Dos and Don’ts When Taking the PTE Listening Exam

Want to get a high score on the PTE listening test? Enroll in a Pearson Test of English Academic Review course and know what you should and shouldn’t do when you take the exam. Not sure of what the latter entails? Worry not! Below is a list of the various dos and don’ts when taking the PTE listening exam.

PTE academic

DO

1. Pay attention to the questions
This is one of the first things that PTE Academic instructors teach their students. Before listening to the recording, read the questions. Take note of the names, verbs, and other keywords in it. Then, try to predict the answer. This way, you’ll have an idea of what you’re searching for when you listen to the audio material.

          • Visitor
          • Student
          • Family and Skilled Migration
          • Workers
          • Short Stay Activity (for those who are going there for temporary work)
          • Transit (for those who are moving to Australia to enlist as a crew in a vessel)
          • Temporary Residents (due to cultural or social purposes)
          • Returning Residents

2. Take down notes
No matter how sharp your memory is, you won’t remember everything that was said in the recording. So, jot down notes while you listen! Consider the tips below to enhance your note-taking skills.

3. Proofread your final answers
Make sure your work is error-free. Double check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Below are some of the errors that most PTE takers overlook when they proofread their answers. Don’t commit the same mistake.

      • Forgetting to capitalize the first letter of a sentence
      • Forgetting to capitalize proper nouns
      • Failing to check for subject–verb agreement
      • Misusing punctuations

DON’T

1. Take the listening exam for granted
Most test takers set aside minimal time for the listening test during their Pearson Test of English Academic review. They spend most of their time preparing for the speaking exam—the test that they deem to be the most difficult of the bunch. Don’t make the same mistake.

Underestimating the listening test can cost you your PTE Academic grade goal. Remember, the four test components weigh the same in the scoring system. Get a low score on the listening test, and it’ll certainly bring down your overall grade.

2. Lose track of the recording
The speakers in the audio materials usually talk fast, so pay attention. Don’t let your mind wander. Lose track of the recording, and you’ll risk derailing your test performance.

3. Ignore frequency words
Frequency words (e.g., always, sometimes, often, etc.) can help you narrow down your choices in the Multiple Choice, Single Answer portion of the listening exams. Unless a frequency word was explicitly mentioned in the recording, disregard options that have terms of frequency.

Don’t sabotage your chances of PTE success with mistakes that you could’ve easily avoided. Practice these dos and don’ts during your PTE Academic review. Want to get more effective strategies to supercharge your test performance? Click here to visit our blog page.

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