PTE guide

    PTE 65 to PTE 79: a 12-week study plan

    Updated 29 May 2026 · 5 min read

    PTE 65 is Proficient English (10 PR points). PTE 79 is Superior English (20 PR points). Closing that 14-point gap is the single highest-leverage move in most Australian PR profiles — worth more than 5 years of additional skilled work experience.

    This is the 12-week study plan that's moved real candidates from 65 to 79. It assumes you can study 60–90 minutes per day, 6 days a week.

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    Week 1–2: Diagnostic + foundation

    Take a full mock in week 1, day 1. Identify which of the 4 skills is your weakest.

    For most 65-band candidates, the gap is Speaking (specifically Repeat Sentence + Re-tell Lecture). For some, it's Writing (Essay structure).

    Week 1–2: 20 Read Aloud + 10 Repeat Sentence daily. 1 Summarize Written Text + 1 Essay every 2 days. Get familiar with the AI scoring rubric.

    Week 3–6: Skill-specific drilling

    Speaking-focused candidates: 30 Repeat Sentence + 20 Read Aloud + 5 Describe Image + 3 Re-tell Lecture daily. This is the highest-volume phase.

    Writing-focused candidates: Memorize one Summarize Written Text template + one Essay template. Write 1 essay daily and submit for AI scoring. Refine templates based on feedback.

    Reading/Listening-focused candidates: Daily timed practice of Multiple Choice + Fill in the Blanks + Re-order Paragraphs.

    Week 7–10: Full mocks every Sunday

    Take a full mock every weekend. Score yourself, identify which question types are still pulling you down, and add those to your daily drills for the following week.

    Most candidates see scores rise 8–10 points in this phase. The plateau breaks because your timing and pattern recognition mature simultaneously.

    Week 11–12: Taper and test

    Week 11: 1 full mock, light daily drills (50% of week 6 volume).

    Week 12: 2–3 final mocks, no new content. Book the real test for the end of week 12. Schedule a morning slot — your voice is clearer, your concentration is fresher.

    The 4 habits that move scores fastest: (1) daily consistency over weekend cramming, (2) AI feedback on every speaking attempt, (3) memorized templates for Writing tasks, (4) full mocks under exam conditions every Sunday from week 5.

    Frequently asked questions

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