PTE Listening Tips 2026: Write from Dictation & All 8 Types

PTE Listening is the final section (30-43 minutes) and contains the single most important item type in the entire test: Write from Dictation. WFD contributes to both Writing AND Listening scores and can swing your overall score by 10-15 points. This guide covers strategies for all 8 Listening item types, with special emphasis on WFD mastery.

PTE Listening Section Overview

Write from Dictation — THE Most Important Listening Task

Write from Dictation (WFD) is the single highest-scoring item type in PTE Academic. You hear a sentence and type it exactly. Each correct word earns a point for both Writing AND Listening. With 3-4 WFD items at the end of the test, perfect WFD can boost your overall score by 10-15 points.

Why WFD Is the Highest-Scoring Single Item Type

WFD contributes to both Writing and Listening communicative skills — a double impact. If you correctly transcribe a 10-word sentence, you earn points in both skills simultaneously. Across 3-4 items, that is 30-40 potential contribution points to your score. No other single item type has this level of impact.

Spelling Accuracy Techniques

Every misspelled word loses partial credit. Common spelling traps: double consonants (accommodation, committee, occurrence), silent letters (government, environment), -ence vs -ance (independence, maintenance), -tion vs -sion (education, decision). Build a personal spelling list of 50 commonly tested words and review daily.

Short-Term Memory Strategies

Focus on content words first — nouns, verbs, adjectives. These carry the sentence's meaning. Function words (the, a, is, are, of) can be filled in from grammar knowledge. Start typing immediately after the audio ends. If you remember 8 out of 10 words and spell them all correctly, you score 8/10 for both Writing and Listening.

EEC's WFD method: Listen → hold the sentence in your mind → repeat it silently once → type from left to right → check spelling immediately. For detailed WFD practice, see our WFD practice guide with most-repeated sentences.

Summarize Spoken Text — Strategy & Template

You listen to a 60-90 second recording and write a 50-70 word summary. This contributes to Writing AND Listening. Template: "The speaker discussed [topic]. They explained that [key point 1]. Additionally, [key point 2] was highlighted. The speaker concluded that [conclusion/opinion]." Take shorthand notes during the audio. Grammar and spelling matter.

Listening Fill in the Blanks

You see a transcript with blanks and hear the audio. Type the missing words as you hear them. Spelling is critical — even one letter wrong means zero credit for that blank. Pre-read the transcript before the audio plays to anticipate where blanks will appear. Focus on content words in the gaps.

Highlight Incorrect Words — Negative Marking Strategy

You see a transcript and hear audio. Click on words in the transcript that differ from what the speaker says. This has negative marking — each incorrect click costs you a point.

Strategy: Read ahead in the transcript while listening. Follow along word by word. When you hear a different word than what is written, click the written word. Typically 2-5 words per item are incorrect. The differences are usually synonyms or near-similar words (e.g., transcript says "increase" but speaker says "decrease").

Highlight Correct Summary

Listen to a recording and select the written summary that best matches the audio. Elimination technique: Read all options before the audio plays, noting key differences between options. During the audio, listen for details that match one option and exclude others. Focus on the main idea — incorrect summaries often have wrong details or opposite conclusions.

Select Missing Word

A recording plays with the final word or phrase beeped out. Select the missing word from options. Strategy: Follow the audio's logic and flow. The missing word must complete the sentence semantically and grammatically. Predict what the speaker is about to say based on context — then match with the closest option.

MCQ (Single & Multiple) — Listening

MCQ Single: No negative marking — always attempt. Focus on the speaker's main point and tone.

MCQ Multiple: Has negative marking. Same strategy as Reading MCQ Multiple — only select confident answers. Focus on what the speaker explicitly states, not inferences.

Note-Taking Technique for All Listening Tasks

Develop a shorthand system for note-taking during Summarize Spoken Text and Re-tell Lecture. Use abbreviations (govt = government, edu = education, tech = technology), arrows (→ for leads to, ↑ for increase), and symbols. The goal is to capture key ideas without losing focus on the audio. Practise note-taking with TED Talks — 5-minute talks are ideal practice length.

Common Listening Mistakes Indian Students Make

1. Spelling errors in WFD: The #1 preventable error. One misspelling per sentence = 2-4 points lost.

2. Over-clicking in HIW: Negative marking punishes guessing.

3. Running out of time at the end: WFD appears at the very end of the Listening section. Manage time carefully so you reach WFD with full concentration.

4. Not pre-reading transcripts: For FIB and HIW, always read the transcript before the audio plays.

EEC PTE Listening Practice Sessions

EEC's programme includes daily WFD drills (500+ sentence bank), SST template practice, HIW accuracy training, and timed Listening section simulations. Combine with our Reading Tips and Speaking Tips for complete preparation.

“Write from Dictation contributes to both Listening and Writing scores, making it the single highest-impact item in the entire PTE exam. Master WFD and you improve two scores at once.”

— Vikram Patel, EEC PTE Trainer

Related Resources & Further Reading

Ready to begin? Register for a free demo class. PTE is also accepted for study in New Zealand. Planning Canada? See our study in Canada options. Read our PTE Academic complete guide. Read our PTE fee structure in India. Read our PTE Academic vs PTE Core. Read our PTE scores for Australia PR. Read our PTE vs IELTS comparison. Read our PTE preparation tips for 79+. Also explore our IELTS complete guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

PTE Listening questions from students: