practical gap between attempts is set by the results wait plus the next available date at your centre.
Results and sending scores
- Results usually arrive within two business days of the test, and in some cases take up to five.
- Validity: a PTE Academic score is valid for two years from the test date.
- Sending: institutions do not accept paper or PDF copies. You share your score either by giving an institution your Score Report Code, or through your myPTE account — to an unlimited number of institutions, selecting up to seven at a time.
- Australia and New Zealand: if you ticked the box for the Department of Home Affairs or Immigration New Zealand when booking, your score is shared with them automatically.
- UK: a PTE Academic UKVI score report is shared automatically with the UK Government.
There is no pass mark. Each institution or government sets its own minimum overall score, and may add minimums for individual skills.
Quick answers
How much does PTE Academic cost?
In India, Pearson's price finder shows INR 18,900.00 for PTE Academic, and the same for PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Core. Fees vary by country; the finder on Pearson's test-centres-and-fees page shows yours.
What refund do I get if I cancel?
A full refund more than 14 full calendar days before the test, 50% between 14 and 7 days, and nothing with 7 days or less to go.
Can I reschedule my PTE test?
Free of charge if more than 14 full calendar days remain, up to 6 times per booking. With 14 days or less left you cannot reschedule.
How soon can I retake PTE Academic?
You can book a new test once you have received your previous scores, up to 12 times in 12 months.
Which ID do I need?
Pearson's general rule is a valid passport, issued within the last ten years, matching your booking details exactly. Check Pearson's country exceptions list for your country.
