PTE Listening: 7 Tips For Acing Highlight Incorrect Words Easily

Highlight Incorrect Words is a task from the Listening Module of the PTE academic test. This question type assesses your listening and reading skills. You have to listen, identify the differences between a recording and its transcription. The task requires the full concentration of the test-taker. It also demands the ability to listen with purpose in a noisy environment. It is advised to build this habit during the PTE study & practice phase itself. The test taker also needs to be familiar with different English accents.

How do I select the incorrect words?

Once you have selected a word, it will be highlighted in yellow. In case you decide against your choice, left-click on the word once again to deselect it.

Highlight Incorrect Words Scoring and Negative Marking

This is one of three question types in PTE Academic that has negative marking. For the right response, you will receive 1 point. For a wrong answer, you will lose 1 point. To avoid negative marking, click on a word only when you are confident. The least you can score in this task is zero.

7 PTE listening Tips for Acing Highlight Incorrect Words

1. Prepare yourself for different accents, speaking speeds. You can achieve this by practising with a variety of sample questions.

2. Start practising in the backdrop of a slightly noisy environment. Such an ambience will be like the test environment you will experience.

3. Even if you miss hearing a few words, don't stop. Keep moving the cursor with the audio.

4. Select/highlight the incorrect word only when you are sure.

5. Once the audio ends, avoid changing the highlighted words unless you are sure that you have made an error.

6. Don't take notes for this task as it won't be helpful. Just follow the transcript with your cursor as the audio plays and pay attention.

7. A single click is enough to highlight the words. Avoid wasting time by clicking repeatedly.