PTE Listening guide
PTE Write From Dictation: Format, Scoring and Tips
Instant scoring
PTE Academic & PTE Core
Write From Dictation plays a short sentence (about 3–5 seconds) once; you type it exactly. Every correct word earns credit, and it counts towards both Listening and Writing — which makes it one of the most efficient tasks to practise.
How the task works
- Audio
- One short sentence of about 3–5 seconds, played once
- Response
- Type the sentence; it is not separately timed
- Scored on
- Each correctly spelled word in the sentence
- Counts for
- Listening and Writing
Strategies that help
- Write the first letter or two of each word on your erasable notepad while you listen, then type the full sentence.
- Check grammar after typing: singular or plural, verb tense and small words such as “the”, “a” and “of”.
- Spelling counts for each word — if unsure, choose the standard spelling of the word you heard.
- Keep punctuation simple; it is the words that are scored.
Common mistakes
- Missing small function words (a, the, of, to).
- Dropping plural -s or past-tense -ed endings.
- Typing a word that sounds similar but means something different (their / there, accept / except).
Example
Students must submit their assignments before the end of the week.
Eleven words, each scored: watch the plural “assignments” and the small words “their”, “the”, “of”.
Related guides
More on this skill: PTE Listening practice · All question type guides
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