Choosing the right PTE books can make your preparation more organised, especially if you are studying on your own. Some books are useful for understanding the test, while others are better for improving English or completing practice questions. The important thing is to choose a book that matches what you actually need. Below are some of the most useful PTE Academic books for students preparing in 2026.
On This Page
- 1. The Official Guide to PTE Academic
- What the Book Covers
- Who Should Use It?
- 2. Expert PTE Academic 2nd Edition
- Expert PTE Academic B1
- Expert PTE Academic B2
- Which Level Should You Choose?
- 3. PTE Academic Practice Tests Plus With Key
- What Is Included?
- When Is This Book Useful?
- Important Limitation
- Which PTE Book Is Best for You?
- Do You Need More Than One PTE Book?
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. The Official Guide to PTE Academic
Pearson’s Official Guide to PTE Academic is the best starting point for students who are new to the test.
Because it is produced by Pearson, it explains PTE Academic directly from the organisation that develops the exam.
What the Book Covers
The current guide includes information about:
- Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening
- PTE Academic question types
- test structure
- scoring
- preparation strategies
- 20 support videos
- 300 additional practice questions
Pearson currently provides the guide as an eBook through myPTE.
Who Should Use It?
This book is most useful for students who:
- are taking PTE for the first time
- do not fully understand the exam structure
- want an official source instead of relying on random online advice
- want to understand question types before starting serious practice
It is especially useful at the beginning of preparation because it gives students a clear idea of what happens in the test.
You can also compare the information with the current PTE Academic exam format before moving into practice.
2. Expert PTE Academic 2nd Edition
Expert PTE Academic 2nd Edition is more suitable for students who want to improve their English while preparing for PTE Academic.
Unlike the Official Guide, this series works more like a structured English and PTE course.
Pearson currently offers the series at two main levels: B1 and B2.
Expert PTE Academic B1
The B1 edition is designed for students around GSE 42–59.
It is a good option if you understand basic English but still need to improve areas such as:
- vocabulary
- grammar
- reading
- listening
- speaking
- writing
The book combines these English skills with PTE preparation.
This makes it useful for students who are not yet ready to focus only on exam techniques.
Expert PTE Academic B2
The B2 edition is designed for stronger students around GSE 59–75.
It is better suited to candidates who already have a reasonable level of English but want to improve their performance on more difficult PTE tasks.
The B2 book works on stronger vocabulary, more complex language and more advanced Speaking and Writing practice.
Which Level Should You Choose?
Choose the level that matches your current English ability.
| Book | Recommended Level |
|---|---|
| Expert PTE Academic B1 | GSE 42–59 |
| Expert PTE Academic B2 | GSE 59–75 |
A higher-level book is not automatically better. If B2 material is too difficult, working through B1 first may give you a stronger foundation.
3. PTE Academic Practice Tests Plus With Key
PTE Academic Practice Tests Plus With Key is mainly designed for students who want more practice rather than another explanation of the test.
Pearson’s book contains four PTE Academic practice tests along with supporting material.
What Is Included?
The book includes:
- four practice tests
- answer keys
- audio scripts
- sample student responses
- scoring information
- tips for answering questions
The With Key version is useful for students preparing independently because they can check their own answers.
When Is This Book Useful?
This book makes more sense after you already understand the PTE format.
Instead of learning what each task is, you can spend more time actually answering questions and reviewing your performance.
It is therefore more suitable for students who want additional PTE practice book material.
Important Limitation
This edition was originally published in 2013.
That means it does not cover every change made to PTE Academic since then, including the newer question types introduced after August 2025.
The practice material can still be useful, but the book should not be used as your only source for the current PTE Academic format.
Which PTE Book Is Best for You?
The right book depends on where you are in your preparation.
| Your Situation | Recommended Book |
|---|---|
| New to PTE Academic | The Official Guide to PTE Academic |
| Need to improve English and prepare for PTE | Expert PTE Academic B1 |
| Stronger English and higher-level preparation | Expert PTE Academic B2 |
| Need additional practice tests | PTE Academic Practice Tests Plus With Key |
If you are completely new to the test, start with the Official Guide.
If your main challenge is English ability, the Expert PTE Academic series is more suitable.
If you already understand the exam and mainly want more questions to practise, Practice Tests Plus can be useful as an additional resource.
Do You Need More Than One PTE Book?
Usually, you do not need to buy several books at the same time.
Choose one book based on the main problem you are trying to solve.
For example, a student who does not understand PTE should start with the Official Guide. A student who already understands the test but has weak English may get more value from Expert PTE Academic.
Once you know the test and your weak areas, you can combine the book with current PTE study material and practice questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear answers to common questions about this topic.
Which PTE book is best for beginners?
The Official Guide to PTE Academic is the best starting point for beginners because it explains the test structure, question types and scoring directly from Pearson.
Which PTE book is best for improving English?
Expert PTE Academic 2nd Edition is more suitable for English improvement because it combines language learning with PTE preparation.
B1 covers GSE 42–59, while B2 covers GSE 59–75.
Which PTE book is best for practice tests?
PTE Academic Practice Tests Plus With Key is useful for students who want additional practice tests, sample answers and scoring information.
However, it is an older edition, so it should be used alongside current PTE material.
Should I buy both B1 and B2 books?
Not necessarily.
Choose the level that matches your current English ability. Most students do not need both books unless they are moving progressively from B1 to B2 preparation.
Is the Official Guide to PTE Academic a printed book?
Pearson currently provides the Official Guide as an eBook through myPTE.
