PTE Listening

PTE Listening test will assess your Listening Skills along with your Writing and Reading test. AS PTE is an integrated test, a few question types in the PTE Listening Section will provide scores for PTE Writing and  Reading as well.

PTE Listening is the final section of the PTE test. PTE Listening has 8 different question types through which a test taker will be scored, other sections of the test like PTE Reading has 5 question types and PTE Speaking and Writing has 7 question types. The PTE Listening test will consist of various audio or video clips based on which, the test taker must answer each question.

This Gurubaa blog on PTE Listening will discuss all aspects of the PTE Listening test including time, question types, scoring, preparation, and tips.

Test Duration: 30-43 minutes

Unlike PTE Speaking and Writing, none of the question types is timed. This means the test taker can be flexible in using and managing time for each test. But the catch is, that although each question type is not timed, the entire test is timed. The test taker will be given 30-43 minutes based on the number of questions in PTE Listening. The timer on the screen will show you time, and keep track of the time as the test taker must manage their time within the time limit.

Test Format

In PTE Listening the test taker will counter 8 different question types. The PTE Listening Section of the PTE test has a few questions which will contribute scores to the PTE Writing and PTE Reading Section. The test takers are expected to answer all questions from the Listening test.

The 8 question types of PTE Listening are mentioned and discussed below:

1. Summarize Spoken Text

For Summarize Spoken Text, the test taker must write a summary based on the audio they heard.

Skills Assessed: Listening and Writing

Length of the Prompt: 60-90 Seconds

The task here is to write a 50-70 worded summary after listening to an audio recording of 60-90 seconds. The prompt asking you to write a summary will also specify 10 minutes time limit to answer the question type. The test taker may use functions like Cut, Copy, and Paste while constructing the summary for this question.

The minimum words for the format of this answer are 50 words and the maximum word limit is 70 words. A Word Counter on the bottom of the screen will count the number of words the test taker writes.

The recording will start playing automatically, and it will be played only once and will not be repeated.

During the test, the test takers are given an erasable note board; jot down points/notes on it. From the notes, you can construct a summary that best fits the recording. The response/ summary should include the main point along with the supporting points. The summary should be grammatically correct with a sensible sentence structure and correct spellings and punctuations.

The test taker will be scored based on five factors; content, form, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling. This question type seeks a well comprehended, analyzed, and combined information with key points of the recording. Partial Credit Scoring will be applied to this question type and the scores will be given based on the five factors.

2. Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer

In Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer, the test taker must choose more than one response to the audio played.

Skills Assessed: Listening

Length of the Prompt: 40-90 seconds

The task for Multiple Choice Multiple Answer is to select more than one option/choice as a response to the recording. The prompt for this question will be as long as 40-90 seconds. After listening to the prompt, answer the question by choosing more than one answer/response. The test taker needs to select all the options that they think are correct from the given list of possible options.

The recording will start playing automatically, and it will be played only once.

To answer this question, read the question before the audio plays. The test taker will have around 7 seconds before the audio recording starts playing, utilize that time to read the question so that the test taker knows what they are looking for in their response. Carefully listen to the recording and choose the best responses for the prompt.

The responses in the list may look similar but they do give a correct meaning to the prompt heard, thus the test taker must analyze all the options carefully and select only the responses that best fit the prompt/ prompt question.

All the selected answers will be highlighted in yellow. The test takers may deselect the selected options if they change their minds.

During the test, take notes of important points of the recording on the erasable note board you are provided with. Make sure your notes include important points with supporting details that will help you select the options. Finalize the answers after proper analysis and evaluation of all the options, then submit answers after rechecking the selected options.

The test taker or students will receive maximum points if all the responses selected are correct, but as negative marking is applied for this question if the test taker or students selects incorrect responses, a point for every incorrect answer will be deducted and partial credit scoring will be applied.

3. Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks in the Listening test requires the test taker to fill in the missing words of the gap in the transcript of the audio that is played.

Skills Assessed: Listening and Writing

Length of the Prompt: 30-60 seconds

The task here is to fill in the blanks, a transcript of a recording will appear on the screen with several gaps. The test taker needs to fill in the gaps as the audio plays, the test taker will have an erasable note board to note down the missing words. The audio will be about 30-60 seconds long, and it will play automatically. The audio will be played only once, so it is important that you make notes as the audio plays.

The test taker or students will have 7 seconds before the audio starts playing, use the time to roughly skim the entire text to help you recognize the areas with the missing words.

During the test, listen carefully to the audio and jot down the missing words you hear in the audio. After the recording ends, you can read the text and fill in the blanks with the notes you jotted down while listening to the recording. Check for spelling errors before submitting the task.

The test taker or students will be given maximum scores if all the gaps are filled with correct words and correct spelling. A point will be provided for every correct word with correct spelling in the correct gap.

4. Highlight Correct Summary

For Highlight Correct Summary in PTE Listening, the test taker or students needs to select a passage that best summarizes the recording.

Skills Assessed: Listening and Reading

Length of the Prompt: 30-90 seconds

The task in this question type is to select a summary from the list that best summarizes the recording played. A recording is played which is about 30-90 seconds long, the test taker needs to listen to the recording and select a summary from the list of possible summaries as a response that best fits the recording

The audio will start playing automatically and will be played only once, so the test taker must listen carefully and select their preferred summary. the summary that the test-taker selects will be highlighted in yellow. If test taker changes their mind, they can deselect the selected option and select a new one.

During the test, the test taker or students can make notes on the erasable note board that they are provided with. Read the summaries only after listening to the recording. Note down points while listening to the recording and narrow down the summary that best fits the recording from the list of possible summaries based on your notes. Only one of the summaries is the correct summary.

The test taker will receive maximum scores if the test taker selects the correct option. This question type is selected as either correct or incorrect, thus no credit is given for incorrect choice or no response.

5. Multiple Choice, Single Answer

In Multiple Choice, Single Answer the test taker must select a response that best fits as a response to the question or the content of the recording.

Skills Assessed: Listening

Length of the Prompt: 30-90 Listening

The task here is to select the correct response to the multiple-choice question after listening to the audio recording. The length of the audio is around 30-90 seconds long, and the recording will be played only once. The audio recording will start playing automatically.

Read the question and skim through the options quickly and try to understand them in the 5 seconds given, before the audio starts to play. While listening to the recording, try to find the answer keeping the question in mind. Select the option that you think is the best response to the question based on the recording.

The answer you select will be highlighted in yellow, the test taker can select and deselect the option while choosing the correct answer. The options may look similar and may repeat words from the recording, but they will not have the correct answer with the correct meaning that the question seeks an answer for. There is only one correct answer among the list of possible options.

The test taker will be scored based on their selected option as correct or incorrect. The test taker will receive maximum scores if they select the correct response/option and no credit is given for an incorrect response or no response.

6. Select Missing Words

The test taker needs to select a word replaced by a beep sound in the recording for PTE Listening Select Missing Words.

Skills Assessed: Listening

Length of the Prompt: 20-70 seconds

The last part of the audio is replaced by a beep sound, the task is to select a word from the list of options for the missing word. The recording played will be about 20-70 seconds and the last word or a group of words will be missing, replaced by a beep sound.  The test taker needs to select the most appropriate word/ group of words from the list of options for completing the incomplete sentence.

The audio will be played automatically and the test taker can listen to it only once. There are several possible answers in the list but only one is correct. During the test, listen carefully to the recording as the test taker must select a word that best fits the recording with the sentences’ grammar, sentence structure, and relevance.

There is only one correct answer, the answer the test taker selects will be highlighted in yellow. The test taker can select and deselect options while answering the test question. Select the correct answer after analyzing and evaluating all possible options. Click NEXT to submit the answer.

The test will be scored as either correct or incorrect. The test taker will receive points if they select the correct answer, but they will not receive any credit/points if they select an incorrect answer or no response.

7. Highlight Incorrect Words

For Highlight Incorrect Words in PTE Listening, the taker needs to select the incorrect words from the transcript of the recording.

Skills Assessed: Listening and Reading

Length of the Prompt: 15-50 seconds

The test taker is presented with a transcript of a recording and some words in the transcript will differ from the words in the recording. The task here is to select the incorrect/different words in the transcript while listening and reading at the same time. The length of the prompt will be around 15-50 seconds. The test taker needs to select all the words that are different in the transcript.

The audio will be played automatically and the test taker can listen to it only once. Listen carefully while completing this task, you need to select the words as you listen to the as you will not have the chance to recheck the selected words. The selected words will be highlighted in yellow.

It is better if the test taker quickly skims the transcript in 10 seconds before the audio starts playing. For this task, it is not suggested to take notes but rather follow the text with the cursor as the recording plays and as soon as you hear the words that are different from the recording.

The test taker will receive maximum scores if they successfully select all the correct words. Partial Credit Scoring will apply if the test taker selects wrong answers. The test taker will be scored with a point for every correct answer but negative scoring also applies in this question, a point will be deducted for every incorrect answer they choose.

8. Write from Dictation

In Write from Dictation, the test taker must accurately type the sentence they heard in the audio recording.

Skills Assessed: Listening and Writing

Length of the Prompt: 3-5 seconds

The task here is to type a sentence after listening to a recording. The recording will be about 3-5 seconds long and will be played automatically. The audio will be played only once, take notes on the erasable note board while the audio plays. Then, type the sentence from the recording accurately on the response box on the screen.

Type as many correct words in the response box, you will score a point for every word you type correctly. The sentence you type must have correct spelling and be the same as the recording. The more accurate your response is to the sentence in the recording, the higher you will score.

The test taker will be scored based on content. The test taker will receive the maximum points the response contains all correct words with correct spelling and if one or more words are incorrect, Partial Credit Scoring applies.

Scoring

Scores for the PTE Listening test can be gained from other sections of the test as well. One of the questions in the speaking test contributes to very high scores in PTE Listening. PTE as an integrated test shares scores with other skill sections but Listening scores can be accumulated through the PTE Listening and PTE Speaking tests. However, PTE Writing and PTE Reading scores can be gained in the Listening test of PTE.

As the score in the PTE test is a scale, the total marks received in the test will be converted into a scale of 10-90 by a computer algorithm, the same will be given to the test taker as a PTE Score.

PTE Listening Preparations

• Take as many mock tests as possible for Practice.
• Get familiar with the test format, it will help you to tackle all question types.
• Understand the marking system for every question type. Some questions in PTE Listening use Negative Scoring, learn about the PTE Listening to score higher.
• Identify your mistakes and your Listening level. Improve on the mistakes and aim on improving the overall Listening.
• Listen to a variety of accents and improve your listening skills to perform better in your PTE Listening test.
• Know which question types need note taking and which don’t. Few tasks like Summarizing Spoken Text would be nearly impossible to solve without some sensible notes.
• The audio will be played once for every question, focus while you listen. Enhance your focus and aim to get all the key information from the audio.
• Learn to manage your time properly. Only one of the question types, Summarize Spoken Text, has a time limit. The rest of the question types aren’t timed, but the entire section is. The test takers are free to manage time in their own way but they must learn to finish the test before the time runs out.
• Enhance your vocabulary as you prepare for the PTE Listening test. A range of different words will be used during the test, a better vocabulary will help you during the test.

For More:- PTE Preparation Guide

PTE Listening Tips

• It is better if the test taker takes notes for question types like Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blanks, Summary, and Dictation. Taking notes for these question types will help you formulate a response.
• It is suggested to skim the transcript provided before the audio recording starts.
• While attempting Highlight Incorrect Words, trace words with the cursor on the screen as the recording starts instead of making notes.
• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer, and Highlight Incorrect words use Negative Scoring. Choosing incorrect words will be penalized.
• Use elimination techniques to narrow down to the correct answer. The options/choices given tend to be confusing, so eliminate the incorrect choices to confirm the correct answer.
• PTE Listening also has questions that will contribute to PTE Writing, use correct grammar, sentence structure, and spelling while typing your responses.
• Most of the questions in PTE Listening are not time-limited, but the test taker needs to manage time very carefully, they might not complete the last question type Write from Dictation which carries high scores. If the test taker fails to manage time the test taker might not be able to fully complete the test before the time ends.

We hope our blog on PTE Listening helped with every aspect of the PTE Listening test. Comment your queries regarding PTE on this blog or you can also contact or visit Gurubaa.