PTE Listening Tutorial to Get a High Score in the PTE Exam

The Listening module of the PTE exam aims to test your listening skills. But some questions test reading and writing skills too. Questions in this section are based on audio or video clips. The clip is played only once. Hence, you need to listen to it carefully.

You may adjust the volume by moving the pointer on the volume bar to the left or the right side.

Types of Questions asked in the PTE Listening Test

The PTE Listening test includes eight types of questions:

• Summarize Spoken Text
• Multiple-Choice Questions or MCQs with a single correct answer
• Multiple-Choice Questions or MCQs with multiple correct answers
• Fill in the Blanks
• Highlight Correct Summary
• Highlight Incorrect Words
• Select Missing Word
• Write from Dictation

Summarize Spoken Text Type Questions

2 to 3 questions in the PTE exam are of this type. You need to listen to the audio clip and write a summary in 50-70 words. The audio clip is usually 60 to 90 seconds (one minute to one and a half minutes) long. You can get partial credit for these types of questions. It means that you get some marks if you get some of the elements right.

These types of questions assess a candidate’s listening and writing skills.

Multiple-Choice Questions or MCQs with a single correct answer

2 to 3 questions in the PTE Listening test are of this type. You listen to an audio clip or a recording that is 30 to 60 seconds long. Then, you have to answer a multiple-choice question based on the content or tone of the voice. These types of questions have only one correct answer. 

You get zero or full marks for these types of questions. They assess a candidate's listening skills.

MCQs with multiple correct answers

2 to 3 PTE exam questions are of this type. You listen to an audio clip that is 40 to 90 seconds long. The question has multiple options. You need to choose all the options that are correct. You get marks for each correct response you choose. 

Each incorrect response attracts penalty marks. It means that if you choose the wrong option, marks are deducted for it.

The questions assess a candidate's listening skills.

Fill in the Blanks

You get 2-3 fill in the blanks in the exam. You listen to an audio clip of 30 to 60 seconds. Then, you need to fill in the blanks with the words that have been left out in its transcription. For each correct answer with the right spelling, you get marks.

These types of questions assess a candidate’s listening and writing skills.

Highlight Correct Summary Type Questions

2-3 questions are of this type. You hear a recording that is 30 to 90 seconds long. Then, you choose to have the option which perfectly summarizes it. You either get full marks or zero marks for the option you choose.

These questions assess a candidate’s listening and reading skills.

Highlight Incorrect Words Type Questions

In 2 to 3 questions of the PTE Listening test section, you need to highlight incorrect words. You hear an audio clip of 20 to 70 seconds. In the transcript, there are one or more words that are incorrect. You need to click on them to highlight them.

You get points for each correct answer. Marks are deducted for each incorrect answer.

These questions also assess a student's listening skills.

Select Missing Word Type Questions

In 2 to 3 questions, you listen to a recording of 30 to 60 seconds. The recording has one or more words missing. You have to choose the right word from the given options.

You get zero or full marks on these types of questions.

These questions assess a candidate’s learning skills.

Write from Dictation Type Questions

You get 3 to 4 questions of this type in the exam. You have to listen to a spoken sentence. The recording is 3 to 5 seconds long. Then, you have to write it down in the box – word by word. For each word you write and spell correctly, you get marks.

This type of question assesses a candidate’s listening and writing skills.

Few Tips to score more in each section of the PTE Listening Test

How to write the summary of the recording?

When you have to write a summary of 50 to 70 words in 60 to 90 seconds, this is what you can do:

• Write down the keywords or phrases in the recording. You can then use them to write the summary.
• You can use a complex sentence structure to include all the major points in your summary.

How to solve MCQs?

Listen to the audio recording carefully. This will help you choose which sentence best answers the question. Our experts suggest that even if you are sure of the answer, scan through all the options carefully. You might find two sentences that sound similar but are not the same. Choose the correct sentence after much deliberation.

What to remember while solving Fill in the Blanks?

You need to fill in the missing words in the transcript based on the audio clip you hear. You get 30 to 60 seconds to answer them. You should first focus on what the clip says, and then choose words to fill in gaps.

Things to Remember

• Improve your typing speed. It will help you type everything being said in the recording.
• Alternatively, you can just write down the missing word in your notepad. You can later type it in the right blank.
• When you type a word, make sure that your cursor is in the right blank space. Also, make sure that it is blinking. 
• Experts also recommend students always check whether the world is in the correct space or not. They should also check the spellings once or twice before pressing the ‘Next’ button.

How to highlight correct summary or incorrect words of a recording?

Listening to the audio clip makes it easy to choose the summary that fits the passage best OR incorrect words in the text. 

Things to Remember

• To choose incorrect words, you should move the mouse over the transcript with the recording. As soon as you hear a different word, click on it.
• If you choose the wrong word, deselect it immediately. And then, keep moving.
• If you pay close attention to the lecture, it is easy to choose the summary that describes its content best.

How to select the missing word in the PTE Listening exam?

As soon as the audio clip ends, you hear a beep. You need to select the right option in 20 to 70 seconds. 

Things to Remember

• Though the beep comes at the end, you need to be alert from the beginning.
• Each word of the sentence serves as a clue to what the missing word should be.

How to write the dictated sentence?

In this question, you need to type the exact words of the sentence you listen to in the audio clip. You get only 3 to 5 seconds to solve such a question.

Things to Remember

• Typing or writing the sentence as it is spoken is a good idea.
• If your speed is slow, you may want to write the initials of the words to help with recalling them.
• If you have a good memory, you can focus on the sentence and write it down verbatim.

After typing the sentence, spend a second or two proofreading it. Make sure that your spellings, grammar, and content are all correct.