Among all the tasks in the PTE Academic and PTE Core exams, “Highlight Incorrect Words” is a silent monster. It looks simple. It plays a calm audio clip and shows you some text, but then it dares you to do something deceptively hard: Spot the mismatch. Your eyes must read while your ears must catch every syllable. One word wrong? You lose a point.
So how do you get a grip on this task? We’ll unravel the strategy, style, and smarts needed to dominate this section. Buckle up.
What Is PTE Highlight Incorrect Words?
In this task, the screen displays a short text, while an audio recording plays. Your goal is to listen intently, watch closely, and click on any words in the written text that don’t match the audio. They might be subtle, such as a single letter change. More importantly, you should note that while you’re trying to pinpoint them, the audio doesn’t pause. It marches on.
This task measures two skills: listening and reading. It does not test grammar or spelling. It tests your ability to detect a mismatch between what you hear and what you read.
Why Is This Task So Important?
It seems minor, but its impact on your PTE score is enormous. It builds your comprehension, hones your attention to detail, and sharpens your real-world English skills. This is the kind of power you’ll need when studying abroad.
Imagine a university lecture where a professor says something slightly different from what’s in the presentation. Can you catch that inconsistency? That’s exactly what this task simulates. Even better, it feeds into both your listening score and your reading score.
Two birds, one very tricky stone.
How the Scoring Works
Let’s cut the fluff. Here’s how you get your points:
- Click a word that was actually incorrect? You get +1 point.
- Click a word that was not incorrect? You lose -1 point.
- Ignore an incorrect word? You get 0 points for that word.
- Only click truly wrong words? You get full credit.
- Click randomly or guess wildly? You may walk away with zero.
Pro tip: Never click unless you’re sure. This is a task where hesitation is safer than guessing.
Strategy 1: Master the Accents
The PTE throws a buffet of English accents at you—British, American, Australian, and even the occasional Canadian. If you’re not familiar, your brain may misfire.
Imagine hearing “schedule” pronounced as “shed-yool” but expecting “sked-yool.” That tiny confusion can lead to a mistake. So, your action plan is to binge on podcasts from different countries and train your ear with every accent. Say, listen to BBC, NPR, ABC Australia, and TED Talks.
Strategy 2: Turbocharge Your Reading Speed
You don’t get time to blink, as the text and audio move together. If your reading speed is sluggish, you’ll fall behind.
Speed reading is a skill you can build. But don’t race without comprehension. The goal is to keep pace with understanding. So, here’s your action plan:
- Set a timer.
- Read online articles in 30 seconds flat.
- Check your comprehension afterwards.
- Do this daily.
You’ll be faster and smarter within a week.
Strategy 3: Hunt the Patterns
Errors in this task aren’t random. They follow predictable trails.
- Tense Trouble: Audio says “walked,” text shows “walks.”
- Plural Punch: Audio says “cats,” text shows “cat.”
- Word Twins: Audio says “happy,” text says “joyful.”
- Negation Nuisance: Audio says “can,” text says “cannot.”
- Homophone Hazards: Audio says “hole,” text says “whole.
These aren’t mistakes. They’re traps. Your job is to spot them.
Action Plan: Pause after every incorrect word during your mock tests, and ask yourself: what type of error was this?
Strategy 4: Focus on the Core Meaning
Don’t get lost in micro details. Zoom out occasionally to see what’s the sentence trying to say. Sometimes the incorrect word will shift the whole meaning. That’s a red flag. For example:
Audio:
“The boy can go to school.”
Text:
“The boy cannot go to school.”
Just one word flipped the entire narrative.
Action Plan: Read each sentence silently as the audio plays. Listen for phrases that suddenly feel “off.”
Strategy 5: Use Context Like a Detective
If you miss a word, don’t panic. Use clues from the rest of the sentence to guess what the speaker likely said.
English has rhythm, patterns, and predictability. If you’ve heard enough of it, you can guess the next word even before it’s said. Use that to your advantage. Your action plan is:
- Read news headlines.
- Cover the last word.
- Predict what it could be.
- Reveal it.
Were you close?
Strategy 6: Take Mock Tests Like a Gladiator
You don’t become great by reading tips. You become great by practising. So, get started with an action plan:
- Simulate test conditions like sitting in a quiet room and wearing headphones.
- Use online PTE platforms like Pearson Practice App.
- Target the Highlight Incorrect Words section daily.
Strategy 7: Click Immediately (But Only If Sure)
This part is crucial.
The moment you detect a mismatch, click that word. Don’t wait. If you hesitate, you may miss the next mismatch. But also, don’t click unless you’re 100% sure. Every wrong click steals a point. Your action plan to build this habit is to record how often you click incorrectly during mock tests. Ensure you lower this number each week.
Sample PTE Highlight Incorrect Words Practice
Audio Transcript:
“The government announced a new policy to encourage innovation in local industries and support small businesses through tax breaks and grants.”
Displayed Text:
“The government declared a new policy to encourage creativity in regional industries and assist small enterprises through tax benefits and loans.”
Incorrect Words to Highlight:
- declared (audio said announced)
- creativity (audio said innovation)
- regional (audio said local)
- assist (audio said support)
- enterprises (audio said businesses)
- benefits (audio said breaks)
- loans (audio said grants)
That’s 7 incorrect words. Click all 7 correctly, and you get 7 points.
Final Words
The PTE Highlight Incorrect Words task is not about grammar nor about vocabulary drills. It’s all about razor-sharp attention, calm focus, and calculated moves. So, practice deliberately and click wisely. Your success lies in rhythm, reflex, and repeated reps.
To get guided practice for your PTE exam, you can get in touch with our experts at English Wise. Our teaching methods have proven successful in helping students achieve their dreams abroad. Call us if you’re interested in knowing more.
