Strategies to deal with P3: Highlight Correct Summary

Part 3: Highlight Correct Summary is another Listening question type that the Pearson Test of English takers need to select the option that best summarizes the audio recording. This item type is only available in the PTE Academic, NOT in the PTE Core.

Fundamental information

• Task: After listening to an audio recording, select the option that best summarizes the recording
• Prompt length: 30-90 seconds
• Recommended timer: 2 minutes
• Frequency: 1-2 questions
• Skills assessed: Listening and Reading

Except Part 3: Summarize Spoken Text, which has a specific timer to write our answer. Other question types in Part 3: Listening and all item types in Part 2: Reading do not provide specific timers for each question type. However, if students practice on our Pearson Test of English Practice Website, we set specific timers for all of them because it’s the best way to master time management, which helps PTE takers complete all questions on time regardless of how challenging the questions are. 

Yes, it’s our ideal strategy to follow in everyday practice. Nevertheless, when it comes to the actual tests, students need to be a bit flexible. For example, Part 3: Highlight Correct Summary length is from 30 to 90 seconds, we don’t know exactly how many seconds yet until the audio recording finishes, therefore, if it’s only 30 seconds, students can complete it faster and save time for the next question. To understand time management strategy for all other question types, let’s take a look at this article: “PTE Time Management Strategy”.

A unique step-by-step strategy

Part 3: Highlight Correct Summary is a Correct-Incorrect type, which means if students pick a correct answer, they will get points. Otherwise, they will lose points. Let’s explore our step-by-step strategy to help you win this item type.

We have one sample question that will go with us until the end of this article. Question number 1, Part 3: Highlight the Correct Summary on the PTE Practice Website. Students should log in to their accounts and get ready because we need you to practice alongside them. Yes, the sample question is free to access.

Step 1: Review all the answers

Before the audio recording plays, we have 10 preparation seconds. During this period, we need to review all the answers quickly in order to find repeated words which appear in most answers. We do that because the audio content will definitely include these repeated words, which helps PTE takers easily identify the main idea. 

We only have enough time to quickly skim through repeated words, DO NOT find anything else. Before the audio recording starts, PTE takers need to get themselves ready and completely focus on it so as NOT to miss any information.

For example, after reviewing all the answers, we found the following repeated information (words).

• The Blue frames show researchers at Chalmers
• The Orange frames show traffic noise (background noise) at (as low as) 40 bB

Recommended timer: 10 preparation seconds

Step 2: Take notes on key points

In this step, we listen to the audio recording and take notes on all key points while listening. Taking notes while listening is not easy, so we already delivered a unique strategy to guide PTE takers on how to take notes effectively, we strongly recommend students read that strategy first and get back here to continue reading. 

After reading the strategy on how to take notes while listening, students need to visit the PTE Practice Website, access Question 1 Part 3: Highlight Correct Summary and take notes on all key points. While listening to the recording, PTE takers should pay close attention to repeated words that we identified from the previous step, which are key for an effective note-taking part. 

When you finish, feel free to review our notes as follows:

• Chalmers researchers conducted a lab study, subjects took concentration tests while exposed to background traffic noise;
• Subjects look at computer screen and react to letter
• Study shows poor results and subjects felt it was difficult with traffic noise in the background;
• A significant decline performance at noise levels as low as 40 dB – same as noise in office and kitchen;
• Background noise consist two sequences at distance of ten and fifty meters;
• Further traffic is perceived as constant drone.

This is the transcription in case you need to check anything. When students practice on the PTE Practice Website, after submitting their answers, the transcription is also available.

Researchers at Chalmers' Division of Applied Acoustics have conducted a laboratory study in which test subjects took concentration tests while being exposed to background traffic noise. The subjects were asked to look at a computer screen and react to certain letters, then to assess their perceived workload afterward. The study shows that the subjects had significantly poorer results on the performance test, and also felt that the task was more difficult to carry out, with traffic noise in the background. "What is unique about our study is that we were able to demonstrate a decline in performance at noise levels as low as 40 dB, which corresponds to the regular noise level in an office environment or a kitchen," says Leon Müller, Doctoral student at the Division of Applied Acoustics in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering. The background noise consisted of two audio sequences simulating trucks passing by at a distance of ten and fifty meters. Both sequences were normalized to the same total indoor level of 40 dB. "The audio sequence simulating the closer passages, where the sound changes significantly as the vehicle passes by, was usually the one that bothered the test subjects the most," Müller says. "This could be because traffic that is further away is perceived as a more constant drone."

Are your notes similar to ours? It’s okay if your notes aren’t similar to ours as long as we pick the correct answer at the end because it’s our major objective. 

Recommended timer: It depends on the length of the audio, we only follow it. Our sample answer takes 82 seconds.

Step 3: Get the general idea

The audio lasts for 82 seconds, which means we have 38 seconds left if we spend two minutes on each question. In this step, we simply review our notes to get a general idea, which is what we need to compare to all the answers and pick the correct summary.

We took notes while listening so that all key points were in the right order when they were spoken. As a result, students only need to connect them through basic transition words such as and, furthermore, besides, however, etc to conjure up the general idea in mind. 

Please remember that you need to do it silently, DO NOT read the general idea aloud, which is not permitted to do. So, here is our general idea from all the key points taken.

Chalmers researchers conducted a lab study, subjects took concentration tests that they look at computer screen and react to letter while exposed to background traffic noise. Study shows poor results and subjects felt it was difficult with traffic noise in the background - A significant decline performance at noise levels as low as 40 dB – same as noise in office and kitchen. In detail, background noise consist two sequences at distance of ten and fifty meters, and further traffic is perceived as constant drone.

Your job is simply to connect all key points together, and please DO NOT care about grammar, spelling, or anything else except for the general content because this is what we think in mind. We try to find the general content so we can combine it with all the answers.

Recommended timer: Maximum 15 seconds. Do not worry if you think that amount of time isn’t enough to create the general idea. It has to be enough, otherwise you don’t have time to pick the correct summary given that the audio recording is over 80 seconds as our sample question. By practising on a regular basis, you will surely master it, forming the general idea in just 15 seconds.

Step 4: Pick the correct answer

All right, it’s time to compare the general idea you just got from key points taken in the previous step to all the answers from top to bottom.

As we checked through all the answers, we can tell that answers number 1 and 4 cover all key points in the general content that we created in mind earlier. While the answer number 3 is least related to the key points, and the answer number 2 comes second.

When we review answer number 1 and 4 carefully, we see that number 1 is clearly and closest to the general content because it includes “exposure to”, “as low as 40 dB”, and “significantly reduced test subjects’ performance…”. Answer number 4 also has all the essential information in the general content, but it doesn’t provide as detailed as answer number 1 does. Thus, the first option is our best answer.

Recommended timer: Around 10 seconds to review each answer. In our sample question, we only have 23 seconds left to check all the answers, which is not enough for most students. Therefore, if PTE takers face a lengthy audio question, be flexible to spend around 10 seconds to check each answer if needed.

Things to avoid

• Lose focus from the very first seconds: We have 10 preparation seconds to skim through all the answers, which is fast and easily makes PTE takers forget that the audio recording is about to start. In other words, students will likely lose focus from the very first seconds, and sometimes, the very first seconds include some important keywords that help us pick the correct summary. Hence, it’s vital to pay close attention to the timer and make sure that you are ready before the audio recording plays.
• Care too much for the notes: Pearson doesn’t evaluate your notes, so students should not care for grammar, spelling, structures, and so on except for the key points that they take notes on. Time is very limited, make sure that PTE takers use it wisely by only doing necessary things.
• Skip reviewing the notes: To create the general idea, we need to review the notes and connect them together. After taking the notes, we only have single and unconnected points, which makes it impossible to create the general idea in order to compare all the answers.

Live-interactive PTE Practice Website

The PTE Practice Website provides similar practising questions to the actual tests aside from instantly detailed feedback for students’ preparation. In detail, PTE takers have the following benefits:

• Thousands of practice questions similar to the real ones;
• Instantly detailed feedback for all question types;
• Same grading elements as what Pearson uses to evaluate students’ skills;
• 2-hour Mock tests with estimated scores;
• Three supportive vocab lists;
• And many other self-study supporting features.

To illustrate, after practicing Part 3: Highlight Correct Summary, PTE takers receive the following feedback:

We provide the audio recording and its transcription for a better understanding of why their answer is correct or not. Make sure to review the correct answers carefully if students pick an incorrect summary. 

When it comes to Part 1: Retell Lecture, the PTE Practice Website and Pearson evaluate students’ answers based on the same grading elements including Content, Oral Fluency, and Pronunciation. Feel free to review our video sample feedback here.

It’s all FREE to experience your most effective PTE Practice Website and take a 2-hour mock test for FREE as well. Simply visit it, create your free account and start practising.