100+ Free PTE Express Practice Questions
Pass your Pearson Test of English Express (Pearson English Express Test) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
You will hear a recording. At the end, the last word or group of words has been replaced by a beep. Select the option that correctly completes the recording. [Recording transcript: 'When you start a new job, it is normal to feel nervous. You are meeting new people and learning new routines. But most workers say that after a few weeks, the unfamiliar tasks start to feel [BEEP].']
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Key Facts: PTE Express Exam
PTE Express is Pearson's one-hour, at-home, AI-scored English test for US university admissions, launched in late 2025, costing a fixed USD 70 worldwide and reporting results on the Global Scale of English (GSE) within 48 hours.
Sample PTE Express Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your PTE Express exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Read the passage, then answer the question. Many city governments are encouraging residents to plant trees along their streets. Trees provide shade that lowers summer temperatures, absorb rainwater that would otherwise flood drains, and remove pollutants from the air. Although planting and maintaining trees costs money, studies show that the long-term savings on cooling and flood control are far greater. What is the main idea of the passage?
2Read the passage, then answer the question. The invention of the printing press in the fifteenth century dramatically reduced the cost of producing books. Before this, books were copied by hand, a slow and expensive process that limited reading mostly to the wealthy and the clergy. Printing allowed identical copies to be made quickly, so books reached a far wider audience and literacy began to spread. According to the passage, why were books rare before the printing press?
3Read the passage, then answer the question. A growing number of restaurants now publish the carbon footprint of each dish on their menus. Supporters argue that this helps diners make climate-friendly choices, just as calorie labels help people manage their diet. Critics, however, point out that the calculations rely on many assumptions and can vary widely depending on the method used, which may mislead rather than inform. What can be inferred about carbon-footprint labels from the passage?
4Read the text, then choose the word that best fills the blank. The new bridge was designed to ________ heavy traffic, so engineers used reinforced steel cables capable of supporting thousands of vehicles every day.
5Read the text, then choose the word that best fills the blank. Although the experiment failed the first time, the researchers remained ________ and repeated it with improved equipment until they finally succeeded.
6Read the text, then choose the word that best fills the blank. The museum offers free admission on Sundays; ________, many families choose that day to visit, and the galleries become quite crowded.
7Read the passage, then answer the question. Sleep researchers recommend keeping a consistent bedtime, even on weekends. When people sleep in late on Saturday and Sunday, their internal clock shifts, making it harder to fall asleep on Sunday night and to wake up on Monday morning. A steady schedule helps the body anticipate sleep and improves overall rest. What is the writer's main recommendation?
8Listen to the recording, then answer the question. [Recording transcript: 'Welcome to the orientation. The library is open from eight in the morning until midnight on weekdays, but on weekends it closes at six in the evening. Remember to bring your student card, as you will need it to borrow books and to use the computer rooms.'] What time does the library close on weekends?
9Listen to the recording, then answer the question. [Recording transcript: 'Today I want to talk about honeybees. People often think bees are mainly important for producing honey, but their real value lies in pollination. As bees move from flower to flower collecting nectar, they transfer pollen, allowing many fruit and vegetable crops to reproduce. Without this service, food production would fall sharply.'] According to the speaker, why are honeybees most valuable?
10You will hear a recording. At the end, the last word or group of words has been replaced by a beep. Select the option that correctly completes the recording. [Recording transcript: 'Regular exercise does more than build muscle. Studies show that physical activity also improves mood and reduces stress, because it releases chemicals in the brain that make us feel [BEEP].']
About the PTE Express Exam
PTE Express, also marketed as the Pearson English Express Test, is a short online English proficiency test launched by Pearson in late 2025 for international students applying to universities and colleges in the United States. The whole test takes about one hour and is taken at home on a desktop computer, secured by AI proctoring, identity and equipment checks, human oversight and dual-camera monitoring. It assesses all four skills, Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening, through roughly 50 questions across 12 item types, and is scored on Pearson's Global Scale of English (GSE) rather than the 10-90 PTE Academic scale. Scoring is automated with human verification, so test takers see unofficial scores within minutes and receive a certified score report within 48 hours. PTE Express is designed for US admissions only and is not accepted for visa, immigration or professional registration purposes, for which PTE Academic remains the route. This practice set focuses on the objective, machine-markable Reading and Listening item types, the question types best suited to multiple-choice study.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
About 1 hour (60 minutes) for the full four-skill test.
Passing Score
Reported on the Global Scale of English (GSE) 10-90 scale overall and per skill; each US university sets its own minimum GSE requirement, so there is no single pass mark.
Exam Fee
USD 70, fixed worldwide. (Pearson)
PTE Express Exam Content Outline
Reading Comprehension
Read a passage and answer a multiple-choice question on the main idea, a specific detail, or an inference.
Reading: Fill in the Blanks
Choose the word that best completes a sentence or passage, testing vocabulary, collocations and connectors.
Listen and Select (Single Answer)
Listen to a recording and select the single correct answer about a detail or the main idea.
Reading: Multiple Answers
Read a passage and identify which statements are supported by the text.
Listen and Select (Multiple)
Listen and select the statement that correctly reflects what the speaker says.
Select Missing Word
A recording ends with a beep; select the word or phrase that logically completes it.
Re-order / Build a Sentence
Arrange scrambled phrases into a correct, logical English sentence.
Listening: Fill in the Blanks
Select the word that fills a gap in a heard transcript.
How to Pass the PTE Express Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Reported on the Global Scale of English (GSE) 10-90 scale overall and per skill; each US university sets its own minimum GSE requirement, so there is no single pass mark.
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: About 1 hour (60 minutes) for the full four-skill test.
- Exam fee: USD 70, fixed worldwide.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
PTE Express Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PTE Express and who is it for?
PTE Express, also called the Pearson English Express Test, is a one-hour online English proficiency test from Pearson, launched in late 2025 for international students applying to universities and colleges in the United States. It is taken at home and scored by AI with human verification.
How long is the PTE Express test and where is it taken?
The full test takes about one hour and is taken entirely online at home on a desktop computer with a webcam and microphone. Security includes AI proctoring, identity and equipment checks, human oversight and dual-camera monitoring of the test environment.
How is PTE Express scored?
PTE Express is reported on Pearson's Global Scale of English (GSE), a 10-90 scale, for overall English and for each of the four skills. Scoring is automated and then verified by humans, so there is no single universal pass mark; each university sets its own minimum.
How much does PTE Express cost and how fast are results?
PTE Express costs a fixed USD 70 worldwide, regardless of location. Test takers see unofficial scores within minutes and receive a certified, official score report within 48 hours.
How is PTE Express different from PTE Academic?
PTE Express is shorter (about one hour versus two), taken at home rather than in a test centre, uses fewer task types with shorter prompts, and is scored on the GSE. It is for US admissions only, while PTE Academic is the broader test accepted for global study, visas and migration.
Can I use PTE Express for a US student visa?
No. PTE Express is designed for US university and college admissions only and is not accepted for visa, immigration or professional registration purposes. For those uses you need PTE Academic.