PTE Academic · 2026 strategy guide
How to Get 79 in PTE: Section-by-Section Plan for 2026
The test changed on 7 August 2025, and so did Australia’s score rules. Here is what a 79 really means now, which tasks feed each skill, and a practical plan to reach it from Bangladesh.
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Quick answer: how to get 79 in PTE
To get 79 in PTE, first confirm whether you need 79 overall or 79 in every skill. Then take an official scored practice test, match your weakest skill to the tasks that feed it, and drill the high-volume items: Repeat Sentence, Read Aloud, Write from Dictation and the Reading blanks. Answer the open speaking and writing tasks in your own words, because memorised material can now score zero for content.
Most students who ask how to get 79 in PTE are not short of effort. They are short of current information. Since Pearson updated PTE Academic on 7 August 2025, two new speaking tasks have arrived, several tasks now feed different skills, and for new tests Australia no longer treats 79 in every skill as Superior English.
That means a lot of the advice still shared in Facebook groups and older blog posts is quietly out of date. Students spend weeks drilling tasks that no longer move the score they need, or they memorise templates that the new human review can mark down.
This guide fixes that. You will see what a 79 means on Pearson’s July 2025 concordance, the official map of which tasks feed which skill, a section-by-section strategy and an 8-week plan for beginners. There is also a free gap checker that shows exactly where your missing marks are, plus local fees and booking options for students in Bangladesh.
Why a PTE 79 Score Is Still Worth It in 2026
A 79 is still one of the most useful numbers on the PTE scale, but its meaning has shifted. Understanding that shift is the first step towards setting the right target.
79 overall still lines up with IELTS 8.0
Pearson publishes a concordance that compares PTE Academic with IELTS Academic. The current version, based on research released in July 2025, treats 79 as the lowest PTE overall score aligned with an IELTS 8.0. In plain terms, a 79 overall tells a university that you perform at the level of an IELTS 8 candidate.
The same table shows something most guides miss: the skill scores do not line up evenly. Listening and Reading reach the IELTS 8.0 band in the high 60s and low 70s, while Writing and Speaking need 85 or more.
On Pearson’s July 2025 concordance, IELTS 8.0 corresponds to PTE 79–85 overall, Listening 69–74, Reading 70–74, Writing 85–89 and Speaking 88–89.
Source: Pearson, PTE Academic Test Taker Score Guide (concordance updated July 2025)Australia changed what 79 in each skill is worth
For PTE tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs sets a separate minimum for each skill. Superior English, which earns the maximum 20 points for English on the skilled migration points test, now needs Listening 69, Reading 70, Writing 85 and Speaking 88.
Superior English for PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025: at least 69 Listening, 70 Reading, 85 Writing and 88 Speaking. For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 the bar was 79 in each skill, and those results may be used until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa.
Source: Australian Government, Department of Home Affairs — Superior English requirements (page updated September 2026)So what does a new 79 in every skill get you? It comfortably clears Proficient English (58, 59, 69 and 76), which is worth 10 points, and it already beats the Superior line in Listening and Reading. The missing marks sit in Speaking (9 more) and Writing (6 more).
For Australian PR, treat 79 as a floor, not a finish line. For a university application, 79 overall is usually well above the published minimum, which makes it a strong buffer for scholarships and competitive programmes.
Why the stakes are high for students in Bangladesh
More Bangladeshi students study abroad than a decade ago, and every PTE attempt costs real money in taka.
UNESCO recorded 52,799 Bangladeshi students enrolled abroad, roughly 2.2 times the level of a decade earlier, and Bangladesh Bank data show USD 662.2 million spent on education-related services abroad in FY 2024–25.
Source: The Daily Star, 15 September 2025, citing UNESCO and Bangladesh BankWith the PTE Academic fee at about USD 220, preparing properly once is far cheaper than booking twice. A clear target and a plan built around the scoring rules are what save you that second attempt.
Not sure whether you need 79, 85 or 88?
Send us your target country and latest mock scores. A Crack PTE trainer will confirm the exact score profile you need — free.
Get My Free Target CheckPTE Academic in 2026: Format, Fee and the 79 Score Map
PTE Academic is Pearson’s computer-based English test for study, migration and professional registration. You sit it in one session at a test centre. Your score report shows an overall score plus Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing, each on a 10–90 scale graded against Pearson’s Global Scale of English.
Test format at a glance
- Part 1: Speaking and Writing — roughly 76–84 minutes, nine task types including the two new ones.
- Part 2: Reading — roughly 23–30 minutes, five task types.
- Part 3: Listening — roughly 31–39 minutes, eight task types.
Pearson says the average test still takes about two hours, and its Score Guide lists a maximum of 2 hours 15 minutes. You answer 65–75 questions across 22 question types, and results typically arrive within 48 hours.
Two scoring rules that change how you study
First, your overall score is not an average of the four skills. Many tasks are integrated, which means one answer feeds two skill scores at once. Second, Pearson now double-marks content on seven tasks: Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Respond to a Situation, Summarize Group Discussion, Summarize Written Text, Write Essay and Summarize Spoken Text. A human expert checks the AI’s content score on each of them.
If an answer leans heavily on pre-prepared or memorised material, Pearson treats it as irrelevant: content scores zero, and a zero for content means the whole response earns nothing.
Source: Pearson, PTE Academic Test Taker Score Guide (2025)Pronunciation and oral fluency are still scored by the AI alone, so a human never judges your accent. But reciting a memorised Describe Image script and hoping for the best is now a real risk.
The 79 score map: which tasks feed which skill
If you are working out how to get 79 in PTE, this map is where your plan starts. The table below follows Pearson’s current PTE Academic scoring guidance and its 2025 Score Guide. Use it to decide where your practice hours go. Older guides often say Read Aloud feeds Reading or that the dropdown blanks feed Writing; under the current guide, they do not.
| Task | Items per test | Feeds these skills |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 · Speaking & Writing (about 76–84 min) | ||
| Read Aloud | 6–7 | Speaking |
| Repeat Sentence | 10–12 | Speaking + Listening |
| Describe ImageHUMAN | 5–6 | Speaking |
| Retell LectureHUMAN | 2–3 | Speaking + Listening |
| Answer Short Question | 5–6 | Listening only |
| Summarize Group DiscussionNEWHUMAN | 2–3 | Speaking + Listening |
| Respond to a SituationNEWHUMAN | 2–3 | Speaking |
| Summarize Written TextHUMAN | 2 | Reading + Writing |
| Write EssayHUMAN | 1 | Writing |
| Part 2 · Reading (about 23–30 min) | ||
| Reading: Fill in the Blanks (dropdown) | 5–6 | Reading |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers− MARKS | 2–3 | Reading |
| Reorder Paragraph | 2–3 | Reading |
| Fill in the Blanks (drag and drop) | 4–5 | Reading |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 2–3 | Reading |
| Part 3 · Listening (about 31–39 min) | ||
| Summarize Spoken TextHUMAN | 1 | Listening + Writing |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers− MARKS | 2–3 | Listening |
| Fill in the Blanks (type-in) | 2–3 | Listening |
| Highlight Correct Summary | 2–3 | Listening + Reading |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 2–3 | Listening |
| Select Missing Word | 1–2 | Listening |
| Highlight Incorrect Words− MARKS | 2–3 | Listening + Reading |
| Write from Dictation | 3–4 | Listening + Writing |
NEW added 7 Aug 2025 HUMAN content also checked by a human expert − MARKS wrong choices lose marks
Two numbers jump out. Repeat Sentence appears 10–12 times and feeds both Speaking and Listening, so it is the biggest single lever in the test. Listening, meanwhile, collects marks from 12 different task types, which is why a weak Listening score rarely improves from Listening practice alone.
What PTE costs in Bangladesh
Pearson sets the fee in US dollars: about USD 220 for PTE Academic at the time of writing. Always check the live price in your myPTE account before you pay, because Pearson can change it. Pearson-approved test centres operate in Bangladesh, mainly in Dhaka, so confirm the current centres and dates in myPTE too.
For many students the real hurdle is payment, because not everyone has a dual-currency card. As a Pearson Authorised Partner, Crack PTE can book your official PTE exam in taka through bKash, Nagad or bank transfer, so a card problem never delays your test date.
How to Get 79 in PTE: Section-by-Section Strategy
Each skill has a different route to 79. Start with the skill that sits furthest below your target, because one weak skill can drag two others down through the integrated tasks.
How to Get 79 in PTE Speaking
Speaking carries the toughest target if you are aiming for Australia’s Superior line of 88. Fluency and pronunciation are scored on every speaking answer, so delivery comes first.
- Repeat Sentence first. It appears 10–12 times and feeds Speaking and Listening. Repeat in natural word groups, keep going if you miss a word, and never restart.
- Read Aloud for rhythm. Six or seven items reward an even pace. Pause briefly at commas and full stops, and stress content words such as nouns and verbs.
- Describe Image and Retell Lecture in your own words. Both are now human-checked for content. Name the main trend or idea, add two specific details, then close with one conclusion.
- Prepare for the two new tasks. Respond to a Situation rewards a natural, polite answer that solves the problem in the prompt. Summarize Group Discussion rewards naming each speaker’s view and how the views connect.
- Record yourself every day. Listen back for hesitations, restarts and swallowed word endings. Pearson’s fluency criteria penalise exactly these habits, while its AI is designed to understand different accents, so a clear Bangladeshi accent is fine and a stop-start delivery is not.
How to Improve Your PTE Writing Score to 79
Writing draws on only four tasks, so every mark counts. Two of them sit in the Listening part, which means spelling under audio pressure decides more of your Writing score than most students expect.
- Write from Dictation: every correctly spelled word earns a point. Type what you hear, check plurals and tense endings, and never leave a sentence blank.
- Summarize Written Text: write one complete sentence of 5–75 words. Join two or three main ideas with connectors such as while or which means.
- Summarize Spoken Text: 50–70 words earns full form marks. Capture the speaker’s main point and two supporting details, not every example.
- Write Essay: aim for 200–300 words with a clear position, two developed body paragraphs and a short conclusion. Original reasoning beats memorised filler now that a human reviews content, structure and range.
How to Achieve 79 in PTE Reading
Reading at 79 is mostly about accuracy in the blanks. The dropdown and drag-and-drop blank tasks together give you 9–11 questions, and every correctly filled blank scores.
- Read the whole passage before choosing. Grammar (part of speech, tense, singular or plural) removes most options, and collocation decides the rest. Our 21 Reading Fill in the Blanks strategies go deeper on this.
- Reorder Paragraph scores each correct adjacent pair, so lock in the clear opening sentence and the pairs you are sure of.
- Multiple choice, multiple answers deducts marks for wrong options. Choose only what you can prove from the text; one confident answer beats two guesses.
- Remember the cross-skill tasks. Summarize Written Text, Highlight Correct Summary and Highlight Incorrect Words also feed Reading.
How to Score 79 in PTE Listening
Listening collects marks from 12 task types across Part 1 and Part 3. That is good news: it often rises on its own when your Speaking and Writing practice improves.
- Treat Repeat Sentence and Write from Dictation as Listening training. They are high-volume and feed Listening directly.
- Answer Short Question now counts for Listening only. Reply with one word or a short phrase, quickly and clearly.
- Highlight Incorrect Words penalises wrong clicks. Follow the text with your cursor and click only when the audio clearly differs.
- Fill in the Blanks (type-in) rewards correct spelling of each word, so treat it like a short dictation.
What You’ll Practise in a Crack PTE 79 Plan
- A diagnostic mock-test analysis that ranks your weak tasks by the marks they cost you.
- Delivery drills for Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence, with feedback on your recordings.
- Own-words frameworks for Describe Image, Retell Lecture and both new speaking tasks.
- Spelling and form control for Write from Dictation, the two summaries and the essay.
- Grammar-first blank strategies and negative-marking discipline for Reading and Listening.
- Timed full mocks and an exam-day routine you rehearse before the real test.
The Hands-On Advantage of 1-to-1 Feedback
In a crowded batch, the trainer rarely hears you speak. In a 1-to-1 class, your trainer listens to your recording and tells you exactly why an answer lost marks: a hesitation, a mispronounced word, or a pace that sped up at the end.
The best PTE practice techniques for a 79 score share one feature: fast, specific feedback on your own answers. Our lead trainer has also completed Pearson’s teacher-training course on paraphrasing, which teaches learners to use their own words. That is exactly the skill the 2025 content rules reward.
How to Choose the Best PTE Coaching for a 79 Target
A 79 target leaves little room for generic teaching. Before you pay anyone, ask these five questions:
- Will a trainer listen to my Speaking recordings, not just an app?
- Is my study plan built from my own mock-test report?
- Does the material cover the August 2025 format, including Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation?
- Will they tell me honestly whether I need 79, 85 or 88, and how long that may take?
- Are the fees published, and can I pay, including my exam fee, in taka?
Self-study vs batch class vs 1-to-1 coaching
| What you get | Self-study | Large batch class | 1-to-1 coaching (Crack PTE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trainer listens to your Speaking | ✗ No | Rarely | ✓ Every class |
| Plan built from your mock report | If you build it | Partly | ✓ Yes |
| Covers the August 2025 format | Depends on material | Varies | ✓ Yes |
| Feedback on own-words content | ✗ No | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Flexible class times | ✓ Yes | ✗ Fixed batches | ✓ Yes |
| Exam booking in taka | ✗ No | Varies | ✓ Pearson partner desk |
| Typical cost | Lowest | Medium | Tk 9,000–13,000 per 1:1 course |
| Best for | Strong English, modest targets | Steady learners on a budget | 79+, retakers, tight deadlines |
Be honest with yourself here. If you already score in the 70s and need 65 for a university, official practice material may be enough. If you need Speaking 88 for Superior English, you need someone listening to you.
PTE Superior English Score, Proficient and Study Targets Explained
These are the targets most of our students choose between. University figures are Pearson’s typical overall minimums; the Australian figures are Home Affairs minimums for PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025.
Typical overall minimums for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Each university sets its own, so always check the course page.
Worth 10 points for Australian skilled migration. A new 79 in every skill lands here.
The maximum English points. Speaking and Writing carry the hardest jump.
Moving from Proficient to Superior means 11 more marks in Listening and Reading, 16 more in Writing and 12 more in Speaking. That is why a Superior plan spends most of its hours on Speaking delivery and Writing accuracy.
Check the test type too. Pearson positions PTE Core for Canadian permanent residency and citizenship applications, and PTE Academic UKVI for UK work visas and study below degree level. Booking the wrong version is an expensive mistake.
Step-by-Step: How to Get 79 in PTE From Your Current Score
Follow these steps in order. Each one builds on the last, and skipping the first two means practising blind.
- 1Confirm your exact target
Find out whether your university or visa needs 79 overall, 79 in each skill, or a profile such as 69/70/85/88. Write the four numbers down; they drive everything else.
- 2Take an official scored test
Sit one of Pearson’s scored practice tests under real timing. Third-party portals are great for daily practice, but their scores are estimates.
- 3Find your gap
Subtract each score from its target. The largest gap gets the most hours, and the gap checker below does the maths for you.
- 4Fix delivery before content
Record Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence daily until your speech flows without restarts. Fluency and pronunciation feed every speaking task.
- 5Lock in the form marks
Hit 50–70 words in Summarize Spoken Text, one sentence in Summarize Written Text and 200–300 words in the essay. These marks are free if you follow the rules.
- 6Drill the high-volume tasks
Put daily repetitions into Repeat Sentence, Write from Dictation and the Reading blanks. Keep an error log of every word you miss.
- 7Test, review, adjust
Take a full timed mock every week or two. Change your plan based on the score report, not on how the test felt.
- 8Book when two mocks clear your target
Book once two scored mocks in a row reach your target with a small buffer. Make sure your myPTE name matches your passport, and read our PTE exam day tips before you go.
Free tool: check your gap to 79
Enter your latest mock or official scores. The checker compares each skill with 79 and with Australia’s Superior English line, then tells you which tasks to practise first.
| Skill | Your score | Gap to 79 | Gap to Superior (AU) |
|---|
Practice-portal scores are estimates. Confirm your level with an official Pearson scored practice test before you book. Superior figures apply to PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025.
PTE 79 Score Preparation Plan for Beginners (8 Weeks)
This sample plan assumes about two hours a day and a starting score in the 50s or low 60s. If you start higher, compress it. If your basic English needs work, add a foundation phase first.
| Weeks | Focus | Daily routine |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Diagnose and fix delivery | One scored mock, then daily Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence recordings plus 20 Write from Dictation sentences. |
| 3–4 | Form and accuracy | Summary and essay word limits, Reading blanks with grammar notes, and an error log for every miss. |
| 5–6 | Content in your own words | Describe Image, Retell Lecture and both new speaking tasks, plus paraphrasing and Highlight Incorrect Words practice. |
| 7 | Full timed mocks | Two full mocks, a detailed review, and extra work on the three tasks that lost the most marks. |
| 8 | Polish and book | Light practice and your exam-day routine. Book once two mocks hit your target. |
How long does it take to get 79 in PTE Academic? There is no fixed answer, because it depends on your starting point. As a planning range rather than a promise, allow 4–8 weeks of focused practice if your mocks sit in the high 60s, and two to three months if you start in the 50s. For a shorter schedule, our Pearson PTE preparation guide includes a 30-day version.
Who Should Aim for 79 in PTE Academic?
- Australia PR applicants: a new 79 in each skill gives you Proficient English (10 points). If you want Superior’s 20 points, push Speaking to 88 and Writing to 85.
- Applicants with older results: if your test was on or before 6 August 2025, 79 in each skill counted as Superior, and Home Affairs may accept it until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa.
- Postgraduate and scholarship applicants: 79 overall aligns with IELTS 8.0 and clears most published university minimums with room to spare.
- IELTS repeaters switching to PTE: the computer-based speaking section suits candidates who freeze in face-to-face interviews.
- Retakers stuck between 65 and 75: the gap often comes from a handful of tasks, and a task-by-task mock analysis usually finds them quickly.
Crack PTE: Your Pearson Authorised Partner in Bangladesh
Working out how to get 79 in PTE is easier with a trainer who hears every answer. Crack PTE is a Dhaka-based PTE Academic coaching and exam-registration platform. Since February 2025, we have helped 100+ students reach PTE scores between 58 and 90 through 1-to-1 mentorship, mock-test analysis and structured study plans.
Book your official PTE exam through us and pay in taka by bKash, Nagad or bank transfer.
Live classes on Zoom or Google Meet, so you can join from Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet or anywhere in Bangladesh.
Mohammad Showkat Uddin Chowdhury has completed Pearson courses on supporting low-level learners and teaching paraphrasing.
Every plan starts from your own mock report, not a fixed syllabus, so you only study what is costing you marks.
Crack PTE course fees (Bangladesh-based students)
| Programme | Format | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Focus Pack | One task (RA, RS, WFD or FIB), strategy and practice | Tk 999 per topic |
| Focused Batch | Small group, 12 classes over one month | Tk 7,000 |
| Crash PTE Score Booster | 1-to-1, 10 master classes in 10 days | Tk 9,000 |
| PTE A–Z Complete Course | 1-to-1, full preparation | Tk 10,500 |
| Foundation to Expert | 1-to-1, 15 classes, basic English plus PTE | Tk 13,000 |
Fees as listed on our website in October 2026. International students, please contact us for pricing. Practice-portal access is also available in taka from Tk 1,200 per month.
Learn more about Crack PTE and our team, compare every PTE course and package, or contact our Dhaka office to book a free consultation.
Final Thoughts
Three things decide whether you reach 79. First, know your real target: 79 overall, 79 in each skill, or Australia’s 69/70/85/88. Second, study the official score map, because the August 2025 update changed which tasks feed which skill. Third, answer the open tasks in your own words, since memorised material can now score zero for content.
Get those right and the rest is disciplined practice: delivery drills, form rules, error logs and timed mocks. That is how to get 79 in PTE without wasting attempts or paying for a retake you did not need. If you want a trainer to read your score report and show you exactly where the marks are, book a free consultation with Crack PTE today.
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PTE 79 FAQs
Yes, for the overall score. Pearson’s concordance, updated in July 2025, treats 79 as the lowest PTE Academic overall score aligned with IELTS 8.0. Skill scores do not convert evenly, though. An IELTS 8.0 corresponds to PTE Listening from 69 and Reading from 70, but Writing from 85 and Speaking from 88. If a university or employer asks for IELTS 8.0 in every band, check how it converts each PTE skill score before you book.
It is demanding but realistic with the right plan. A 79 needs consistent accuracy across integrated tasks, so one weak habit, such as misspelling in Write from Dictation, hesitating in Repeat Sentence or guessing in multiple-answer questions, can hold back two skills at once. Students with solid English who practise the official task formats, answer open tasks in their own words and review every mock report tend to see steady progress rather than one sudden jump.
It depends on your starting point and the score profile you need. As a planning range, allow 4–8 weeks of focused daily practice if your scored mocks already sit in the high 60s, and two to three months if you start in the 50s, because Speaking fluency and Writing accuracy take longest to move. Use official scored practice tests rather than the calendar to decide when you are ready, and book once two mocks reach your target.
Not for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Superior English, worth 20 points, now needs at least Listening 69, Reading 70, Writing 85 and Speaking 88. A new score of 79 in each skill meets Proficient English, which is worth 10 points. If your test was taken on or before 6 August 2025, 79 in each skill counted as Superior, and Home Affairs says those results may be used until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa.
Start with delivery. Pearson scores fluency and pronunciation on every speaking task, so record Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence daily and remove hesitations, repetitions and restarts. Then build content in your own words for Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation, because a human expert now checks content on these tasks. Repeat Sentence appears 10–12 times and also feeds Listening, so it deserves the most practice.
Use structure, not scripts. Pearson’s 2025 Score Guide says answers that rely heavily on pre-prepared or memorised material are treated as irrelevant, which gives them zero for content and no points overall. A simple framework, such as main idea, two details and one conclusion, is fine. Reciting the same memorised sentences regardless of the image, lecture or prompt is the habit that now costs marks, especially on the seven human-reviewed tasks.
Repeat Sentence matters most, with 10–12 items feeding both Speaking and Listening. Next come Read Aloud (6–7 items, Speaking), Write from Dictation (3–4 items, Listening and Writing, scored per correctly spelled word) and the two Reading blank tasks (9–11 questions combined). The August 2025 update also narrowed some tasks: Read Aloud now feeds Speaking only and Answer Short Question feeds Listening only, so older study plans may point you in the wrong direction.
Yes. Crack PTE runs live 1-to-1 classes on Zoom or Google Meet, so you can prepare from Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet or anywhere else in Bangladesh. You can also buy practice-portal access and book your official Pearson exam in taka through bKash, Nagad or bank transfer. You only need to travel to a Pearson test centre on exam day. Message us on WhatsApp at +880 1674-166241 to book a free consultation.