PTE Listening Tips To Improve Your Scores
Achieving a high score in the PTE Listening section requires strategy and focus.
With tasks designed to assess your ability to comprehend spoken English in real-world contexts, it’s essential to approach this section with the right techniques.
Follow LUME Test to discover 14 PTE listening tips to improve your listening skills and maximize your PTE Academic score!
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Understanding the format of the PTE listening section is crucial to performing well on the test day.
This section includes 8 different tasks:
Unlike other sections, you’ll only have one chance to listen to the recordings, making it important to stay focused and alert.
Familiarize yourself with these tasks and practice regularly to build confidence and ensure you’re prepared for the test day.
Unlike listening to music, you need to focus on the meaning of the PTE conversation.
Immerse yourself in the situation and try to anticipate what’s coming next, especially in tasks like “Select missing words,” where you have to complete a sentence without hearing the end.
You should pay attention to keywords and anything that seems important to the topic.
A great way to improve active listening is by tuning into talk shows or podcasts, as they help you train your ear without the distractions of TV.
Another key tip for the listening section is to get used to different accents.
The test includes speakers with various accents, such as British, American, Australian, and Indian.
It’s important not to focus on just one accent.
Instead, you should listen to podcasts from different regions.
It will help you become more comfortable with different pronunciations.
Below are some podcasts that can improve your listening skills:
On test day, you’ll be in a room with other candidates, and it can get noisy.
To get used to this, try practicing with some background noise.
You can turn on the TV or radio while studying or use the background noise feature in your practice exercise.
Even listening while commuting on the bus or train can help.
This will get you more comfortable with staying focused, no matter the distractions.
You should avoid guessing on questions with negative markings, especially in the multiple-choice, choose multiple answers section.
In this post, if you select the wrong options, you lose points.
It’s best to skim the options before the recording begins to get an idea of what you should listen for.
Pay attention to keywords and phrases during the recording that match the options.
If you’re unsure about the answer, it’s better not to select it at all, as a wrong answer could cost you points.
Managing your time carefully is important for the PTE listening section.
The clock is always ticking, and you have limited time to listen and respond.
If you don’t pace yourself, you might rush your answers or leave them incomplete.
Also, practice managing your time by using timed practice tests.
This will help you get a feel for how much time you have for each question and section.
For example, in the “Summarize spoken text” section, where you hear the recording only once, avoid spending too much time writing everything down.
Instead, focus on listening alternatively and make sure you respond in the allotted time.
During the test, you’ll hear a lot of information, but not all of it is equally important.
Listen for key themes and repeated phrases, such as names, dates, or important terms, which usually point to the main idea.
It’s also essential to tune out irrelevant details or examples that don’t directly relate to the primary message.
Besides, after hearing a passage, try to quickly summarize the main point in your mind, which helps retain the core information.
When taking notes during the test, avoid writing every word you hear.
Trying to transcribe everything can waste time and make you miss important points.
Instead, focus on capturing keywords that represent the main ideas and key details.
This method helps you stay focused on the most relevant information.
By jotting down keywords, you can quickly organize your thoughts and create concise, meaningful notes for answering questions.
Take advantage of the short time the audio begins to quickly skim through the questions, text, or answer options.
This simple step helps you understand the context and identify keywords to listen for.
By pre-reading, you’ll know what information is important and can focus your attention on the details that matter during the recording.
It’s a smart way to stay ahead and make your listening more effective.
Subtitles can be a great tool when practicing listening skills.
Initially, using subtitles helps you catch words or pronunciations that might be hard to understand.
Over time, as you watch more content with subtitles, you’ll become familiar with accents, speech patterns, and commonly used phrases.
Gradually, try transitioning to watching without subtitles as your confidence grows.
This habit will help you better grasp unfamiliar sounds and follow conversations more naturally.
Your first response might not always be correct, and that’s okay.
If you feel uncertain or notice something that better fits the question, don’t hesitate to change your answer.
Reviewing your responses allows you to catch mistakes or improve accuracy.
Use any remaining time to double-check and make adjustments where needed.
It can boost your confidence and improve your overall score.
Using your cursor to follow along with the text as the audio plays is a simple yet effective strategy.
This technique keeps your attention anchored to the content and helps you stay in sync with the recording, especially during longer passages.
Cursor tracking minimizes the chance of losing your place, ensuring you don’t miss important details.
It’s best to spend time each day listening to English news channels, podcasts, or TED talks.
At first, it might feel challenging or frustrating, especially if English is not your first language.
However, with consistent effort, you’ll start noticing improvements within a week.
During practice, focus on guessing unfamiliar words and improving your comprehension.
Regular exposure not only enhances your understanding but also helps you adapt to different accents and speeds of speech.
Make sure your responses are clear, structured correctly, and free of mistakes.
Even small errors in pronunciation, such as missing periods or commas, can affect the clarity of your answers.
You should regularly practice writing and reviewing basic grammar rules as they can sharpen these skills.
Additionally, double-check your responses for spelling errors before submitting them to ensure they are polished and professional.
Improving your PTE listening score takes practice and strategies.
By following 14 practical PTE listening tips like managing time, practicing daily, and focusing on key points, you’ll feel confident and ready for the test day.
Stay consistent, and you’ll see great results.
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