How to Improve Listening Skills for PTE?

12 March 2025 by

Brijesh Dhanani

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The PTE Academic exam assesses a candidate's English proficiency through four key skills: speaking, writing, reading, and listening. Among these, the listening section can be particularly challenging as it requires test-takers to comprehend spoken English in different accents, tones, and speeds. Strong listening skills not only boost PTE scores but also enhance overall communication ability.

In this guide, we will explore effective strategies, exercises, and resources to help you improve your listening skills for the PTE exam.

Understanding the PTE Listening Section

The PTE listening section consists of various tasks designed to evaluate your ability to comprehend spoken English in an academic setting. Below is an overview of the question types and their corresponding weightage:

Task Type	Skills Assessed	No. of Questions	Scoring Criteria
Summarize Spoken Text	Listening & Writing	2-3	Content, Form, Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers	Listening	2-3	Correct and Incorrect Responses
Fill in the Blanks	Listening & Writing	2-3	Spelling and Word Accuracy
Highlight Correct Summary	Listening	2-3	Selection of Most Relevant Summary
Multiple Choice, Single Answer	Listening	2-3	Correct Response
Select Missing Word	Listening	2-3	Accuracy of Selection
Highlight Incorrect Words	Listening & Reading	2-3	Correct Identification of Errors
Write from Dictation	Listening & Writing	3-4	Spelling and Accuracy

Effective Strategies to Improve PTE Listening Skills

1. Active Listening Techniques

Focus on Keywords: Identify the key ideas rather than trying to understand every word.
Predict Information: Before listening to the audio, predict possible answers based on the question format.
Practice Note-Taking: Develop shorthand writing to quickly capture essential details.

2. Exposure to Different Accents

The PTE exam features speakers with British, American, and Australian accents.
Listen to international news channels like BBC, CNN, and ABC News.
Watch English TV shows and movies with subtitles to get accustomed to different pronunciations.

3. Use High-Quality PTE Listening Resources

PTE Official Website (pearsonpte.com)
Gurully Free PTE Practice Tests (gurully.com)
Podcasts: Listen to TED Talks, The English We Speak (BBC), and IELTS Podcast.
YouTube Channels: E2Language, The PTE Coach, and PTE Tutorials.

4. Practice Dictation and Transcription

Use apps like Otter.ai or Speech Texter to practice converting audio into text.
Play a short audio clip and write down exactly what you hear to improve word recognition.

5. Improve Vocabulary and Spelling

Use Flashcards (Quizlet, Anki) to memorize common academic words.
Read academic articles, newspapers, and journals to familiarize yourself with complex sentence structures.

6. Focus on Time Management

Do not spend too much time on a single question. Move on quickly if unsure.
Use elimination techniques to identify incorrect answer choices.

7. Simulated PTE Listening Tests

Take full-length PTE mock tests under exam conditions.
Use platforms like Gurully for AI-driven evaluation and performance tracking.

Advantages of Strong Listening Skills for PTE

Advantage	Benefit
Higher PTE Score	Improves overall band score, increasing chances of admission to universities and visa approval.
Enhanced Communication	Helps in real-life conversations, academic discussions, and professional settings.
Better Comprehension	Improves the ability to understand lectures, presentations, and online courses.
Increased Confidence	Reduces anxiety during the exam and real-world conversations.

Common Challenges & How to Overcome Them

Challenge	Solution
Difficulty understanding fast speech	Practice with TED Talks and news podcasts at 1.5x speed.
Trouble identifying keywords	Focus on stressed words in a sentence; use transcription tools.
Struggling with different accents	Listen to diverse English content from different regions.
Forgetting details after listening	Take short, structured notes and use abbreviations.
Low concentration levels	Meditate, take regular breaks, and train with short audio clips.

How Gurully Can Help You Improve PTE Listening?

Gurully is a leading online platform that provides AI-driven PTE mock tests, real-time performance analysis, and expert feedback. With Gurully’s free PTE practice tests, you can:

Access exam-style listening questions with instant scoring.
Get personalized insights on your strengths and weaknesses.
Practice with real-time AI evaluations to enhance accuracy.
Improve your listening skills with high-quality recordings and transcripts.

Final Thoughts

Improving listening skills for PTE requires consistent practice, exposure to diverse audio sources, and strategic test-taking techniques. By incorporating the tips and resources mentioned in this guide, you can significantly enhance your ability to comprehend spoken English and achieve a high score in the PTE exam.

Start practicing today, and let Gurully help you ace the PTE listening section with ease!