Tips & Tricks
The PTE rewards test-takers who know where the points concentrate. These are the cross-module rules that separate a good attempt from a 90.
Practise where the points are
Pearson's score distribution shows a handful of tasks dominating each module. If your practice time is limited, spend it here first.
Write From Dictation
18.48 writing pts + 10 listening pts. The most important task of the exam — a checkable, learnable skill. How to do it →
Describe Image
25.4 speaking pts. One template covers every image type. Template →
Repeat Sentences
12.5 speaking + 13.36 listening pts. Double-scoring — every sentence counts twice. Strategy →
Fill in the Blanks (R&W)
22 reading pts from drop-downs alone; 15.04 more from drag & drop. Skills to build →
Summarize Written Text
22.16 writing + 18 reading pts across two questions. One-sentence frame →
Essay
24.64 writing pts. One framework, five essay types. Framework →
Know the negative-marking traps
⚠️ Three tasks subtract marks for wrong answers
- Reading — MCQ Multiple Answers
- Listening — MCQ Multiple Answers
- Listening — Highlight Incorrect Words
The shared rule: act only on certainty. Select multiple options — or highlight a word — only when you are 100% sure. When in doubt, one confident choice beats three guesses.
Manage the clock like a scorer
Reading: 40-second cap on MCQs
Both multiple-choice tasks are the least important of the module. Cap them at 40 seconds and bank the time for fill-in-the-blanks.
Listening: protect the ending
Section B shares one rolling timer. Budget backwards so Write From Dictation — the biggest scorer — never gets squeezed.
Writing: fixed windows
10 minutes per summary, 20 per essay. Reserve the last 1–2 minutes of each for a grammar and spelling pass — both are scored traits.
Speaking: fill the recorder
Prep windows are short (10–30s). Note keywords, then speak until the timer ends — silence earns nothing.
Learn the templates cold
Six tasks have a reusable structure. Memorise them so exam-day effort goes into content, not sentence-building.
| Template | Task | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Describe Image | Speaking task 3 | Speaking → |
| Retell Lecture | Speaking task 4 | Speaking → |
| Summarize Group Discussion | Speaking task 6 | Speaking → |
| Respond to a Situation | Speaking task 7 | Speaking → |
| Summarize Written Text | Writing task 1 | Writing → |
| Essay framework | Writing task 2 | Writing → |
| Summarize Spoken Text | Listening task 1 | Listening → |
Build the daily habits
✅ Every day until test day
- Learn 10 new words and review yesterday's list.
- Read a newspaper or academic article for comprehension speed.
- Practise one full task type per module, rotating through the week.
- Keep a personal spelling list of every word you have ever misspelled.
- Schedule sectional mock tests, then a full mock — and act on the feedback before booking the exam.
See exactly what each task is worth
The full Pearson score distribution, enabling skills, and IELTS concordance are on the Score Guide.