PTE Academic — Questions and Answers

Question 1: The word "infer" in the context of PTE listening means:

To deduce or conclude something not explicitly stated (Correct answer)
To memorize audio passages word for word
To translate from one language to another
To state something directly and clearly

Correct answer: To deduce or conclude something not explicitly stated

Inference involves drawing conclusions from implied information. PTE Academic Listening questions often ask what can be inferred from the recording, requiring test takers to go beyond what was literally said.

Question 2: What does the 'Content' criterion measure in Summarize Written Text scoring?

The total number of words used in the response
The sophistication of vocabulary chosen
The grammatical accuracy of the summary sentence
Whether key information from the passage is accurately captured (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Whether key information from the passage is accurately captured

The Content criterion assesses whether the test-taker has identified and accurately represented the key points from the source passage.

Question 3: Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb?

She will went to the store.
She will go to the store. (Correct answer)
She going to the store.
She goes to the store will.

Correct answer: She will go to the store.

The sentence 'She will go to the store' correctly forms the future simple tense. The auxiliary verb 'will' is always followed by the base form of the main verb (in this case, 'go'). This structure is essential for constructing grammatically correct future tense statements in English.

Question 4: A lecture explains: 'Although funding was the main obstacle for years, the lab expansion was ultimately halted due to zoning regulations.' What halted the lab expansion?

Staff shortages
Public opposition
Lack of funding
Zoning regulations (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Zoning regulations

The speaker says the expansion was ultimately halted by zoning regulations, distinguishing this from the earlier funding problem.

Question 5: Which task type is NOT part of the PTE Academic Speaking & Writing section?

Re-tell Lecture
Multiple Choice, Single Answer (Correct answer)
Read Aloud
Repeat Sentence

Correct answer: Multiple Choice, Single Answer

Multiple Choice, Single Answer is a Reading section task; the Speaking & Writing section only contains productive tasks requiring language output.

Question 6: The word "catalyst" in an academic text about social change most likely means:

An obstacle that prevents change
Something that speeds up or triggers a process (Correct answer)
A direct result of a social event
A theory explaining social behavior

Correct answer: Something that speeds up or triggers a process

In academic texts, "catalyst" (originally a chemistry term) means something that accelerates or triggers a process. "The protests acted as a catalyst for legislative reform" means the protests triggered faster legislative change.

Question 7: A speaker explains: 'The grant is open to researchers who are currently enrolled in a doctoral program and who have not previously received federal funding.' Which condition must applicants meet?

Must be currently enrolled in a doctoral program with no prior federal funding (Correct answer)
Must have published at least one article
Must have received prior federal funding
Must hold a completed doctoral degree

Correct answer: Must be currently enrolled in a doctoral program with no prior federal funding

Both conditions must be met: current doctoral enrollment and no prior federal funding.

Question 8: She has been playing _____ violin professionally since the age of twelve.

an
the (Correct answer)
—
a

Correct answer: the

English uses the definite article 'the' before the names of musical instruments.

Question 9: Choose the sentence with the most appropriate formal academic tone for a PTE essay:

The issue presents significant challenges for all stakeholders involved. (Correct answer)
This problem is super important today.
It's a huge deal and we all know it.
This is a big problem for everybody.

Correct answer: The issue presents significant challenges for all stakeholders involved.

"The issue presents significant challenges for all stakeholders involved" uses formal academic vocabulary (presents, significant, challenges, stakeholders) and avoids contractions and colloquialisms. Academic register is assessed under Vocabulary and Written Discourse.

Question 10: Which sentence contains an error in tense consistency?

Scientists had collected data and analyzed the results.
Scientists collected data and analyze the results carefully. (Correct answer)
Scientists collected data and analyzed the results carefully.
Scientists are collecting data and analyzing the results.

Correct answer: Scientists collected data and analyze the results carefully.

"Scientists collected data and analyze the results carefully" mixes past tense ("collected") with present tense ("analyze"). Consistent tense use is essential in PTE Academic writing and assessed under the Grammar criterion.

Question 11: In the PTE Academic test, how many sections are there and what is the approximate total test duration?

3 sections, about 3 hours (Correct answer)
1 section, about 4 hours
4 sections, about 2 hours
2 sections, about 2 hours

Correct answer: 3 sections, about 3 hours

PTE Academic has 3 parts: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening, with a total duration of approximately 3 hours including an optional 10-minute break.

Question 12: Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a concessive clause?

The results were inconclusive, the study was well-designed.
Because the results were inconclusive, the study was well-designed.
The results were inconclusive, so the study was well-designed.
Although the results were inconclusive, the study was well-designed. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Although the results were inconclusive, the study was well-designed.

"Although" introduces a concessive clause, acknowledging a fact while presenting a contrasting or surprising conclusion. Concessive clauses are common in academic argumentation and PTE reading passages.

Question 13: In PTE, a schwa sound (ə) is significant because:

It only occurs at the end of words
It only appears in formal speech
It is the most common vowel sound in English and marks unstressed syllables (Correct answer)
It is the loudest vowel sound in English

Correct answer: It is the most common vowel sound in English and marks unstressed syllables

The schwa is the most frequently occurring vowel in English, appearing in unstressed syllables, and producing it correctly contributes to natural-sounding pronunciation.

Question 14: In PTE Academic Reading, the "Fill in the Blanks" task uses which interaction method?

Select from a drop-down list
Both drag-and-drop and drop-down varieties exist (Correct answer)
Drag words from a box into gaps in the text
Type the missing word from memory

Correct answer: Both drag-and-drop and drop-down varieties exist

PTE Academic has two Fill in the Blanks tasks in Reading: one uses drag-and-drop (more words given than gaps) and one uses drop-down menus. Both test reading comprehension and vocabulary in context.

Question 15: What is the role of note-taking during listening comprehension?

Ignore note-taking and rely on memory.
There is no need to take notes during the exam.
Take detailed notes on every word spoken.
Take brief notes to retain key points and organize thoughts. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Take brief notes to retain key points and organize thoughts.

Note-taking during listening comprehension is a highly effective strategy for the PTE exam. By jotting down brief notes, you can capture key points, important facts, and main ideas, which helps in retaining information that might otherwise be forgotten. These organized notes serve as a valuable reference when answering questions, improving accuracy and efficiency.

Question 16: How can you ensure coherence in your academic writing for the PTE exam?

By writing disjointed ideas and avoiding transitions.
By using informal language to create a conversational tone.
By organizing ideas logically and using appropriate transition words. (Correct answer)
By writing long, complex sentences without breaks.

Correct answer: By organizing ideas logically and using appropriate transition words.

Coherence in academic writing ensures that your ideas are connected and flow smoothly, making your essay easy to follow. This is achieved by logically structuring your arguments and employing transition words and phrases (e.g., "however," "therefore," "in addition") to link sentences and paragraphs. These linguistic bridges guide the reader through your reasoning and demonstrate a clear line of thought.

Question 17: For PTE Academic speaking tasks, which is the best strategy if you make an error mid-sentence?

Pause for 3 seconds to think before continuing
Complete the sentence naturally; minor errors do not void the entire response (Correct answer)
Stop speaking, restart from the beginning
Continue naturally without restarting; self-corrections are penalized heavily

Correct answer: Complete the sentence naturally; minor errors do not void the entire response

In PTE Academic speaking, stopping and restarting can disrupt fluency scoring more than a minor error. Completing the sentence naturally is better. Self-correction is acceptable if done smoothly, but unnecessary restarts hurt the oral fluency score.

Question 18: Which of the following factors contributes most to fluency in spoken English?

Speaking with a natural pace and avoiding excessive pauses. (Correct answer)
Speaking very slowly to ensure clarity.
Pausing frequently to think about your answer.
Focusing on using complex vocabulary.

Correct answer: Speaking with a natural pace and avoiding excessive pauses.

Fluency in spoken English is characterized by the smooth, continuous flow of speech. A natural pace allows for clear articulation, while avoiding excessive pauses prevents choppiness and demonstrates a speaker's ability to express ideas without significant hesitation. This makes the speech sound more natural, coherent, and easier for the listener to follow.

Question 19: Which word correctly completes: "The government implemented the policy ______ widespread public opposition."

because
despite (Correct answer)
therefore
although

Correct answer: despite

"Despite" is a preposition followed by a noun phrase, making it grammatically correct here. "Although" is a conjunction that introduces a clause with a subject and verb, not a noun phrase.

Question 20: Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

She likes not reading books.
She don't like to read books.
She like not to read books.
She doesn't like to read books. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: She doesn't like to read books.

The sentence 'She doesn't like to read books' correctly uses the third-person singular present tense negative form. For 'she,' 'he,' and 'it,' the auxiliary verb 'do' becomes 'does' in the negative, contracting to 'doesn't.' The main verb 'like' then correctly remains in its base form.

Question 21: When a passage presents multiple perspectives, how should the Summarize Written Text response handle them?

List each perspective separated by semicolons
Paraphrase only the last paragraph which usually contains the conclusion
Synthesize all key perspectives into a single coherent sentence (Correct answer)
Focus exclusively on the author's opinion and ignore other views

Correct answer: Synthesize all key perspectives into a single coherent sentence

Synthesizing multiple views into one sentence demonstrates full comprehension and earns Content marks for capturing the breadth of the passage.

Question 22: What is the approximate total duration of the PTE Academic test?

4 hours
3 hours (Correct answer)
1 hour
2 hours

Correct answer: 3 hours

PTE Academic takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes to 3 hours, including an optional 10-minute break.

Question 23: What is the maximum recording length for a single audio clip in the PTE Listening section?

10 minutes
5 minutes
3 minutes
90 seconds (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 90 seconds

Individual audio clips in PTE Listening are generally up to 90 seconds long.

Question 24: What is the primary skill being tested in the PTE 'Describe Image' task?

Speaking — conveying visual information orally (Correct answer)
Reading — interpreting data from a graph
Writing — labeling parts of a chart
Listening — matching images to audio

Correct answer: Speaking — conveying visual information orally

Describe Image tests spoken communication as candidates must verbally describe a chart, graph, map, or picture within 40 seconds.

Question 25: Which phrase is most appropriate for describing an upward trend in a PTE Academic Describe Image response?

"The figure went a lot up."
"The thing got bigger really fast."
"It upped by much."
"There was a significant increase in..." (Correct answer)

Correct answer: "There was a significant increase in..."

"There was a significant increase in..." uses formal academic language with precise vocabulary. The other options use informal or ungrammatical phrasing that would lower oral fluency and pronunciation scores.

Question 26: A PTE passage about neuroscience states that a process occurs 'involuntarily.' This most closely means the process happens:

Slowly and deliberately
In response to external commands
Without conscious control (Correct answer)
Only during sleep

Correct answer: Without conscious control

Involuntarily means without intention or conscious direction, such as reflexes or autonomic body functions.

Question 27: What is the best strategy when you encounter a difficult word in a reading passage?

Ignore the word and do not answer related questions.
Guess the meaning of the word based on the context. (Correct answer)
Stop and search for the meaning of the word.
Skip the word and continue reading.

Correct answer: Guess the meaning of the word based on the context.

When encountering an unfamiliar word in a PTE reading passage, stopping to search for its meaning is not feasible due to time constraints. The best strategy is to use the surrounding sentences and the overall theme of the passage to infer the word's meaning. This contextual understanding often provides enough information to comprehend the text and answer related questions accurately.

Question 28: In a PTE Academic reading passage, what does a "topic sentence" typically do?

Provides supporting evidence
Concludes the paragraph with a summary
Introduces the main idea of the paragraph (Correct answer)
Defines technical vocabulary

Correct answer: Introduces the main idea of the paragraph

A topic sentence introduces the main idea of a paragraph. Understanding topic sentences is key in PTE Academic because many questions test whether readers can identify the central point of a passage or paragraph.

Question 29: What does a high score in PTE Listening indicate about a test-taker's proficiency?

They performed well only on written grammar tasks
They have memorized all possible vocabulary words used in English
They can understand spoken English across a range of accents, speeds, and academic contexts (Correct answer)
They can speak English without an accent

Correct answer: They can understand spoken English across a range of accents, speeds, and academic contexts

PTE Listening evaluates comprehension of spoken English in realistic academic scenarios, reflecting practical language ability.

Question 30: A recording describes a product: 'The device weighs 340 grams, measures 15 centimeters in length, and is available in two colors: black and silver.' How many color options are available?

Two (Correct answer)
One
Four
Three

Correct answer: Two

The speaker states the device is available in two colors: black and silver.

Question 31: How many seconds of preparation time does PTE Academic give you before the 'Describe Image' task begins recording?

40 seconds
10 seconds
5 seconds
25 seconds (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 25 seconds

Test-takers receive 25 seconds to study the image before the microphone opens and recording starts.

Question 32: A passage argues that urban green spaces improve mental health, citing three peer-reviewed studies. A critic responds that all three studies used small sample sizes. Which aspect of the original argument does this critique target?

The author's definition of 'urban green spaces'
The sufficiency of the evidence provided to support the conclusion (Correct answer)
The credibility of peer-reviewed journals as sources
The relevance of mental health as a topic of study

Correct answer: The sufficiency of the evidence provided to support the conclusion

Pointing out small sample sizes challenges whether the evidence is strong enough to justify the broad conclusion drawn, targeting the argument's evidentiary sufficiency.

Question 33: How many times is each audio clip played in PTE Listening tasks?

Once only (Correct answer)
Three times
Twice
As many times as needed within the time limit

Correct answer: Once only

All audio in PTE plays only once, so active note-taking is critical.

Question 34: In a PTE Academic reading passage, what is the function of a "counterexample"?

To provide a definition of a technical term
To support the main argument with additional evidence
To introduce the topic of the passage
To present a case that challenges or contradicts the main argument (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To present a case that challenges or contradicts the main argument

A counterexample presents a case that contradicts or challenges the main argument or generalization. Academic writers use counterexamples to acknowledge limitations, and recognizing them is important for PTE reading comprehension questions.

Question 35: In a PTE Academic passage, "anecdotal evidence" refers to:

Statistical data from large samples
Evidence based on personal accounts rather than systematic research (Correct answer)
Peer-reviewed experimental findings
Historical records and archives

Correct answer: Evidence based on personal accounts rather than systematic research

Anecdotal evidence is based on personal accounts, individual stories, or isolated observations rather than controlled studies. Academic texts often contrast anecdotal evidence with empirical or statistical evidence.

Question 36: Which PTE essay score dimension specifically evaluates whether your argument is logically organized and easy to follow?

Spelling
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Discourse Coherence (Correct answer)
Vocabulary Range

Correct answer: Discourse Coherence

Discourse Coherence assesses how logically and clearly ideas are organized, linked, and presented throughout the essay.

Question 37: In academic reading, "denotation" refers to:

The implied meaning of a phrase in context
The literal, dictionary definition of a word (Correct answer)
The emotional associations of a word
The etymology or origin of a word

Correct answer: The literal, dictionary definition of a word

Denotation is the literal, primary meaning of a word as found in a dictionary. In contrast, "connotation" refers to the emotional or cultural associations. PTE Academic vocabulary questions test both denotative and connotative understanding.

Question 38: A recording notes: 'The factory operates three shifts: a morning shift from 6 AM to 2 PM, an afternoon shift from 2 PM to 10 PM, and a night shift from 10 PM to 6 AM.' When does the afternoon shift end?

10 AM
10 PM (Correct answer)
6 PM
6 AM

Correct answer: 10 PM

The afternoon shift runs from 2 PM to 10 PM as explicitly stated by the speaker.

Question 39: What is the validity period of a PTE Academic score?

1 year
2 years (Correct answer)
Indefinitely
5 years

Correct answer: 2 years

PTE Academic scores are valid for 2 years from the test date.

Question 40: What should you do if you miss a detail during the PTE listening exam?

Leave the question unanswered.
Guess the answer and continue.
Stop and rewind the audio.
Move on and stay focused on the next detail. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Move on and stay focused on the next detail.

The PTE listening exam is timed and audio plays only once, making it impossible to rewind. Dwelling on a missed detail will cause you to lose focus and potentially miss subsequent important information. It's more strategic to move on, maintain concentration, and attempt to answer based on what you did hear, or make an educated guess, to maximize your score on other questions.

Question 41: Affixes following the word.

Suffixes (Correct answer)
Anaphora
Appositive
Affixes

Correct answer: Suffixes

Suffixes are a type of affix that are added to the end of a word to change its meaning or grammatical function. The definition 'Affixes following the word' precisely describes what a suffix is, as they always appear after the root word. This distinguishes them from prefixes, which appear before the word.

Question 42: What is the purpose of writing a conclusion in an academic essay?

To summarize the main points and reinforce the argument. (Correct answer)
To ask open-ended questions without a final statement.
To repeat the introduction word for word.
To introduce new ideas that were not covered in the essay.

Correct answer: To summarize the main points and reinforce the argument.

The conclusion of an academic essay provides a final opportunity to consolidate your argument and leave a lasting impression on the reader. It effectively summarizes the main points discussed in the body paragraphs and reiterates the essay's central thesis in a new way, without introducing new information. This reinforces the overall message and provides a sense of closure.

Question 43: A speaker explains: 'The budget was cut from $2.5 million to $1.8 million for the upcoming fiscal year.' What is the new budget amount?

$1.8 million (Correct answer)
$3.2 million
$2.5 million
$0.7 million

Correct answer: $1.8 million

The new budget is $1.8 million after being cut from the original $2.5 million.

Question 44: In 'Write from Dictation,' your response is scored on:

Whether your overall meaning matches the recording
Spelling only, not word order or accuracy
The number of correct words reproduced from the audio (Correct answer)
Grammatical complexity of the sentences you write

Correct answer: The number of correct words reproduced from the audio

Each correctly spelled word that matches the dictated sentence earns one point.

Question 45: In the PTE Read Aloud speaking task, which scoring criterion rewards smooth, natural pacing and linking between words?

Vocabulary range
Oral fluency (Correct answer)
Content
Pronunciation

Correct answer: Oral fluency

Oral fluency in Read Aloud is scored on rhythm, phrasing, and smooth delivery without hesitations or unnatural pauses.

Question 46: What strategy should you use when listening for specific details in the PTE exam?

Only listen to the introduction and conclusion.
Pay attention to key facts such as numbers, dates, and specific details. (Correct answer)
Focus only on the first part of the audio.
Listen passively without focusing on specific details.

Correct answer: Pay attention to key facts such as numbers, dates, and specific details.

When listening for specific details in the PTE exam, an active and focused approach is necessary. This involves consciously paying attention to concrete pieces of information like numbers, dates, names, and other explicit facts mentioned in the audio. These details are often directly tested in comprehension questions, making their accurate identification crucial for a correct answer.

Question 47: What does it mean when an academic author uses 'hedging' language such as 'it appears that' or 'may suggest'?

The author is being deceptive or unclear
The author is summarizing another researcher's error
The author is expressing caution about the certainty of claims (Correct answer)
The author lacks knowledge of the subject

Correct answer: The author is expressing caution about the certainty of claims

Hedging in academic writing signals that the author is acknowledging uncertainty or presenting findings as probable rather than definitive.

Question 48: In the 'Describe Image' task, which image type would require you to describe a trend over time?

A photograph
A map
A pie chart
A line graph (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A line graph

Line graphs display data trends over a time period, making them the image type most associated with describing change over time.

Question 49: Modify or adapt the rhyme scheme in a sonnet while providing answers to the queries.

will faulkner
tu quoque
volta (Correct answer)
poetry ballards

Correct answer: volta

In a sonnet, the volta, or 'turn,' is a rhetorical shift or dramatic change in thought or emotion, often occurring around the ninth line. This shift typically involves a change in argument, theme, or perspective, which can be seen as 'providing answers to the queries' or resolving the poem's initial premise. While it doesn't directly mean modifying the rhyme scheme, the volta is the pivotal point where the poem's direction or interpretation shifts.

Question 50: In the PTE Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks task, which approach is most effective for selecting the correct word?

Consider grammar, meaning, and collocation with surrounding words (Correct answer)
Always select a noun since blanks are usually nouns
Choose the longest word since academic texts prefer complex vocabulary
Pick the word that appears most often elsewhere in the passage

Correct answer: Consider grammar, meaning, and collocation with surrounding words

The correct word must fit grammatically, make logical sense in context, and collocate naturally with adjacent words.

Question 51: A PTE Academic audio states: "Contrary to the earlier study, the 2019 research found no correlation." What detail confirms this is a contrasting finding?

The phrase "Contrary to the earlier study" (Correct answer)
The word "research"
The word "correlation"
The year 2019

Correct answer: The phrase "Contrary to the earlier study"

"Contrary to the earlier study" is the discourse marker signaling contrast. Recognizing such markers helps in detail comprehension — the key detail is that the 2019 finding contradicts rather than confirms the earlier result.

Question 52: In the PTE Answer Short Question speaking task, what type of response is expected?

One or a few words that directly answer the question (Correct answer)
A 40-second spoken response with examples
A detailed paragraph explanation
A written response typed into the answer box

Correct answer: One or a few words that directly answer the question

Answer Short Question requires only a concise spoken answer—typically one to three words—in response to a general knowledge question.

Question 53: Which two skills does the Summarize Written Text task primarily assess?

Writing and Speaking
Listening and Writing
Reading and Listening
Reading and Writing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Reading and Writing

Summarize Written Text is an integrated task that assesses both reading (comprehending the passage) and writing (producing an accurate summary sentence).

Question 54: In PTE Academic, what is the preparation time given before recording a Read Aloud response?

No preparation time is given
5 seconds
30–40 seconds (Correct answer)
10 seconds

Correct answer: 30–40 seconds

Read Aloud gives 30–40 seconds to read the text silently before the microphone opens. This preparation time allows test takers to identify complex words, understand the meaning, and plan phrasing before speaking.

Question 55: Which of the following best describes 'academic English' topics commonly found in PTE Listening clips?

University lectures, research discussions, and academic presentations (Correct answer)
Customer service calls and retail transactions
Casual conversations between friends at a café
Weather reports and sports commentary

Correct answer: University lectures, research discussions, and academic presentations

PTE Listening content mirrors university-level academic discourse to test readiness for higher education.

Question 56: Which PTE Academic task requires test takers to read a passage aloud into a microphone?

Re-tell Lecture
Answer Short Question
Repeat Sentence
Read Aloud (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Read Aloud

Read Aloud is a Speaking & Writing task where test takers read a text of up to 60 words displayed on screen, demonstrating pronunciation and oral fluency.

Question 57: What is the noun form of the verb "investigate"?

investigatory
investigatement
investigation (Correct answer)
investigative

Correct answer: investigation

"Investigation" is the correct noun form of "investigate," using the suffix "-ation." "Investigatory" and "investigative" are adjective forms. Word form transformation is a core skill tested in PTE Academic Fill in the Blanks tasks.

Question 58: In PTE Re-order Paragraphs, which sentence most commonly functions as the opening (first) paragraph?

One containing a pronoun with no prior antecedent
One that introduces the main topic or defines a key concept (Correct answer)
One that ends with an ellipsis or transition word
One that presents a counterargument

Correct answer: One that introduces the main topic or defines a key concept

The first paragraph typically introduces the topic or provides background before subsequent paragraphs develop the argument.

Question 59: PTE Academic's 'Write Essay' task expects a response of:

100–150 words
200–300 words (Correct answer)
200–300 words or 150–250 words depending on the prompt
50–100 words

Correct answer: 200–300 words

The essay task requires 200–300 words and is scored on content, form, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling.

Question 60: Which scoring skill is assessed by BOTH 'Re-tell Lecture' and 'Summarize Spoken Text'?

Oral fluency
Spelling
Listening comprehension (Correct answer)
Grammar

Correct answer: Listening comprehension

Both tasks require understanding spoken academic content, making listening comprehension a shared assessed skill.

Question 61: A passage states: 'Although renewable energy sources are becoming more affordable, their intermittent nature poses challenges for grid stability.' The word 'intermittent' most likely means:

Environmentally harmful
Expensive and unreliable
Continuously available
Occurring at irregular intervals (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Occurring at irregular intervals

Intermittent means not continuous or steady, occurring at irregular intervals — fitting the context of inconsistent power generation.

Question 62: During the final minutes of the PTE Write Essay task, which editing priority is most important?

Adding more new arguments to increase word count
Replacing common words with rare synonyms regardless of accuracy
Converting all sentences to passive voice
Checking that the response stays on the essay prompt topic (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Checking that the response stays on the essay prompt topic

Off-topic content scores zero on the Content dimension, so ensuring all paragraphs address the prompt is the highest editing priority.

Question 63: In PTE Listening: Summarize Spoken Text, what is the recommended word count for the written summary?

5–75 words
50–70 words (Correct answer)
20–40 words
100–120 words

Correct answer: 50–70 words

PTE guidelines recommend 50–70 words for Summarize Spoken Text, and responses outside the 50–70 word range may lose marks for form.

Question 64: What does PTE's automated scoring penalize most heavily in the Write Essay task?

Writing the essay in a single paragraph
Using the word 'I' in the essay
Using American instead of British spelling consistently
Memorized template responses that are off-topic (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Memorized template responses that are off-topic

Memorized templates that do not address the specific prompt are heavily penalized because they score near zero on Content relevance, which affects all other traits.

Question 65: Which grammatical structure best demonstrates 'range' in PTE essay grammar scoring?

Using only compound sentences
Using only simple present tense throughout
Mixing conditional sentences, relative clauses, and passive voice appropriately (Correct answer)
Repeating the same sentence pattern with different vocabulary

Correct answer: Mixing conditional sentences, relative clauses, and passive voice appropriately

Grammatical range is demonstrated by correctly using a variety of structures such as conditionals, relative clauses, and passive constructions.

Question 66: Which mistake most commonly lowers scores in the PTE Summarize Written Text task?

Using passive voice constructions
Writing more than one sentence (Correct answer)
Beginning with 'The passage discusses...'
Using too many transition words

Correct answer: Writing more than one sentence

Summarize Written Text requires exactly one sentence; writing two sentences triggers a form score penalty.

Question 67: Which sentence structure is most typical of an academic passage found in PTE reading tasks?

Simple declarative sentences with minimal connecting words
Short, imperative sentences that instruct the reader directly
Conversational fragments and informal contractions
Complex sentences with subordinate clauses expressing nuanced relationships between ideas (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Complex sentences with subordinate clauses expressing nuanced relationships between ideas

Academic texts typically use complex, hypotactic sentences to express logical, causal, and conditional relationships with precision, which is a key feature tested in PTE.

Question 68: Which PTE Reading question type contributes to BOTH Reading and Writing scores?

Reading: Fill in the Blanks
Multiple-choice, choose single answer
Re-order Paragraphs
Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks

Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks is the only Reading task that also affects the Writing score.

Question 69: 'Insecure' has what prefix?

secure
in (Correct answer)
ins
ure

Correct answer: in

A prefix is a morpheme added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning. In the word 'insecure,' 'in-' is the prefix, which typically means 'not' or 'without,' changing the meaning of 'secure' (safe, confident) to 'not secure' (lacking confidence or safety).

Question 70: In a PTE academic text on economics, 'aggregate demand' refers to:

The total spending by government only
The demand for a single leading export
Consumer confidence as measured by surveys
The combined demand for goods and services across an entire economy (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The combined demand for goods and services across an entire economy

Aggregate demand is the total demand for all goods and services in an economy at a given price level.

PTE Academic

PTE Academic is a computer-based English language test designed to assess the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers.

Questions

120 min

Time Limit

50%

To Pass

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds