FREE PTE Listening Practice Mock Tests And Questions

In this short guide, PTE Magic will guide you through all the tasks you will encounter in the PTE Listening section, what you need to do in each task, with sample questions from our question bank.

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Now, let’s take a look.

Overview Of PTE Listening Tasks

PTE Summarize Spoken Text

The PTE Summarize Spoken Text task tests your listening and information-processing abilities. You’ll hear a recording only once, and it will play automatically, so focus is crucial in this task.

The audio lasts for 60 to 90 seconds, and test-takers will have 10 minutes to write a summary of 50 to 70 words. The task provides a word counter function to help candidates write within the limit. Additionally, you can utilise the copy, paste, and cut tools to edit your writing more effectively.

Sample: You will hear a short audio. Write a summary for a fellow student who was not present at the Interview/Lecture. You should write 50-70 words. You have 10 minutes to finish this task. Your response will be judged on the quality of your writing and on how well your response presents the key points presented in the interview.

 

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PTE Multiple Choice Multiple Answers

The PTE Listening Multiple Choice Multiple Answers task requires test-takers to listen carefully and choose all correct answers. The recording of this task also plays only once and lasts 40 to 90 seconds, so pay attention.

Unlike the PTE Multiple Choice Single Answer, your goal is to identify multiple correct choices that you believe are right. The task will highlight the chosen options in yellow. There’s no time limit to answer, but focus on selecting them precisely.

Sample: Listen to the recording and answer the question by selecting all the correct responses. You will need to select more than one response.

• EQ tests
• Personality tests
• Psychological tests
• Interviews
• IQ Tests

 

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PTE Fill in the Blanks

This task tests your ability to identify the missing words as you listen. It will show a transcript on the screen with several gaps, and your goal is to fill in the blanks as the audio plays.

The recording lasts for 30 to 60 seconds and plays only once. Click the blanks to type your answers, or press the Tab key to switch to another blank.

Taking notes during this task helps recall key details, so prepare to jot down information when the audio plays.

Sample: You will hear a recording. Type the missing words in each blank.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My theme for this session is ___________ Technology Change and Business Practice. This is somewhat dear to my heart, in that I have spent much of the last fifteen years involved in various ___________ of technology and their impact on business, across a broad ___________, from applications of signal processing in manufacture right through to the use of utilization data and diary applications, to improve the time utilization of the ___________ force.

 

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PTE Highlight Correct Summary

The PTE Highlight Correct Summary task evaluates test-takers’ listening and reading skills by requiring them to listen to a 30-90-second recording. The recording only plays once, so listen carefully and choose the correct summary.

Click on the best summary among several options that appear on your screen. If you want to change your answer, select another option. Additionally, you can take notes while listening to the given note board for this task.

Sample: You will hear a recording. Click on the paragraph that best relates to the recording.

• Political activity creates certain impacts on the markets. The Philippines is a prime example, as it lost business confidence in the past due to their president involving in bribery as well as its economic recession in the late 1990’s.
• Political activity influences markets in many ways, especially when it is unstable and unpredictable like the Philippines. Many countries are still recovering after the bribery of the President Joseph Estrada.
• Markets are affected by politics. This is true for the Philippines because their president Estrada caused a major economic crisis in the late 1990’s.
• Markets are affected by what’s happening in politics. One of the examples given was the economic crisis in the Philippines in the late 1990’s, which caused many countries to struggle with recovery.

 

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PTE Multiple Choice Single Answer

Your ability to identify key details from a recording will be tested in the PTE Multiple Choice Single Answer task. You’ll hear a recording that lasts 30 to 90 seconds for once.

There’s only one correct answer in this task, and the chosen option will be highlighted in yellow for easy recognition. Click on the option again if you change your mind.

Sample: Listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting the correct response. Only one response is correct.

• The painting has a complexity of symbolism.
• The shocking events leading to the painting are still mysterious.
• It is the last great historical painting.
• The painting portrayed the event directly with imagery.

 

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PTE Select Missing Word

You’ll listen to a short recording of 20-70 seconds, however, the final part of the audio will be replaced by a beep. Your mission in this task is to choose the word that is most suitable for completing the sentence.

You will see a list of options on the screen, and you must answer by clicking on one. The task will highlight your chosen answer in yellow. Similar to other PTE Listening tasks, click on the option again to deselect it if you want to change your answer.

Sample: You will hear a recording of a lecture. At the end of the recording the last word or group of words has been replaced by a beep. Select the correct option to complete the recording.

• shortening
• widening
• dwindling
• enlarging
• opening
• closing

 

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PTE Highlight Incorrect Words

The PTE Highlight Incorrect Words task tests your ability to compare text and audio. You’ll see a transcript on the screen when the recording plays, and you must find the words that don’t match the audio.

This task’s audio also plays only once and automatically. Click on the wrong words to answer, and click again to deselect your choice. The task will highlight your chosen words in yellow.

Sample: You will hear a recording. Below is a transcription of the recording. Some words in the transcription differ from what the speaker(s) said. Please click on the words that are different.

Music is a fundamental measure of connecting you to others . Preliterate society used music to form the group in times of threat . Songs are used in religious services to coalesce the group . In music , collaborating comes proof that the sum can be greater than its single parts . Music welds you together with others at society , clubs , weddings , work , and even furniture . Concerts are a celebration of collective cultural .

 

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PTE Write from Dictation

The PTE Write from Dictation will play a short sentence lasting 3-5 seconds, and you must type exactly what you’ve heard. Precision matters in this task, as every word and punctuation mark is crucial. Wrongly spelled words cost you points, so pay close attention.

Use the given note board to take notes. Check your answer before submitting it to ensure accuracy.

Sample: You will hear a sentence. Type the sentence in the box below exactly as you hear it. Write as much of the sentence as you can. You will hear the sentence only once.

 

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Common PTE Listening Mistakes To Avoid

Failing To Catch The Key Points

Some test-takers struggle with the PTE Listening tasks because they’re unsure which details are important. They tend to race to catch every word, leading them to miss key points in the context.

The key is to listen for the main idea and then add supporting details later. Prioritise the context, not the words, is an effective method for scoring high in these tasks.

Not Understanding The Test Format

The PTE Listening section has a range of tasks, including Summarize Spoken Text, Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blanks, Write From Dictation, and more. Each task requires a different approach from test-takers.

Candidates who take the test without understanding the test format are likely to waste more time figuring out the instructions. Therefore, familiarise yourself with the tasks is crucial.

Poor Time Management

Time pressure affects many test-takers. Many get stuck on one question for too long, wasting a valuable amount of time on the remaining tasks.

However, don’t let panic control you. Practising mock tests regularly will help you prepare ahead of time. How you manage your time will determine your PTE result, so stay focused.

Unfamiliar With Different Accents

You’ll hear different English accents in the PTE Listening test, including Australian, American, British, and more. This can be a challenge for candidates who are unfamiliar with different English accents.

Not being able to understand different accents means you will need more time to process the words’ pronunciation. Therefore, listening to various English accents from podcasts, movies, videos, and news will improve your listening skills. The more you listen, the more you can understand.

Only Apply One Type Of Practice Method

Test-takers who have a habit of practicing with only one type of content will have lower scores than those who use several practice sources. For example, if you only practice listening to news reports and refuse to acquire other sources, such as movies or conversations, you will limit your opportunity to approach diverse English accents.

Listening to varied materials is essential to enhance your listening skills. Don’t stick to one method; diversify your strategy instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the listening pattern in PTE?

The PTE Listening section lasts for 30 to 43 minutes. It tests candidates’ ability to understand spoken English, but mastering this section is more than just hearing words. Test-takers must maintain focus and process information effectively. Moreover, the audio for each task is played only once, so staying focused is crucial.

How To Get A Good Score In Listening Pte?

Apply strategies to boost your score. Start by focusing on high-score tasks first to improve your weak areas. Confidence also matters in determining your test performance.

How Do I Improve My Listening In Pte?

Regular practice will strengthen your skills. Listen several times a day throughout the week to build your vocabulary and pronunciation. Additionally, you can slow down the speed of the recording to make it easier to understand all the details.

What Is Important In Pte Listening?

Listening for key phrases is important in the PTE Listening section because these help you identify the main idea. Additionally, tasks such as Write from Dictation require accuracy and speed, therefore, fast typing is an advantage.

How To Calculate Pte Listening Score?

The PTE test uses automated scoring algorithms. Some tasks use a negative scoring system by giving one point for each correct answer and deducting one point for each incorrect response. However, your score can’t be below zero to ensure a fair assessment.

Conclusion

Preparation and progress before attending the test are important. You shouldn’t feel disappointed when you make mistakes while taking PTE Listening practice questions. Instead, think of them as stepping stones to move closer to your desired PTE score. Good luck!

Last updated on 02/06/2025