Highlight Incorrect Words, PTE Academic

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Score Weightage

Overall Score4%

Listening8%

Reading13%

Source: Pearson PTE Academic, Scoring Information for Teachers and Partners. Weightings are averages and may vary per test form.

The Do's and Don'ts

Skim Before the BeepUse the 10-second countdown to do more than glance -- silently pronounce the content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) as you read them. This prepares you to instantly notice when the speaker says something different. Focus on content words only -- incorrect words are almost always substituted content words, not grammar words.

Use the Cursor Follow MethodPlace your cursor at the very first word. As the speaker talks, move your mouse along the words at the same pace as the audio.

Click and Move OnThe moment you hear a mismatch, click the word immediately. Do not stop to think, the audio will not wait for you.

Focus on EndingsSpeakers often change small details like plurals (cat vs. cats) or tenses (walk vs. walked). Listen for that final 's' or 'ed.'

Don't Take NotesKeep your eyes on the text at all times -- no note-taking. Concentrate on every content word, including de-emphasized ones. After the recording ends, do NOT re-read and correct based on what seems logically correct -- incorrect words usually fit grammatically. Only change a selection if you are 100% certain you heard a different word.

Don't Guess RandomlyBecause of negative marking, clicking a correct word by mistake will decrease your total score. Only click if you are 100% sure.

Don't Double-ClickA single click highlights the word in yellow. Clicking again deselects it.

Don't Fall BehindIf you miss a word, jump ahead to where the speaker currently is. Do not try to find the word you missed.

Tips & Tricks, Mismatch Patterns

Synonyms

Audio says 'large,' text says 'huge.' Always trust what you hear, not what looks correct.

Tenses & Endings

Audio says 'developed,' text says 'develops.' Audio says 'can,' text says 'cannot.' Listen for the very last syllable.

Ignore Punctuation

Focus only on words. Differences in commas or periods are not what you are looking for.

The Context Hint

If a word in the text looks logically out of place for the topic, keep a very close ear on it when the speaker reaches that sentence.

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Test-Taking Strategies & Practice

1 Sound out content words silently during the 10-second preview

Use the 10-second countdown to silently pronounce the content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) as you read them.

This is the core strategy: working out how each word should sound prepares you to instantly notice when the speaker says something different. Focus on content words only -- incorrect words in this task are almost always substituted content words, not grammar words.

2 Concentrate on every content word -- including de-emphasized ones

Move your cursor along the text as the speaker talks. When you hear a word that differs from what you see, click it immediately.

Listen for all content words, not just those that carry sentence stress. Incorrect words are often placed in de-emphasized positions.

3 Do not correct based on context or intuition after the recording

After the recording ends, do not re-read the transcript and try to correct answers based on what makes logical sense.

Even the incorrect words fit grammatically and contextually into the sentence. Logic-based corrections will often hurt your score. Only change a clicked word if you are 100% certain you heard a different word.

Practice - Chemical Reactions

The transcript below contains words that differ from what the speaker says. Identify the incorrect words.

Written Transcription (with errors - incorrect words highlighted)

So far in our discussion of chemical equations we have assumed that these reactions only go in one direction. That's why our arrowhead points from left to right: reactants react together to make products. However, this is not exactly how things occur in reality. So instead of writing that single arrow facing from right to top, a more appropriate symbol would be a double arrow. Reactants are continuously reacting to form produce. This is what we would call a state of equality.

Correct

equations should be reactionsThe speaker says 'reactions,' not 'equations.'

Correct

arrowhead should be arrowThe speaker says 'arrow,' not 'arrowhead.'

Correct

reality should be natureThe speaker says 'nature,' not 'reality.'

Correct

right to top should be left to rightThe speaker says 'from left to right,' not 'right to top.'

Correct

produce should be productsThe speaker says 'products,' not 'produce.'

Correct

equality should be equilibriumThe speaker says 'equilibrium,' not 'equality.'

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Official Scoring Criteria

+1 per correct

Each correctly identified incorrect word earns 1 point.

−1 per wrong

Each word incorrectly clicked (correct word marked as wrong) deducts 1 point.

0 (min)

Minimum score is 0. Score cannot go negative.

Negative marking applies, only click words you are confident differ from what the speaker said. Scores both Listening and Reading skills. Don't click every word to avoid losing points.