Reading AI Feedback — Per-Skill Sub-Scores

Beyond a Single Score

Every Speaking and Writing practice attempt on ClearMyPTE returns more than one number. Alongside the headline 0–90 score, you get a breakdown across the enabling skills Pearson uses internally — the same dimensions that drive your real exam result.

Speaking Sub-Scores

Content: did you say what the prompt asked? Did you cover the key points? Good: 80+. Concerning: under 60.
Oral Fluency: rhythm, phrasing, pacing. Hesitations, fillers ("um", "uh"), and unnatural pauses pull this down. Good: 75+. Concerning: under 55.
Pronunciation: are individual sounds, stress, and intonation intelligible to a native English speaker? Accent itself is not penalised — only intelligibility. Good: 70+. Concerning: under 50.

Writing Sub-Scores

Content: task fulfilment, coverage of all required points, relevance.
Grammar: sentence structure, agreement, tense consistency.
Vocabulary: range, precision, collocation, register.
Spelling: exact spelling counts. UK and US spellings both accepted, but you must be consistent.
Written Discourse: paragraphing, coherence, logical flow, use of linking devices.
Form: word count and structural rules (e.g. SWT must be 1 sentence, 5–75 words). A form failure can score 0 regardless of quality.

How to Interpret Each

The headline score is the floor — pulled down by your weakest sub-score. So a 78 oral fluency next to a 45 pronunciation will not give you 78 overall; the pronunciation drag is real and visible.

Use the sub-scores to diagnose, not to celebrate:

Low Content: you are off-topic or skipping required parts. Re-read the prompt before answering.
Low Oral Fluency: too many filler pauses. Rehearse with a metronome or shadow native audio.
Low Pronunciation: specific phonemes are slipping. Record yourself, listen back, isolate the problem sound.
Low Grammar / Vocabulary in Writing: drill error-correction exercises and broaden your essay templates.
Low Written Discourse: add explicit linkers ("furthermore", "in contrast", "consequently") and one-idea-per-paragraph discipline.

What the AI Cannot See

The AI scores against pattern templates — it does not "understand" your essay the way a teacher would. That is why creative phrasing sometimes underscores. Stick to clear, conventional structures for the highest reliable score. For the underlying mechanics, read How PTE Scoring Works and How AI Scoring Works.

Try a fresh attempt and study the breakdown on Speaking practice or Writing practice.