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PTE listening | An introduction
In this modern day and age, where the world is flourishing on short engagement spans amidst numerous distractions, pseudo-listening has evolved into a hidden trait for people. It is why the PTE exam focuses more on evaluating listening aptitudes. However, the PTE listening section can be a demanding aspect of the complete test for most candidates. Therefore, as you start your PTE preparations, it is time that you improve your listening trait for efficacious and interpersonal listening aptitudes.
An overview of the PTE listening module
PTE Listening is the final section of the PTE examination, which assesses your listening proficiency and how well you comprehend the English language. Moreover, in the PTE listening section, you must solve eight questions that assess your aptitudes varying from vocabulary, grammar, and spelling. Additionally, you will get roughly 30-43 minutes, depending on the number of questions you get on the final test day. Read on to learn more about the PTE exam and helpful tips to improve your PTE listening score.
The duration of the PTE learning module is around 45 to 57 minutes and comprises video and audio clip-based questions. Moreover, video clips start automatically, and test-takers only get one chance to hear each video clip and record their response. So, you have to listen vigorously with the highest level of concentration. Below is a tabular representation of the PTE listening module.
| Question type | No. of questions |
| Summarize spoken text | 1 – 2 |
| Multiple choice, multiple answers | 1 – 2 |
| Fill in the blanks | 2 – 3 |
| Highlight correct summary | 1 – 2 |
| Multiple-choice, single answer | 1 – 2 |
| Select missing word | 1 – 2 |
| Highlight incorrect word | 2 – 3 |
| Write from Dictation | 3 – 4 |
| Total Questions | 12 – 20 |
| Time Allocation | 30 – 43 minutes |
Understanding the PTE listening test format
In the PTE test, Part 2 will assess your PTE listening aptitudes. The total time allocated for the PTE Listening section is between 45 – 50 minutes. Here is a tabular overview of the PTE listening test format.
| Type of question | Task | Clip duration |
| Summarize spoken text | After hearing the video recording, write a 50 to 70 words summary (Listening and Writing) | 60 to 90 seconds |
| Multiple choices, select multiple answers | After hearing the video recording. You must answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the recording (Listening) | 40 to 90 seconds |
| Fill in the blanks | A text from a video recording appears on the screen with many blanks. After listening to the recording, fill in the missing term in each blank (Listening and Writing) | 30 to 60 seconds |
| Highlight the correct summary | After listening to the video recording, select the paragraph that best outlines the recording (Listening and Reading) | 30 to 90 seconds |
| Select missing word | After listening to the video recording, choose the missing word that completes the recording from a list of choices (Listening) | 20 to 70 seconds |
| Highlight incorrect terms | The text of the video recording appears on the screen. While listening to the video recording, choose the words in the text that differ from what it’s trying to convey (Listening and Reading) | 15 to 50 seconds |
| Write from dictation | After listening to the video recording of a sentence, write the sentence (Listening and Writing) | 3 to 5 seconds |
Effective tips for acing your PTE listening test
Below are some helpful tips to help you score better on your PTE listening test.
Listen to voice recordings carefully.
When solving the PTE listening test, you cannot score well if you do not carefully listen to the voice recordings. However, since it can be challenging to merely switch to being alert when people are speaking, it is best to take small actions. You can begin by watching films without and with English subtitles. It is suitable to watch movies without subtitles as that guarantees you remain focused. Furthermore, it is better to listen to podcasts on subjects of your interest or take lessons via videos or audio lectures.
Take online notes
Speaking of online notes, it would be perfect if you employed a computer or laptop for the same. And when you watch the audio or video lectures, you can keep noting down the answers, as it will help you learn how to manage your time better in the final test. Hence, listening pattern and jotting down notes on the computer or laptop throughout your PTE preparation is prudent.
Key takeaways
- When practicing for the PTE listening section, always focus on details while listening to audio recordings.
- The keywords of the recording are as crucial as minute information like pronouns and tenses specified in it.
- PTE listening tips will not work if you fail to combine them with time management. Therefore, it is rational to practice as many mock tests as possible that will assist you in managing your time perfectly during your PTE test.
- To overcome the anxiety of PTE exam listening, try incorporating the habit of listening to English news channels daily or watching TED discussions.
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog. In case of any queries, reach out to us or drop a comment below!
Liked this blog? Read next: Top differences between IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE
FAQ
Q1. How much time does it take to listen to the PTE video recording?
Answer- It usually takes 30–43 minutes to listen to the PTE video recording, depending on the audio or video length.
Q2. Can students replay the audio in the PTE listening test?
Answer- No, students cannot replay the audio or video during the PTE listening test.
Q3. How is PTE listening marked?
Answer- PTE Listening Score is assessed by the performance in the total 8 tasks present in the listening section of PTE Academic.
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