PTE Academic is a computer-based examination. There are different tasks that test specific or integrated skills. So, the questions can be a bit tricky. You cannot ace this exam with just a good command over the English language. You will need to understand the exam format, its scoring process and develop the necessary skills before taking the PTE Academic test. This will familiarize you with the tasks and prepare you to tackle them on the PTE exam.
We have put together the 5 tips that will help you to ace the PTE Academic test.
Understand the Exam Format and scoring process
There are 4 main modules on the PTE exam. Each of these modules has sub-tasks. In total there are 20 sub-tasks. Some of the tasks, test specific skills but some of them test your integrated skills. This means that your performance will affect the score of two or more skills. To tackle such tasks, you first need to understand the scoring process, score evaluation criteria and the best way to tackle them to get a good score on each task. This cannot be possible with doing proper PTE study. You should take the PTE mock tests as they follow the same exam structure as the PTE exam. In the PTE exam, you cannot go back to review your answer. You only get an option to move to the next question.
PTE has an automated scoring process built using complex algorithms. This means a computer program checks your responses. The program has been designed in such a way that it imitates how a human test-checker would check the exam. Your response is evaluated based on thousands of previous responses given by test-takers that had different native languages. So, you do not need to worry about the accent but the correctness of your responses.
The scoring is fair so there are negligible chances of error in score evaluation. Only when there is a technical issue, you can expect a change in your score if you have received a low score. Hence, without PTE study, it will be a struggle to get a good score on the exam.
Time management
Either a particular section or task is timed on the PTE exam. You need to work in those time frames. It is not possible to manage your time without doing the PTE study. You will need to familiarize yourself with the time allotted to each task or section so you can prepare yourself to manage it efficiently. You will have to practice keeping your eye on the timer and writing or speaking your responses before it ends or hits completed. This is only possible by doing the PTE study using a timer.
You should know when the timer will start because if you begin to speak your response before it starts then your response will not get recorded. So you should know the beep sound of the timer. You should take the PTE mock test or practice tests to familiarize yourself with the sound.
Building the skills
You should build your skills before taking the PTE Academic test.
To build your reading skills, you should make a habit of reading news, articles, blogs and books. This will help you to improve your grammar and increase your vocabulary base. Include reading practice exercises in your PTE study.
Improve your listening skills by listening to podcasts, shows, and Youtube videos. This helps you to get familiar with the speaker's accent.
Build your speaking skills by making a habit of talking to your friends and family in English. This improves your fluency, grammar usage and formation of sentences. You need to speak at a normal pace so that the listener can understand the message you are trying to convey. You should use the correct pronunciation. If you do not know how to pronounce a specific word then you should avoid using it in your response. Rather you should make use of its synonym.
You should avoid unnecessary pauses, but pause when you see punctuation. Avoid taking long pauses because if you pause for more than 3 minutes then the microphone gets locked. Anything you speak after that will not get recorded. You should avoid the use of fillers like umm ahh, err while speaking your response. This is hard to avoid so you need to practice this.
And lastly, improve your writing skills by practicing writing essays and summaries. Focus on sentence formation, use of correct grammar and vocabulary, and writing in a structured format. There are grammar and vocabulary exercises that are available online. These will help you to improve your grammar skills and increase your vocabulary base.
Prepare for the Test environment
The surrounding noise can be distracting while taking the PTE Academic exam. While taking the speaking section, there are other test-takers that are speaking their responses at the same time. This creates a lot of distraction and makes you lose your focus. If you are taking the exam for the first time then it can be annoying.
You should take the PTE mock test while sitting in a public place so that it prepares you for the noisy environment. As soon as you get distracted, your brain tends to stop functioning and you eventually end up losing your presence of mind. So, till the time you keep your attention on the tasks, you will be fine. The more you stay focused on your exam, the less the noises will affect you.