PTE is a widely recognized English language proficiency test accepted by thousands of academic programs worldwide. It is particularly popular among students who want to study or immigrate to English-speaking countries such as Australia and New Zealand, where governments require PTE scores for visa applications. PTE test tests candidates in four core language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. While each section has its own challenges, many candidates find the Listening section particularly difficult, especially if English is not their first language.
Why is PTE Listening challenging?
- Time pressure: You often have just 7 to 10 seconds to read the instructions before the audio starts. This means you must quickly understand what is expected of you and focus on your task.
- Testing multiple skills: Listening section does not just test your ability to listen and understand English. It also evaluates your reading skills, memory, and even your ability to accurately summarize or transcribe information.
- Various accents: PTE test includes speakers with different English accents, such as British, American, and Australian. If you are not familiar with these accents, this can be challenging.
Effective strategies
Develop active listening habits
- Practice with real-world English: Engage with English in everyday settings. Watch English-language news channels, listen to podcasts and stream English TV shows and movies. Try to understand the content without relying on subtitles.
- Listen for details and context: Pay attention to the main ideas, specific details and overall context in audio clips. Pay attention to how speakers emphasize certain words or phrases, which can give you clues to the correct answers.
Use PTE practice tools
- PTE Online Mock Tests: Taking PTE online mock tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare for exam. These mock tests replicate actual exam conditions, helping you practice and gain experience with different types of questions despite time constraints.
- PTE Coaching: Enrolling in PTE coaching can help you get personalized feedback and strategies. Expert instructors can guide you through complex listening tasks and provide tips to improve your performance.
Note-taking techniques
- Use abbreviations and symbols: Develop a system of abbreviations and symbols to write down important details without wasting time. For example, use “&” for “and”, “b/c” for “because”, and arrows to indicate cause and effect relationships.
- Focus on key points: Don’t try to write everything down. Instead, focus on capturing the main ideas, keywords, names, dates, and any numbers mentioned in the audio.
Improve time management skills
- Practice controlling your pace: During practice sessions, try to control your pace to ensure you have enough time to complete each task. If you are stuck on a particular question, learn to move on quickly, as spending too much time on one task can impair your performance on other tasks.
- Plan short breaks: After each task, take a little time (just a few seconds) to clear your mind and prepare for the next task. This will help you focus and reduce the chances of making careless mistakes.
Increase vocabulary
- Expand your vocabulary: Regularly read English newspapers, magazines, and online articles to broaden your vocabulary. Understanding a wide range of words will help you recognize them in audio clips.
- Practice pronunciation: Use online resources or apps that help you improve your pronunciation. Understanding how words are pronounced in different accents will make it easier for you to understand them during the test.
