Do you want to get the highest score in PTE’s Listening for Multiple and Single answer(s)?
Do not let yourself fooled by its apparent simplicity since you are required neither to write nor to speak here.
Multiple answers is the 2nd exercise of the Listening part of the PTE and Single answers represents the 5th.
I decided to talk about these two together because of their similarities, except for one main difference: one response and several ones expected.
This way you won’t waste any valuable time to look for information about each test.
BASICS TO KNOW
- The listening begins on its own.
- Be ready when the listening starts. You will not be presented with the opportunity to listen to it again. One shot, it is all you get.
- Select one or several responses, you can do so by left clicking the mouse. Your selection will be highlighted.
- Read the main title of the test to determine whether you have select one or severals responses.
- You are only scored on your listening aptitudes.
ONE VITAL PIECE OF ADVICE TO TAKE WITH YOU: THIS TEST CAN BE SNEAKY
Before you jump to the tips section, do not fall into the trap that this type of exercice is a walk in the park just because you only have to listen.
Indeed, your ears will constitute your primary tool.
However, your aptitudes of promptly understanding a spoken text to retrieve the main ideas will be evaluated.
Contrary to some other exercises, such as summarise a spoken text, your capacity to understand details will be important.
Why is it tricky ?
Because you will be given several possibilities with very close answers. So close they could become tricky if you go too fast.
The only way to get it right is to understand the main and subsequent topics and what they imply.
Last but not least, you will also be tested with a multitude of accents! Bear in mind that the rhythm of the audio is usually paced and very understandable.
In the end, you are expected to understand the subtleties of the language and of the ideas expressed, almost as if it were your native tongue.
Technical Tips
- The recording will automatically begin after 5 seconds for Single Answer, and 7 seconds for Multiple.
- The length of the audio can reach 60 seconds for Single Answer and 90 for Multiple.
- The highlighted answers can be unselected by clicking again on them.
Scoring details:
- Each answer is valued at 1 point. Multiple Answers is then valued 1 point per correct answer.
- Take your chance no matter what for the Single Answer.
- Do not do the same for Multiple Answers as each wrong finding will lead to a minus one in your score. The good news is you cannot go lower than 0 in total per question.
Practical Tips
Do not procrastinate during the 7 seconds you are gifted with before the recording starts!
It is the perfect time to read the answers proposed. It will then become easier to identify the part(s) of the audio relating to the question, as well as instantly recognizing the right possibilities.
You need to realize that sometimes just by listening you may catch the keywords but not the sense.
Do take notes, because you don’t always know in advance, and even on the moment, what could turn out to be relevant in the end. Told you it was a sneaky one!
Indeed it will enable you to catch the meanings, which were the real goal of the question.
