Strategies to deal with P3: Write from Dictation

Part 3: Write from Dictation requires test-takers to type exactly what they hear from an audio in the answer box, which appears in both the PTE Academic and PTE Core. To some test-takers, this item type is pretty challenging. To some others, it’s not that hard as long as we know tips and strategies to deal with it.

After reading this article, our objective is to comprehend all tips and strategies to help you obtain higher scores.

Fundamental information

• Task: After listening to an audio of a sentence, type the sentence
• Prompt length: 3-5 seconds
• Recommended timer: 30 seconds
• Frequency: 3-4 questions
• Skills assessed: Listening and Writing

Except for Part 3: Summarize Spoken Text, we don't have a specific amount of time for all other item types in Part 3: Listening, Part 3: Write from Dictation is no exception. However, we strongly recommend PTE takers spend around 30 seconds on each question based on our research.

For more details regarding Time Management for all question types, kindly take a look here.

A unique step-by-step strategy

The nature of this question type is that it happens very fast and requires our full attention in order to type what we hear accurately. According to the grading principle, for each correctly spelled word, you get one point. On the contrary, each incorrect (or you skip it) or misspelled word results in zero points. Therefore, PTE takers should write words even if they are not sure about their spelling because it’s the best choice. 

Let’s explore our step-by-step strategy that is developed based on how this item type is evaluated. 

Step 1: Take a deep breath and Close your eyes

We have around seven (07) seconds before the audio plays in each question that PTE takers need to utilise to take a deep breath and close their eyes before the audio begins. Apparently, we do not need to read this item-type direction as we clearly know how it works, and taking a deep breath is a quick fix to reduce stress and improve focus for better memories.

But why do we need to close our eyes here? Only one reason, it helps enhance your concentration as well. While taking the Pearson Test of English, we have our ears and eyes to listen and read respectively. Our focus is equally divided if we at the same time use both functions, therefore, the ability to focus on one single function is negatively affected. However, by closing our eyes, we are able to focus more on our ears to listen better and remember words more effectively. 

When the audio plays, make sure that PTE takers completely concentrate on the sounds and do nothing else. To master this, we need you to put enough effort into practising every day. Feel free to visit the PTE Practice - TADE Hub and utilise thousands of practice questions similar to the real ones for your preparation. Part 3: Write from Dictation only has hundreds of questions and our team always adds new questions to the library frequently.

Step 2: Type everything you hear

As we already shared earlier whether you skip one word or type it incorrectly, you will get no points for that word. As a result, always remember to type everything you hear including uncertain words right after the audio finishes because it’s the best shot you get. The longer you wait, the easier you forget the words. Thus, typing everything you hear first and trying to recall your memory to make adjustments when needed in the given time. To help you prepare better, there are three points to always keep in mind.

Point 1: Contractions

If you hear any contractions, for example - he's, then you need to write he's instead of he is. On the contrary, if you hear he is then you need to write he is instead of he's. This is what we call "type exactly what you hear".

Point 2: Pauses

Pauses in Speaking are equal to Punctuation in Writing. Most of the time, in a Part 3: Write from Dictation question, we may have commas in the sentence. If you hear the speaker stop for around 0.25 - 0.5 seconds (a feeling that the speaker stops shortly), you need to put a comma in that space.

Point 3: Numbers

Some test-takers may ask if I hear numbers, should I write them in numbers or letters? The answer is that it depends on what kind of numbers do you hear. 

• Only numbers: If we hear 15, 68, or 104 then we need to write them in letter forms. 
• Year numbers: If we hear 2020, 2023, or 2025 then we need to write them in number forms.
• Percentage numbers: If we hear 17.8 percent or 96.3 percent then we can either write them in number or letter forms. 

Step 3: Check your answers

There are two elements that test-takers need to pay close attention to:

• Word orders: We need to ensure that all words we type are placed in the correct order as we hear from the audio question. One tip to minimise this mistake is to apply grammatical structures, check your answers in detail and put words where they are grammatically correct. To illustrate, we have the following unfinished sentence and the word “teach” (you are not sure if it’s “teach” or “teaches”), where should you put the word “teach” or “teaches”?

The professors his students a new lesson. 

Apparently, it’s a super basic grammatical structure (the Simple Present Tense) that we need to put the word “teach” (or “teaches”) in between the words “professors” and “his”. However, do you see any problems here? The word “Professors” cannot go with “his”, so one of them is not correct. If you are certain about any word, we will follow it accordingly.

If you are certain about the word “professors” then we have: The professors teach their students a new lesson.

If you are certain about the word “his” then we have: The professor teaches his students a new lesson.

• Spelling: We already know why Spelling is so essential, so never forget to double-check it after typing everything you remember. At least, if there are mistakes, we can avoid losing points regrettably. 

A special tip

This item type evaluates your Listening and Writing skills. As we all see, your Listening skill is genuinely vital in getting the spoken sentence correctly, so you are able to type it. There will be short and lengthy sentences for sure, whatever scores you want to obtain, practising listening skills on a daily basis cannot be underestimated because it’s the only way to improve your comprehension and memory to deal with this item type on test day.

PTE takers can refer to this strategy to improve their Listening: An Effective Strategy to advance your PTE Listening strategy. 

Time management: We recommend 30 seconds for each Part 3: Write from Dictation question including the time that we listen to the audio. The maximum audio length could be up to 5 seconds so we have up to 25 seconds to type and adjust our answers if needed. The best strategy doesn’t work if PTE takers don’t practice with it enough, it needs time and perseverance to overcome challenges.

Things to avoid

• Taking notes: There are other sources advising you to take notes, let’s take a moment to think about it seriously. How could we take notes with a super limited time? And why should we take notes if we can type directly in the answer box and edit it later? Admittedly, Part 3: Write from Dictation is the last item type, so if we have a large amount of time left, you can take notes. In most situations, it’s not the case, so we should better prepare for the worst case scenario. As we already shared earlier it’s truly crucial to focus on your listening and type immediately after the audio completes, so you are able to type what you just hear. We do not ask you to follow our strategies and recommendations at all costs because even the best strategy cannot serve everyone. We recommend that you try it by yourself and pick one that suits you to prepare for the test.
• Brainstorming: DO NOT THINK, just write what you hear. Time is something extremely precious when we sit for the PTE Academic, especially to dealing with this question type. If we have time left after typing everything we hear, we utilise it to check our answers as Step 3 advised, but not before or while typing. 

Live-interactive PTE Practice Platform

Let’s take a look at this PTE Practice Platform offering thousands of practice questions aside from instantly detailed feedback for your advancement, especially Speaking and Writing questions. 

For instance, if you practice a Part 3: Write from Dictation question, you will receive the following feedback we show words that you miss, wrong spellings, or words that aren’t in the audio but you type them.

If you practice any Speaking or Writing item types, we evaluate your practicing answers based on the same grading elements as what Pearson uses to assess your skills. For example, if PTE takers practice a Part 1: Describe Image question, the PTE Practice Website judges their answers based on Content, Oral Fluency, and Pronunciation. Feel free to take a look at this video sample feedback for a better understanding.

Wait no more, go to the PTE Practice Website, create your FREE account and experience everything to improve your skills and achieve PTE desired scores.