A Real Exam, Real Strategies, and Real Results
With all the recent changes to the Pearson Test of English, many students are asking one critical question:
Is it still possible to score 90 in PTE in 2026?
There are rumours everywhere — templates no longer work, Repeat Sentence has changed, and some students believe the exam has become unpredictable.
Instead of guessing or relying on hearsay, I decided to sit the PTE exam myself and test these claims using updated strategies and refined structures that I also teach in my classrooms.
This article explains what worked, what didn’t, and why skipping certain question types was a deliberate and effective strategy.
Why This Experiment Matters
Most PTE advice online is either:
- Outdated
- Based on theory rather than real exams
- Focused on shortcuts rather than scoring logic
This experiment was designed to answer one thing clearly:
Can students still secure their desired PTE score in 2026 if they follow logical, tested strategies?
The short answer is yes — but only if you understand how the exam is actually scored.
Speaking Module: Fluency Over Everything
Read Aloud
For Read Aloud, I followed the same principle I’ve always taught:
- Natural speed
- Clear pronunciation
- Strong rhythm
- One-line strategy
I did not try to read too fast or sound robotic.
The result was a perfect 90 in Speaking.
Repeat Sentence: Myth vs Reality
Since the August 2025 changes, there has been a lot of confusion around Repeat Sentence.
Here’s what I tested:
- I answered only 3 out of 10 sentences fully
- The rest were answered partially
- In some cases, I repeated only the last half of the sentence, not the beginning
This was done deliberately to test the myth that you must start from the beginning to score.
Result:
- Speaking: 90
- Listening: 88
This confirms that rhythm and clarity matter more than completeness.
Question Types I Skipped (On Purpose)
I intentionally did not answer:
- Answer Short Question
This was not a mistake.
It was a strategic decision based on scoring weight versus time and cognitive load.
Describe Image Without Templates
After templates were banned, we developed free-flowing structures that allow students to speak fluently without memorisation.
I answered all Describe Image questions using this structure, and it worked effectively, contributing to a 90 in Speaking.
Retell Lecture, Summarise Group Discussion & Respond to a Situation
Across these tasks, the focus remained the same:
- Understand what you can
- Organise information logically
- Maintain fluency and clear pronunciation
By applying updated but simple structures, I consistently scored 90 in Speaking and 88 in Listening across these tasks.
Writing Module: Clarity Beats Complexity
Summarise Written Text
I received:
- One single-paragraph text
- One multi-paragraph text
The strategy was simple:
- Identify key points
- Use basic conjunctions
- Avoid unnecessary paraphrasing
This resulted in:
- Writing: 90
- Reading: 88
Essay Writing in 2026
Just like other tasks, we moved away from rigid templates and developed logical, flexible structures.
I tested a newly developed 2026 essay structure in this exam, and it produced a solid 90 in Writing.
Reading Module: Time Management Is the Real Test
Reading has always been less about difficulty and more about time pressure.
In this exam:
- I had 16 questions in 25 minutes
- I prioritised high-value question types
- I skipped:
- MCQ Multiple Answer
- MCQ Single Answer
For Fill in the Blanks (Drop-down), I maintained a strict time limit per question.
In one long passage, I intentionally left one blank unanswered to protect my time.
Final Reading score: 88
This reinforces a key lesson:
You don’t need to answer everything to score well.
Listening Module: Strategic Skipping Again
In Listening, I deliberately skipped:
- MCQ Multiple Answer
- Highlight Correct Summary
- MCQ Single Answer
- Select Missing Word
Instead, I focused on:
- Summarise Spoken Text (using a new structure)
- Fill in the Blanks (write-in)
- Highlight Incorrect Words
- Write from Dictation
By managing time efficiently, I had 8 full minutes left for Write from Dictation, which is one of the highest-impact tasks.
Listening score: 88
Final Outcome: What This Exam Confirms
This real exam confirmed something very important:
Scoring 90 in PTE in 2026 is still possible — but only if you stop chasing myths and start following logic.
What you skip can be just as important as what you answer.
What’s Next?
Make sure you watch the embedded video above and follow this series to secure your desired PTE score in 2026 with confidence.
— Rashed
Ace Language
