PTE Core Score Chart: Score Ranges and CLB Equivalents

PTE Core reports an overall score and four communicative skill scores (Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing), each on a scale of 10 to 90. For Canadian immigration, each skill score converts to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level: CLB 7, for example, needs at least 60 in Listening, 60 in Reading, 68 in Speaking and 69 in Writing.

Comprehending the PTE Core score chart helps candidates know about the test’s measurements and what criteria to follow to achieve the best results.

This blog from LUME Test will explain the PTE Core score distribution chart in detail.

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Key Takeaways

• The PTE Core score chart provides information on your performance, including your overall and individual skills. 
• The scoring method is based on AI, ensuring fairness and accuracy.

Related:

• PTE Core FREE practice tests
• PTE Core vs PTE Academic
• PTE Core fees

PTE Core Score Chart – What Is It All About?

How Is A PTE Test Scored?

The PTE Core scoring system is computer-based and machine-scored, but human expert scorers are used to train the scoring engine on speaking and writing tasks.

This state-of-art scoring technology ensures all candidates get fair and accurate results.

It also eliminates the risk of human bias since your performance is only judged by your ability, nothing else.

Scoring Methods

Candidates will receive their PTE Core results showing their overall and each skill performance.

Note that the final score is based on your overall performance but not the average of each section.

The score ranges from 10 to 90 points.

And there are 19 task types in 52-67 tasks in total.

PTE Core also features integrated skills tasks in which candidates need to show multiple skills in one task.

For example, in the listening section, the Summarize Spoken Text requires listening and writing skills, while the Highlight Incorrect Words needs listening and reading skills. 

If you do well in these tasks, your 2 communicative skills’ scores will be higher, in turn raising your overall result. 

Why Is The Score Chart Important?

Keep track of your performance

PTE Core scoring not only helps candidates understand their levels but also tracks their progress.

The results reported through each practice will show how students progress in each and overall skill during a period of time.

You’ll see how much you improve, giving you motivation to move forward.

Correct expectations

Based on the chart, students will understand their current level and aim for a higher but reachable score.

Therefore, candidates can estimate how much time they need to achieve their goals with a thorough plan.

Identify areas to improve

Thanks to the details stated in this report, students can identify their weak points and have a proper study plan.

By focusing on their weakness, they can avoid disorientation and save more time in practicing. 

PTE Core Score Breakdown

Here is the PTE Core score chart at a glance. Every score on the report uses the same 10-90 scale:

Score	Range	What it shows
Overall score	10-90	Your performance across the entire test (52-67 tasks, 19 task types). It is not an average of the four skill scores.
Listening	10-90	Communicative skill score
Reading	10-90	Communicative skill score
Speaking	10-90	Communicative skill score
Writing	10-90	Communicative skill score

Some tasks test two skills at once, so they count toward both skill scores.
The PTE Core Score Guide does not describe skills by score band. The descriptions below are LUME’s general guide only; for official use, convert each skill score to a CLB level with the table in the next section:

Scores	Skill explanation
10-29	Test takers can: Use fundamental words for daily expression Conduct basic introductory conversations
30-42	Test takers can: Manage several topics through communicative skills Write and speak in daily situations more confidently Share basic personal information
43-50	Test takers can: Understand standard language  Discuss their experience Give opinions on a general topic
51-58	Test takers can: Have a good grasp of the language Explain real-life experiences in detail
59-75	Test takers can: Fluently communicate with minor mistakes Highlight the main point in speeches
76-84	Test takers can: Understand diverse content in written and spoken English Effectively and confidently discuss topics
85 and above	Test takers can: Understand English like natives Speak smoothly Write clearly with minimum mistakes

PTE Core To CLB Conversion Table

Pearson has produced an alignment table showing the relationship between PTE Core scores and the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). Find your score in each skill to see its CLB level:

CLB	PTE Listening	PTE Reading	PTE Speaking	PTE Writing
10	89–90	88–90	89–90	90
9	82–88	78–87	84–88	88–89
8	71–81	69–77	76–83	79–87
7	60–70	60–68	68–75	69–78
6	50–59	51–59	59–67	60–68
5	39–49	42–50	51–58	51–59
4	28–38	33–41	42–50	41–50
3	18–27	24–32	34–41	32–40

Source: Pearson PTE Core Score Guide, January 2026, page 9, checked on 7 October 2026. Pearson notes that its alignment tables are reviewed periodically and updated if required.

IRCC, not Pearson, sets the language requirements for Canadian immigration. The IRCC Express Entry language test page listed the same PTE Core ranges for CLB 4 to CLB 10 when we checked it on 7 October 2026. Always confirm your requirement there before you apply.

What CLB 7 And CLB 9 Need In PTE Core

IRCC sets Express Entry minimums for each of the four abilities. The Federal Skilled Worker Program needs at least CLB 7 in all four; the Canadian Experience Class needs CLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs and CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs; the Federal Skilled Trades Program needs CLB 5 in Speaking and Listening and CLB 4 in Reading and Writing.

The lowest PTE Core score for each level is:

• CLB 7: Listening 60, Reading 60, Speaking 68, Writing 69
• CLB 9: Listening 82, Reading 78, Speaking 84, Writing 88

Each skill counts on its own, so one skill below CLB 7 means you do not meet a CLB 7 minimum. Under the Federal Skilled Worker selection factors, IRCC gives 4 points per ability at CLB 7, 5 at CLB 8 and 6 at CLB 9 or above.

Details Of PTE Core Score Chart 

To understand more about the scoring system, let’s delve into the PTE Core marks distribution in each section!

For Reading

The Reading section lasts 27-37 minutes.

It contains one question type targeting two skills. 

Details are as follows:

Question types	Number of tasks	Skill assessed	Scoring	Traits scored
Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks	5-6	Reading Writing	Partial credit	1 mark for each completely correct blank
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers	1-2	Reading	Partial credit	1 mark for each correct response  -1 for each incorrect one The minimum score is 0
Reorder Paragraphs	2-3	Reading	Partial credit	1 mark for each correct pair of boxes The minimum score is 0
Fill in the Blank	4-5	Reading	Partial credit	1 mark for each completely correct blank
Multiple Choice, Single Answer	1-2	Reading	Correct/ incorrect	1 mark for each completely correct blank.

For Listening

Candidates need to deal with the listening section in 22-37 minutes with different query kinds.

The audio’s lengths vary from 3 seconds to 2 minutes.

Let’s see how the PTE Core score distribution chart works in this section!

Question types	Number of tasks	Skill assessed	Scoring	Traits scored
Summarize Spoken Text	1-2	Listening and writing	Partial credit	2 marks if you summarize well with all relevant information  1 mark if you have a fair summary with 1-2 missing points 0 mark for omitting or misrepresenting main points
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers	1-2	Listening	Partial credit	1 mark for each correct response  -1 for each incorrect one The minimum score is 0
Fill in the Blank	2-3	Listening and writing	Partial credit	1 mark for each correctly spelled word
Multiple Choice, Single Answer	1-2	Listening	Correct/ incorrect	1 mark for a correct answer 0 mark for an incorrect one
Select Missing Words	1-2	Listening	Correct/ incorrect	1 mark for a correct answer 0 mark for an incorrect one
Highlight Incorrect Words	1-2	Listening and reading	Partial credit	1 mark for each correct word -1 mark for each incorrect one The minimum score is 0
Write from Dictation	3-4	Listening and writing	Partial credit	1 mark for each correctly spelled word 0 mark for each incorrect one

For Speaking And Writing

It’s the longest part of the test, which lasts 50-65 minutes.

Understanding the PTE Core marking in this section helps candidates know how to perform each task well.

Question types	Number of tasks	Skill assessed	Scoring	Traits scored
Read Aloud	6-7	Reading, speaking, and pronunciation	Partial credit	5: Highly proficient 4: Advanced 3: Good 2: Intermediate 1: Intrusive 0: Non-English
Repeat Sentence	10-12	Listening, speaking, and pronunciation	Partial credit	3: All words are repeated correctly in the correct sequence 2: 50% of words are repeated correctly in the correct sequence 1: Less than 50% of words are repeated correctly in the correct sequence 0: Almost no correct answer
Describe Images	3-4	Speaking and pronunciation	Partial credit	5: Thoroughly describe all elements, connections, and implications4: All key elements and relationships are mentioned with a conclusion. 3: Mention most key elements and conclusions 2: Discuss one main point and implication, understand the core points 1: Mention basic elements but without clarity 0: Elements are disjointed
Respond to a Situation	2-4	Speaking and pronunciation	Partial credit	3: Clear language functions and proper expression and details 2: Almost appropriate language functions 1: The response uses the basic expression
Answer Short Questions	5-6	Listening and speaking	Correct/ incorrect	1: Appropriate 0: Inappropriate
Summarize Written Text	1-2 10 minutes	Reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar	Partial credit	Scores are given for content, form, grammar, and vocabulary, ranging from 0-2
Write Emails	2-3 9 minutes	Writing, vocabulary, and grammar	Partial credit	Scores are given for content, form, email conventions, organization, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling,  ranging from 0-3 for content and 0-2 for the other traits

FAQ

What is the PTE Core score chart?

It is the scale Pearson uses to report PTE Core results: an overall score and four skill scores, each from 10 to 90. For Canadian immigration, each skill score converts to a CLB level using Pearson’s alignment table.

What is CLB 7 in PTE Core?

CLB 7 means at least 60 in Listening, 60 in Reading, 68 in Speaking and 69 in Writing. These ranges come from Pearson’s alignment table and match IRCC’s Express Entry language test page.

How much score is required for PTE Core?

There is no single pass mark. Organizations that accept PTE Core set their own minimum scores. For Express Entry, IRCC sets the minimum as a CLB level per skill, for example CLB 7 in all four abilities for the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Is the PTE Core overall score an average of the four skills?

No. The overall score is based on your performance across the entire test and is not an average of the Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing scores.

Conclusion

The PTE Core score chart is a useful tool for understanding your current level and knowing what to improve to get the desired results.

It’s always better to confirm with your institutions or organizations about the required score to ensure your application is accepted.

Good luck on your journey.

(Read our Vietnamese version here)

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