The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is evaluated and marked by a computer-automated scoring system; there is no involvement of a human in the marking process of the PTE Academic exam. This sounds incredible, and PTE Academic has been successfully using software technology to judge test takers’ answers and automatically compute an English language proficiency score since 2009. So, to score well, you don’t have to impress the assessor but meet the set standards of an AI. To better understand this, let’s look at the structure and scoring patterns of PTE.
Transferable Scores in PTE
The main aspect to understand while giving the PTE exam is TRANSFERABLE SCORES. Unlike the other English tests, the PTE exam is comparatively very easy because of transferrable scores. All the Modules are interrelated, meaning that if you attempt the Speaking Module, you will be evaluated for Speaking, Reading and Listening. And it doesn’t mean 5-10 marks, but a significant chunk of scores get transferred from speaking to other Modules and hence, SPEAKING IS THE BACKBONE OF YOUR PTE EXAM. Understanding transferrable scores and timewaster questions is significant in your path towards your desired score.
- While doing READ ALOUD questions, you are using your Reading and Speaking skills. Hence, the marks are transferred to the Reading Module (for alphabet/word/punctuation recognition) and the Speaking (for oral fluency and pronunciation).
- Similarly, when you are doing REPEAT SENTENCES AND RETELL LECTURE questions, you use your Listening and Speaking skills. Hence the marks are transferred to the listening Module (for the content parameter) and Speaking Module (for oral fluency and pronunciation). In RETELL LECTURE questions, image/picture comprehension scores remain in the Speaking Module, as it only checks your ability to describe the image fluently and clearly.
- While SUMMARISE WRITTEN TEST questions are a part of the Writing Module, you are using your Reading skills to get a brief idea about the passage and summarise it. Hence it gives you transferrable scores in the Reading Module.
- In the ESSAY WRITING questions, you have to give your opinion about a specific topic, be it argumentative, opinion based or problem solution. These questions only give you marks in Writing Module, as it checks your ability to answer the topic along with grammar, vocabulary, development and coherence, linguistic skills and spelling.
Cracking the Tricky PTE Reading Section
The Reading Module of the PTE examination is quite brainstorming. Why? Because your skill set for grammar, vocabulary and collocations are particularly checked in this Module. Let’s look at a few aspects to consider while attempting the PTE Reading section.
- MULTIPLE CHOICE (SINGLE ANSWERS) and MULTIPLE CHOICE (MULTIPLE ANSWERS) are your timewaster questions, as marks for these questions are negligible. That means you should use your time wisely while doing these questions and quickly skim through the options.
- In REORDER PARAGRAPHS, you get marks for each correctly done pair. So, comprehend all the statements well and make your pick.
- FILL IN THE BLANKS questions; DRAG & DROP and DROP DOWNS are the most important questions, as each correctly done blank will give you one mark. It means that each blank equals 1 mark, so you definitely cannot play around with these questions. You should get 100% accuracy if you aim for a higher score.
Attempting the Lengthiest Module: Listening Section
Lastly, let’s talk about the lengthiest Module of your PTE, the Listening Module, which consists of 8 questions and is segregated into sections A and B.
Section A
It has only one question: SUMMARISE SPOKEN TEXT (SST). In this, you will listen to 1-1.5 minutes of audio. While the audio is playing, all you have to do is take notes. You need to listen to the audio and write the appropriate summary. That means you are using both your listening and writing skills. Each SST is 10 marks, half goes into Listening, and half goes into writing.
Section B
It comprises seven types of questions, out of which four are time wasters, as scores are negligible, and three are essential questions.
The time wastes are –
- MCQ MULTIPLE ANSWERS
- MCQ SINGLE ANSWERS
- HIGHLIGHT CORRECT SUMMARY
- SELECT MISSING WORDS
As soon as the audio stops, click the most preferred answer and go to the next question asap.
Important questions are:
- FILL IN THE BLANKS
They are pretty straightforward; a correctly filled blank will give you one mark. - HIGHLIGHT INCORRECT WORDS
Each highlighted incorrect word will give you one mark. But this section has negative markings, so do not highlight any words but only incorrect ones. - WRITE FROM DICTATIONS
They are the most important question in your PTE examination. Each word in the sentence will give you one mark, which means that if a sentence has fourteen words, it can earn you fourteen marks. This question holds maximum weightage.
Note that WRITE FROM DICTATIONS are the last questions you attempt. PTE is, in a sense tricking you by keeping the most crucial question at the end, as any student who doesn’t know about the timewaster questions will waste their time on miscellaneous questions and will not have time for WRITE FROM DICTATIONS. You need to save time for the last question of your PTE exam.
Quick Score Guide
As per the Australian Immigration,
- 50 or 50+ is equivalent to 6 each in IELTS
- 65 or 65+ is equivalent to 7 each in IELTS
- 79 or 79+ is equivalent to 8 each in IELTS
Summing up,
These quick facts can help you score well in your PTE exam. But there’s a lot more. We know it all; ensure you know it too before attempting the PTE. If you need expert help, you can connect with us today.
