How to Overcome Fear When Doing PTE Test: 3 Effective Ways

The PTE test can be a big challenge for many non-native English speakers. In exam circumstances, the test-taker might struggle to keep calm and conquer the test. 

The fear of the unknown and exam pressure can significantly hinder your performance.

How to overcome the fear? How do the questions come in the exam? Or how to carefully attempt that?

In this blog, PTE Magic will answer all these questions. Keep scrolling down to explore the details!

Key Takeaways

• The fear of the unknown and exam pressure can significantly hinder your performance.
• Consistency is key when it comes to reducing the fear of the exam. 
• Once you overcome your fear, the next step is to understand the exam format. Below are the details.

Related:

• PTE exam preparation – A quick guide

The way to overcome the fear 

First of all, let’s find some strategies for overcoming fear.

Prepare carefully

To get rid of the fear, one of the most important things is meticulous preparation. Getting 100% ready for the test can help you be more confident, which can ease anxiety efficiently.

You can craft a comprehensive study plan that covers all sections of the PTE exam, hone the crucial skill set, and so on to get a comprehensive preparation. A well-structured plan instills a sense of control and reduces fear.

Practice industrious

Consistency is key when it comes to reducing the fear of the exam. 

You can utilize official PTE practice materials, online websites, and simulation platforms to expose yourself to a variety of questions, improve your performance, and overcome anxiety.

In addition, simulating exam conditions during practice tests can familiarize yourself with the time constraints and pressure. Regular practice not only sharpens your skills but also boosts your confidence.

Relaxing before the test

It’s natural to feel nervous before an exam, but controlling is crucial to reach your target score. Managing stress is necessary. 

You can engage in relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, getting a drink of water, or even meditation (but not recommended) to calm your nerves. 

It is better if you spend the previous night relaxing your mind, and keep it free of practicing. At that time, don’t be too obsessed about the target you set.

Ensure you get adequate rest the night before the exam and avoid last-minute cramming. A well-rested and relaxed mind can perform better on the test.

Questions in the PTE test

After overcoming the fear, the next problem is “How do the questions come in the exam?”. Like many other academic English tests, the PTE has four sections including Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening. All of the sections will be taken on the computer. The total time of a PTE test is about 2 hours long.

Below are the details.

Speaking

The Speaking section evaluates your ability to communicate effectively in English. You need to overcome fear by engaging in regular speaking exercises, recording yourself, and practicing key question types including:

• Read aloud
• Repeat sentence
• Describe image
• Re-tell lecture
• Answer short question

Writing

In this section, you will be assessed your ability to express ideas, and opinions via well-structured essays. There are only two tasks: Summarize Written Text and Essay Writing.

You will encounter this section right after finishing the Speaking test. Time for both sections usually last about 54-67 minutes.

Reading

This section aims to assess the test-taker’s component of reading comprehension ability. It comprises 5 question types including:

• Multiple Choice Single Answer
• Multiple Choice Multiple Answer
• Reorder Paragraphs
• Fill in the Blanks
• Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks

It usually lasts about 30 minutes.

Listening

This is the last section of the PTE test. It is between 30 and 43 minutes and contains 8 different tasks:

• Summarize Spoken Text
• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
• Fill in the Blanks
• Highlight Correct Summary
• Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
• Select Missing Word
• Highlight Incorrect Words
• Write from Dictation (the most important one)

You have to answer all the questions based on provided audio/video clips. It will reflect your comprehension listening and grasping information skills.

How to carefully attempt the PTE test?

Understand question types

Understanding the format test and the question types would be the first step in making up your preparation. 

Try to familiarize yourself with the different question types in each section of the PTE exam. Recognizing patterns and understanding expected responses allows you to approach questions with confidence. 

Through what you get, you can build your instructions during the exam to save valuable time. Don’t forget to practice trial tests extensively to become adept at identifying question structures.

Stay calm and focused

During the test, keeping calm is essential. It can help you maximize your ability without any barriers. Take deep breaths if needed to manage stress. Try to focus on the task at hand and avoid distractions to think the most effectively. 

A composed mindset enables clear thinking and optimal performance. Remember that each question is an opportunity to showcase your language proficiency, so approach them with a positive and focused mindset.

Set your target

A specific target can be a navigation for you to draw a study plan, toward your dreaming score. Setting realistic targets for each section of the PTE exam is a strategic way to approach the test.

You also need to understand your strengths as well as weaknesses to allocate time based on your proficiency levels. Aim to achieve your targets within the specified time frame, and if you encounter a challenging question, stay focused on your overall goal.

Conclusion

In conclusion, to conquer the PTE test, you have to overcome many psychological and capacity obstacles. 

In the above passage, we offer some ways to avoid fear, explain how the questions come in the exam, and how to carefully attempt them. We hope that with this, you can approach the PTE exam with confidence, increasing your chances of success. 

The PTE exam is not only a test of English proficiency, it’s an opportunity to show your language skills and open doors to exciting opportunities.

Last updated on 11/10/2024