As the popularity of the PTE exam increases worldwide, PTE scores are becoming more competitive than ever. This rise is largely driven by the expanding global middle class and the steadily improving academic standards in many developed nations.

Every year, students face cut-throat competition in the PTE exam due to one or other reasons. Thus, you have to analyse various sections, resources and levels of the PTE exam to win the race. Moreover, besides the PTE syllabus or course material, you must have an idea about the high-performing countries. It will help you to approach your preparation by widening your resources or materials.

List of High Score Countries

The following is the detailed breakdown of the high-scoring countries.

USA

American students score well on the PTE exam due to many factors. The USA has a strong foundation in rich language resources, such as literature and media. This allows American students to perform well in PTE exam. The PTE listening section involves tasks that require students to know spoken English, which is a skill seen in American classrooms. The other section of the PTE is similar. Moreover, over 1,000 colleges in the USA accept PTE scores, for instance, Yale, Harvard, and Stanford.

UK

The second one on the list is the United Kingdom. The PTE UKVI is to test the English language ability relevant to UK scholarly and immigration aims. UK schools offer various English support services such as pre-sessional, in-sessional and language centres. These resources aim to improve language skills and merit.

India

India comes third in a row for securing high PTE scores worldwide. The possible factor is that the service sector makes up 50% of GDP. Every year, out of 8.38 million jobs, the service sector generated half of the new jobs. All these factors lead to an environment of high competition for language skill tests. Moreover, India had a long history with colonial Britain. This developed the foundation for the English language.

China

The other Asian country in the row is China. Chinese students perform very well in the exam. A possible factor because of the focus on teaching in China. Moreover, as per the study in the Asian EFL Journal, affective factors such as motivation and anxiety may also affect performance in the PTE exam.

Nigeria

Next on the list of high PTE scores is Nigeria, with a rising trend of study-abroad students. In 2024, around 71,133 Nigerian students were headed abroad to colleges. The top places for Nigerian students are the USA and Canada. However, the UK seems to be affected by its new visa policies. Thus, Nigerian students have tough competition worldwide. After all, English is the official language in Nigeria. It leads to the students being well-versed in the English language from a young age.

What are the Factors Responsible for High PTE Score?

The following is a detailed breakdown of why some nations perform well in the PTE exams:

• Strong English Teaching: Countries like the UK and the USA, with robust English systems, see their students get high scores on PTE tests.
• Foreign Studies: Many countries rank global education and skilled careers. It leads to a focus on English language skills. The aim is to motivate students to invest time and effort in enhancing their English skills for tests like PTE.
• Technology: The PTE exam is computer-based. Students from technical adaptability countries are more familiar with the format.
• Other Factors: Nations such as Australia and the UK have a higher number of abroad students, often achieving high scores. It may be because of the focus on a robust English scholarly system. In contrast, countries with fewer English speakers see their students struggle more with PTE.

These are the reasons for the likely success in the PTE exam. All these factors help the student prepare for the PTE syllabus with effective strategies.

Conclusion

Wrapping up! The PTE exam is a measure of review of English skill level. More than 70 countries globally accept PTE test scores for global students. Every year, on average, around 1.2 million students attempt the PTE exam. This rising trend leads to high competition among students and countries. The article listed the five countries that score high in the PTE exam, with possible factors. It helps students to know the trends and competitors and thus plan their preparation. Even if you have any questions about the PTE exam pattern, you can contact Gradding. They also offer ‘Free PTE Coaching!’ for your help.