How to study for the PTE test at home

Whether you are new to studying at home, or you’ve mastered the art with self-discipline and dedication, below are some tips and advice to have you kicking goals with your PTE preparation. Follow our guidelines to be ready and in a great frame of mind when your PTE test day arrives!

Have a Structure when you study for the PTE

When doing self-study and study for the PTE test at home, it’s good to have some structure. You can use your PTE course material and your study pathway on your E2Language student dashboard to help you with this:

• Click on the PTE course tab on your dashboard, and you will see that the questions are organised in the same order as in the PTE test. So, you can systematically work through each section by watching the methods videos and then doing the practice questions (there are a LOT of them!).

• Alternatively, you can generate a step-by-step, task-by-task Study Pathway. You’ll find the Study Pathway section next to the calendar on your E2Language dashboard. Simply click on ‘Create Study Pathway’, answer a few quick questions, and that’s it! You can adjust your Pathway any time too—if your test date changes, for instance.

How many hours to study each day

We recommend that you spend between 1.5 and 3 hours studying each day, 4–5 days a week. Ideally, you should prepare for your PTE for at least 4–6 weeks to maximise your chances of acing the test.

What do I need to study apart from PTE practice questions?

The majority of your study time should be spent going through the E2Language PTE course material, but there are other resources that are also useful to build up your language skills, which are crucial for exam success. 

Here are some of our recommendations:

• Do 30 minutes of reading each day using academic texts. Some excellent news and current affairs websites are Science Daily and The Conversation.  While reading, work on different skills that we practise in Live Classes, such as summarising, vocabulary-building, grammar analysis, punctuation and spelling.
• Do 30 minutes of listening practice a day to improve your listening comprehension, cope with ‘native’ speed, build up vocabulary and, again, practise summarising the main ideas. Try TED talks (check out this playlist for 3-minute TED Talks), or use radio stations and podcasts via Radio National and the BBC.  
• Do 30 minutes of grammar practice. In the Core Skills section of your E2Language PTE course, you will find over 150 micro-lessons. Each lesson focuses on a particular grammar or punctuation point and includes a video with interactive activities to help you perfect your language skills.

Have a balance    

When we do intensive study or training to achieve a goal, we need to look after ourselves so we don’t burn out or lose motivation. Here are a few tips to help you maintain balance during your PTE prep:

• Make sure you get up from your desk every 30–45 minutes. Stand up, stretch and walk away from the computer for a few minutes to refresh your body and mind.
• Keep hydrated and eat healthy, fresh food. When we study hard, we use up a lot of energy, so it’s important to fuel both brain and body with water, vitamins and nutrients to keep our engines going! Set a timer to remind you to drink water, and keep nuts or fruit nearby for a quick snack.
• Have a rest or a snooze if you feel tired; it’s amazing what a 20-minute power nap can do for your concentration!
• Schedule times for exercise. Take a 10-20 minute walk, do some yoga or an online fitness class—there are suddenly so many great ones available—or do some gentle stretching and breathing exercises. All of these are extremely beneficial for quality concentration and effective study.
• Include some fun activities in your day. For example, call a friend or a family member, listen to your favourite radio station or music, read a magazine, play with your pets, or make some yummy food. Once you finish your study for the PTE test at home for the day, reward yourself with a good TV show, podcast or a book (in English of course!) to help you switch off and unwind while still boosting your language skills.

Reach out for support – we’re here for you! 

As a student with E2Language, you have access to our amazing support system.

• Our Student Support Team is here 24/7 to answer your questions, offer advice, or simply provide kindness and guidance to you during this difficult time. You can reach the team by emailing [email protected].
• Connect with fellow students and our wonderful teachers too during daily Live Classes and Mock Tests. They’re always happy to chat and answer any questions you may have. If you can’t make it to class, catch up by watching the recordings in the Recorded Classes section of your E2 dashboard. If you’ve got questions from a class, just email us!
• Book one-to-one tutorials with our expert teachers. These are conducted via Zoom and are the perfect way for you to get personal feedback, study help and guidance as you prepare at home. Our teachers prepare every tutorial based on your needs, and they’ve got hundreds, sometimes thousands, of hours of online teaching experience.

Remember that even though you study for the PTE test at home, you’re not alone! Message us any time via our social media channels, YouTube page, or email the team here: [email protected]. 

Remember the big picture and celebrate every little step!

Studying for PTE is something you will do for a limited period in your life—thankfully, it’s not forever.

It’s worth thinking about all the extra positive things you will gain from your hard work, like improving your grammar, speaking, vocabulary and also confidence and satisfaction when you do achieve your goal. 

Start your day with a study schedule, following the advice above. Then, at the end of your study day, reflect on what you have achieved, congratulate yourself and say, I worked hard and I’m doing a great job!     

Most importantly, imagine how awesome your life will be when you’ve conquered PTE!

Happy studying!