PTE Online Course Tips: All About the Listening Test – Select Missing Word

One of the challenges on the PTE listening test is time management. Sometimes, test takers run out of time and can’t complete the entire task in this PTE component. For instance, one of the most difficult item tasks in the listening test is selecting the missing word/s.

Do you want to hone your PTE online training and ace this listening item task? Read and follow this exam taker’s guide on the PTE listening test—select missing word:

Test format:      In this listening item task, you will listen to a recording (brief lecture or interview). The last word or group of words in the recording has been replaced by a beep. Your task is to select the missing word/s that completes the recording from a list of 3–5 answer options (either a single word or a phrase). Moreover, this listening item task consists of three test items, and you will only hear each recording once.

Prompt length:          20–70 seconds

To boost your PTE online training even more, the following are the communicative skills evaluated on this PTE listening item task:

• Anticipating what the speaker is going to say next
• Understanding academic vocabulary and inferring the meaning of new words
• Identifying the main topic of the recording
• Determining the sequence of information
• Learning various accents and rates of speech

For each correct word/s, you will be marked 1 point, and for each incorrect word/s, you will be marked 0 points.

3 Listening Tips for the PTE Listening Test: Select Missing Word

Here are three listening tips that you can apply in your PTE online course training. Each listening tip will serve as your guide during the listening test. 

Listening Tip 1: Read the instructions very carefully. The instruction will show you the topic of the recording. Here is a sample of the instruction on this PTE listening item task:

You will hear a recording about an analysis of medical research findings. At the end of the recording, the last word or group of words has been replaced by a beep. Select the correct option to complete the recording.

In the example above, you learn that that the recording will be about the analysis of medical research findings. By reading the instruction, you will have an idea that the talk is a medical-based lecture and contains medical terms such as treatment and healthcare.

Listening Tip 2:   Understand the context of the recording. Since you already know the topic of the talk, your mind will automatically start thinking about related concepts and vocabulary that will help you understand the content of the recording. While listening, focus and aim to determine the main point and supporting details of the talk.

Listening Tip 3:   Use your time wisely. Pay attention to the timer as it guides you when the recording is coming to an end. Once the recording has finished, read the options and choose the best answer. If you still don’t know the answer, guess and move on to the next question.

Looking for more test-taking tips and strategies? Get your JRooz PTE online course program today!

REFERENCES:

Kaia. "PTE Select Missing Word Task | What You Need To Know with Practice!" PTE, OET, IELTS, & TOEFL Study Material and Tips—E2Language Blog. February 09, 2018. Accessed June 11, 2018. https://blog.e2language.com/pte-select-missing-word/.

"PTE Listening: Select Missing Word | Learn the Proven Method!" YouTube. April 21, 2017. Accessed June 11, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLVd0Igytx8.

"PTE Listening: Select Missing Word | PTE Every Task Explained." YouTube. June 09, 2017. Accessed June 11, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCQklUsAhws.

"Select Missing Word." PTE Academic. Accessed June 11, 2018. https://pearsonpte.com/the-test/format/english-listening/select-missing-word/.