Top 10 Best PTE Tools & Resources for Smarter Preparation
Many people studying for the PTE are actually doing it wrong.
They blindly jump from one practice test to another, but without the right PTE tools and strategy, progress stays flat.
So, LUME Test has rounded up 10 must-have tools that take out all the guesswork.
Keep scrolling for details!
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This guide is a cheat sheet — not for test answers, but for how to think like the person grading your test.
If you want to get a high score, it should always be open next to you whenever you are studying.
Before practicing a specific task (e.g., “Describe Image”), scroll through the guide and examine how that task is scored.
You’ll see categories like fluency, content, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary, and clear descriptions of what it takes to land in the top score band.
Once you have recorded your response or written an answer, you can use the guide as a grading rubric to improve faster.
None of your practiced skills matter if the timer runs out and you’ve still got questions to answer.
And that’s where timed mock test software steps in!
They recreate the PTE testing environment exactly: countdown clocks, automatic transitions, and no do-overs.
Set aside two uninterrupted hours, then shut off your phone and commit to finishing the entire test in one go.
When you’re done, look at your pacing and make notes about where you struggled with the time.
Then, the following week, focus your practice sessions on those problem areas.
Over time, you’ll start to feel more in control of the clock, which will be a huge advantage on test day!
There’s no need for expensive software to improve your speaking; a phone’s voice recorder works just fine!
Let’s say you’re working on the “Repeat Sentence” task.
Record yourself giving your response (just one take), then, without editing or overthinking, hit play and compare what you said to the model answer.
Do this two or three times a week, and choose one small thing to work on each time (e.g., intonation, speaking speed, etc).
The goal isn’t to sound perfect overnight but to become aware of how you speak and make adjustments in real time.
Flashcards built from the Academic Word List (AWL) are your best friend if you want to score better in writing and reading.
These are high-frequency words used in university-level texts on subjects such as science, economics, and education (and yes, in the PTE).
Make or download a flashcard set, then take 10 to 15 minutes a day to review them.
And don’t just read the word and meaning; you must say a sentence out loud using that word in context.
Also, every few days, challenge yourself to write a mini essay or a short paragraph using five of the words you’ve learned that week.
Then, read it out loud; that way, you will reinforce both vocabulary and pronunciation in one go.
As boring as it sounds, keeping an error log is one of the most effective habits for preparing for the PTE.
It’s simple: after every practice session (whether five speaking tasks or a full mock test), take 5 minutes to write down every mistake you make.
And not just the mistake itself, but why it happened as well!
You may have misunderstood the question or rushed and skipped a line. Or maybe your grammar slipped.
Whatever it is, write it down along with the correct version and what you’ll do differently next time.
Flip through your log (notebook or spreadsheet) every few days, and you’ll start noticing patterns.
Once you know these weak spots, you can start planning targeted practice around them instead of guessing what to study next.
Instead of winging it day by day, you can map out your entire week or month to keep your prep stress-free and more organized.
For example, make Mondays your “Speaking Day,” Tuesdays for reading, Wednesdays for writing, and so on.
You should also set realistic, doable daily goals, such as recording two speaking practice tasks on Monday and reviewing them that night.
Seeing checkmarks next to each completed task is incredibly satisfying and proof that you’re building toward something.
Beginners especially will benefit from this structure because it turns studying into a habit, not a chore.
Grammarly or Quillbot serves as a virtual English coach by your side.
After you finish a writing task, run it through one of these checkers.
At first, you’ll probably see a sea of suggestions, which can feel a little overwhelming.
But instead of trying to fix everything at once, you can start with one type of mistake (say, punctuation).
Learn why that comma was off or why a sentence was flagged as unclear.
With consistent use, you’ll start internalizing the right structures, which is especially helpful for nailing the PTE writing section.
In a computer-based test like the PTE, slow or sloppy typing can seriously hold you back, especially in writing tasks.
Fortunately, that is something you can improve with a little daily practice!
Head over to typingtest.com and take a 1-minute test; at the end, it’ll show your typing speed (in words per minute) and how many mistakes you made.
Now, set a goal: if you’re typing under 35 WPM, that’s your first milestone to aim for.
Set aside about 10 minutes a day to practice the basics, including proper finger placement and smooth key transitions.
You must also learn to keep your eyes on the screen instead of your keyboard.
Still, don’t worry too much about speed in the beginning; focus on getting it right first.
So, if you make more than five mistakes per minute, slow down and repeat the words or letter combinations that trip you up.
After a week or two, retake the typing test and compare your results.
Do you feel like your English sounds a bit flat or choppy?
In that case, shadowing (copying real native speakers in real time) is one of the best ways to sharpen your pronunciation and natural rhythm.
First, pick a short audio clip in English (like TED Talks or BBC Learning English) and make sure it comes with a transcript or subtitles.
Now, listen to the clip once all the way through, without speaking.
Simply absorb everything and pay attention to how the speaker phrases the sentences, where they pause, their tone, and their pace.
Next, go back and play it sentence by sentence, pausing after each line and repeating it out loud exactly as they said it.
At first, it might feel slow and even a bit awkward, so feel free to pause as often as you need to.
As you become more comfortable, challenge yourself to speak at the same time as the audio.
To level up, you can even record yourself on your phone while shadowing, then play it back side by side with the original and listen closely.
Random templates from the internet often sound stiff or don’t match your writing style.
Instead, why don’t you build your own by studying your past work?
Go back through a few of your essays or summaries and notice what structure helped you score well.
Then, open a Google Doc or a notebook and start setting up a section for each task type — Essay, Summarize Written Text, Describe Image, etc.
Under each one, outline a basic structure that works for you; for example, your essay template might look like this:
Next, add your favorite sentence starters under each part, such as “One key reason is that…,” “For instance…,” or “Although some people argue…, I believe…”
As a result, you won’t waste time searching for the right words when the clock’s ticking.
It’s easy to get lost in a sea of PTE resources and tools.
But no worries; you have LUME Prep as your trusted companion!
After you sign up and complete a diagnostic mock test, LUME will use your results to create a smart, fully personalized plan for you.
It also combines AI and adaptive learning, meaning you will get instant feedback on your speaking and writing tasks.
On top of that, LUME has a massive question bank and full-length mock tests that let you practice in real exam conditions.
That way, you can easily track how you’re improving and feel totally ready when test day comes!
You’ve now got a powerful set of 10 practical PTE tools that bring you one step closer to a confident, high-scoring test day.
And if you want to cut through the noise and get a truly tailored study plan, LUME’s got your back.
Join us and take your first mock test now!
Want to FINALLY Pass the PTE Test And Achieve Your Goals? Get Your FREE Lume Account Today to Unlock… ✅ 10,000+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS with detailed answers ✅ FREE MOCK TESTS with fast & accurate AI scoring ✅ Get BETTER SCORES with a PERSONALIZED study plan (Limited seats available!) |
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Lume Test is a leading platform offering practice questions and mock tests for major English exams like PTE, IELTS, TOEIC, DET, and more. We provide up-to-date, comprehensive materials designed to help learners improve their language skills and achieve high scores. With expert-crafted tests that closely mirror real exam formats, Lume Test ensures you're fully prepared for success. Your goals are our mission!