Top 10 PTE Listening Multiple Choice Single Answer Tips

The PTE Listening Multiple Choice Single Answer section is considered the easiest among various sections.

However, it’s still conducive to your point deduction if your spoken language proficiency and listening skills are weak.

There is no need to worry, as LUME Test will help you out by providing 10 strategic tips and tricks in this blog.

Stay tuned, and you won’t be disappointed!

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Key Takeaways 

• You listen to an audio lasting 30 to 60 seconds and answer a series of multiple-choice questions. 
• You will get a score for an accurate answer and none for an incorrect one, and no partial credit is applicable.
• Many candidates struggle with this PTE section due to the fast pace of audio clips, minor differences between answers, and the problem of timing. 
• It’s advisable to utilize 5 seconds before the recording starts to read the questions and answers first.

Related:

• FREE PTE Academic mock tests
• PTE study plan
• PTE Listening format
• PTE highlight correct summary tips

Understand The PTE Listening Multiple Choice Single Answer 

The General Format

In the PTE Listening Multiple Choice Single Answer section, you are required to listen to the audio and answer a series of multiple-choice questions. 

It means that you choose the correct answer among multiple options while listening. 

The recording’s length ranges from 30 to 60 seconds. 

Once the audio starts to play, it won’t stop, so you only hear the recording once. 

To pick an accurate answer, you click on it with the mouse’s left button, which will be highlighted yellow afterward. 

If you change your mind, left-click it again to deselect your choice.

Given its scoring system, you will get a score for an accurate answer and none for an incorrect one. 

Partial credit scoring is not applicable to this PTE section.  

Guide For Attention

To excel in this task, you must comprehend the question and explore its main idea. Here are some examples: 

• If the question is: “What was the main rationale behind the environmental pollution?” >> You should focus on the audio’s main topic and pollution causes instead of solutions. 
• If the question is: “What aspect of the environmental policy did the speaker discuss?” >> It is advisable to concentrate on the supporting information in the speech. 
• If the question is: “What did plastic recycling that the speaker mentioned mean?” >> You’d better explore the purpose of the conversation or lecture. 

As you can see, figuring out the question’s idea is very important, helping you stay focused on the relevant aspect and avoid getting sidetracked.

Hence, you will be able to find the correct response.  

Common Challenges Faced By Candidates In This Task 

Numerous candidates prefer the PTE Listening Multiple Choice Single Answer, as they find it easy to make guesses. 

There is always a 20-25% chance of choosing a correct answer, which is much higher than many other sections like the PTE Write From Dictation or the PTE Select Missing Word. 

Nevertheless, many lose points due to the fast pace of audio clips. 

Because you are allowed to listen to the recording once, coupled with the swift speed, this part seems much more challenging. 

Another difficulty lies in the minor divergence between answers. 

Some test-takers have trouble telling them apart, which makes picking the right one harder. 

You could be thrown off if the recording has distractions or provides extra information.  

Eventually, there is the pressure of time. 

After each clip, you only have a short time to pick your answer. 

Therefore, it’s a daunting task to strike the balance between accuracy and speed to ensure you don’t miss any queries. 

10 Effective Tips To Ace The PTE Listening Multiple Choice Single Answer 

Skim Through The Answers First

Before the recording runs, you have 5 seconds to read the questions and answers first. 

So, utilize this short time wisely to capture the general essence of the question and remember a few keywords. 

Understanding the question’s context and meaning helps you better prepare and focus on what to listen for. 

It’s also highly recommended to look at the answers and pinpoint differences between them briefly.  

Try To Catch The Options While Listening

While listening, keep an eye on the answers and attempt to figure out important information that the speaker aims to discuss. 

This can be a helpful clue, forming a strong foundation for you to eliminate irrelevant options and choose the most likely one. 

Suppose you listen to the audio first and then read through the answers to make your choice.

In that case, you will waste a lot of time and no longer have enough time to prepare for the next question. 

Focus On The Audio’s Meaning

Always try to explore the overall message that the speaker conveys. 

When comprehending the question’s context, you can rely on it to identify the most accurate answer without rechecking all the options again. 

If you find it hard to remember the audio’s meaning, don’t worry; catch its keywords instead (those are repeated frequently in the speech).

Then, look for answers that include synonyms of these important words. 

For instance, synonyms of “important” are “essential”, “vital”, “pivotal”, “significant”, etc. 

Take Good Notes

If you struggle to listen and answer the question simultaneously, you can take notes. 

Jot down essential information, such as key messages, keywords, and other supporting points related to the audio. 

Once you’ve got enough important details on your note, you connect all of them to form a comprehensive picture, thereby choosing an answer corresponding to these clues. 

But note-taking has its drawbacks: slow speed. 

So, you should practice taking notes at home by listing a series of symbols for common words or using abbreviations. 

Validate All Options One By One

As mentioned above, options in the PTE Listening Multiple Choice Single Answer section have minor differences. 

So, once you have already selected your initial answer, review all of the other choices carefully to consolidate your decision. 

Maybe you can realize your mistake and be able to choose the most correct response. 

Don’t Spend Too Much Time On One Question

This tip is applicable to other tasks in the PTE test. 

Never spend most of your time getting stuck in one query, as it just accounts for a small portion of the overall result. 

You have tons of other questions to complete, so don’t waste precious time and just give yourself about 1 minute to handle that difficult question. 

If you cannot figure out the solution, make an educated guess and keep moving on. 

Once you have finished all the test questions, you can revisit them later to solve your doubts. 

Try To Visualize While Listening

The technique is optional, but mastering it can make the test less intimidating. 

When creating a mental picture in your mind, you can listen to the audio more attentively, particularly when it is without accompanying visuals. 

In addition, this method assists you in retaining information in your memory longer. 

However, it’s not simple to perform this trick in the first trials, so regular practice at home is essential.  

Review Your Answer

Spending 1-2 minutes rechecking your answer before the test ends is necessary. 

Under many circumstances, you may mistakenly choose the wrong answer while capturing the exact information because of time constraints. 

So, you should go through all the questions and answers one more time, ensuring that you have delivered the desired response. 

Practice, Practice And Practice

Keep practicing until you feel confident in your language skills. 

Sometimes, practice is tiring, so diversity practice exercises can level up your mood. 

Instead of cramming for mock exams, take some time to listen to an authentic podcast or read your favorite English books.

These activities all help enhance your language skills. 

Note that this process should be consistent, which means you need to be exposed to English frequently. 

Calm Down And Relax

Keep your mentality fresh before the upcoming exam!

Having a butterfly in your stomach could cause stress and unnecessary worries, affecting your overall performance. 

Before stepping into the testing room, just take a deep breath, and everything will be OK. 

The Bottom Line

The PTE Listening Multiple Choice Single Answer section is not challenging if you are equipped with enough strategic tips.

Try to actively listen, pinpoint the main differences between various answers, and capture the audio’s main idea, and you can easily choose the correct answer.

Good luck, and thanks for reading!

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 GET YOUR FREE ACCOUNT NOW (Limited seats available!)