PTE Core Write From Dictation: Format & Tips

Want to achieve high PTE Core Write From Dictation scores with proper practice and tips?

This blog by PTE Magic includes basic information about the task, from its format and scoring system to practical tips and tricks.

Check them out below!

Key Takeaways

• Test-takers will listen to a sentence’s recording and then retype that sentence correctly in the PTE Core Write From Dictation task.
• Test-takers who have the highest scores are the ones who type in every word accurately, including correct spelling.
• Below, we reveal our best tips for your PTE Core Write From Dictation practice.

Related:

• PTE Core Listening – Everything you need to know
• PTE Core exam preparation guide
• PTE Core highlight incorrect words tips and tricks

PTE Core Write From Dictation Format

The PTE Core Write From Dictation task aims to test candidates’ listening and writing skills. Test-takers will listen to a sentence’s recording and then retype that sentence correctly. This recording lasts 3–5 seconds and has no specific time limit for answering.

Pearson will provide test-takers with an erasable whiteboard, so you can use this tool to take notes because the audio will play only once. When the recording ends, make sure to include all the necessary words in your answer box. Before submitting, check your spelling and grammar again to ensure everything is clear in your answer.

How Is It Scored?

The task determines your scores based on how correctly you can answer. To be more specific, the content of your answer must include all the exact words from the spoken sentence. This means adding or removing words will lower your scores. The more correct words you have, the higher your scores.

Test-takers who have the highest scores are the ones who type in every word accurately, including correct spelling. The task applies a partial credit system, so you will only get some points if you don’t include all the correct words.

Note that this task affects the listening and writing scores. It doesn’t evaluate your speaking skills; however, you need reading skills to understand the task’s instructions and requirements.

PTE Core Write From Dictation Practice Tips

Preparing Before the Audio Starts

Your PTE tip to success in this task is the moments before the audio begins. We recommend that test-takers have good mental and physical preparation because it will greatly affect their test performance.

Firstly, make sure your mind is in your best state. Practising breathing and relaxing helps you approach the task more effectively. Stress can reduce your listening ability and cause you to miss the information. Therefore, having a positive attitude will help avoid stress, thus ensuring your hearing ability during the test.

Additionally, pay attention to your body position before they play the audio. Put your hand on the keyboard so you are ready to type at any time. This tip helps you save more time between listening and typing, which benefits your recall ability.

Active Listening

Test-takers must understand the sentence’s meaning to type the correct answer. The context, the speaker’s accent, and the audio speed are some factors you should look into.

• • Context: Understanding the audio’s context provides clues related to the answer. For example, academic topics usually include professional terms, while casual conversations use everyday language. 
  • Speaker’s accent: The accent can affect how you hear the words. Many candidates can understand American or UK English, while Indian English is harder to comprehend. Listen to various accents through media, podcasts, movies, etc., to enhance your listening skills in multiple English accents.

• Audio speed: The speaker’s speed also affects your hearing ability. Practising with recordings at different speeds will help you become more comfortable with different paces.

Once you become familiar with these factors, your test performance will greatly improve. While listening, PTE Magic suggests concentrating on the audio to predict the upcoming content. This method helps you better understand the recording, even if it’s a difficult or fast-paced sentence.

Taking Notes

In this task, you can choose between taking notes or directly typing in the answer. Candidates who feel confident in their typing skills can choose to answer immediately without taking notes.

On the other hand, taking notes might be a better option if you are a careful person who chooses to capture every word before typing. Noting down keywords before answering helps you recheck your notes’ accuracy before putting them into your response answer box.

Check Your Spellings

Even if you can hear and understand every word in the sentence, typing a word wrong will lower your scores. The PTE Core test doesn’t accept misspelled answers, therefore, checking your response is crucial to receive a high score in this task.

Grammatical errors are another common issue. Test-takers must always pay attention to the sentence’s tense. Make sure to add “ed” to regular verbs and use the correct irregular verbs’ form if you encounter a sentence in the past tense. Wrong grammar will negatively affect your score, so be careful.

Remember Correct Dictation

Missing some parts of the audio while listening is a common scenario. If you realise you cannot catch up with the recording, don’t panic. Relax and try to calm your mind so you can focus on what you can hear and remember instead.

Try to recall whatever you can hear from the audio. Think about the sentence’s context and any emphasised words or phrases that appear in your mind. Next, type the words from your memory and arrange them logically. To do this, you need to have a good sense of grammar and sentence structure; therefore, checking your response is crucial to receiving a high score on, so practise regularly to improve your ability. 

Below, we reveal our best tip for PTE Core Write From Dictation practising.

Practise with PTE Magic

Preparing for the PTE Core Write From Dictation task is difficult, especially with numerous and unconfirmed online resources and platforms. You must select the right sources for practising, otherwise, it won’t be useful.

PTE Magic is a good platform for test-takers who want to prepare properly for their PTE exam. We have various study materials designed closely to the real PTE test to help you get the most realistic experience. Moreover, our mock tests help you understand the Write From Dictation task’s format and other PTE test sections.

That’s not all. PTE Magic provides detailed feedback instantly when you finish your mock test. With this, you can understand your strengths and weaknesses to know what to prepare for the actual exam. 

Final Thoughts

Practising with quality resources like PTE Magic can improve your performance for the PTE Core Write From Dictation task. We will help you build confidence and prepare for the official exam. Check out our website today to achieve high PTE goals!

Last updated on 13/08/2024