Most Common Mistakes In PTE to Avoid If You Want High Scores

Mistakes are what hold us back from scoring high in the PTE test.

This blog by PTE Magic will identify and show you how to avoid these common mistakes in PTE to get high scores.

Let’s get started!

Key Takeaways

• A misplaced punctuation mark can lower your PTE score.
• In the PTE speaking section, if you pause for more than three seconds after the microphone starts recording, it shuts off.
• Constant practise is the key to improvement. See the best four tips to avoid mistakes in key PTE sections below.

Related:

• PTE Magic’s #1 PTE course to help you pass the test in just 30 days!
• The ultimate guide to PTE exam preparation
• What should you do after failing the PTE test?

6 Most Common Mistakes in the PTE Exam

This section will dive into six common errors that test-takers often make during their PTE exams.

1. Rushing Through Your Speech

Many test-takers believe that speaking faster means being more fluent. However, trying to rush through your speech could lower your fluency score. When you speed up, your clarity tends to drop, which will negatively affect your overall PTE result. You might start rambling and lose track of what you’re saying.

You should aim for a balanced pace – not too fast and not too slow. With enough practice, you can find your ideal speed and keep it consistent on exam day.

2. Unnecessary “Uhs” And “Ums”

Some candidates reported to PTE Magic that they were struggling to find the right words to express themselves. We understand your instinctive reaction is to fill the silence with words like “uh,” “um,” or “like” when that awkward pause comes. However, this habit will hurt your score on the PTE Academic exam.

One way to solve this is by preparing a template for your answers. The more you practise with it, the more natural it will feel so that you can avoid those unnecessary fillers.

Don’t worry if you make a mistake while recording. Stay calm. There’s no need to pause or explain. The key is to keep going and focus on the rest of your response.

3. Vocabulary And Grammar Mistakes

Pay attention to the small grammatical errors such as missing commas or misspelled words. A misplaced punctuation mark can lower your PTE score, therefore, check your answer before you submit.

Some test-takers add complex words to their answers to sound more clever. But clear, concise writing is far more effective. Use your vocabulary wisely and only where it adds real value to your points.

4. Going Over Or Under The Word Count

Stick to the word limit provided in each question. Don’t go over or under. 

For example, if the task asks you to write between a range of 200 to 300 words, make sure your answer is no less than 200 but doesn’t exceed 300 words. Staying within the range is key to getting a high PTE score.

5. Too Many Long Pauses

In the PTE speaking section, if you pause for more than three seconds after the microphone starts recording, it shuts off. Anything you say after that won’t be recorded. That’s why it’s crucial to avoid long pauses or speaking in broken sentences.

Of course, mistakes happen. It’s natural, especially during your exam. But with practice and attention, you can minimise them effectively.

6. Skipping The Answer Check

Another common issue we notice is candidates often don’t review their answers before moving on to the next question.

Spending a few seconds to double-check can help test-takers spot wrong spelling, punctuation, or grammar. It also gives us a chance to ensure we have covered all the points required by the question.

Best Tips to Avoid Mistakes in Key PTE Sections

PTE Reading Reordering Paragraphs 

In the PTE Academic reading section, you’re tasked with reordering paragraphs from an academic text. On one panel, you’ll see a series of sentences in the wrong order. Your mission is to drag them to a second panel and arrange them in the correct sequence. 

However, many test-takers find this tricky. They miss key clues, such as linking words or sentences that start with an introductory statement. These are the building blocks that help a text flow logically.

To avoid this pitfall, pay attention to these clues. Learn about linking words, how opening and concluding statements work, and how opinions or examples are introduced in English. Here’s an idea of how you can practise:

• Grab a news article, blog post, or short academic text.
• Cut it up into separate paragraphs and mix up the order.
• Try reordering them yourself and then read the result aloud.

As you do this, think carefully about why you chose that order and focus on the language clues. This practice will sharpen your ability to reorder texts and make you much more prepared for the real test.

PTE Listening Summarize Spoken Text

The PTE Listening Summarize Spoken Text tests your ability to identify the main ideas of a context and then summarise them in your own words. You’ll listen to an audio, then write a 50-70 word summary. 

Test-takers often simply copy the phrases they heard word for word. This doesn’t demonstrate your ability to rephrase the information using your own vocabulary and grammar.

If you want a high score, paraphrasing is key. You need to show you can summarise what you’ve heard using fresh language. Here’s a tip:

• Pick a short video, such as a TED Talk. If it’s only a few minutes long, watch it twice so you really grasp the ideas.
• While watching, take notes. Then, try to summarise the key points without using the exact words from the video. 

After writing your summary, go back over it. This will help you refine your summarising skills to score better on the task.

PTE Speaking Describe Image

The Describe Image task in the PTE Speaking section requires candidates to describe a picture. You’ll have 25 seconds to look at the image and 15 seconds to describe it aloud. 

Many students memorise responses based on images they’ve seen during their practise sessions. But this can backfire when they encounter a different image in the exam and recite a response that doesn’t describe what’s in front of them. This usually results in a low score, or worse, a zero.

You can avoid this mistake by practising with various mages and recording yourself as you describe each one. Then, listen again to spot where you can improve. Pay attention to any vocabulary mistakes and take notes.

PTE Writing Essay

The PTE Writing Essay is one of the two PTE writing tasks in the exam. Pearson will give you a written prompt and ask for your opinion on a situation.

Test-takers have 20 minutes to write between 200 and 300 words. However, the common mistake here is that some don’t follow the word limit. If you write under 120 or over 380 words, your essay will get a zero.

One way to avoid this mistake is practise. Write your essay under timed conditions. Another tip is to pay attention to the structure when you write your essay. Following this process will help you hit the right balance between quality and quantity.

The Bottom Line

Many test-takers fall into the same traps when it comes to PTE, but what matters is knowing how to avoid these common mistakes in PTE to get high scores. Additionally, constant practise is the key to improvement. The more you sharpen your English skills, the faster you’ll reach your goal.

We hope this blog helps you perform better for your next PTE test. Good luck!

Last updated on 29/10/2024