Choosing PTE Academic or Core on Signup
The First Choice You Make
The very first thing ClearMyPTE asks during signup is which test you are preparing for: PTE Academic or PTE Core. This single setting drives everything you see afterwards — the question bank, mock exams, predictions, and your dashboard score band are all filtered by test type.
Why It Matters
The two tests share most question types but each has exclusives:
- Academic-only: Re-tell Lecture, Summarise Group Discussion, Write Essay, Highlight Correct Summary.
- Core-only: Respond to a Situation, Write Email.
If you pick the wrong test type, those exclusive question types simply will not appear on your practice page. You will also see scoring bands and predicted scores tuned to a different difficulty profile, which can mislead your study plan.
Quick Pick Guide
- Australian PR / 189 / 190 / 491: choose Academic.
- Australian or NZ student visa: choose Academic.
- UK Skilled Worker / Student visa: choose Academic (PTE Academic UKVI).
- Canada Express Entry / PR / PNP: choose Core. Academic is not accepted by IRCC.
- University admissions abroad: almost always Academic.
- Canadian work permit / general English: Core.
Still unsure? Read PTE Academic vs PTE Core for the full side-by-side breakdown.
How to Switch Later
You can change your test type at any time from Profile → Test Preferences. The switch takes effect instantly — your practice listings, mock exam catalogue, and predicted score will all rebuild around the new test type. Your existing practice history is preserved, but historical attempts on question types that do not exist in the new test will be hidden from filters.
Mixed Goals
Some students want both (for example, Canada PR plus an Australian backup plan). In that case, switch test type before each study block — there is no penalty, but we recommend committing to one test type for at least a week so your predicted score stabilises.
Ready to set yours? Update it on your Profile or jump straight into Speaking practice.