Numerous candidates regard the PTE select missing word as the hardest part of the test, so many fail this section and receive lower scores than expected. 

However, there seems to be no room for improvement if you don’t have the skills to conquer this test.

No need to panic; this article by PTE Magic will help you with 10 straightforward tips and tricks. Keep scrolling down for further information!

(See our Vietnamese version here)

Key Takeaways

• In the PTE Select Missing Word section, you must listen to a conversation lasting between 20 and 70 seconds, then choose the correct answer about the missed word/phrase in the sentence.
• The PTE select missing word task assesses different aspects of your English proficiency, especially listening skills.
• You will receive one mark for the correct answer and zero if you give a wrong answer.

Related:

• PTE full form exam: What you need to know
• PTE study tips & tricks from high scorers!
• Listening tips for PTE you need to keep in mind

Understanding PTE Select Missing Word

In the PTE Select Missing Word task, you’ll hear a short audio clip of about 20 to 70 seconds. 

The last word or phrase will be replaced with a ‘beep’ sound. 

Your job is to choose the option that best completes the sentence from the list provided. You only have one chance to listen, so it’s important to keep focused and really listen to the tone and context of the sentence. 

This usually gives you a clue about what kind of words are missing.  After choosing your answer, it’ll be highlighted, and you can click on it again if you want to change it.

Sample: You will hear a recording of a lecture. At the end of the recording the last word or group of words has been replaced by a beep. Select the correct option to complete the recording.

• the fact
• proved
• true
• false
• real
• appropriate

 

Sign up for more FREE practice

 

What English Aspects Does The Test Assess?

The PTE select missing word task assesses different aspects of your English proficiency, especially listening skills. Some include: 

• The test examines your ability to identify the topic, sentence context, and idea. Understanding all of these clues, you will likely guess the correct answer despite not hearing it. 
• Your grasp of language, vocabulary, and grammar is also demonstrated via the test. For instance, you must have enough knowledge to identify whether the word in the blank is a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. 
• Understanding the abstract information or explicit meaning will be assessed as well. 
• To succeed in this PTE section, the sequencing of information must be coherently comprehended. You should also recognize several accents and keep track of the conversation. 

What Is The Test Format?

As mentioned, the test will include conversations lasting about 20 to 70 seconds. Your job is to hear the recording and figure out the missing word before filling in the blank. 

Remember that you will be provided with three to five lexically accurate answers. You must choose the most correct one from them; this is the answer to the question. And you start to do so after hearing a beep sound of the recording. 

Sounds easy, right? However, the truth is that various factors affect your performance, like mentality or unfamiliar accents. The best method is based on the context and taking a guess while listening with 100% focus. 

How Is The Test Marked?

You will receive one mark for the correct answer and zero if you give a wrong answer. The mark in total will reflect your listening excellence and skills. 

What Are Some Helpful Key Strategies?

Here is the summary of key strategies that you should take close notice of before, during, and after the recording. 

Before you start to listen

• Check the listening device carefully for better sound and performance. 
• Skim the prompt to understand the general topic and locate the keywords. 
• Stay calm and stop panicking. The mental factor is very important; if you are too nervous, you will likely miss the answer immediately. 
• Get ready to hear different accents and only concentrate on the recording’s content. 

While you are listening

• Put 100% effort into your listening test, and don’t let external factors interrupt your thinking flow during the speech. 
• Be prepared for the beep sound; some are startled by this noise. 

After you have listened

• Please carefully examine the options and choose the best one from them. 
• If you cannot figure it out, take a quick guess. Don’t take much time considering if you don’t want to miss another one. 
• Have already made a decision and stop thinking about it. Otherwise, you won’t focus on the recording. 

10 Tips For Improving Your Score In The PTE Select Missing Word

Below are straightforward tips that help you overcome the PTE select missing word task without a hitch. 

Read The Test Guidelines Carefully To Comprehend The Audio Theme

Under most circumstances, candidates often overlook the importance of instructions because they find them easy to understand. 

However, doing the same in this test is a big mistake. The provided guidelines will somewhat unravel the theme of the recording. 

It’s good for you to know the overall topic beforehand and evoke some related vocabulary and grammar in your head. 

Quickly Look At The Provided Options Before The Audio Starts

Before the audio plays, you still have time to skim all the options. Some say this act is futile and messes everything up. 

The truth is that when you understand the basic meaning of those options, you may feel less confused and have fewer difficulties analyzing the answer. 

Take Note Of Some Important Parts While You Are Listening

Note-taking plays a vital role in this test. While listening, you should jot some important words down; they could be useful clues for you to base on and give answer on. 

Besides, it is highly recommended to combine these clues with the context.

Notice The Audio’s Last Part Closely Before The Beep

When the audio nearly ends, your attention seems to reduce, and you no longer pay as much attention as the beginning. 

This is a complete fault because many questions provide an essential clue for an answer in the last word or phrase. 

Combine All The Options With The Last Sentence One By One

It would help if you took this tip together with the previous one. After knowing the last sentence, you are advised to add each option to the sentence so you can see which option is more reasonable. 

Remove The Unsuitable Options

Sometimes, you get puzzled by thinking about too many options, making your mind prone to tiredness over time. 

It would be best to eliminate unrelated or unreasonable options; thus, only focus on the option that can be a potential answer for the quest. 

Try To Pick An Option Relevant To The Audio Theme

Suppose you cannot hear anything or absorb no information from the audio because of the fast speed or unfamiliar accents; in this case, the optimal solution is to choose the option closest to the recording’s theme. 

You should consider all options seriously before making a final guess, which increases the chance of accuracy.  

Move On To The Next Audio Part Instead Of Getting Stuck In One Question

If you find the question too hard, stop wasting time and move on to the next question as the best alternative. You can make notes about this question and see them later when you finish other questions.

Getting stuck on one question not only wastes your time but also creates a burden on your mentality. 

Have A Wise Time Management Strategy

Managing time wisely during the test is the most common and pivotal advice. 

After the recording ends, you have time to finalize your answer. If you spend about a minute on a question, you will run out of time to do the next query. 

That’s why you must form a wise time management strategy before starting the test to avoid hurrying up and panicking at the last minute. 

Visualize The Answer While Listening To The Recording

The last tip is to draw a mental picture, including all the details related to the question in your mind. This requires you to engage with the recording actively and link several clues together before reaching the final answer. 

6 Mistakes To Avoid

Paying Too Much Attention To Individual Words

A big mistake is zooming in on specific words and forgetting to listen to the overall message. 

The missing part is usually based on the general idea or tone of the speaker, not just one or two words before the beep. 

If you’re too focused on every small detail, you might miss the bigger picture, and that’s what helps you choose the right option.

Choosing A Contextually Wrong Option

Sometimes, more than one option might sound like it fits grammatically. 

But that doesn’t mean it actually makes sense in the sentence. 

A word can be perfectly correct in terms of grammar but completely off in meaning. 

So, it’s important to ask yourself, “Does this word actually make sense with what the speaker is saying?”

Getting Distracted By Familiar Phrases

It’s easy to fall into the trap of picking an option just because it sounds familiar or common. 

But just because you’ve heard a phrase before doesn’t mean it’s the right one. 

The PTE test is designed to check if you’re really listening, not just guessing based on what sounds right. 

Thus, always go with what fits the context of the sentence, not just what you’re used to hearing.

Overthinking After The Audio Ends

Once the audio finishes and you hear the beep, there’s a bit of pressure to make the right choice. 

Some people spend too much time second-guessing and overanalyzing the options. 

Usually, your first instinct is the most accurate, especially if you were paying close attention. 

Don’t let doubt cause you to change a correct answer at the last minute.

Not Practicing With Real Test Speed

Many people slow down the audio or replay it multiple times when practicing. 

While it helps in learning, it doesn’t prepare you for the pressure of one-time listening in the real test. 

If you always rely on repeat listening, you may panic in the exam when you don’t get a second chance.

Not Recognizing Collocations

Many sentences end with common word pairings or phrases (like “make a decision” or “take a risk”). 

If you’re not familiar with common collocations, you may not catch the pattern the speaker is leading toward. 

Reading and listening to academic material can help you build this instinct. 

FAQs

How Many Select Missing Word Questions Are In This Task?

In the PTE Select Missing Word task, you’ll usually get about 1-2 questions during the test. 

Each one gives you 4-5 answer choices, and you need to pick the one that best fits the sentence when the audio cuts off at the end. 

How Is This Task Scored?

You will get a point if you choose the right answer, and there’s no partial credit. 

The goal is to show that you understand the overall meaning and flow of the speaker’s message. 

If you choose the wrong option or don’t answer at all, you won’t get any points for that question. 

So, it’s really about using context and your listening skills to make the best prediction.

How To Improve Your Listening Skills For The PTE Select Missing Word Task?

If you want to get better at this task, try listening to podcasts or YouTube videos and guessing how a sentence might end before the speaker finishes. 

It sounds simple, but it really helps you tune in to the meaning and flow. 

Besides, don’t get too caught up in every single word! 

Try to understand the overall idea. 

Also, practice with PTE-style recordings is a good choice, as you will get used to the speed and pressure of hearing it just once.

What Should You Focus On While Listening?

It’s best to focus on the speaker’s tone, topic, and overall message, not just single words. 

Understanding the full sentence helps you pick the most natural and meaningful ending.

Can You Hear The Audio More Than Once?

No, you only get one chance to hear the audio. 

That’s why it’s really important to concentrate from the very beginning. 

Even the opening lines can give you clues about the tone, topic, and what kind of word might come at the end. 

So you need to stay focused and listen closely the whole way through.

PTE Select Missing Word Practices

The PTE Magic website is the best site to land on when finding useful lessons, videos, and study materials about the PTE test, especially the PTE select missing word section. 

All you need to do is visit the website and register for an account to become a member. Then, you will enjoy thousands of benefits when entering the landing page; the benefits are greater if you sign up for the course. 

To learn more about this test via videos, check the YouTube account named “Language Academy PTE,” which provides a comprehensive picture of this prestigious exam and its four parts.  

 

Sign up for more FREE practice

 

The Bottom Line

This article has introduced 14 tips for enhancing your score on the PTE select missing word, coupled with study materials. However, these tips are useless if you don’t spend time practicing, so be disciplined, and you will get the desired result.