PTE Write From Dictation: 25 Questions

Unlike many other parts in the listening section, the PTE Write From Dictation assesses your listening skills and writing ability. That’s why it is often regarded as the hardest test, requiring candidates to be proficient in different language aspects. 

However, this challenge will be solved if you have enough knowledge and tips to overcome it.

Are you still looking for them? This article by PTE Magic is a perfect guide for you!

Keep scrolling down for further information.

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Key Takeaways

• Unlike many other parts in the listening section, the PTE Write From Dictation assesses your listening skills and writing ability.
• It is often regarded as the hardest test, requiring candidates to be proficient in different language aspects.
• Below are five technical approaches to the PTE Write From Dictation you should know. 

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

Get To Know PTE Write From Dictation

The PTE Write From Dictation belongs to the listening test. It is used to assess your ability to listen, remember, and understand a sentence that the recording has played. Your writing skill is also tested because you must write it exactly with the correct spelling after the audio ends. 

Here are some key features of the PTE Write From Dictation that you should pay close attention to. 

• Before each recording, you will be guided on how to do this test via the instructions on audio. 
• The recording lasts between 3 and 5 seconds, being played once only, so you must take note of some important words carefully. 
• The new audio will automatically start after 7 seconds after the previous one comes to an end. 
• The system of partial scoring is applicable to the test. That means if all of the typed words are long enough and correct, given the grammar, coherence, and spelling, you will receive a maximum score. If one of them is incorrect, you still get lower points. 
• You must answer 3 to 4 questions in the PTE Write From Dictation part. 

Sample #1: You will hear a sentence. Type the sentence in the box below exactly as you hear it. Write as much of the sentence as you can. You will hear the sentence only once.

 

Sample #2: You will hear a sentence. Type the sentence in the box below exactly as you hear it. Write as much of the sentence as you can. You will hear the sentence only once.

 

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PTE Write from Dictation at a glance

Detail	What Pearson specifies
Test part	Listening. The whole listening part runs 31 to 39 minutes
Audio	3 to 5 seconds, played once
Format	Type the sentence exactly as you heard it
Marking	Partial credit. Every correctly spelled word in the right place earns a point
Skills scored	Listening and writing
Practical rule	Partial credit per word means you should always type what you caught. Half a sentence scores half the points; a blank scores zero

Format details follow the official PTE Academic test format published by Pearson.

 

5 Technical Approaches To The PTE Write From Dictation

Below are five essential aspects of this test you should know. 

Strategies

No one has the same strategy, as different people have their own suitable ones. Finding a proper method that suits your timetable and language ability is advisable. 

It’s really bad if you take the test without any feasible strategies from the beginning. Here is a recommended summary of key strategies for you to consider: 

Before you listen

• Mentally prepare by staying calm and taking a deep breath. Worries could affect your performance greatly. 
• Place your cursor in the response box to prepare for typing after the audio ends. 

While you are listening

• Focus on the grammatical segmentation. In other words, you must recognize the sentence’s subject, verb, and tense (present, past, present perfect, etc.). 
• 100% focus on the audio to capture what it says. Then, you’d better type your answer into the response box instantly in order not to forget. If not, you could note some important words. 

After you have listened

• Proofread your sentence to check whether you use the wrong verbs or incorrect tenses. 
• Ensure your sentence is correct according to several criteria, like spelling, grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, capitalization, etc.

Echoing

Echoing is another proposed approach when doing this test. As the name suggests, you are advised to think of the sentence repeatedly while typing it on the screen. 

This way makes your memory of the sentence more vivid and alive within your mind. Like a musical tune, suppose you remember the melody; you will likely form a general perception of a song in your head. 

Some people even say they could concentrate better on the test if they close their eyes and repeat the sentence while listening to the radio. 

Chunking

A sentence could include numerous words, but only about 2 to 3 chunks. In other words, the chunk is a group of related words that combine to form a meaningful sentence. 

Of course, it is easier to remember the chunks rather than the words. However, make sure your wording groups are manageable; they should not be too large because you cannot remember all the words. 

There are no rules on how to categorize words into chunks. It depends on you; it would be best to form chunks based on your memory and language proficiency. 

Content Words

Content words include most of the meaning in a sentence. Needless to say, they must be present in your phrase or speech; if not, the sentence does not carry any meaning. 

Focusing on the content words is strongly recommended if you struggle to remember the whole sentence. Then, add the functional grammar to them with the purpose of creating a lexically correct sentence. 

Proofreading

Proofreading is the step of checking the answer you have already typed. If you are too confident about your sentence without proofreading, you will likely make common mistakes, such as grammatical errors, misspelled words, etc. 

For instance, suppose your sentence is expressed in the present tense with the subject “he/she/it”; you forget to add the “s/es” to the main verb. This is a typical grammatical mistake; you don’t get any points due to this fault.  

10 Tips To Improve Your Score In PTE Write From Dictation 

The following are the ten comprehensive tips and tricks that numerous candidates have applied and succeeded in. Take them and practice!

Always Get Ready To Listen, Write, Or Type Your Sentence

You must mentally prepare for the test. Just relax and calm down; be ready to actively engage with the recording so you can avoid being too stressed and don’t hear anything. 

Besides, you could prepare your electronic pencil to note words down in the scratchpad. For someone using a laptop or computer, place your hands on the keyboard to type. 

Determine Your Method Before The Audio Begins

You must decide whether typing or writing first is suitable. After the audio ends, you can use the keyboard to type the sentence directly. If you are more careful, note content words down first before typing the answer. 

Listen To The Recording to Comprehend Its Meaning

If you desire to type the whole sentence correctly, you must comprehend the core meaning of the recording. Numerous factors affect your understanding capacity, including the context, the speaker’s accent, audio speed, etc. 

Check The Correct Order Of Your Words

The PTE Write From Dictation’s score depends on your answers and logical order. If you arrange words incorrectly, you won’t likely get high scores in this part.  

Review For Spelling Mistakes

Inaccurate spelling is one of the common mistakes in this test. Although you hear the words exactly, there is a likelihood that you mistype them. Consequently, the examiners won’t accept this word, so you won’t get full scores. 

So, always take close notice of the spelling. Whenever you see a new word, speak out and try to spell it.

Pay Close Attention To Grammatical Errors

Grammatical mistakes are also one of the common errors that numerous candidates make. If the sentence is expressed in the past tense, notice whether you should add “ed” to the verb or transform it into an irregular word. 

Type Any Words You Remember If You Cannot Understand The Whole Recording

Suppose you don’t hear anything from the audio; don’t get confused soon, and calm down. Then, based on your memory, type any words that you remember and arrange them into a sentence. Ensure the logical order!

Try To Make A Guess Based On The Context

If you are confused about your answer or one word in the sentence, try to evoke your memory about the recording and determine its context. Link the word to that context to see whether it is sensible. 

Practice Your Listening Daily

You must listen to audio, podcasts, or YouTube videos spoken in English daily to improve your listening skills. This forms a habit, and your mind will be immersed in English every day. You’d better choose different content to listen to.  

Enhance Your Typing Skills

Typing plays a pivotal role in the PTE Write From Dictation test. If you take much time typing a sentence, you don’t have time to jot down content words and easily become confused when typing in a hurry. 

What Not To Do In The PTE Write From Dictation Section

Hearing a sentence and writing it down might sound easy, but a small mistake will destroy your score. Below are the most common mistakes that prevent many test-takers from achieving their dream scores:

• Distraction: This common mistake happens to test-takers who don’t pay attention while the audio plays. This leads to losing the structure or the entire sentence’s context. Anxiety, lack of preparation, or being distracted are the reasons behind this problem. Therefore, pay attention closely because the audio only plays once, meaning you won’t hear it a second time.
• Refuse to note-taking: Some test-takers are unsure – they don’t know if they should write or type first, while some refuse to take notes before answering. Note-taking is a strategy to help you re-form the sentences quickly, especially when our short-term memory is only available for a limited time.
• Being too pressured: Pressure often creates more mistakes. You might answer the wrong word order, or overlook grammar rules. Many test-takers make mistakes with plurals and past tense verbs, or missing articles like “the” and “a”. Stay calm and practice frequently before your test day to avoid these mistakes.
• Wrong spelling: Many test-takers believe that having good listening skills means their spelling is correct. However, even a single mistyped letter can drag your score down, no matter how well you can hear the words. Therefore, recheck your response before you submit. This mistake also happens to candidates who think reviewing their work is unnecessary.
• Overlooking context: A sentence is not just a list of words. You must also pay attention to its meaning, rhythm, and structure. Misunderstanding the context will make it harder to remember the specific information. However, many candidates still choose to chase words instead of catching ideas. This mistake will cost them valuable points.
• Slow typing: Speed is another crucial aspect in the PTE Write From Dictation task. Slow typing wastes time and affects your memory, leading to a low level of accuracy. You might find recalling the last part of the sentence harder because of this. Practicing to improve your typing speed is a must for slow typers.
• Frequently Asked Questions

How do I practise PTE Write From Dictation?

Start practicing your spelling, grammar, and punctuation because these are the common mistakes test-takers often make. You’ll immediately lose points if you miss just one letter. Your goal is to answer precisely.

How many Write From Dictation questions are in the PTE exam?

Expect up to four Write From Dictation questions. Each sentence will last a few seconds, and you’ll only hear them once.

How do you remember the sentence in PTE Write From Dictation?

Focus on understanding the sentence instead of memorizing it word by word. Once you remember the meaning, the sentence’s structure will follow. We suggest taking notes because it’s crucial to rebuild the sentence. Additionally, staying calm improves your memory.

What skills does PTE Write From Dictation test?

The task tests your memory, listening, and writing abilities. Spelling and grammar are the focus of this task. The better your skills are, the higher your score will be.

Is there a time limit for PTE Write From Dictation?

Not exactly. There’s no time limit after the audio plays, but time still matters. You need to capture the sentence fast because it won’t stay in your head for long. Practice typing so you can answer correctly, fast, and confidently.

PTE Write From Dictation Practices 

To take quality study materials and mock tests, search Google, and you’ll see a load of information. However, choosing reliable sites is more important because the test’s accuracy is ensured.  

The PTE Magic website is a wonderful resource site where you can find many helpful tips for the exam. 

The website also assists you in testing your English ability, so you are clear about your English proficiency and whether you are ready to take the official exam. 

 

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The Bottom Line

The article has presented 10 comprehensive tips for enhancing your score in the PTE Write From Dictation task. Those tips only prove their effectiveness when you put real effort into practicing for the test. Good luck, and try your best!

PTE Write from Dictation practice questions with answers

Write from Dictation plays a sentence of only 3–5 seconds and scores it word by word with partial credit. That combination makes it the highest-value task per second in the whole exam: it feeds both your Listening and your Writing score, and every single correct word you type earns something. The 25 sentences below are graded by length to match the official audio range. Have someone read each one to you once, or use a text-to-speech tool.

How to practise these Write from Dictation questions

1. Type every word you caught, in order, even if the sentence is incomplete. Partial credit means a seven-word answer to a ten-word sentence still scores. A blank scores nothing.
2. Do not skip the small words. “The”, “a”, “of”, “their” each carry the same weight as “methodology”. Candidates who write only the content words throw away a third of the marks.
3. Spelling counts. A misspelt word scores zero for that word, which is why the traps column below focuses on doubled letters — committee, accommodation, recommended.
4. Write, then reconstruct. Type the fragments you are sure of first, then fill the gaps from grammar. If you have “students must ___ their assignments”, the missing word is a verb.
5. Do this task last if you run short of time in Listening — but never leave it blank, because it is the only Listening task where a partial answer is always worth marks.

Write from Dictation questions: short (roughly 3 seconds)

#	Sentence	Words	Spelling traps
1	The university library subscribes to several academic journals.	8	subscribes, journals
2	Students must submit their assignments before the deadline.	8	their (not there), assignments
3	The lecture notes are available on the departmental website.	9	departmental, available
4	Financial assistance is available for postgraduate research students.	8	assistance, postgraduate
5	The seminar will be held in the main auditorium.	9	seminar, auditorium
6	All laboratory equipment must be returned after use.	8	laboratory, equipment
7	The committee approved the revised curriculum last semester.	8	committee, curriculum
8	Attendance records are reviewed at the end of term.	9	attendance, reviewed

Write from Dictation questions: medium (roughly 4 seconds)

#	Sentence	Words	Spelling traps
9	The professor recommended several additional texts for further reading.	9	recommended, additional
10	Undergraduate students may borrow up to twelve books at once.	10	undergraduate, borrow
11	The department requires a written explanation for any late submission.	10	explanation, submission
12	Research proposals must be accompanied by a detailed methodology section.	10	accompanied, methodology
13	The examination results will be published on the fifteenth of June.	11	examination, fifteenth
14	Financial support is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress each year.	10	contingent, satisfactory
15	The conference accommodation has been reserved for all visiting delegates.	10	accommodation, delegates
16	Practical sessions are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.	9	scheduled, Tuesday
17	The bibliography should include only sources cited in the text.	10	bibliography, cited

Write from Dictation questions: long (roughly 5 seconds)

#	Sentence	Words	Spelling traps
18	Participants in the study were divided into two groups of equal size.	12	participants, divided
19	The manuscript was rejected because the statistical analysis was insufficiently rigorous.	11	manuscript, insufficiently, rigorous
20	Undergraduate dissertations are assessed by two independent members of academic staff.	11	dissertations, assessed, independent
21	The government has announced additional funding for scientific research facilities.	10	announced, facilities
22	Preliminary findings suggest a significant correlation between the two variables.	10	preliminary, correlation, variables
23	The university has established a new centre for interdisciplinary environmental research.	11	established, interdisciplinary, environmental
24	Applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in at least one foreign language.	12	applicants, proficiency, foreign
25	The technician will calibrate the instruments before the experiment commences.	10	technician, calibrate, commences

How to mark your own Write from Dictation answers

The answer is the sentence itself, so scoring is mechanical — and that is exactly why this task rewards drilling:

1. Count the words you typed correctly spelt and in the right position. That count over the total is your raw score for the item.
2. Wrong word forms score zero for that word. “Assignment” for “assignments” and “submit” for “submitted” are both misses, not near-misses.
3. Extra words you invented do not lose you marks on the words you got right, so guessing a plausible function word is a free bet.
4. Track which spelling traps recur across your attempts. Almost everyone has a stable set of four or five words they always get wrong — fixing those is faster than general listening practice.

Why this task deserves more practice time than its length suggests: each item is under five seconds of audio, but it contributes to both Listening and Writing. Ten minutes a day on dictation moves two of the four scores on your report, which no other single task does at this cost.

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