An Overview of Scoring
While PTE tests are computer-based and machine scored, human expert scorers are used to train the scoring engine on speaking and writing tasks, by rating test taker responses on every single speaking and writing item. The system then works by replicating the standards established through these human ratings.
Scores for some tasks are based only on whether the response is correct or incorrect, while others are based on correctness, formal aspects (e.g., whether it is over or under the word limit) and the quality of the response (e.g., fluency and pronunciation in the task Retell lecture)
There are two ways in which score points are awarded
1. Correct or incorrect
Some tasks are scored as either correct or incorrect.
If responses are correct, 1 score point will be given, but if they are incorrect, no points are awarded.
2. Partial credit
Other tasks are scored as correct, partially correct or incorrect.
If responses to these tasks are correct, the maximum score points available will be received. If they are only partly correct, some score points will be given, but less than the maximum available. If responses are incorrect, no score points will be received.
Some tasks that involve speaking and writing are also given a score for Content. Content means how appropriate the content of a response is in relation to the prompt.
Some writing tasks are scored for Form. Form scores are based on formal characteristics of the response such as the number of words.
The scores for Content and Form contribute to overall and communicative skills scores.
When the response is scored as 0 for Content or Form, no score points for the response will be given. Here are two examples giving descriptions of responses that will not receive any score points:
1. An essay written on a completely different topic from the task prompt (Content)
2. An essay which is less than 120 words (Form)
3. A response that does not deal properly with the prompt due to significant amounts of pre-prepared/memorized material (Content).
3. Example of scoring
The diagram below shows how scores are calculated for the task Write essay.
The task is rated on content, form, vocabulary, spelling, grammar,
development, structure and coherence; and general linguistic range.
The task is first scored on content and then on form. If no response, or an irrelevant response is given, the content is scored as 0. Responses that contain significant amounts of pre-prepared/memorized material are not relevant responses and do not properly address the prompt. If the response is of the appropriate length (form), a score will be given and the response will then be rated on the remaining traits: vocabulary, spelling, grammar; development, structure and coherence and general linguistic range. The scores for these traits are used to calculate the final total score for the task.
The total score for the task contributes to the communicative skill score for writing, as well as to the overall score reported for performance on the entire test.