knowledge-zone » PTE MOCK TEST » PTE Study : What you should know before preparing?
PTE Study plan is the first thing you think as soon as you are looking to start with your PTE Preparation. However, it is very important that before drafting a study plan, you aware of the basics, some general questions and how-to of the Pearson Test Of English.
How can I improve my Pte Speaking?
PTE Speaking is often considered a tough section in PTE Exam; however, it is probably the most liberal marked section in PTE. One can easily score 79+ in PTE if you are aware of the exact pattern as well as the tricks and tips for PTE. In this blog, we will discuss the PTE speaking task types & some important tips. Even in PTE Mock Test if you implement these tricks; it can help you enhance your score.
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PTE Read Aloud
The given task type has six-seven questions. Please note that the task also contributes to the Reading section. In PTE Read Aloud it is very important that you don’t miss out on any words; missing out on even a single word can lead to a deduction in marks.
- Avoid Pauses.
- Always record your answer after the beep sound.
- Do not use filler words.
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- PTE Repeat Sentences
In repeat sentence task type you get 10-12 questions. Repeat sentences also contribute marks to your listening section. It is necessary to catch the necessary keywords while listening to the speaker and repeat it without pauses.
For Example:
“Professor Smith Will Be Late for Today’s Lecture”
“PSWBLFTL” This will help you recall every word. The blue box that shows your recording status will show a bar that represents your microphone. Focus your eyes on it then speak when it is open.
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PTE Describe Images
Describe images comes with five-six questions where most of the questions are images. You need to understand three important things to attempt this task type
- Always introduce the main topic.
- Describe the maximum and minimum to maintain fluency and time limit.
- Avoid hesitation.
- Keep the sentence going on.
- Don’t restart your sentence.
- Read words from the image.
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Retell Lecture
Re-tell lecture consists of three-four questions/ lectures. Once you have heard the lecture, you have to re-tell the details of the lecture. You can follow the below tips for better scoring in the re-tell lecture. You should take care of these points before drafting your PTE Study plan for Retell Lecture
- Note down only the main keywords and get an idea about the whole topic.
- Use the sentences derived from the keywords and try to be fluent when you speak. Although we don’t always recommend it, you can use the below template in case you are not clear about the lecture.
- The speaker was discussing Topic
- Speaker mentioned Statement
- Speaker described Statement
- Answer Short Question
Answer Short Question is probably the easiest task type of the lot. It is totally based on your general knowledge and presence of mind. The task type also contributes marks to your listening section.
How should you plan your PTE Study schedule?
All of you who are aiming to ace the PTE might need a strong PTE Study plan. However, before drafting a PTE Study plan, you should understand the very basics of PTE Academic.
So let’s take a basic look into the Pearson Test Of English.
The question paper comprises of 4 individual sections namely:
Each section has a particular set of task types and a particular time frame. There is a dire need to attempt the questions in that time frame. When it comes to the preparation aspect of the PTE exam, here is what you can do to ace the upcoming PTE exam.
Firstly, you can either opt for self-preparation or you can opt for a training session with the PTE coach along with PTE Practice. What differs in both these is the assurance of the result.Now focusing on each section individually, you can follow these tips and tricks to improve:
- Speaking section
Being a non-native speaker, don’t get into the thought process of using a fake accent. The reality is that it is acceptable if you don’t have an accent. The thing that matters the most is
- Intonation
- When to use
- Where to use
- How to use
- Pronunciation
- Fluency
Writing section
Writing an essay is what we have been doing since our school days. But still many of you may find it difficult. The key point to focus in this section is
- Format
- Start with the introduction
- Then answer in the context of the topic
- End with a justified conclusion
- Word count
Make sure to go through the guidelines to acknowledge the word count for the task type.
Try to draft the answer within that word count.
- Reading Section
The major limitation of this section is Negative Marking. Yes, you heard it right! Any mistakes in a few of the task types can cost you some precious marks. The task types that are prone to negative scoring are:
- Multiple Choice & Multiple Answer
- Multiple Choice & Single Answer
- Reorder Paragraphs
Listening Section:
The listening section is all about how well you can understand the speaker’s views. Based on that you have to answer the questions carefully. If you want to score well in this task type, you have to be an attentive listener.
What is the difference between PTE tests and IELTS Tests?
PTE stands for the Pearson Test of English which checks the individual’s command on the English language. The test is a fully automated computer-based whereas IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System which is a pen and paper test.
Here are the key points differentiating between PTE and IELTS:
Mode of examination
- IELTS: It is a pen and paper-based exam, however, with the advancement in the technology many centers are now making it more computer-based. Still, the Speaking part of the test is analyzed by an evaluator and that too on a different day.
- PTE: The PTE exam is a fully computer-based exam without any interference from any individual. The test is of 2 hours and 54 minutes. You have to give the exam in one go, unlike the IELTS.
Duration of the test
- PTE: The PTE exam is almost 3 hours long. To be precise it is a 2 hour and 54 minutes long exam which takes place in a single day.
- IELTS: The IELTS is 2 hours and 40 minutes exam where all the skills are analyzed except the speaking. The speaking task is 15 minutes long which is evaluated on the same day or the other day.
Results
- IELTS: It takes a lot of waiting for the result which takes approximately 13 days to be generated after you have attempted the test.
- PTE: The results are declared within 5 working days once you have taken the test. Sometimes, you might get the result within 2 days.
Scores
- IELTS: For IELTS, the scores are in the form of bands ranging from band 0-9 bands.
- PTE: The scores are in points for PTE; the points are between 10 to 90 points.
The validity of scores: The scores of both the PTE and IELTS are valid for 2 years once your scorecard has been generated.
How can I improve my PTE repeat sentence?
Repeat Sentence is the second task type of the Speaking Section. But the scores of this task type is contributed to the Listening Section as well. So, the PTE aspirant has to attempt this task type carefully.
Follow the below points to answer the Repeat Sentences task type:
- Be attentive while listening to the audio
- Make use of the scratchpad to take notes.
- You can also write down the starting alphabet of each word that makes up the whole sentence
- Then reconstruct the sentence and then speak
- For Example:
“Professor Smith Will Be Late for Today’s Lecture”
“PSWBLFTL” This will help you recall every word.
- Do not avoid taking notes of the pauses and the intonation.
What is the best PTE Study Plan for scoring good marks?
Scoring good marks in PTE Academic is not a difficult task if you know about the exact techniques. In PTE all the points are contributed to each other, so it is very important to know about the scoring criteria.
All the tasks are important. For scoring better scores in PTE Academic, I will share some tricks and tips, you can follow these tricks so that you can score very good points in PTE:
Speaking Section:
- Be fluent
- Do not use fake accents
- Use intonations at the right time and right place
- Avoid pauses longer than 3 seconds
- Pronounce the words correctly
- Start speaking only when you have the heard the BEEP sound
- Don’t be in a rush to complete the recording
Writing Section:
- Follow the correct format
- Answer within the context of the question
- Use the right template
- Avoid grammatical mistakes
- Answer within the word count
- Use simple words to avoid spelling mistakes
- Learn to create complex sentences
- Make use of conjunctions
Reading Section:
- Beware of the negative marking
- Practice the task types of this section thoroughly
- Learn the rule of elimination
- Attempt the speaking section carefully as scores of a few of the task types are contributing to the Reading section.
Listening Section:
- Listen attentively
- Make sure to take notes
- Manage the time effectively
- The Speaking and Listening section are inter-related, so try and attempt the questions carefully.
Conclusion
- Your PTE Study plan should be based on the strict guidelines of PTE.
- Draft your plan only after understanding the pattern of PTE.
- PTE Preparation should always be done with a strategic approach.
- Always make sure to understand the task types while drafting your PTE Study material plan.
Like the post, don’t forget to leave comments and we will happy to answer your queries. Got any query related to PTE Read Aloud, just drop a comment and our experts will revert on the same.
I am from Nepal and my English is very poor. So, how could I get good marks in PTE. However I am very intellectual in computer.
Thanks
Hi Shrwan, The very first thing you need to understand is PTE is an English language exam only. Now to answer your question about how you can get good marks.
I need to know two things
[1] How much are you looking to score in the PTE Exam?
[2] How much time you have to prepare for PTE?
It is very important to decide on these two factors before you start your preparation. Once decided you can draft a plan accordingly and prepare. If you have sufficient time, we would recommend giving some time to your English before starting with PTE.