|
Setting
the New Standard: PTE Academic Launches!
Kelsey P. Miller, Senior Marketing
Manager, Americas, Pearson Language Tests
What is
PTE Academic?
Pearson Language Tests (PLT) is pleased to announce the official launch
of Pearson Test of
English Academic
(PTE Academic). This computer-based test will deliver a more accurate
and authentic measurement of English language proficiency.
PTE Academic uses 20
integrated item types to measure the reading, speaking, listening and
writing abilities of non-native English speakers applying to academic
programs that use English as the language of instruction.
Test
items reflect real life scenarios in which students are asked to listen
to a lecture and take notes or read a passage and respond orally. In
this way, PTE Academic provides valuable information regarding the
test takers' ability to communicate in an English-oriented environment.
When Can Students Take This
Exciting New Test?
PTE Academic launches October 26, 2009.
The test is already recognized, or in the process of being recognized,
by more than 785 academic programs around the
world.
How Can
Students Prepare for the PTE Academic?
In conjunction with the launch of PTE Academic, PLT has partnered with Pearson
Longman to develop The Official
Guide to PTE Academic. The Official Guide
contains all the most important information about the test.
The Guide:
- provides an overview
of the features, format, and scoring of PTE Academic, giving
test-takers a clear idea of what to expect when they take the test.
- covers a range of practical areas,
such as registering for the PTE Academic test.
- includes practice questions
developed by Pearson, covering all question types so
test-takers
can practice using authentic questions found nowhere else.
- provides sample answers
from actual student responses during field tests. Students preparing
for PTE Academic will get a clearer idea of how their performance
measures up.
- details scoring rubrics,
explaining the criteria upon which responses are scored.
- includes an accompanying CD-ROM
providing test-takers with extensive practice with more than 200 new items
written specifically for the Official Guide.
- references free teaching notes
on the PTE Academic website, with lesson ideas, for use with the Official Guide.
A
tutorial overview of the Official Guide
will soon be available on the PTE Academic website, www.pearsonpte.com.
Stay tuned for future updates on PTE Academic as well as teaching tips
to prepare your students. In the meantime, visit www.pearsonpte.com!
If you have questions about PTE Academic, contact the Americas team at usreco@pearson.com.
If you would like more information about the Official
Guide, contact pltsupport@pearson.com.
|