PTE Exam Preparation Guide – How to prepare for PTE Exam, well, whenever you decide to start preparing for the PTE Exam, the biggest confusion which comes to mind is how to prepare for the PTE Exam. Tricks Magical are trying to explain the step-wise guide to prepare for your targeted score of 65+ and 79+ in PTE.
STEP 1 Understand the different types of questions – PTE Exam Preparation Guide
First of all, understand the different types of questions in all the four modules speaking, writing, reading and listening.
Now let us discuss all of them one by one briefly.
I. SPEAKING SECTION – PTE Exam Preparation Guide
1. READ ALOUD
Scope:
Test-takers read a text displayed on the computer. They have 40 seconds to prepare for the text. Recording starts when these 40 seconds finish. Test-takers should start speaking within 3 seconds otherwise recording will stop.
Requirements:
Test-takers should speak as clearly as possible.
Remember read aloud means to speak as clearly not speak loudly.
Scores Assessed:
Scores have both speaking and reading modules. Read my article Read Aloud for more details.
2. DESCRIBE IMAGE
Scope:
Test-takers explain a picture/bar graph/pie chart etc. They have 25 seconds to prepare for the text. Recording starts when these 25 seconds finish. Test-takers should start speaking within 3 seconds otherwise recording will stop.
Requirements:
Test-takers should describe the main highlights of the image. Try to speak all the keywords displayed on the image.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are for only speaking module.
3. REPEAT SENTENCE
Scope:
Test-takers repeat a sentence after listening to it. No time is given to prepare for it.
Recording starts immediately after the speaker stops.
Test-takers should start speaking within 3 seconds otherwise recording will stop.
Requirements:
Test-takers should repeat the sentence as correct as possible.
Try to speak all the words.
Do not copy any accent. Speak in your own accent.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are for only speaking module.
4. RETELL LECTURE
Scope:
Test-takers speak the main highlights of the lecture recording played on the computer. No time is given to prepare for it. Recording starts immediately after the speaker stops. Test-takers should start speaking within 3 seconds otherwise recording will stop.
Requirements:
Test-takers should speak on the main aspects of the lecture.
Try to speak at least five sentences.
Do not copy any accent. Speak in your own accent.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are for both speaking and listening modules.
5. ANSWER SHORT QUESTIONS
Scope:
Test-takers answer the question asked in the audio played. No time is given to prepare for it. Recording starts immediately after the speaker stops. Test-takers should start speaking within 3 seconds otherwise recording will stop.
Requirements:
Test-takers should speak the answer in one or two words.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are for speaking module.
Tricks Magical suggest some Tips and Tricks PTE Summarize Spoken Text 79+
II. WRITING SECTION – PTE Exam Preparation Guide
1. SUMMARIZE WRITTEN TEXT
Scope:
Test-takers write a summary of the passage displayed on the screen in one sentence only.
They have 10 minutes to answer this.
Requirements:
Test-takers should write a summary in a maximum of 75 words, but more importantly in one sentence only.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are for both writing and reading modules.
2. ESSAY
Scope:
Test-takers write an essay on a topic. They have 20 minutes to answer this.
Requirements:
Test-takers should write an essay in about 250 words.
Minimum word count is 200, else essay will not marked.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are for only writing module.
III. READING SECTION – PTE Exam Preparation Guide
The entire reading section is given a consolidated time of approx 2 minutes per question. So, candidates should plan their time very sensibly.
1. READING AND WRITING FILL IN THE BLANKS
Scope:
A passage will be displayed and within that paragraph, some words are skipped. Test-takers choose the right options from the drop-down menu. Each blank has its own option of words to choose from.
Requirements:
Test-takers should choose the right option which gives a sensible meaning to the passage.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are for both writing and reading modules.
2. READING FILL IN THE BLANKS
Scope:
A passage will be displayed and within that paragraph, some words are skipped. Test-takers choose the right options by dragging and dropping the right option. Options for all of the blanks are kept together.
Requirements:
Test-takers should choose the right option which gives a sensible meaning to the passage.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are only reading module.
3. REORDER PARAGRAPHS
Scope:
A number of paragraphs will be displayed. All will be arranged in a random manner. Test takers arrange them in order to make a complete sense.
Requirements:
Test-takers should choose the right option by dragging paragraphs up and down to give a sensible meaning to all of the paragraphs.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are only reading module.
4. MULTIPLE CHOICE – CHOOSE MULTIPLE OPTION
Scope:
A paragraph will be given to read. Out of this, a question will be asked.
Requirements:
Test-takers should choose all the right options.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are only reading module.
5. MULTIPLE CHOICE – CHOOSE SINGLE OPTION
Scope:
A paragraph will be given to read. Out of this, a question will be asked.
Requirements:
Test-takers should the single right options.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are only reading module.
IV. LISTENING SECTION – PTE Exam Preparation Guide
1. SUMMARIZE SPOKEN TEXT
Scope:
Test-takers are required to write a summary after listening to audio played on the computer. They have 10 minutes to answer this.
Requirements:
Test-takers should write a summary in a maximum of 70 words in the text box provided on the screen.
They may write as many as sentences possible within the 70 words count.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are given for both writing and listening modules.
2. MULTIPLE CHOICE – CHOOSE MULTIPLE OPTION
Scope:
A recording will be played, and one question will be displayed on the screen along with some options.
Requirements:
Test-takers should choose all the right options from the given options.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are only listening module.
3. MULTIPLE CHOICE – CHOOSE SINGLE OPTION
Scope:
A recording will be played, and one question will be displayed on the screen along with some options.
Requirements:
Test-takers should choose the right option from the given options.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are only listening module.
4. FILL IN THE BLANKS
Scope:
A recording is played and a passage is displayed, and within that passage, some words are kept blank. Test-takers write the right option while they listen to the audio in the blanks provided on the screen.
Requirements:
Test-takers should the words with correct spellings.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are given for both listening and writing modules.
5. HIGHLIGHT CORRECT SUMMARY
Scope:
A recording is played. Candidates should listen to the audio and note important points from the recording.
Requirements:
Test-takers choose the best option matching with the recording out of given options.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are listening and reading module.
6. SELECT MISSING WORD
Scope:
Candidates should listen to the audio, but then on the very last word, a beep sound plays.
Requirements:
Test-takers are choose the best option suited to the recording.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are only listening module.
7. HIGHLIGHT INCORRECT WORDS
Scope:
Candidates should listen to the audio and match them with the passage display all the words that speaks differently from the words
Requirements:
Test-takers should highlight all the words spoken differently from the shown text. They just need to click the different word and it will get highlighted automatically.
Scores Assessed:
Scores are only listening module.
8. WRITE FROM DICTATION
Scope:
PTE test plays a recording which will only one sentence long.
Requirements:
Test-takers should write the sentence as far as they remember in the text box provided on the screen.
Scores Assessed:
Scores have both listening and writing modules. Now when you have understood the different types of questions in all the four modules
Now let us discuss where to follow the right strategies.
STEP 2: The right strategies
According to me, there are three best youtube channels that you should follow to know the right strategies.
- Navjot Brar PTE
- E2 Language PTE Academic
- PTE magic by Moni
After watching these channels, you should be able to know the right ways to approach different types of questions.
STEP 3: Now moving on to practice.
The best site to prepare for the PTE exam for free are as below:
- www.realpte.com
- www.pte.tools
- www.apeuni.com
There are a couple of others as well, but I believe this website has sufficient material to prepare for the recent exams. One of the sites prepared by my friend is www.pteguy.com You may please check that also for practice. Practice daily for around two hours on an average.
STEP 4: Take a mock test
After you have practised well, its time to take a mock test before you appear for the actual test. The good thing about PTE is that it has three official mock tests available from the same software which uses to conduct exams.
Now next step is to take the official mock tests and work on your weak areas.
Take a mock from the official website. www.pearsonpte.com
It has three kits: Silver with one mock test, Gold with two mock tests, and Platinum with three mock tests.
Choose the best for you.
Taking a mock will help you to work on your weak areas.
Word of caution: Don’t go for the paid assessment from any of the websites available on the internet as none is having the same software as PTE people have. Therefore, most of the scores received by you from these websites are useless and sometimes disheartening.
STEP 5- Final to book the exam
Now when you got the desired or at least you are near to the desired scores in the mocks, its time to book the exam, and that is the final step in your journey to PTE success.
The PTE exam can book from the official website www.pearsonvue.com
Note: you can also purchase vouchers from the internet which can redeem while booking exam which saves you money and also gives you practice mock tests.
Note again, please do not go for assessment from any available websites in the market except for official one, otherwise, you will waste your lot of time.
In the end, Tricks Magical hope you will get a good idea on how to prepare for the PTE exam from the information provided above. We will also keep posting different strategies on the ways to crack the PTE exam in my upcoming articles.
In addition, Tricks Magical give you some TIPS PTE READ ALOUD Task Description and Tricks
