PTE Listening: Fill in the Blanks
A transcript appears with words missing and the recording plays. You type the missing words as you hear them. It feeds Listening and Writing, and there is no time to reconstruct afterwards.
Be ready before the audio starts
- Read the transcript quickly and locate the gaps.
- Predict the word class each gap needs.
- Put your cursor in the first gap before the audio begins.
- Type as you hear, and follow the text with your eyes so you do not lose your place.
The single most common failure is losing the position in the transcript after a missed gap. If you miss one, move the cursor on immediately — the next gap is still ahead.
Spelling counts
- The word must be spelled correctly to score, since this item feeds the Writing score too.
- Type what you hear even if you are unsure of the spelling — a near-miss sometimes scores where a blank never does.
- There is no negative marking, so fill every gap.
Touch-typing is a genuine advantage on this item and on Write from Dictation. If you hunt for keys, the transcript moves on without you.
Fill in the Blanks — FAQs
2 questions
Yes. There is no separate writing time.
Yes — this item contributes to the Writing score.
More listening question types
Summarise Spoken Text
50–70 words, 10 minutes
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
Negative marking applies
Highlight Correct Summary
Pick the paragraph that matches
Multiple Choice, Single Answer
One answer, no penalty
Select Missing Word
Predict how the recording ends
Highlight Incorrect Words
Negative marking applies
Write from Dictation
The best-value item in the test
Sources
Written from the test board's own published material and checked on 1 October 2026.