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PTE Academic · Guides · October 30, 2026 · 8 min read

PTE exam booking 2026: how to book, find a test centre, ID rules and the reschedule policy

A test centre desk with a passport on it, partitioned computer booths with headsets behind, and a calendar with one date circled in green

You book PTE Academic online: on pearsonpte.com choose the test, search for a test centre by city, pick a date and time at least 24 hours ahead, create a myPTE account with your details exactly as in your passport, and pay by card. Bring that passport on the day. As of October 2026 you can reschedule for free while more than 14 full calendar days remain; cancelling gives a full refund before that point, 50% between 14 and 7 days, and nothing in the last 7 days. PTE Academic is only taken at a test centre, never at home.

Prices are not repeated here; they are in the PTE exam fee guide.

How to book PTE Academic, step by step

Pearson’s own booking guide describes the same path for every country. As of October 2026 it looks like this:

  1. Start from “Book a test” on pearsonpte.com. Answer two questions, where you want to go and what you want to do there, and Pearson recommends a test. For study and for Australian or New Zealand visas this is PTE Academic. For Canadian PR it is PTE Core, and some UK visas need PTE Academic UKVI (see PTE Core vs Academic and PTE for UK visas).
  2. Search for a test centre. Type the city or area where you want to sit the test. You get a list of centres with available dates.
  3. Choose a date and time. The slot must be at least 24 hours away. Then click “Book”.
  4. Create your myPTE account. This is where you will manage the booking and later see and send your scores. Enter your name, date of birth and other details exactly as they appear in your passport. If your passport has a middle name, put it in the “Given names” field together with your first name.
  5. Answer the booking questions and accept the policies (admission, reschedule and cancellation). One question asks whether your scores should go to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs or Immigration New Zealand; tick it only if you are applying there.
  6. Pay. Pearson lists American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa, and a field for a voucher or promo code. Review the order and click “Submit Order”.

The booking then appears in your myPTE account and you receive a confirmation email. Read it: it lists the centre’s address and the time to arrive.

Do not create a second account. Pearson says a duplicate account slows down the release of your results, and using one to get around the retake rules can count as malpractice. If you forget your password, recover the account instead.

How to find a PTE test centre near you

Pearson says it has more than 500 test centres in over 115 countries. There is no fixed public list to copy; the centre finder is part of the booking page, and it shows only centres that have seats for your test. So the reliable way to answer “PTE test centre near me” is:

Make sure you search for the right product. PTE Academic, PTE Core and PTE Academic UKVI are booked separately, and a centre that offers one may not offer the others on the same date.

What a centre is like: Pearson describes small rooms, usually 10 to 15 test takers, each in a partitioned booth with a computer, a QWERTY keyboard, a headset, and a notepad and pencil. You will hear other people speaking. That is normal and does not affect your recording, but it is a good reason to practise with some background noise.

ID rules: bring your passport

For PTE Academic the ID is your valid passport. Pearson’s identification policy, as of October 2026, sets these rules:

Rule What it means for you
The details must match exactly name, date of birth, citizenship and gender in myPTE must be the same as in the passport
Original document only no photos, photocopies (even certified) or digital IDs
Valid and recent not expired, issued no more than 10 years ago, not a temporary document
Same ID as at booking the passport you selected when you booked
Testing abroad outside your country of citizenship, only a passport is accepted

If you test in your own country and have no valid passport, an alternative ID may be allowed. Check Pearson’s list of country exceptions before you book. If your passport is with an embassy for a visa, Pearson says to get it back for the test day; if it is being renewed, wait for the new one before booking.

Fix mistakes early. You can correct your account details up to 3 days before the test. After that, and on the day, it is no longer possible. If the details do not match your passport, you will not be allowed to sit the test and you lose the fee.

Test day in short

PTE reschedule and cancellation policy

Pearson’s cancellation and rescheduling policy (last updated 17 September 2026) sets these rules for changes you make yourself:

When you make the change Reschedule Cancel
More than 14 full calendar days before the test free full refund
Between 14 and 7 full calendar days before not possible: cancel and book again 50% refund
7 calendar days or less before not possible: cancel and book again no refund

A few details are easy to miss:

Illness or a family emergency

If illness or a family emergency stops you from attending, Pearson may let you reschedule free of charge, at its discretion. You fill in the Request Emergency Reschedule form with evidence as soon as you know, and no later than 72 hours after your appointment. There is no automatic right to a free change or refund, so keep documents such as a medical certificate.

If Pearson cancels

If Pearson cancels or moves a test, it arranges a refund or a new date or centre.

Booking timeline that leaves room for a retake

Most requirements give you a deadline, not a date. Work backwards from it:

Weeks before your deadline What to do
8–10 full mock test; decide whether you are within reach of your target
6–8 book the first attempt; you can still reschedule for free until 15 days before
3–4 first attempt; results usually in about 2 days
1–3 second attempt if needed, booked once your first scores arrive

This works because Pearson lets you book a new test as soon as you have your previous scores, and you can sit it within the same month. The rules on how often you can retake are in the PTE retake policy guide.

Common questions

How do I book the PTE exam? On pearsonpte.com: choose PTE Academic, find a centre and date, create a myPTE account with your passport details, and pay by card.

How late can I book PTE? Pearson’s booking guide says a slot must be at least 24 hours away. Whether a seat is free that soon depends on the centre.

What is the PTE reschedule fee? Rescheduling is free while more than 14 full calendar days remain. Inside 14 days you cannot reschedule; you cancel (50% back between 14 and 7 days, nothing after) and book again at the full fee.

Can I take PTE with an Aadhaar card, CNIC or national ID? The standard ID is a passport. An alternative ID is possible only in your own country and only if your country is on Pearson’s exceptions list; check that list before booking.

Can I book PTE Academic to take at home? No. PTE Academic is taken only at a test centre. See Can you take PTE at home?

Before you pay for a date

Book when your practice says you are close, not to force yourself to start. A full mock test in the Nomto trainer runs all 22 task types in exam timing, with the tone and the 3-second microphone cut-off on spoken tasks, AI feedback on content, fluency and pronunciation, key-based marking with partial credit and negative marking in Reading and Listening, and a report on all four skills. If the report shows a gap, the 2-week preparation plan shows where to spend the time before the test.

Sources

Checked on 30 October 2026:

PTE Academic™ is a trademark of Pearson. Nomto is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson.