PTE Sections and Strategies

Note: Refer to PTE Academic Score Guide for more information

Red = Important strategy notes

Section Number Scoring Strategy notes

of items
Equipment 1 None Play the recorded audio and check that the headset is working properly.
Test
Record “Testing, testing, one, two, three” and play back to check that
the microphone is working properly. Optionally, it may be useful to read
one or two sentences from the instructions on screen to further test
the system and also to prepare for the Read Aloud section.

Personal 1 None Timeline

Introduction 25s Read the prompt

30s (Beep)
Start response
This section is not scored. Prepare a simple introduction
of name, age, occupation.
Utilize this section as a warming up for the test.

Part 1 Speaking and Writing

Be advised, your neighbour may be LOUD and distracting to you, especially if he/she starts speaking midway into
your speech delivery. The PTE microphone will only record your voice however. Do not shout into the microphone
as voices will get distorted and marks deducted. Remember to be nice to your neighbours.

Move on to the next question as soon as you finish to avoid potential extra sounds being recorded.

System automatically stops recording if >3s silence

Section Number Scoring Strategy notes

of items
Read Aloud 6-7 Content Timeline
0 30-40s Read the prompt (Time available depend on the length of
passage)
Do a soft Read Aloud through every word in the prompt,
pay particular attention to word with 3 syllables and above
and ensure that pronunciation is correct.

40s (Beep)
Start response
The system automatically will stop recording if >3s silence

Each replacement, omission or insertion of a word counts as one error

Pronunciation 5 Native-like
5 All vowels and consonants are produced in a manner that is easily
understood by regular speakers of the language. The speaker uses
assimilation and deletions appropriate to continuous speech. Stress is
 placed correctly in all words and sentence-level stress is fully
appropriate.

4 Advanced
Vowels and consonants are pronounced clearly and unambiguously. A
few minor consonants, vowel or stress distortions do not affect
intelligibility. All words are easily understandable. A few consonants or
consonant sequences may be distorted. Stress is placed correctly on all
common words, and sentence level stress is reasonable

Oral Fluency 5 Native Like

5 Speech shows smooth rhythm and phrasing. There are no hesitations,
repetitions, false starts or non-native phonological simplifications.

4 Advanced
Speech has an acceptable rhythm with appropriate phrasing and word
emphasis. There is no more than one hesitation, one repetition or a
false start. There are no significant non-native phonological
simplifications

Repeat 10-12 Content Timeline

Sentence 5 3-9s Audio prompt
Close eyes when listening to prompt for better focus.
Pronunciation
5 15s Start response
There is no Beep – Start speaking after 0.5-1 second pause
Oral Fluency to ensure complete and proper recording.
5 The system automatically will stop recording if >3s silence

Content Score
3 All words in the response from the prompt in the correct sequence
2 At least 50% of words in the response from the prompt in the correct
sequence

Describe 6-7 Content Timeline

Image 5 25s Study Image and Prepare Response

Pronunciation 40s (Beep)

5 Start response
Template – May improvise or deviate as required:
Oral Fluency Introduction The chart/graph/image describes the
5 (chart title)

from… (left of X-axis/ 1st stage /left of

image / foreground) to… (right of X-axis/
last stage / background)
OR
by… (unit on Y-axis)

Body For Graphs

Among the data presented…
Feature 1: The highest…
Feature 2: The lowest…
 Feature 3: Significant feature (Optional)

For Images
Feature 1: In the foreground / On the left
…
Feature 2: In the background / On the
right …
Feature 3: Significant feature (Optional)

For Processes
Step 1: First …
Step 2: Then…
Step 3: …

Conclusion (Important)
In conclusion… (describe an observation
/ trend / feature)

Content Score
5 Describes all elements of the image and their relationships, possible
development and conclusion or implications.
4 Describes all the key elements of the image and their relations,
referring to their implications or conclusions.

Re-tell 3-4 Content Timeline

Lecture 5 3s Prepare to hear audio promt
Glance at image on screen to get a sense of what the audio
Pronunciation is about. Focus on listening to the lecture however.
5
60-90s Audio prompt
Oral Fluency First task is to establish what the lecture is about, write it
5 down.

Do not focus too much on writing to notepad. Note down

keywords, data numbers and make use of symbols /
acronyms for faster recording.

Choose keywords strategically (e.g. at beginning of new

idea)

10s Prepare response

40s (Beep)
Start response

Template – May improvise or deviate as required:

This lecture is about… (Topic)
Key Point 1
Key Point 2
Key Point 3 (Optional)
In conclusion …
 Focus on a clear, fluent speech delivery with adequate
grammar. It is ok if the content does not make sense at
times.

Content Score
5 Re-tells all points of the presentation and describes characters,
aspects and actions, their relationships, the underlying development,
implications and conclusions.
4 Describes all key points of the presentation and their relations,
referring to their implications and conclusions

Answer 10-12 Yes/No Timeline

Short 1 3-9s Audio prompt
Question
10s Start response
No Beep – Start speaking immediately
One or a few words will do, full sentence is not necessary

1 Appropriate word choice in response

0 Inappropriate word choice in response

Summarize 2-3 Content Timeline

Written 2 10min Read passage & Type response
Text Response to be 5-75 words in a single sentence

Template
Key idea of passage is…, supplementary idea 1 …,
supplementary idea 2 …, supplementary idea n…

2 Provides a good summary of the text. All relevant aspects mentioned

1 Provides a fair summary of the text but misses one or two aspects
0 Omits or misrepresents the main aspects of the text

Form 1 Is written in one, single, complete sentence

1 0 Not written in one, single, complete sentence or contains fewer than
5 or more than 75 words. Summary is written in capital letters

Grammar 2 Has correct grammatical structure

2 1 Contains grammatical errors but with no hindrance to communication
0 Has defective grammatical structure which could hinder
communication

Vocabulary 2 Has appropriate choice of words

2 1 Contains lexical errors but with no hindrance to communication
0 Has defective word choice which could hinder communication

Write Essay 1-2 Content Timeline

3 20min Read prompt & Type response
Response to be 200-300 words
Strategy:
Note down key words
 Template:
(2 min) Introduction:
1st sentence: It is true that … (General statement about the
topic or some universal truths)
2nd sentence: While… (Disagreed argument), … (Agreed
argument) and opinion (Optional)

(7 min) Main idea 1: Disagreed Argument

(7 min) Main idea 2: Agreed Argument

(1-2 min) Conclusion:

One sentence: Reiterates the arguments and opinion.

(2 min) Check essay for spelling and grammatical errors.

Also to cut down the words if world count >300.

3 Adequately deals with the prompt

2 Deals with the prompt but does not deal with one minor aspect
1 Deals with the prompt but omits a major aspect or more than one
minor aspect
0 Does not deal properly with the prompt

Form 2 Length is between 200 and 300 words

2 1 Length is between 120 and 199 or between 301 and 380 words
0 Length is less than 120 or more than 380 words. Essay is written in
capital letters, contains no punctuation or only consists of bullet points
or very short sentences

Organization 2 Shows good development and logical structure

2 1 Is incidentally less well structured, and some elements or paragraphs
are poorly linked
0 Lacks coherence and mainly consists of lists or loose elements

Grammar 2 Shows consistent grammatical control of complex language. Errors

2 are rare and difficult to spot
1 Shows a relatively high degree of grammatical control. No mistakes
which would lead to misunderstandings
0 Contains mainly simple structures and/or several basic mistakes

Linguistic 2 Exhibits smooth mastery of a wide range of language to formulate

Range thoughts precisely, give emphasis, differentiate and eliminate
2 ambiguity. No sign that the test taker is restricted in what they want to
communicate
1 Sufficient range of language to provide clear descriptions, express
viewpoints and develop arguments
0 Contains mainly basic language and lacks precision

Vocabulary 2 Good command of a broad lexical repertoire, idiomatic expressions

2 and colloquialisms
1 Shows a good range of vocabulary for matters connected to general
academic topics. Lexical shortcomings lead to circumlocution or some
imprecision
0 Contains mainly basic vocabulary insufficient to deal with the topic at
the required level
 Spelling 2 Correct spelling
2 1 One spelling error
0 More than one spelling error
Part 2 Reading
Reading tasks are not time individually, be mindful of how much time is left for the entire section.

Multiple 2-3 Yes/No 1 Correct response

Choices 1 0 Incorrect response
Single
Answer
Multiple 2-3 Partial credit Partial credit, points deducted for incorrect options chosen:
Choices 1 1 Each correct response
Multiple -1 Each incorrect response
Answers 0 Minimum score
Re-order 2-3 Partial credit Partial credit:
Paragraphs 1 1 Each pair of correct adjacent textboxes
0 Minimum score

Reading: Fill 4-5 Partial credit Partial credit:

in the 1 1 Each correctly completed blank
Blanks 0 Minimum score

Reading and 5-6 Partial credit Partial credit:

Writing 1 1 Each correctly completed blank
Fill in the 0 Minimum score
Blanks
Part 3 Listening

Summarize 2-3 Content Timeline

Spoken Text 2 60-90s Audio prompt
First task is to establish what the lecture is about, write it
down.

Do not focus too much on writing to notepad. Note down

keywords, data numbers and make use of symbols /
acronyms for faster recording.

Choose keywords strategically (e.g. at beginning of new

idea)

10min Type response

Response to be 50-70 words. Multiple sentences allowed
(Note contrast with Summarize Written Text where only
one sentence is allowed)

Template – Write to paragraph

This lecture is about… (Topic)
…

2 Provides a good summary of the text. All relevant aspects are

mentioned
1 Provides a fair summary of the text, but one or two aspects are
missing
0 Omits or misrepresents the main aspects (0 for ALL sub-sections)
 Form 2 Contains 50-70 words
2 1 Contains 40-49 words or 71-100 words
0 Contains less than 40 words or more than 100 words. Summary is
written in capital letters, contains no punctuation or consists only of
bullet points or very short sentences.

Grammar 2 Correct grammatical structures

2 1 Contains grammatical errors with no hindrance to communication
0 Defective grammatical structures which could hinder communication

Vocabulary 2 Appropriate choice of words

2 1 Some lexical errors but with no hindrance to communication
0 Defective word choice which could hinder communication

Spelling 2 Correct spelling

2 1 One spelling error
0 More than one spelling error

Multiple 2-3 Partial credit Timeline

Choices 1 40-90s Audio prompt
Multiple Close eyes to listen and understand the general points of
Answers the prompt. Skim through the summaries and choose the
response that capture the spirit and feeling of the prompt.
Do not try to remember every word of the audio prompt.

Partial credit, points deducted for incorrect options chosen:

1 Each correct response
-1 Each incorrect response
0 Minimum score

Fill in the 2-3 Partial credit Timeline

Blanks 1 30-60s Audio prompt
Click on the blank box before the audio reaches that point
in the paragraph. Type into the box and immediately click
on the next box.

Partial credit:
1 Each correct word spelled correctly
0 Minimum score

Highlight 2-3 Yes/No Timeline

Correct 1 30-90s Audio prompt
Summary Close eyes to listen and understand the general points of
the prompt. Skim through the summaries and choose the
response that capture the spirit and feeling of the prompt.
Do not try to remember every word of the audio prompt.

1 Correct response
0 Incorrect response
Multiple 2-3 Yes/No Timeline
Choices 1 5s Preparatory silence
Single Skim the general statement to get an idea of the content to
Answer look out for in the audio prompt.

30-60s Audio prompt

Close eyes to listen and understand the general points of
the prompt. Skim through the answers and choose the
response that capture the spirit and feeling of the prompt.
Do not try to remember every word of the audio prompt.

1 Correct response
0 Incorrect response

Select 2-3 Yes/No Timeline

Missing 1 20-70s Audio prompt
Word Missing word/phrase is at the end of the passage (denoted
with a Beep)
Focus on sentence content as the audio is playing to get the
correct response

1 Correct response
0 Incorrect response

Highlight 2-3 Partial credit Timeline

Incorrect 1 10s Preparatory silence
Word May skim the passage

15-50s Audio prompt

Highlight incorrect word as the audio prompt plays
Cursor to follow sentence as it is read
Left click on the incorrect word as soon as the difference is
detected

Partial credit, points deducted for incorrect options chosen:

1 Each correct word
-1 Each incorrect word
0 Minimum score

Write from 3-4 Partial credit Timeline

Dictation 1 3-5s Audio prompt
Audio prompt will play automatically without cue
Begin typing after prompt as many words as can be
remembered
Re-read once to check spelling and grammar

Partial credit:
1 Each correct word spelled correctly
0 Each incorrect or misspelled word
Additional resources

PTE Tutorials App

PTE Tutorials App has a large question bank that is good for practice. Although question the format is not exactly the
same as the real PTE test (e.g. the App gives 10s preparatory time before the Re-tell lecture audio prompt instead of
3s), the questions are generally harder than the real PTE test (e.g. Read Aloud sentences are longer with more complex
words, Describe Image has more and confusing data, etc.)

https://ptetutorials.com/mobile-app

Practice speaking with Google translate and aim for about 80% of the words spoken being captured correctly.
Practice the Speaking section with a YouTube video playing in the back ground and progressively increase the volume
(For Windows I increased the volume up to 20). Preferably the video should be of someone speaking in English (e.g.
John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight, these videos are extra distracting due to the audience laughter in the background).
Focus on clear pronunciation and fluent delivery with sufficient volume to overcome the background noise. Do not
shout into the microphone.
Good luck! Chúc các bạn may mắn và thành công trên con đường
của mình.