Why is it so DIFFICULT to find PTE Academic preparation material?
So, you’ve chosen to take PTE Academic to prove English proficiency or you have been told that it’s the test of choice by the institute or governing body that you’re applying to. Before choosing a test date, you need to have some BASIC knowledge about the test. That’s easy enough, a simple Google search or a chat with someone who has sat for the test and you’ll know more about the format and basic requirements.
So what happens next? It’s time prepare! On top of improving your general command of the English language, you will need specific, targeted information about the test. Unlike IELTS, PTE Academic has far fewer learning resources and there are a few reasons why this is the case:
Ughhhhh why is it so hard to find material and prepare for PTE Academic on your own?! As above, there are a few reasons.
1. It’s younger than the other tests like IELTS and TOEFL. It was launched officially in 2009, so you can’t expect to find as much “FREE” and “reliable” preparation material as IELTS – which has been around since 1989!
Sources: https://www.pearsonpte.com/articles/fast-facts-pearson-test-of-english-academic-pte and https://ielts.org/about-ielts
2. Limited 3rd party publishers. What does this mean? You know how you can find books on IELTS preparation by publishers other than Cambridge like Macmillan, KAPLAN and Collins? You’re not going to find any big publishers with PTE Academic preparation material. Why? This is explained in reason #6.
3. Complex scoring and test structure. Once you are even slightly familiar with the test format, you will notice that two skills are assessed in a certain question type (11 out of the 20 question types assess 2 skills!). The integrated scoring system and unique structure of PTE Academic make it challenging for material creators to design practice tests and study guides. The need to accurately replicate the test’s complex algorithms discourages many from developing unofficial resources.
4. Less familiarity among educators. This is the painful truth – there are very few language teachers and private tutors that have completed the PTE Academic training course. Most of the help you can find online are from well-meaning YouTube content creators and those who have had first-hand test experience. I am supportive of anyone who is out there trying to help, but officially, it’s hard to TEACH when you aren’t trained to teach something.
5. Market demand. The demand for PTE Academic resources is growing exponentially but is still smaller compared to IELTS or TOEFL. This lower demand results in fewer online resources and study guides being produced.
6. Pearson’s piece of the pie. Pearson, the creators of PTE Academic, emphasize using their official preparation materials, which can limit the variety of other resources available. This could make it harder for candidates to find alternative study options. It’s all about the money, baby!
7. Difficulty in replicating test conditions and experience. PTE Academic’s computer-based format and real-time scoring are hard to replicate outside of Pearson’s official practice tests. This challenge deters many publishers from developing accurate and effective preparation materials. Let’s also talk about the AI software. Many developers have produced AI software that’s similar, but NONE of them are the same – which means the only way to truly know your level is through a Pearson mock test and Pearson preparation material (see #6 again!)
So, I have now explained WHY it is so hard to find preparation material. In the next blog post, I'll give you the best and the worst methods of preparation for PTE Academic along with some of my favourite resources, YouTube channels and websites!
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