PTE Listening (Part 3)
This part of the test is 30–43 minutes long and it contains eight different question types.
The questions are based on audio or video clips, which begin to play automatically. You hear each audio or video clip once. You are allowed to take notes.
| 1. Summarise Spoken Text For this item type you hear part of lecture. You need to write a 50 to 70 word summary on what you heard. You have 10 minutes for this task. The word count at the bottom of the screen count the number of words. You write make sure to write a minimum of 50 words but no more than 70. | Task: After listening to a recording, write a 50–70 word summary. Prompt Length: 60–90 seconds Skills Assessed: Listening and writing Time to Answer: Not applicable |
| 2. Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers. For this item type, you need to listen to the recording. Answer the multiple-choice question by selecting all the correct responses. To select an option, click on it using the left button on your mouse. Click on it again to deselect it. | Task: After listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the recording by selecting more than one response. Prompt Length: 40–90 seconds Skills Assessed: Listening Time to Answer: Not applicable |
| 3. Fill in the Blanks | Task: A transcript of a recording appears on the screen, with several gaps. After listening to the recording, type the missing word in each gap. Prompt Length: 30–60 seconds Skills Assessed: Listening and writing Time to Answer: Not applicable |
| 4. Highlight Correct Summary | Task: After listening to a recording, select the paragraph that best summarises the recording. Prompt Length: 30–90 seconds Skills Assessed: Listening and reading Time to Answer: Not applicable |
| 5. Multiple Choice, Single Answer | Task: After listening to a recording, answer a multiple-choice question by selecting one response. Prompt Length: 30–90 seconds Skills Assessed: Listening Time to Answer: Not applicable |
| 6. Select Missing Word | Task: After listening to a recording, select the missing word that completes the recording from a list of options. Prompt Length: 20–70 seconds Skills Assessed: Listening Time to Answer: Not applicable |
| 7. Highlight Incorrect Words | Task: The transcript of a recording appears on the screen. While listening to the recording, identify the words in the transcript that differ from what is said. Prompt Length: 15–50 seconds Skills Assessed: Listening and reading Time to Answer: Not applicable |
| 8. Write from Dictation | Task: After listening to a recording of a sentence, type the sentence. Prompt Length: 3–5 seconds Skills Assessed: Listening and writing Time to Answer: Not applicable |
Tips:
1. Summarise Spoken Text
Writing a Summary of an Audio Recording
Instructions:
- Task Overview:
- For this item type, you will hear an audio recording and need to write a 50–70 word summary of what you heard.
- Listening to the Audio:
- The audio begins to play automatically.
- You are only able to listen to the audio recording once.
- Writing the Summary:
- You have 10 minutes to listen and write your summary.
- Make sure to write a minimum of 50 words, but no more than 70 words.
- The Word Count at the bottom of the screen counts the number of words you write.
- Using Editing Tools:
- Cut: Select text from your answer that you wish to remove and left-click “Cut.”
- Copy: Select text from your answer that you wish to copy and left-click “Copy.”
- Paste: Place the cursor where you wish to paste the cut/copied text and left-click “Paste.”
Make sure you summarise the main point and include the supporting points
While you listen to the recording, make sure you note down the supporting points as well as the main idea in your erasable noteboard booklet. From your notes, you can then summarise the main point and refer briefly to the essential supporting points, which will gain you good marks for content.
Remember to check grammar, spelling and punctuation
In your 50-70 word summary, you will be scored on the enabling skills of grammar, spelling and vocabulary. So leave yourself one or two minutes after you have written your summary to check your sentences for things like subject/verb agreement, tenses and word order.
Use grammatical structures that you can use confidently, and words that you are sure you have spelled correctly. Finally, check your punctuation: check full stops and commas, and make sure you have begun each sentence with a capital letter.
How this question is scored
Your response for Summarize Spoken Text is judged on your ability to comprehend, analyze and combine information from a lecture, and then summarize the key points in writing. You are also assessed on the quality of your writing and on how well your response presents the key points in the lecture.
Your score is based on five factors:
Content: Does your response summarize the main points in the lecture?
Content is scored by determining if all the key points of the lecture have been addressed without misrepresenting the purpose or topic. If your summary misinterprets the topic or the purpose of the lecture, you will not receive any score points for your summary on any of the five factors.
Your summary will be scored zero. The best responses clearly summarize the main points and condense essential supporting points. They focus on the topic and include only key information and essential supporting points.
Form: Does your response meet the length requirement of between 50 and 70 words?
Form is scored by counting the number of words in your response. You will receive full credit if your response is between 50 and 70 words.
Writing fewer than 50 words or more than 70 words will decrease your score. If your summary contains fewer than 40 words or more than 100 words, you will not receive any score points for your summary on any of the five factors. Your summary will be scored zero.
Grammar: Does your response demonstrate correct grammatical usage?
Grammar is scored by determining if the basic structure of the sentences is correct. The best responses use concise sentences that clearly communicate the intended meaning.
Vocabulary: Does your response demonstrate correct and appropriate word choice and Usage?
Vocabulary is scored according to its relevance to the lecture and its appropriateness in an academic environment. The appropriate use of synonyms is also scored. The best responses use words from the lecture appropriately, demonstrate an understanding of the context and use synonyms effectively to show variety in language use.
Spelling: Does your response demonstrate correct and consistent use of a single spelling convention?
PTE Academic recognizes English spelling conventions from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. However, one spelling convention should be used consistently in a given response.
Note
- Partial credit scoring applies to Summarize Spoken Text. No credit is given for no response or an irrelevant response. This question type affects the scoring of the following: listening; writing; grammar; spelling and vocabulary.
- Your speaking skills are not tested by this question type, and your reading skills are only used to read the instructions.
- For more information download the Score Guide