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Write from dictation: the cheapest marks in PTE Vibedu CounsellingBook Free Counselling
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Write from dictation: the cheapest marks in PTE

A short sentence, played once, typed exactly. It feeds listening and writing, and it is pure practice.

8 min read

The last items in the listening section play a single sentence — usually ten to fifteen words — which you type. Every correctly spelled word earns credit, and the item contributes to both your listening and your writing scores.

It is the most improvable item in the exam, because it rewards a trainable skill rather than knowledge.

The technique is note-then-reconstruct. Do not try to type as you listen. Listen to the whole sentence, writing abbreviated notes — first letters, key nouns — on the erasable board. Then reconstruct the full sentence from your notes, in the box, with correct spelling and grammar. Students who type live capture the first half perfectly and lose the second half entirely.

Partial credit is real. An incomplete sentence still earns marks for the words you got right, so write every word you are sure of even when you missed the middle. Never leave it blank.

Grammar helps you recover. If you heard "the researchers … their findings last week", you can reconstruct a plausible verb — published, presented — and the article and tense come from the sentence itself. Your knowledge of English fills the gaps your ears missed.

Spell carefully. These sentences are academic in register and reuse the same vocabulary: research, assessment, lecture, seminar, faculty, semester, assignment, curriculum, laboratory. Learn to spell them under pressure and a large part of this item is already won.

Do this now

Five to ten minutes. This is the part that moves your band.

Have someone read you ten academic sentences of 10–15 words, once each. Take notes while listening, reconstruct afterwards, then check word by word. Every misspelling goes on a list you drill the next day. Fifteen minutes, and it is the highest return per minute in PTE preparation.

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