Write from Dictation Questions in PTE Listening

Learn about Write from dictation questions in PTE listening with an overview, recommended strategy and practice questions.

by Tim Martyn

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Table of contents

Overview
Example question
Recommended strategy
Practice questions

Overview

Write from dictation questions test your ability to understand and remember a sentence that you hear, and then write it exactly as you hear it using correct spelling.

Here are some key points about Write from dictation questions:

They assess both listening and writing skills.
The recordings are approximately 3–5 seconds long.
Each recording is played once only.
Each recording will begin automatically after 7 seconds.
Partial credit scoring applies. Content is scored by counting the number of correct words in your response. If all of the words that you type are right and spelt correctly, you’ll receive the maximum score for the item. If one or more words are incorrect, you’ll lose points.
You’ll answer 3–4 Write from dictation questions in the listening test.

Example question

Here’s an example Write from dictation question related to the topic of community.

You can try this question in the practice section.

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.

__________

Research with Communities by ajnabieh is licensed under CC BY 3.0. Three audio excerpts were extracted from the original video and transcribed.

Recommended strategy

Here’s my recommended strategy for answering Write from dictation questions.

Before you listen

Put your cursor in the response box so that you’re ready to type.

While you’re listening

Focus on the meaning of the sentence. This will make it easier to remember.
Type the sentence into the response box immediately so that you don’t forget it.
If you’re not a fast typer, you might prefer to use the Erasable Noteboard Booklet and pen to either take notes or write the sentence down. If you do this, you’ll need to type the sentence into the response box after listening.

After you listen

Once the recording has finished, make sure that you check your:

grammar;
spelling;
punctuation;
use of capitalisation.

Practice questions

Now it’s your turn to practise. Try the Write from dictation questions below using the strategy outlined above.

Question 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.

__________

Research with Communities by ajnabieh is licensed under CC BY 3.0. Three audio excerpts were extracted from the original video and transcribed.

Feedback

Click below for the transcript.

So this is one of the challenges of working in communities.

Question 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.

__________

Research with Communities by ajnabieh is licensed under CC BY 3.0. Three audio excerpts were extracted from the original video and transcribed.

Feedback

Click below for the transcript.

There are other communities that people are assigned to.

Question 3

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.