Losing focus during an exam is a common thing. But when you are preparing for a competitive exam like PTE, you can’t afford to lose scores because of losing focus. When you are aiming for band 79+, it demands more than good english knowledge, it requires flawless execution in all the modules. Simple errors can cause big scores in modules like Listening and Speaking and Listening, which affect your overall score. Don’t let these mistakes cost you marks. Let’s identify some of the most common errors that you simply cannot afford to make.
The High Cost of Simple Errors
The PTE Listening section is a demanding mix of taste from summarizing spoken text to filling in blanks and selecting correct summary. The biggest challenge is the speed and integrated nature of the tasks, in which a single slip can cause you marks in other modules too.
Eliminating the Five Fatal Flaws
In order to achieve high scores, avoid these common traps by adopting a focus learning approach. Here are the five common mistakes that keep students from achieving 79+ score:
- Ignoring the Instructions and Question Type: Many students start the Listening task without properly noting the constraints. For example, in Fill in the Blanks, failing to confirm if you need one word, two words, or a number will result in zero marks, even if you heard the correct information. Similarly, in Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers, over-selecting to ‘be safe’ results in negative marking, directly punishing your score.
- The “Write From Dictation” Mental Block: This error occurs heavily in both Listening and Writing scores, where the mistake is because of the short term memory of the candidate. When the sentences given are long, the candidates often panic and try to recall it perfectly. This results in forgetting. The best way to tackle it is by using a hybrid note taking method, where the candidate can write the first letter of every word and fill the rest immediately after the audio stops.
- Passive Listening in “Summarize Spoken Text”: In summarizing spoken test, the major error is noting down a few random nouns and trying to piece together a summary without identifying the main idea and the speaker’s perspective during the lecture. The better strategy for this is to listen actively for signposting words and core nouns/verbs that define the topic, ensuring your written summary captures the main message not the unimportant details.
- Failing to Anticipate in “Fill in the Blanks”: In the Fill in the Banks, section the candidates often wait for the missing words. This makes them slow. Candidates need to understand that the answers come in order and the text provides context. They must read the text surrounding the blank before the audio plays. The strategy is to predict the part of speech and the topic/meaning of the word that is more apt to fill the blank.
- Losing Momentum and Staying in One Question: Because the test is fast paced, the time wasted worrying about a missed answer is a lost time for the next question. The strategy is to move on to the next question when you miss one. If you miss an answer in any section, especially in multiple choice tasks, make your best guess quickly and move on to reading the next question. Getting stuck in one question is gonna make you lose the next two or three questions.
Secure 79+ Score in PTE with Expert Training from Tiju’s Academy
Language skills alone won’t let you score 79+ in PTE, you need skills to write the exam flawlessly under pressure. Tiju’s Academy specializes in strategy scheming, which is necessary to score high marks. Our dedicated trainers helps to tackle listening module by focusing on eliminating these five common mistakes through intense practice tests and mock exams. Don’t let your valuable attempts be wasted on predictable errors. Ready to score 79+ score in PTE? Join Tiju’s Academy, the best PTE training centre in Kerala!
