The Ultimate Guide

To Passing PTE-A

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 INTRODUCTION
E2Language has helped over 100,000 candidates pass their PTE Academic through
its powerful methods, exam-like practice questions, live group classes, 1:1 tutorials,
speaking and writing feedback and Mini Mock Tests.

This guide provides you with the basic methods that you need for each task. It’s
one thing to know the methods, however, and it’s quite another to practice them on
exam-like questions. Sign up for FREE at www.e2language.com

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1 TEST STRUCTURE

2 PART 1: SPEAKING

3 PART 2: WRITING

4 PART 3: READING

5 PART 4: LISTENING
 TEST STRUCTURE
PART OF TEST TASK TIME ALLOWED
Introduction Personal Introduction (not scored) 1 minute
Part 1: Speaking Read Aloud 30-25 minutes
Repeat Sentence
Describe Image
Re-tell Lecture
Answer Short Question
Part 2: Writing Summarize Written Text 40-60 minutes
Write Essay
Part 3: Reading Multi-Choice Single Answer 32-41 minutes
Multi-Choice Multiple Answers
Reorder Paragraphs
Reading: Fill in the Blanks
Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks
Summarize Spoken Text
Part 4: Listening Multiple-choice Multiple Answers 43-58 minutes
Fill in the Blanks
Highlight Correct Summary
Multiple-Choice Single Answer
Selecting Missing Word
Highlight Incorrect Words
Write from Dictation

NOTE: The number of tasks you get changes for each test… that’s why the time is
between 43-58 minutes, for example. Also, keep in mind that the difficulty of the
tasks changes. Some tasks are easier and some tasks are harder! Each test in
whole is the same level of difficulty as any other test.
 SPEAKING Get
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SCORING

In the speaking part of the test you are scored on three things: content, pronunciation, and oral
fluency. Content means you speak on topic. Pronunciation means you make accurate sounds.
Oral fluency means you deliver your speech with rhythm.

POINTS CONTRIBUTION

The PTE-A is different from other English tests in that one task might contribute points to
two different skills. If you’re struggling on reading, for example, then it might actually be your
speaking skills that are letting you down. Here’s how the speaking section contributes points to
both speaking and the other skills:

TASK POINTS CONTRIBUTE TO

Read Aloud Reading and Speaking

Repeat Sentence Listening and Speaking

Describe Image Speaking

Re-tell Lecture Listening and Speaking

Answer Short Question Listening and Speaking

E2 METHODS

E2Language develops methods that work. Not only have our teachers tried them in the real exam
to achieve perfect scores, but tens of thousands of candidates have achieved exceptional results
using our methods. See the next page for the speaking methods.
 PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

The personal intro’ is not assessed. It’s an opportunity for you to take a deep breath,
center yourself and get ready to kick the test’s butt.

Remember:

• It is not assessed
• Relax; breathe deeply
• Check your microphone; don’t stress, the microphones work… it’s not a conspiracy!

READ ALOUD

For this task you have to read a paragraph of text… you get to practice once, and then you have
to read aloud.

Look at the text below. In 40 seconds, you must read this text aloud as naturally and clearly as possi-
ble. You have 40 seconds to read.

Analysts were impressed by the improvement in margins reported across all regions, apart from the
United Kingdom, and said that this reflected a clear effort to improve profitability across the business.
Although the turnaround is still in its early stages and the valuations looks full, given the challenge of
turning around such a large and complex business, this is certainly an impressive start.

Remember to:

• Read clearly
• Read at a moderate pace
• Don’t re-start sentences
• Resist ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’
• Read with meaning!

If you are struggling with your speaking then take a 1:1 45 minute tutorial with one
of our expert teachers who will examine the way you complete the tasks and give
you personalised feedback on how to improve. It’s the fastest way to success!
 REPEAT SENTENCE

For this task you will hear a sentence. You have to then repeat back the sentence that you heard
in the exact say way that it was said.

You will hear a sentence. Please repeat the sentence exactly as you hear it.
You will hear the sentence only once.

Remember to:

• Focus; listen carefully

• Repeat as many words as
you can remember
• Copy the speaker’s
intonation / rhythm

DESCRIBE IMAGE

For this task you will have 25 seconds to look at an image - a graph, a picture etc. Then in under
40 seconds you have to describe the image. Use this method:

Introduction: Title + X-axis

This graph represents the number of songs (TITLE) purchased over 150 weeks (X-AXIS)
Body: 2-3 key features
Describe 2-3 of the most significant features
Conclusion: Summary
Summarize the graph in a single sentence

Look at the graph below. In 25 seconds, please speak into the microphone and describe in detail what
the graph is showing. You will have 40 seconds to give your response.

Describe the image and record your response.

 RE-TELL LECTURE

For this task you will hear a short lecture of about 60 seconds. While listening, write down the
TOPIC and ~8 important KEYWORDS. While speaking, expand upon this basic structure:

• The speaker was discussing TOPIC

• S/He mentioned KEYWORD 1
• S/He talked about KEYWORD 2
• S/He discussed KEYWORD 3
• S/He described KEYWORD 4
• S/He suggested that KEYWORD 5

For interviews (two people) use “the first speaker” and “the second speaker”.

You will hear a lecture. After listening to the lecture, in 10 seconds, please speak into the microphone
and retell what you have just heard from the lecture in your own words. You woll have 40 seconds to
give your response.

ANSWER SHORT QUESTION

This task is pretty straightforward. You hear a question and then you answer the question.

You will hear a question. Please give a simple and short answer. Often just one of a few words is
enough.

Remember to:

• Listen carefully
• Answer in one or two
words
• Articles (a/an/the) are not
necessary but can be used
 WRITING
In the writing section there are just two tasks. However, keep in mind that other
tasks, such as Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks, also contribute to your writing
score.

SCORING

In writing you need to make sure you write grammatically, use precise vocabulary, use a solid
structure and write on topic!

POINTS CONTRIBUTION

Remember that each task might contribute points to other skills. Here’s how writing works:

TASK POINTS CONTRIBUTE TO

Summarize Written Text Reading and Writing

Write Essay Writing

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E2 METHODS

SUMMARIZE WRITTEN TEXT 10 minutes

For this task you will see a block of text. You’ll have 10 minutes to read the text and then
summarize the text into ONE (1) sentence.

• While reading, find the key subject/topic and verb by asking yourself:
• Who did what? OR
• What happened?

• Write a simple sentence, and then add information to your sentence. You may have to rear-
range the sentence to make it flow. You must write a ‘complex’ sentence, so words like ‘which’
or ‘that’ are helpful.
 WRITE ESSAY 20 minutes

For this task you’ll have to write an argumentative/persuasive essay.

You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below.
Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present
supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200-
300 words.

Tobacco, mainly in the form of cigarettes, is one of the most widely-used drugs in the world. Over
a billion adults legally smoke tobacco every day. The long term health costs are high - for smokers
themselves, and for the wider communitiy in terms of health care costs and lost productivity.

Do goverments have a legitimate role to legislate to protect citizens from the harmful effects of their
own decisions to smoke, or are such decisions up to the individual?

Write your answer in the box below (200-300 words):

Here’s the structure you should use:

Introduction: General Sentence

Rewrite question
“This essay will...”

Body Paragraph 1: Topic sentence

Support Sentence
Evidence
Closing Sentence

Body Paragraph 2: Topic sentence

Support Sentence
Evidence
Closing Sentence

Conculsion: “This essay discussed…” + ideas mentioned in Para1 and Para2 /

In my opinion…

If you haven’t watched it already, check out the PTE-A Essay Super Structure
video lesson in the platform. Jay shows you step by step how to structure up
your essay.
 READING Get reading
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TIME MANAGEMENT Click Here

In this part of the test you have to manage your own time. That is, you are given ‘overall’ time. The
tasks are not timed individually like they are in speaking and writing. Spend 1-3 minutes on each
task. You either get the answer right, or wrong. Keep in mind that negative scoring affects Multiple
Choice, Choose Multiple Answers, so choose carefully in that task.

POINTS CONTRIBUTION

In the reading section, all of tasks contribute points to just reading except for
Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks.

TASK POINTS CONTRIBUTE TO

Multi-Choice Single Answer Reading

Multi-Choice Multiple Answers Reading

Reorder Paragraphs Reading

Reading: Fill in the blanks Reading

Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks Reading and Writing

E2 METHODS

Fill in the Blanks

In this task you have to drag and drop a word into a gap to create a meaningful phrase.

Remember to:

• Look for collocations (words that commonly appear together)

• Some gaps require a certain type of word, e.g. “noun”. Therefore, eliminate answer options that
are not nouns.
 Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer

This task is straightforward. It’s a single answer multiple choice questions. Just:

• Read the question prompt carefully; it will ask you to read for something specific such as an
opinion / a main idea / a detail etc.
• Eliminate incorrect answers

Re-Order Paragraph

In this task you have to take a jumbled paragraph and put the sentences back together into a se-
quential/logical order. Remember to:

• Find the independent sentence - the sentence that does not need other sentences to make
sense by itself
• Use your understanding of how a sentence (subject + verb + object) transfers information to
another sentence
• Read the final paragraph and make sure it flows from sentence to sentence

Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks

In this task you have to take a jumbled paragraph and put the sentences back together into a se-
quential/logical order. Remember to:

• Find the independent sentence - the sentence that does not need other sentences to make
sense by itself
• Use your understanding of how a sentence (subject + verb + object) transfers information to
another sentence
• Read the final paragraph and make sure it flows from sentence to sentence

Multiple Choice Choose, Multiple Answers

This task is pretty straightforward. Just don’t confuse it with the single answer. There will always
be at least two correct options. Be mindful that if you select an incorrect answer you will be nega-
tively marked. You can play it safe and choose just one answer option if you like. Remember to:

• Read the question prompt; it will ask you whether the answer options say the same thing as
the text
• Find the answer option in text using keywords and ask yourself: “Does it say the same thing or
something different?” If the same thing, tick it. If something different, leave it…
 LISTENING
The listening section of the test has 8 tasks. It’s all about ‘concentration’ because
by this stage of the test you will be pretty tired. Stay focused. Remember that
some of the listening contributes to your writing score as well.
INTRODUCTION

TIME MANAGEMENT

In the listening section you must manage your own time, except for the
first task which is 10 minutes long. You should spend all 10 minutes on the
first task.

POINTS CONTRIBUTION

The Listening section actually contributes quite a lot of points to the writing and reading sections.
So if you are struggling with one or both of these sections, make sure you improve your listening.

TASK POINTS CONTRIBUTE TO

Summarize Spoken Text Listening and Writing

Multi-choice Multiple Answers Listening

Fill in the Blanks Listening and Writing

Highlight Correct Summary Listening and Reading

Multi-choice Single Answer Listening

Select Missing Word Listening

Highlight Incorrect Words Listening and Reading

Write from Dictation Listening and Writing

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 E2 METHODS

Summarize Spoken Text

In this task you have to listen to a short lecture, take notes, and then spend 10 minutes turning
your notes (and your memories!) into a well structured summary. Remember to:

• Use the same method as “Speaking: Re-tell Lecture” but you write instead of speak so make
your summary more complex

Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers

In this task you hear a short lecture and then answer a multiple choice question that will have at
least two correct answers. Like reading, this question type also has negative marking so choose
carefully and if you want, just choose one answer option. Remember to:

• Listen carefully
• Take notes
• Select answers from notes and memory
• Don’t read answer options and listen at the same time

Fill in the Blanks

In this task you listen to a lecture and type words into the gaps as you listen. You can use the TAB
key to jump between gaps. Remember to:

• Type or scribble quickly and move on (you can use the TAB key to move from blank to blank)
• Fix grammar/spelling mistakes at end - not while audio is playing

Highlight Correct Summary

This task is like a multiple choice question except that the answer options are long. Remember to:

• Take notes while listening

• Match notes to correct summary
• Don’t read and listen at the same time.
 Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer

This task is simple. There will be one correct answer. Remember to:

• Read the question prompt

• Listen carefully
• Don’t read the answer options while listening
• Eliminate the impossible answer options
• Select the correct answer option

Select Missing Word

In this task you will hear a short lecture where the final phrase or word will be replaced by a BEEP
sound. You need to:

• Listen for overall meaning

• Watch the clock and listen very carefully to the final sentence for the final phrase or word

Highlight Incorrect Words

In this task you will see a transcript. You will hear a corresponding lecture. Some of the words in
the transcript differ from what the speaker says. Click on the different words. Remember to:

• Place your mouse cursor on the first word of the paragraph

• Move your mouse along the text as the audio plays
• Click on incorrect words

Write from Dictation

In this task you will hear a single sentence. Then you must type out the sentence into the text box
exactly as the speaker said it. Remember to:

• Listen carefully to the entire sentence

• Don’t listen and write at the same time
• Type the sentence as quickly as you can as you repeat the sentence in your mind

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