The cheapest way to prepare for PTE Academic at home

The cheapest way to prepare for PTE Academic at home is to start with free tools and pay only for what they do not cover. A free RealPTE account includes 10 AI scores a day and 1 full mock test with no card, and Pearson's AI Practice has a free tier; the table below lists every cost with its source.

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What preparing at home costs

Free options first. Pearson's offers are quoted from Pearson's own pages, read on 20 October 2026; check them before you pay.

Option	What you get	Cost	Source
Pearson Official AI Practice, free tier	Free access includes 2 diagnostic tests and sample Reading and Listening questions	Free	Pearson
Pearson Scored Practice Test	A full practice test scored by the same AI engine as the real test	From $35.99 USD per test, as printed	Pearson
RealPTE free account	Every task type, 10 AI scores a day, 1 full mock test, 1 part or mini test	Free, no card	RealPTE
RealPTE extra mock test	One more full mock test with a score report	A$9	RealPTE
RealPTE Plus	30 days with 6 mock tests and more AI scores	A$24 (₹1,299 in India)	RealPTE
The PTE exam itself (Pearson)	Booked with Pearson; the fee depends on the country	A$499 (AUD) in Australia, ₹18,900 (INR) in India	Fees by country

A low-cost plan for four weeks at home

Week 1: measure. Take the free full mock test (70 questions, about two hours) and note your two weakest task types. Free PTE mock test
Week 2: high-value tasks. Practise the tasks that count toward two skills in Pearson's format: Repeat Sentence (listening and speaking) and Write from Dictation (listening and writing); for reading, add Reading Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) (reading only).
Week 3: structures. Learn one structure per open task, then fill it from the prompt: speaking templates and essay template and free checker.
Week 4: rehearse. Take a part test for your weakest part (1 free per account) and practise this week's prediction list.

A plan we suggest, not a Pearson requirement. Use a headset with a microphone, as at the test centre.

Sources and dates

Where each fact on this page comes from and when we read it.

Fact	Source	Read
Pearson AI Practice free tier	Official PTE Academic AI Practice	20 October 2026
Pearson Scored Practice Test price	PTE Academic Scored Practice Test	20 October 2026
PTE exam fees	Pearson test centers and fees	19 October 2026
RealPTE prices and free limits	RealPTE pricing	21 October 2026

Questions students ask

Cheapest way to prepare for PTE Academic at home?

Start free: Pearson's Official AI Practice has a free tier (Free access includes 2 diagnostic tests and sample Reading and Listening questions), and a free RealPTE account includes practice on every task type, 10 AI scores a day and 1 full mock test with a score report; no card is needed. Pay for more mock tests only when you need them (A$9 each on RealPTE).

Can I prepare for PTE for free?

Yes, up to a point: a free RealPTE account includes 10 AI scores a day and 1 full mock test, and Pearson's AI Practice has a free tier. The exam itself is paid.

Do I need a coaching class?

No. PTE does not require a course. A teacher helps most with feedback on speaking and writing; if you study alone, record your answers and check the feedback.

What equipment do I need at home?

A computer with a headset and microphone and about two quiet hours for a full mock test.