You book PTE Core online through a myPTE account at least 24 hours before your chosen test date, pay by card, and sit it at a test centre. PTE Core cannot be taken at home.
Booking takes only a few steps. The details that cause trouble are the ID you bring, how many days remain if your plans change, and when your results arrive. This guide covers each one using Pearson's own booking, ID and cancellation pages.
How to book PTE Core exam: step by step
Pearson's article on how to book your PTE exam and its Help Centre set out these steps:
- Choose PTE Core as the test. PTE Core is the option for Canadian permanent residency and citizenship. If you are unsure which PTE test you need, read what PTE Core is first.
- Select a test centre, date and time. Pearson says to "select a date and time at least 24 hours in advance".
- Create or sign in to your myPTE account. Your booking lives in myPTE, and you manage it there afterwards.
- Pay. Pearson lists the accepted cards: "You can pay with American Express, Discover, Mastercard or Visa." The Help Centre adds that "we must receive full payment in the specified currency".
- Manage the booking in myPTE. Pearson's Help Centre says you then "manage your booking in myPTE."
Pearson's Help Centre states that "PTE Core can be taken by anyone aged 16 or over."
How much it costs
Pearson doesn't publish one static price. Its PTE Core page says fees "vary depending on the country" and points you to its price finder. Pearson's price finder listed PTE Core at CAD 360 in Canada when we checked on 7 October 2026; whether tax is included isn't stated, and the price shown at booking is final. Our PTE Core fee guide lists the prices we found in other countries.
How to book PTE Core exam in Canada
The steps are the same in Canada as anywhere else, and the Canadian listing is in CAD. One detail is specific to Canada: a Canadian Permanent Resident Card counts as ID only when you test in Canada, so you can use it there instead of a passport (see the ID rules below).
When PTE Core launched, Pearson's January 2024 announcement said the test would be "delivered through Pearson VUE" and mentioned "25 test centres across Canada". That count is from 2024, so treat the booking screen as the current list of centres near you.
ID rules: what to bring on test day
Pearson's identification policy is strict, and getting it wrong costs you the test. For PTE Core you must bring one of these:
- Passport: "accepted anywhere and preferred".
- Canadian Permanent Resident Card: "accepted in Canada only".
The same policy says the document must have been "issued no more than 10 years ago", and that "Digital IDs, digital copies … are not accepted". Bring the physical document.
If you arrive without valid ID, the policy says "you will lose your test fee". Before you book, check the issue date on your passport or PR card against the 10-year rule. If it doesn't meet it, sort out the ID first and book afterwards.
What the test centre is like
PTE Core is a computer-based test taken in person. Pearson's PTE Core page describes "a small test center with no more than 15 seats per room." It is a single test of about 2 hours; our test interface and timing guide shows how the screens and timers work.
Which centre is best for the PTE Core exam?
Pearson doesn't rank test centres, and its scoring page says "All PTE tests, including PTE Core, are scored by a computer". Things to weigh when you book:
- Date availability. Choose a centre with a seat on a date that leaves time for your results and your application deadline.
- Travel time. A long trip on test morning adds stress and the risk of arriving late.
- Your ID. If you plan to use a Canadian PR card, you need a centre in Canada.
- Room for changes. Free rescheduling stays available as long as more than 14 full calendar days are left when you make the change (see below).
Pearson has test centres in well over 100 countries, so search the booking tool for the centres and dates near you.
Can we reschedule PTE Core exam?
Yes, if you act early. Pearson's cancellations and rescheduling policy (last updated 17 September 2026) says you can "reschedule your test for free if there are more than 14 full calendar days left". The policy also caps it: the "maximum number of times you can reschedule … is 6".
Inside that window the option closes. In Pearson's words: "If your test is in 14 days or less, you cannot reschedule … You must cancel your test and book a new appointment." Cancelling at that point follows the refund bands below, so a late change costs money.
For emergencies, Pearson has an emergency reschedule form, which "must be submitted no later than 72 hours after your test appointment". Read the policy page for the details before relying on it.
Cancelling PTE Core: refund rules
The same policy page sets three refund bands:
| When you cancel | Refund |
|---|---|
| More than 14 full calendar days before your test | Full refund |
| Between 14 and 7 full calendar days before | 50% refund |
| 7 calendar days or less before | No refund |
The FAQ on the PTE Core page phrases this differently. It says "14 or more days before the test: cancel for free; Between 13 and 8 days: … 50% refund; Fewer than 7 days: you do not receive a refund." The two pages draw the band edges slightly differently, so if your test is close to a boundary, check the policy page when you cancel.
Days before your test: what you can do
This table combines the booking, rescheduling and cancellation rules above, using the policy page wording.
| Days before your test | Reschedule | Cancel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| More than 14 full calendar days | Free, up to 6 times in total | Full refund | The best time to make any change |
| 14 to 7 full calendar days | Not possible | 50% refund | To change dates, cancel and book again |
| 7 calendar days or less | Not possible | No refund | Plan to sit the test you booked |
| After your appointment (emergency) | Emergency form within 72 hours | See the policy page | See the policy page for details |
| Booking a new test | Not applicable | Not applicable | Choose a slot at least 24 hours ahead |
Can I take PTE Core exam at home?
No. Pearson's PTE Core page says: "PTE Core cannot be taken at home." Its Help Centre gives the same answer, saying PTE Core is available only in PTE test centres, and its Which test is right for me page says "All PTE tests must be taken at a test center".
You may still come across PTE Academic Online, which Pearson's price finder lists as "the at-home version of PTE Academic". This is a different test from PTE Core, and Pearson's 2024 announcement says "PTE Academic Online is not accepted for work and migration purposes." It is no route to Canadian PR.
Government pages point the same way:
- Canada. IRCC's PGWP documents page says "Language tests should be taken in person".
- Australia. The Department of Home Affairs English language page says it "does not accept evidence from English language tests that are delivered completely online". PTE Core isn't on Australia's list of accepted tests at all; see whether PTE Core is accepted in Australia.
Planning tips before you book
- Leave time for results. The PTE Core FAQ says "Most test takers get their PTE Core results within two business days", and that "results may take up to five business days" in some cases. Our guide to PTE Core results explains how to find them in myPTE.
- Watch the 2-year window. IRCC's Express Entry language testing page says results "must be less than 2 years old" when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence. A test taken too early can expire before you apply.
- Know how scores reach IRCC. You share your score with IRCC using your Score Report Code (myPTE score assignment); IRCC doesn't accept paper or PDF reports. Pearson's PTE Core scoring page describes the sharing as automatic, while its Help Centre and Score Guide describe the Score Report Code route, so check your myPTE account after results arrive.
- Book outside the 14-day window. Free rescheduling and a full refund remain available as long as more than 14 full calendar days are left when you make the change.
- Prepare before the date is fixed. Knowing your target scores helps you pick a realistic date. Our score targets and CLB levels guide sets out the PTE Core scores IRCC maps to each CLB, and you can work through the PrepAmigo PTE course before you commit to a date.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book the PTE Core exam?
Choose PTE Core, pick a test centre, date and time at least 24 hours ahead, create or sign in to your myPTE account, and pay by American Express, Discover, Mastercard or Visa. You then manage the booking in myPTE.
How far in advance do I need to book PTE Core?
Pearson says to select a date and time at least 24 hours in advance. If your plans change, free rescheduling and a full refund remain available as long as more than 14 full calendar days are left when you make the change.
Can we reschedule the PTE Core exam?
Yes, for free if there are more than 14 full calendar days left, up to 6 times. If your test is 14 days away or less, you cannot reschedule and must cancel and book a new appointment, with refunds following Pearson's cancellation bands.
What ID do I need for PTE Core?
A passport, which is accepted anywhere and preferred, or a Canadian Permanent Resident Card if you are testing in Canada. The document must be issued no more than 10 years ago, and digital IDs or digital copies are not accepted. Without valid ID you lose your test fee.
Can I take the PTE Core exam at home?
No. Pearson states that PTE Core cannot be taken at home. It is only available at PTE test centres.
Which centre is best for the PTE Core exam?
Pearson does not rank centres, and all PTE Core tests are scored by computer. Pick a centre with a date that fits your application timeline and a journey you can manage on test morning.
What happens if I cancel PTE Core late?
Under Pearson's policy page, cancelling between 14 and 7 full calendar days before the test gives a 50% refund, and cancelling 7 calendar days or less before gives no refund. The PTE Core FAQ words these bands slightly differently, so check the policy when you cancel.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
- Pearson: How to book your PTE exam, booking steps, 24-hour minimum and accepted cards.
- Pearson: PTE Core, at-home statement, room size, fees FAQ, cancellation FAQ wording and results timing.
- Pearson: Identification policy, accepted ID for PTE Core, 10-year rule, no digital IDs, loss of fee.
- Pearson: Cancellations and rescheduling policy, reschedule limits, refund bands and emergency form.
- Pearson: PTE Core scoring, computer scoring and the "scores shared automatically" wording.
- Pearson: Test centres and fees, where to find centres and the price finder.
- Pearson: Which test is right for me?, all PTE tests taken at a test centre.
- Pearson: PTE Core launch announcement (January 2024), Pearson VUE delivery, centres in Canada at launch, PTE Academic Online not accepted for migration.
- Pearson: PTE Core Score Guide 2026 (PDF), IRCC does not accept paper or PDF score reports.
- IRCC: Express Entry language testing, PTE Core as an accepted test and the 2-year rule.
- IRCC: PGWP documents, language tests taken in person.
- Australian Department of Home Affairs: English language, at-home tests not accepted and the list of accepted tests.