Sarfaraz's PTE Notes 2025

PTE 2025

Final Hour Cheat Sheet - Quick Revision Guide

⚡ Master all four modules with proven strategies and templates

2h 15m

Total Duration

Maximum Score

Modules

Sections

Speaking

28-36 Questions

54-67 Minutes

Listening

20-20 Questions

30 Minutes

Reading

13-18 Questions

30 Minutes

Writing

28-36 Questions

54-67 Minutes

SCORING & TIME ALLOCATION - MEMORIZE THIS!

📊 Scoring Breakdown - ⏰ Time Allocation

Speaking (90 pts)

Question Type	Time allocation	Points
Read Aloud (5-7)	30-40s	15 each
Repeat Sentence (~10)	15s	3 each
Describe Image (3-4)	25s	5 each
Retell Lecture (1-2)	40s	20 each
Answer Short (5)	--	1 each

Listening (90 pts)

Question Type	Time allocation	Points
Summarize Spoken (1-2)	10 min	20 each
Multiple Choice (2-3)	2-3 min	5 each
Fill Blanks (2-3)	7-8 min	15 each
Highlight Summary (1-2)	--	5 each
Write Dictation (3-4)	3-5 min	15 each

Reading (90 pts)

Question Type	Time allocation	Points
R&W Fill Blanks (5-6)	2-3 min	15 each
Multiple Choice (2-3)	2 min	5 each
Re-order Para (2-3)	2-3 min	10 each
Fill Blanks (4-5)	1.5 min	5 each

Writing (90 pts)

Question Type	Time allocation	Points
Summarize Written (1-2)	10 min	20 each
Essay Writing (1-2)	20 min	50 each

Essay = 55% of Writing Score!

Key Points to Remember

PTE is a test as proof of English proficiency

Give 2 finger gap between mic and lips while speaking

No marks awarded in introduction section

Focus on fluency, pronunciation, and content

Fluency

Don't hesitate
Take a pause at fullstop . and comma ,
Natural flow of reading
There should be no hesitation, pauses while speaking

Pronunciation

Pronunciate correctly
Be consistent w.r.t volume
Any accent is acceptable but speaking words should be clear, as words are recorded
No breaking of words
Avoid plosive words (Like ha, cough, hu etc)

Precautions

Don't mimic native accent
Don't be too fast or too slow, speak like a normal person with good fluency

Remember: Natural speaking is key to success!

EMERGENCY FILLER PHRASES - MEMORIZE!

When Thinking

"Moreover..."
"Additionally..."
"Furthermore..."
"In addition to this..."

Transitions

"Moving on to..."
"Another point is..."
"It's also worth noting..."
"Equally important..."

Conclusions

"In conclusion..."
"To summarize..."
"Overall..."
"In summary..."

QUICK NOTE-TAKING SYMBOLS

↑

Increase

↓

Decrease

Same/Equal

≠

Different

Positive

Negative

→

Leads to

∵

Because

FINAL 10 MINUTES CHECKLIST

✅ Before Exam

Adjust mic 2 fingers from lips

Test volume levels

🎯 During Exam

Read instructions carefully

Watch timer constantly

KEYWORD IDENTIFICATION STRATEGY

🔍 What to Look For

• Names, dates, numbers
• Capitalized words
• Technical terms
• Transition words

⚡ Scanning Technique

• Read question first
• Identify keywords in question
• Scan passage for same keywords
• Read around keywords for context

🎯 Elimination Method

• Cross out obviously wrong answers
• Look for contradictions
• Choose from remaining options
• Trust your first instinct

TRANSITION PHRASES BANK - MEMORIZE!

Adding Ideas

• Furthermore
• Moreover
• Additionally
• In addition
• Besides

Contrasting

• However
• Nevertheless
• On the contrary
• In contrast
• Conversely

Cause & Effect

• Consequently
• Therefore
• As a result
• Thus
• Hence

Examples

• For instance
• For example
• Such as
• Namely
• Specifically

READING TIME ALLOCATION (29-30 minutes total)

R&W Fill Blanks

2-3 min

each (5-6 questions)

Multiple Choice

2 min

each (2-3 questions)

Re-order Para

2-3 min

each (2-3 questions)

Fill Blanks

1.5 min

each (4-5 questions)

MC Single

2 min

each (1-2 questions)

COMMON TRAP ANSWERS - AVOID THESE!

Multiple Choice Traps

Options with extreme words (always, never, all)
Answers that sound smart but aren't mentioned
Options with extra information not in audio

Fill Blanks Traps

Similar sounding words (accept/except)
Plural vs singular forms
Past vs present tense

PANIC MODE - EMERGENCY STRATEGIES

🚨 When You're Stuck

Speaking: Use filler phrases: "Moreover...", "Additionally..."
Reading: Eliminate obviously wrong answers first
Listening: Focus on keywords, ignore details
Writing: Use templates even if not perfect fit

⏰ Running Out of Time

Speaking: Finish your sentence, don't stop mid-word
Reading: Guess remaining answers (no negative marking)
Writing: Write conclusion even if short

🔧 Technical Issues

Mic not working: Raise hand immediately, don't waste time
Can't hear audio: Check volume, raise hand if needed
Screen frozen: Don't restart, call supervisor

💡 Quick Recovery

Made mistake: Don't dwell, move to next question
Missed audio: Use context clues from visible text
Blank mind: Take 2 deep breaths, start with template

GRAMMAR QUICK CHECK - Final 2 Minutes

Subject-Verb Agreement

• Singular subject + singular verb
• Plural subject + plural verb
• Check "is/are", "has/have"

Articles

• "a/an" before singular countable
• "the" for specific things
• No article for general plurals

Punctuation

• Capital letters at start
• Commas in lists
• Full stops at end

Speaking Module

Master all 5 speaking tasks with proven strategies

Assessment Criteria

Grammar

Oral Fluency

Pronunciation

Spelling

Vocabulary

1. Read Aloud

Time: 30-40 seconds | Questions: 5-7 | Points: 15 each

Focus: Fluency & Pronunciation

Key Tips:

Maintain natural flow of speech
Be mindful of letter 's'
No repetition or deletion of words
Control your breath and speak
Don't take too long pauses

2. Repeat Sentences

Time: 15 seconds | Questions: ~10 | Points: 3 each

Scoring: 2 points for 4+ words, 3 for full sentence

Strategy:

Wait 2 seconds before recording
Speak with natural flow
Listen to understand
Sequence is important
Don't take notes - no time

3. Describe Image

Time: 25 seconds | Questions: 3-4 | Points: 5 each

Target: 35-40 words

Template:

"This image clearly displays information about ________. [main subject].

Looking at the axes, the horizontal shows ________. [X-axis] and vertical represents ________. [Y-axis].

The most obvious trend is ________. [dominant feature], which reaches ________. [specific value].

Overall, this gives us important insights about ________. [big picture message]."

4. Retell Lecture ⭐ HIGH VALUE

Time: 40 seconds | Questions: 1-2 | Points: 20 each

Importance: 20 points (Speaking) + 10 points (Listening)

Template:

"The lecture mainly discussed ________. [main topic], providing useful information.

To begin with, the speaker talked about ________. [first key point].

Then, he explained ________. [second point], which added clarity.

In conclusion, the lecture emphasized ________. [main message]."

5. Answer Short Questions

Importance

Least important task (1 point each)

Questions

Expect 5 questions in exam

Tips

Pronounce correctly, don't leave any questions

Listening Module

Master 8 different listening task types

1. Summarize Spoken Text ⭐ HIGH VALUE

Time: 10 minutes | Questions: 1-2 | Points: 20 each

Word Count: 50-70 words

Template:

"The lecture mainly discussed ________. [main topic], providing useful information. To begin with, the speaker talked about ________. [first point]. Then, he explained ________. [second point]. In conclusion, the lecture emphasized ________. [main message]."

2. Multiple Choice (Single)

Time: 2-3 minutes | Questions: 2-3 | Points: 5 each

Tips:

Focus on main idea, ignore details
Remove obviously wrong options first
Pick the closest match
Don't overthink

3. Fill in the Blanks ⭐ HIGH VALUE

Time: 7-8 minutes | Questions: 2-3 | Points: 15 each

Strategy:

Listen for common word pairs
Double-check grammar/spelling
Type fast (use keyboard shortcuts)
Focus on content words (nouns, verbs)

4. Highlight Correct Summary

Time: 2-3 minutes | Questions: 1-2 | Points: 5 each

Tips:

Choose general summary (not tiny details)
Delete options with extra/missing info
Match overall tone and main points

5. Multiple Choice (Multiple) ⚠️ DANGER

Warning: Wrong answers deduct points

Critical Strategy:

Select only if 100% sure - no guessing!

Better to select fewer correct answers than wrong ones

6. Select Missing Word

Time: 2-3 minutes | Questions: 2-3 | Points: 3 each

Strategy:

Focus on last 5 seconds (key clues)
Match speaker's tone (positive/negative)
Listen for grammatical clues

7. Highlight Incorrect Words

Time: 2-3 minutes | Questions: 2-3 | Points: Variable

Tips:

Match word-by-word carefully
Listen & read simultaneously
Click only wrong words (no extra clicks)
Watch for similar sounding words

8. Write from Dictation ⭐ HIGH VALUE

Time: 3-5 minutes | Questions: 3-4 | Points: 15 each

Critical Points:

Accuracy = Score (every word counts)
Don't paraphrase - write exactly
Check capitals/full stops
Usually 3-5 words per sentence

Reading Module

Master 5 reading task types with strategic approaches

1. Reading & Writing Fill Blanks ⭐ HIGH VALUE

Time: 2-3 min each | Questions: 5-6 | Points: 15 each

Strategy:

Look at words before/after blank (context clues)
Match grammar (a __ needs noun, __ ly needs adverb)
Check for collocations (common word pairs)
Read entire sentence after filling

2. Multiple Choice (Multiple)

Time: 2 min each | Questions: 2-3 | Points: 5 each

Tips:

Only pick ideas directly stated in text
Avoid options that sound logical but aren't mentioned
Look for paraphrasing of text content
Usually 2-3 correct answers

3. Re-order Paragraphs

Time: 2-3 min each | Questions: 2-3 | Points: 10 each

Strategy:

Find first sentence (introduces topic, no pronouns)
Look for connecting words (However, Moreover, Therefore)
Follow pronoun references (he, she, it, they)
Check chronological order if applicable

4. Fill in the Blanks

Time: 1.5 min each | Questions: 4-5 | Points: 5 each

Strategy:

Use context clues from surrounding sentences
Match word forms (noun, verb, adjective, adverb)
Look for logical connections
Eliminate options that don't fit grammatically

5. Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Task

Select single correct answer from multiple choices

Strategy

Read question first, eliminate wrong answers

Focus

Go with overall meaning, not minor details

Writing Module

Master both writing tasks with proven templates

Task 1: Summarize Written Text ⭐ HIGH VALUE

Time Limit

10 minutes

Word Count

5-75 words (One sentence)

Points

20 points each (1-2 questions)

Linking Words to Use

and while although moreover therefore consequently thus however

Avoid These

"In my opinion"
Informal words or contractions
Personal opinions
Multiple sentences

Complete Template

"The passage discusses ________. [main idea or issue], stating that ________. [first point], and illustrating how ________. [second point or example], while also emphasizing that ________. [key insight or consequence], thereby concluding that ________. [core message] is significant in the context of ________. [topic/field]."

Task 2: Essay Writing ⭐ HIGHEST VALUE

Time Limit

20 minutes

Word Count

200-300 words

Points

50 points (55% of Writing!)

Introduction Paragraph (50-60 words)

"The issue of ________. [topic] has generated widespread attention and discussion in recent years. While some people argue that ________. [viewpoint A], others believe that ________. [viewpoint B]. This essay will explore both perspectives and explain why ________. [your opinion] may offer a more balanced solution."

Body Paragraph 1 (70-80 words)

"Supporters of ________. [opposing view] argue that it has several advantages. For example, ________. [provide evidence or reason], which can lead to ________. [effect/outcome]. This approach is often seen in ________. [example scenario], where it helps address certain challenges."

Body Paragraph 2 (70-80 words)

"On the other hand, many individuals advocate for ________. [your opinion or preferred solution]. This is mainly because ________. [reason], and in practice, ________. [example or result]. Such a view promotes ________. [positive impact or benefit], especially in situations involving ________. [related context]."

Conclusion Paragraph (40-50 words)

"In conclusion, although both viewpoints present valid arguments, I strongly believe that ________. [your stance] provides a more effective and sustainable outcome. Therefore, addressing ________. [topic] with a comprehensive and thoughtful approach is essential for long-term benefits."