PTE Exam Day Tips: Avoid These $400 Mistakes

You’ve studied for months. You’ve practiced on the best websites, watched every YouTube video, and finally, your scores are hitting 79+. You feel ready.

Then you show up at a PTE test center in Sydney or Melbourne for example, only to be denied at the door, marked as a “no-show,” and you lose your $400+ AUD instantly. No refunds. No retakes.

This happens because students don’t get the full picture of what actually happens on exam day. There are dozens of things that can go wrong – not just in the room, but weeks before you even leave home. If you don’t want to throw your preparation and your hard-earned money down the drain, you need to understand the rules, the security checks, and the common mistakes that stop people from even sitting the test.

1. PTE Passport & ID Rules (MOST IMPORTANT!)

First things first: You MUST bring your original, valid Passport.
I’ve had students call me on the way to their exam in Brisbane or Adelaide saying:

“Alex, I forgot my passport. Can I use my Australian Driver’s License?”

The answer is a hard NO. Just like at the airport, your passport is your only valid ID for the PTE test day. If you go back home to get it and arrive late, you are a “no-show.” That’s $400 gone.

• The 3-Month Validity Rule: It’s not enough to have a passport; it must have at least 3 months of validity left. If your document expires in 8 weeks, the center can deny you entry.
• The Registration Match: Your first, middle, and last name must match your registration exactly.
• Long Names & Middle Names: If your passport has a middle name, it must be on your PTE profile. If there’s a mistake, fill out the “Change of Personal Information” form on the Pearson website at least 3–5 business days before your PTE test day.

2. Security, Clothing, and the “TSA” Check

When you arrive at the center, wear something comfortable, but avoid bulky clothes. 

• Pockets & Hoodies: If you wear a thick zip-up hoodie or a jacket with lots of pockets, they will ask you to remove it. If you’re only wearing a tank top underneath, you’ll be freezing for 2 hours.
• The Finger Vein Scanner: Pearson uses biometric scanners. If you work in construction or painting and your hands are “banged up,” the scanner might struggle.
• The Bathroom Trap: Every time you re-enter the room, you must scan back in. I’ve had students lose 10+ minutes of their Reading or Listening time just trying to get the machine to recognize their finger again.

3. The Notebook and the “Two Marker” Rule

In the room, you are given an erasable laminated notebook and two markers.

• The “Double Marker” Insurance: Never start with just one. If it runs out during Speaking, you’re in trouble.
• Cap It or Lose It: These markers dry out in seconds. Always click the cap shut when you’re not writing.
• The “Alex Wave”: If a marker dies, grab the second one and keep writing, but keep your other hand waving in the air. Wave until the examiner comes to you. Do not stop your task!

4. PTE Microphone Position (The B & P Test)

The mic check is your chance to save your score. Don’t rush it.

• Placement is Key: Position the mic level with your lips, but not directly in front of them. If it’s directly in front, your “B” and “P” sounds will cause “popping” and distortion.
• Stand Your Ground: Speak fast, slow, loud, and quiet. If you hear static or a delay, tell the examiner. Even if they say it’s “fine,” ask for a new computer or a new headset. You paid $400; you deserve working equipment.
• The Case Number: If they refuse to move you and the mic is bad, you must ask for a Case Number at the front desk before you leave.

5. The “Alex Warm-up” Strategy

When you sit down, your heart rate is through the roof. You’re going to start rough on the first few Read Alouds because of nerves.

The Strategy: Before the test starts, use the 5-minute instruction screen to read those instructions out loud. Pretend they are real exam questions. It unlocks your vocal cords and gets the stumbles out of your system before the marks actually count. By the time you hit Question 1, you’re already warmed up.

6. Surviving the “Fish Market” (Room Noise)

The PTE test center rules are clear – everyone must speak normally – BUT it can be loud. Sometimes it sounds like a fish market with everyone shouting at once.

• Your Rights: If the person next to you is yelling, raise your hand. The examiner can and should warn them.
• The Volume Solution: Speak at a firm, confident volume. This helps the AI isolate your voice and drowns out the noise of other students.

Download Your 2025 PTE Exam Day Preparation Checklist

To make sure you don’t miss a single thing, I’ve put together a free, high-value PDF checklist. It covers everything from passport validity to the equipment checks in the room.

Let us know in the comments: what part of the PTE is still a mystery for you?
(we read and try to reply to every comment personally)

Good luck with your preparation!

Alex 🙂

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PTE Exam Day Tips and Tricks – FULL VIDEO

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