There are about 2 to 3 questions that are based on the ‘PTE Listening-Fill in the blanks’ forma. For this reason, how well you understand this section and how well you score in it will largely affect your final score in your Pearson Test of English Academic. In this task, a text is displayed on the screen and its corresponding audio is played on the microphone, only once. The text has about 5 to 7 blanks and the candidates are required to fill these with the correct words while simultaneously listening to the audio.
The candidates get an erasable note board booklet to make rough notes.
Here are a few tips you can use to improve your scores in this task. Do not forget to practice the PTE practice test though! The time stimulation is much required before the PTE exam to get a real-time experience. A full-length PTE mock test will help you to make a practice to sit for 3 hours at a stretch. As the listening section comes last, you must be enough prepared with PTE mock test or the section-wise PTE practice to make a habit of sitting for a longer period.
Top 6 tips to improve your scores in ‘PTE Listening fill in the blanks’ task
- There are 7 seconds before the audio starts to play. This time can be ideally used to take a glance at the text and the exact position of the blanks that need to be filled.
- Pay special attention to the words that precede the blanks when the audio begins to play. This will give you the hint to look for the correct answer.
- It is advisable to position your cursor on the first blank so you can type the first answer without wasting any time.
- Type a short form for the answer word in its respective blank, the moment you hear it. For instance, type ‘cmpny’ in place of ‘company’ and move on. This will not just save you time but will also get you the correct answer immediately. You can complete the words once the audio ends.
- Once you have filled the first blank with the correct word, program your mind to move the cursor to the next blank, and still listen to the transcript at the same time. How efficiently you can do both of these tasks will completely depend on the number of PTE mock tests you practice.
- If you are not comfortable typing while the audio is playing, you can note down the answer one below the other and then transfer the answer to the blanks. Ultimately it will depend on you to develop your techniques in which you are comfortable. You can start practicing from the PTE mock test to master any of the techniques you feel is comfortable.
Sample Question & Answer for Fill in the Blanks in PTE Listening
Audio 1:
Paragraph:
The free phone is the Samsung U740 handheld mobile device, which has MP3, video, text-message, and instant-message functions. “Students will earn text messages, talk time, and other rewards, such as free ring tones, music downloads, or ___ tickets, through their performance in school, “the Education Department said in a news ___ .” Students will be evaluated on the basis of attendance and behavior, along with three other indicators — such as homework completion, class ___ , or course grades — chosen by educators and customized to address academic ___ in their specific schools. Administrators will have access to significant new data on student performance, allowing them to ___track the short-term indicators that contribute to larger goals of boosting student achievement and graduation rates.
Answer: event, release, participation, priorities, track
Audio 2:
Paragraph:
“Doctors have been concerned for a long time about people googling their symptoms. There’s this term “Dr. Google,” which is really frustrating to a lot of ___, because people come in and think that they know what they have without having the actual ___ or context, just by having looked up, “I have a headache. What does it mean?”
GPT software is much better at actually being accurate in ___ what patients have and asking sometimes follow-up questions that will help it further hone in on the correct diagnosis.
Companies are starting to study this. And ___ research suggests the AIs are surprisingly accurate. Studies have shown that they work better than online symptom checkers—which are websites that let you input your symptoms and spit out a diagnosis. They’re also better than some ___humans.
Answers: physicians, expertise, determining, preliminary, untrained
Audio 3:
Paragrpah:
So, what is quantum mechanics? Even though it was discovered by ___, it’s not a physical theory in the same sense as electro ___ or general relativity. In the usual ” ___ of sciences” — with biology at the top, then chemistry, then physics, then maths — quantum mechanics sits at a ___ between maths and physics that I don’t know a good name for. Basically, quantum mechanics is the ___ system that other physical theories run on as application software (with the ___ of general relativity, which hasn’t yet been successfully ported to this particular OS).
Answers: physicists, magnetism, hierarchy, level, operating, exception
Audio 4:
Paragraph:
I think that’s not going to be such a ___ option for Cerberus, but that may be the way that they’re gonna approach it. Private ___ of course is supposed to have the advantage of taking management out of the spotlight of quarterly profits and industry ___ , and prying shareholder eyes, and that, ___ , gives them a chance to take slower, more ___ routes to doing something to turn a company around. I would hope, and I have some, I guess, ___ that some of the Cerberus team will have some creativity and imagination.
Answers: viable, equity, analysts, hypothetically, patient, optimism
Audio 5:
Paragraph:
In recent years, the ___ phenomenon of climate change has garnered widespread attention. It is widely acknowledged that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and ___ , have significantly contributed to this global issue. Scientists around the world are urgently researching ___ solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. Among these, ___ energy sources such as solar and wind power are increasingly being viewed as vital components of a more ___ future. However, ___ to these cleaner energy sources requires substantial investment and international cooperation.
Answers: phenomenon, deforestation, sustainable, renewable, transitioning
Things to remember
- It is important to double-check the spelling of the word you write since no mark is credited even if the answer is correct but the word is misspelled.
- Remember to follow UK English while writing the spellings. Also, take care of plural/singular nouns and other similar rules that can affect the spelling.
- Do not skip answering a blank even if you are unsure of the correct answer. Since there are no negative markings in the task, you will not lose a thing even with a wild guess.
- Do not waste a lot of time on the task once the audio is over. Give it only the time it deserves! You can move to the next task only once you click ‘Next’ at the bottom of the page. The more time you take to click on that, the less time you get for your other tasks.
One of the best ways to do PTE Listening Fill in the Blanks practice is by taking a full-length mock test. You can use Gurully’s online practice platform to prepare for the PTE exam. It offers section-wise tests along with question-wise practice. Gurully’s real-time exam simulation helps you experience the actual test environment. Instant AI scoring saves your time and gives immediate feedback. You can also practice question-wise for free using Gurully’s PTE practice application.
Conclusion:
The ‘Listening – Fill in the Blanks’ task plays a key role in shaping your overall PTE score. Since there are only a few questions of this type in the exam, every point counts. Strong listening skills, quick response time, and familiarity with the format can make a big difference. Practicing with full-length mock tests and section-specific exercises—like those on Gurully’s platform—helps you build the stamina and accuracy needed for the real test. Consistent practice is the most reliable way to improve your performance and boost your confidence before exam day.
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