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Part 3 · Listening

Fill in the Blanks

Type missing words from an audio transcript, spelling accuracy is critical

Questions2–3 per exam
Prompt length30–60 seconds
Suggested time30 seconds post-audio
ScoringPartial credit, +1 per correctly spelled word
SkillsListening
★

Score Weightage

Overall Score3%
Listening8%

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

01

The Do's and Don'ts

Skim Before the Audio StartsUse the 7 seconds to skim the full passage and look at the words surrounding each blank to predict the part of speech needed. Having a prediction before you hear the word makes recognition much faster. Place your cursor in the first blank before the audio starts.
Position Your CursorClick into the first blank before the audio starts so you are ready to type immediately.
Use the Tab KeyUse Tab to jump quickly between blanks without using the mouse. This keeps you focused on the audio flow.
Draft on PaperWrite word roots, not full words -- if you cannot type a complete word fast enough, write just the root (e.g., assign for assignment). Once the audio ends, use grammar and context clues to complete each word into its correct form.
Don't Stop to Fix SpellingIf you make a typo while the audio is playing, keep going. If you stop to fix one word, you will miss the next two blanks. Fix spelling after the audio stops.
Don't Leave Blanks EmptyThere is no negative marking. If you missed a word, use grammar and context clues to guess.
Don't Guess Homophones WrongAfter the recording, trust your instinct on words you heard clearly. Read each sentence once to confirm the word fits logically and grammatically -- if it does, move on. Do not second-guess confident answers. Be careful with homophones -- use sentence context. Check word endings: -s, -ed, -ing.
Don't Forget Plurals and TensesA common trap is missing the 's' at the end of a noun or the 'ed' at the end of a verb.
02

Tips & Tricks

The Context Check

After the audio finishes, read the whole sentence. Does your word make sense?

"The birds _______ south" + wrote "flu" → context dictates "flew"
Master Collocations

Knowing common word pairs helps you anticipate the word before the speaker even says it.

'social determinants' · 'vast majority' · 'take responsibility'
Grammar Logic

If the word before the blank is 'a,' the missing word cannot be plural. If after the blank is 'to,' the missing word might be a verb.

03

Standardized Logic Framework

1
The Pre-Audio Skim (7 Seconds)
Read the text to understand the story. Place the cursor in Blank 1.
2
The Active Sync (During Audio)
Follow the text with your eyes as the speaker talks. Type the word as soon as you hear it. Tab to the next blank immediately.
3
The Proofreading Phase (Post-Audio)
Check every word for spelling. Verify 's' endings (plurals) and 'ed' endings (past tense). Ensure the word fits the sentence grammar.
❖

Test-Taking Strategies & Practice

1 Use the 7-second preview to predict

Before the recording starts, quickly skim the full passage and look at the words surrounding each blank:

  • What is the overall topic?
  • For each blank: what part of speech is needed? An article "an" before the blank means the word starts with a vowel. "To ___" suggests an infinitive verb.

Place your cursor in the first blank before the audio starts.

2 Write word roots if you cannot type fast enough

The recording plays only once. If you cannot type a complete word fast enough, write just the root of the word (e.g., assign for assignment, gene for genealogy).

Once the audio ends, go back and complete each word using grammar and context clues. The article before the blank, the verb or noun following it, and the overall sentence meaning will help you reconstruct the correct form.

3 Trust your instinct and check for grammar after the recording

After the recording ends, read each sentence with your typed word and ask: does it fit logically and grammatically?

  • Correct part of speech?
  • Correct tense (-ed, -ing)?
  • Correct number (singular/plural -s)?
  • Correct spelling? (Only correctly spelled words score points)
◆

Official Scoring Criteria

+1 per word
Each correct word spelled correctly earns 1 point.
0 (min)
Minimum score is 0. No negative marking for wrong spellings.

Partial credit, no negative marking, you earn 1 point for every word you type correctly (spelling matters). Always attempt all blanks.

MC, Multiple AnswersAll TasksHighlight Correct Summary