PTE Listening Tips For Acing Highlight Incorrect Words
PTE
PTE Listening - Highlight Incorrect Words: The PTE Listening Section of the PTE exam is for a total of 30-43 minutes and contains eight questions of different types. In this article, we are going to be focusing on acing the Highlight Incorrect Words task in the PTE Listening section of the exam.
The ‘Highlight Incorrect Words’ question is an integral part of the PTE Listening Section of the PTE exam and requires candidates to look at the errors in the transcript of a recording while listening to the audio recording. The candidate is required to identify the words in the transcript that are different from what is being said in the recording. The length of the recording is between 15 – 50 seconds and the listening and reading skills of the candidate are assessed in this question type.
The recording starts to play automatically and is played only once. So, the test takers are advised to take notes right from the beginning of listening to the recording. While there is no time limit to solve individual questions, PTE test takers should be mindful of the overall time limit of the PTE listening section.
Also Read: PTE Academic Listening Section Tips and Tricks
How to Answer Listening Test PTE: Highlight Incorrect Words Section
PTE Listening Practice: In this section, we are going to be discussing the PTE listening tips on acing Highlight Incorrect Words questions.
1. Glance through the transcription
The recording for the Highlight Incorrect Words question would start with a 10-second delay. So while it is impossible to read word-by-word of the transcription, test takers are advised to glance through the passage. Test takers are advised to take note of any words that give them information such as nouns, adjectives and verbs. Aspirants can also decide on the general topics of the transcription and pick out words that do not fit this topic area as they read and listen to the transcription audio.
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2. Move the cursor along with the recording
In this Highlight Incorrect Words question, candidates are required to select the wrong words as the text is read to them. So here, candidates are advised against taking notes. Instead, they should move the cursor along the screen as the words are spoken over the audio and click on any words on the screen that are different from the words on the recording.
3. PTE Highlight Incorrect Words Negative Marking
Test takers should note that each selected word is either correct or incorrect. While choosing the correct option is going to make you gain a point, choosing the wrong option will lead to you losing a point. If all your selected words are correct, you will receive maximum score points for this question type. If you get one or more selected words that are incorrect, you will be subject to partial credit scoring. The PTE Highlight Incorrect Words Negative Marking is one of the three question types in the listening section where you can lose points if you give an incorrect answer.
As mentioned earlier, the Highlight Incorrect Words PTE 2023 question type affects the scoring of the listening and reading sections of the PTE exam. The speaking and writing skills of the PTE exam are not tested by the Highlight Incorrect Words PTE 2023 question type.
Tips for Listening Test PTE: Highlight Incorrect Words
PTE Listening Practice: The Highlight Incorrect Words task within the Listening Section of the PTE exam requires candidates to look at the transcript of a recording that appears on the screen while listening to the audio recording. The candidate is required to identify the words in the transcript that are different from what is being said in the recording. Candidates can follow the below-mentioned steps to score the PTE Highlights Incorrect Words unit:
- Test takers are advised to communicate in English as much as possible. This way they would be able to familiarize themselves with the sounds and rhythms of the English language. Which in turn would make it easier for candidates to identify wrong words when they hear them.
- Candidates are advised to pay attention to context. The recording in itself would provide clues to the correct word. Candidates can take notes of keywords and phrases as this would help them focus on the important information and identify any incorrect words easily.
- If candidates are confused about the correct answer, they should use the technique of elimination. This way they would be able to eliminate all the incorrect words and increase their chances of selecting the right word.
- Candidates are advised to listen to as many sample recordings and solve as many practice questions as possible. This way they would be able to familiarise themselves with the task and improve their listening skills.
- Test takers should also practice time management as the PTE Listening Section is for a total of 30-43 minutes and contains eight question types.
Also Read:
- PTE Syllabus for Reading, Listening, Speaking & Writing
- PTE Exam Pattern & Structure: Section-wise Test Pattern, Question Topics and Duration
PTE Listening Section - Overview
PTE Listening Format: The listening section of the PTE Academic is stretched over 30 to 43 minutes of duration. This one is designed to determine the ability to understand spoken English by the candidate. Here, the student needs to ascertain that they carefully hear the audio file played and retain what they heard. This section is divided into 8 segments and the time given to each segment is as follows.
| PTE Listening Section Question Topics |
PTE Questions per task |
Duration per task |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 2 |
60-90 seconds to retain 50-70 words, 10 minutes to write |
|
| Multiple choice, multiple answers |
1 - 2 |
40-90 seconds for prompt |
| Fill in the blanks |
2 - 3 |
30-60 seconds |
| Highlight correct summary |
1 - 2 |
30-90 seconds |
| Multiple-choice, single-answer |
1 - 2 |
30-60 seconds |
| Select missing word |
1 - 2 |
20-70 seconds |
| Highlight incorrect word |
2 - 3 |
15-50 seconds |
| Write from Dictation |
3 - 4 |
3-5 seconds |
| Total Questions |
12 - 20 |
Time Allocation: 30 - 43 minutes |
Candidates looking for assistance with university admissions can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. Or write to us in the comments below.
PTE Listening Highlight Incorrect Words FAQs
Q. How do you highlight the incorrect words on PTE listening task?
A. In the highlight incorrect words task of the PTE listening section, test takers have to listen to the audio recording while also putting their cursor on the transcript provided on the screen. If they find a word that does not match with the recording, they have to simple place the cursor above that word and click the left button on their mouse. The selected word will be highlighted in yellow colour.
However, if they wish to remove their selection from a word, clicking the left button again by placing the cursor over that word will do the trick.
Q. Is there any negative marking in the PTE Listening - Highlight Incorrect Words task?
A. Yes, there is a negative marking in this task. Test takers will be credited 1 mark for each correct choice. However, 1 mark will be subtracted for every incorrect choice as well. Hence, candidates are advised to listen to the recording with focus and follow the tips mentioned in the article above to ensure they perform righteously in this task.
Q: Which dates are available for the PTE exam?
Q: In which city is the PTE Academic test conducted?
The PTE Academic exam is conducted across 62 major cities in India. Some of the popular PTE India test centres include Noida, Gurugram, New Delhi, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Muktsar Sahib, Pune, Mohali, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Ahmedabad.
Q: What rank is Wolverhampton University in UK?
The University of Wolverhampton is one of the best universities in the United Kingdom. The university is consistently ranked among the best universities nationally and globally. For nearly 200 years, the University of Wolverhampton has been consistently providing a quality of education to students and producing highly skilled graduates. The national rankings of the University of Wolverhampton are given below:
| Ranking Body | Ranking |
|---|---|
| The Guardian University Guide 2024 | #101 |
| The Complete University Guide 2024 | #117 |
Q: How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?
The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses:
The Undergraduate Application Process:
Step 1: You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.
Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.
Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
The Postgraduate application process:
Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
Step 5: If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
Q: Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?
The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.
Q: Is Hertfordshire University hard to get into?
With a 70% acceptance rate, the University of Hertfordshire is not hard to get into and follows easy selection criteria during admissions. This does not mean the university accepts all the students applying for different programs. The selection is based on academic performance, English language requirements, references, and many more. Some of the programs at Hertfordshire even demand an experience of 4-5 years. Students must fulfill the eligibility criteria to enroll in any programme at Hertfordshire University. In addition, students with average performance can showcase their relevant experience or extracurricular activities participation to increase their selection probability.
Q: Does the University of Essex require IELTS?
International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:
English Language Test | Score |
|---|---|
IELTS | Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section |
The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:
English Language Test | Score |
TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 72 to 114 |
PTE | Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section |
Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities
Q: What is the latest update in PTE exam in 2025?
The latest advancements in the PTE Academic exam for the year 2025 are given below:
- Acceptance of PTE-A by the Netherlands for Higher Education: The PTE exam is recognised by higher education institutes in the Netherlands. This means that the universities in the Netherlands now accept PTE scores for admission to their esteemed courses.
- Double Checking by Human Experts: In the PTE exam, the scores received upon automated scoring for two of the PTE Speaking section questions, i.e. PTE Describe Image and Retell Lecture will now be double-checked by the human experts. However, this does not imply any change to the content and administration of the test.
- Introduction of Smart Prep: Smart Prep section has been introduced in the My PTE account of the test takers. Test takers can access Smart Prep with or without booking a PTE test slot. The section comprises of both - the free and paid resources for preparation of the PTE exam at one place.
- Discontinuation of the PTE Academic Online Exam: Test takers can now relax with their long-standing doubt - whether PTE Academic Online is available for their country and/or does their desired university accept it. The administrator of the PTE exam, the Pearson PLC Group has now removed the PTE Academic Online exam.
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Conducted by the Pearson PLC Group, PTE exam dates are available throughout the year and can be booked until 24 hours before the exam. Candidates can decide to take the PTE exam from a network of 62 PTE Test centres in India. For the comfort and safety of the test takers, the PTE test centres allow a maximum of 10-15 candidates in a particular slot at a time.
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