PTE Listening Practice Test 2025 with Sample Answers

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Updated on Feb 24, 2025, 08:37

Regular PTE listening practice helps candidates improve their ability to understand spoken English in various accents and contexts. Effective PTE listening practice involves focusing on accents, intonation, and key ideas in audio recordings.

 

Format, Duration & Scoring (2025 Updates)

 

  • The section lasts 45–57 minutes and includes 8 question types.
  • Tasks include Summarise Spoken Text, Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blanks, and Highlight Incorrect Words.
  • Scores are integrated, meaning performance here affects both Listening and Writing scores.

On This Page

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1. Why the Listening Section is Important for Your Overall Score

The PTE Listening section plays a vital role in your overall score as it assesses comprehension, accuracy, and attention to detail.

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2. PTE Listening Question Types Explained

Daily PTE listening practice improves performance in tasks like Summarise Spoken Text and Fill in the Blanks.

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3. Download 15 Free PDFs for PTE Listening Practice!

Boost your PTE Listening practice with our 15+ free downloadable practice PDFs, designed to help you master different question types.

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4. Top 5 PTE Listening Tips for 2025

Taking a PTE academic listening practice test free is a great way to understand the exam pattern.

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5. Common Mistakes to Avoid in PTE Listening Section

Taking a PTE listening full practice test helps candidates assess their strengths and weaknesses.

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1.

Why the Listening Section is Important for Your Overall Score

The PTE Listening section plays a vital role in your overall score as it assesses comprehension, accuracy, and attention to detail. 

Since it contributes to both Listening and Writing scores, excelling in this section can significantly boost your overall PTE Results.

 

Aspect Head Explanation Head
Accuracy & Attention to Detail Mistakes in Fill in the Blanks or Highlight Incorrect Words can lower your overall score.
Accent Familiarity Exposure to different English accents improves comprehension, helping in both PTE and real-life situations.
Time-Sensitive Tasks Active listening and quick responses are key, as audios are played only once, requiring sharp focus.

 

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2.

PTE Listening Question Types Explained

Daily PTE listening practice improves performance in tasks like Summarise Spoken Text and Fill in the Blanks. Many online platforms offer free PTE listening practice tests to help students prepare effectively.

 

The PTE Listening practice consists of various question types designed to assess your ability to understand spoken English, identify key details, and apply reasoning skills. Below is a breakdown of the major question types along with tips and examples.

 

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Summarise Spoken Text (How to Improve Summarisation Skills)

In this task, you listen to a short audio (30-90 seconds) and write a summary in 50-70 words. The summary must capture the main idea and key details while maintaining correct grammar and structure.

 

How to Improve Summarisation Skills:

 

  • Focus on who, what, when, where, why, and how while listening.
  • Write key points in shorthand and expand them into full sentences.
  • Use linking words like "therefore," "in contrast," "moreover" to structure your response.

 

Example:

 

Audio: A lecture on climate change discusses the impact of rising temperatures on agriculture.


Summary: Climate change is affecting agriculture due to rising temperatures, leading to lower crop yields and food shortages globally.

Multiple Choice (Single/Multiple Answers)

You will listen to an audio and answer a multiple-choice question. In single-answer questions, you choose one correct option, while in multiple-answer questions, more than one option may be correct.

 

How to Approach This Task:

 

  • Focus on the main idea and supporting details of the recording.
  • Watch out for distractors—incorrect options that may sound right but contradict the main idea.

 

Example:

 

Audio: A speaker explains the benefits of meditation.


Question: What are the benefits of meditation?


Options:

A) Reduces stress 

B) Causes sleep disorders 

C) Causes Tiredness

 

Answer: A) Reduces stress

Fill in the Blanks (Tricks to Catch Keywords Quickly)

You will see a transcript with missing words and must listen carefully to fill in the blanks with the correct words from the audio.

 

Tricks to Catch Keywords Quickly:

 

  • Predict the missing word before the audio plays by checking surrounding words.
  • Listen for stressed words—important words are often emphasised in speech.
  • Pay attention to collocations (common word pairings like "highly successful" or "strong argument").

 

Example:

 

Audio: "Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health and reducing stress."


Question: Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good _______ and reducing stress.


Answer: health

Highlight Correct Summary (How to Identify Key Ideas)

After listening to an audio clip, you must select the most accurate summary from multiple options.

 

How to Identify Key Ideas:

 

  • Focus on who, what, and why—ignore minor details.
  • Eliminate options that add extra information not mentioned in the recording.

 

Example:

 

Audio: A professor explains how social media influences purchasing decisions.


Correct Summary: Social media plays a crucial role in influencing consumer buying behaviour by shaping preferences and trends.

Select Missing Word (Best Approach for Context Clues)

In this task, you hear an audio with the last word or phrase beeped out, and you must select the correct word from the given options.

 

Best Approach for Context Clues:

 

  • Pay attention to tone and meaning—formal vs. informal speech.
  • Look for words that logically complete the sentence based on context.

 

Examples:

 

Audio: "If deforestation continues at this rate, it will have devastating effects on the global _______."


Options:

 

  • A) climate 
  • B) furniture 
  • C) industry 

 

Answer: A) climate

3.

Download 15 Free PDFs for PTE Listening Practice!

Boost your PTE Listening practice with our 15+ free downloadable practice PDFs, designed to help you master different question types. Students can find a PTE academic listening practice test free with answers to evaluate their performance.
 

These PTE practice tests come with recordings and answers, Engaging in PTE listening practice with transcripts can enhance comprehension and accuracy.
 

Download now and start practising for a higher score!

Listening Practice Test 1

PDF Icon Listening Practice Test 1


Listen to this audio and write the answer.


Listen to recording 1 and write the missing words in the blanks.


Listen to this recording 2 and transcript and highlight the incorrect words.


Play this audio 2 and listen to the related recordings to write for Diction.

Listening Practice Test 2

PDF Icon Listening Practice Test 2


Listen to this audio 1 and write the answer.


Listen to this recording 1, and fill in the blanks with the missing words.


Highlight Incorrect words - Recording 2.


Write for Diction - Audio 2.


Summarize Spoken Text - Audio 3.


Fill in the blanks - Recording 3.


Highlight Incorrect Words - Recording 4.


Write for Diction - Audio 4.

Listening Practice Test 3

PDF Icon Listening Practice Test 3


Summarize Spoken Text - Audio 1.


Fill in the Blanks - Recording 1.


Highlight Incorrect words - Recording 2.


Write for Diction - Audio 2.


Summarize Spoken Text - Audio 3.


Fill in the blanks - Recording 3.


Highlight Incorrect Words - Recording 4.


Write for Diction - Audio 4.

Listening Practice Test 4

PDF Icon Listening Practice Test 4


Summarize Spoken Text - Audio 1.


Fill in the Blanks - Recording 1.


Highlight Incorrect words - Recording 2.


Write for Diction - Audio 2.


Summarize Spoken Text - Audio 3.


Fill in the blanks - Recording 3.


Highlight Incorrect Words - Recording 4.


Write for Diction - Audio 4.

4.

Top 5 PTE Listening Tips for 2025

Taking a PTE academic listening practice test free is a great way to understand the exam pattern. To boost scores, candidates should regularly attempt a PTE academic listening practice test free online. Here are five essential tips to improve your performance.

How to Improve Listening Speed & Comprehension
  • Practice with podcasts, audiobooks, and news reports at different speeds.
  • Focus on main ideas rather than trying to understand every word.
  • Identify keywords and transitions (e.g., "however," "therefore") to grasp meaning quickly.
Effective Note-Taking Strategies
  • Use abbreviations and symbols to jot down key points.
  • Don't write full sentences—just capture main ideas, names, and numbers.
  • Listen for repeated words or phrases, as they often indicate important details.
Using Context Clues for Missing Words
  • Pay attention to grammar and word structure to predict the missing word.
  • Look for synonyms and paraphrased meanings in the surrounding text.
  • Identify whether the missing word is a noun, verb, or adjective based on sentence structure.
How to Focus Despite Background Noise
  • Train yourself with practice tests in noisy environments.
  • Use noise-canceling headphones and focus on the speaker's tone and intonation.
  • If distracted, quickly refocus by identifying the last word you understood and continuing from there.
Time Management Hacks (e.g., Skipping Difficult Questions Smartly)
  • Spend no more than 10-15 seconds on difficult questions.
  • Prioritise high-scoring tasks like Summarise Spoken Text and Fill in the Blanks.
  • Attempting a PTE listening full practice test under timed conditions prepares students for the real exam.
5.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in PTE Listening Section

Taking a PTE listening full practice test helps candidates assess their strengths and weaknesses. Avoiding common mistakes in PTE Listening practice can significantly improve your score and overall performance.

 

  • Ignoring Instructions – Each question type has specific rules; not following them can cost points.
  • Not Taking Proper Notes – Writing too much or too little can lead to missing key information.
  • Missing Context Clues – Not paying attention to tone, keywords, and sentence structure can result in wrong answers.
  • Mishearing Words – Not practicing with different accents can lead to confusion in Fill in the Blanks.
  • Guessing Without Logic – Random guessing without eliminating wrong choices can lower accuracy.

 

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FAQs

Q. How can I improve my listening for PTE?


Ans. To improve your PTE listening skills, practice with PTE listening full practice test materials and pte listening mock test recordings. Focus on active listening, take notes while listening to podcasts, news, and lectures, and get familiar with different accents. Regularly practicing pte summarising spoken text and highlight incorrect words pte practice will also enhance accuracy.

Q. What is the 3-second rule in PTE?

Ans. The 3-second rule in PTE listening applies to tasks like Fill in the Blanks and Write from Dictation. You should start typing or selecting the answer within 3 seconds after hearing the audio to maintain focus and avoid forgetting key details. Delayed responses can result in missing crucial information.

Q. How can I crack PTE in 15 days?

Ans. To prepare in 15 days, create a study plan with daily practice of pte listening test with answers and pte listening full practice test materials. Focus on key listening skills like identifying keywords, note-taking, and improving concentration. Take PTE listening mock tests to assess your performance and analyse mistakes.

Q. How to get 65 in PTE listening?

Ans. To score 65+, work on listening accuracy and concentration. Use pte listening practice pdf and pte summarise spoken text exercises to improve comprehension. Pay attention to details in Fill in the Blanks and Select Missing Words. Practice active listening by regularly engaging with English podcasts and news

Q. How to practice PTE mock test?

Ans. The best way to practice is by using pte listening mock test materials available online. Take full-length pte listening full practice test under exam conditions to improve time management. Review your mistakes, analyse weak areas, and work on improving them with targeted pte listening practice pdf resources.

Q. How can I prepare for the PTE listening section?

Ans. Start by understanding the PTE listening format and practicing pte listening test with answers. Use pte listening practice pdf for structured learning. Work on note-taking techniques, improve your ability to recognise keywords, and train your ears with different English accents.

Q. What strategies can help improve my performance in the PTE listening section?

Ans. Focus on active listening by regularly practicing with pte listening full practice test materials. Use note-taking techniques, recognise keyword clues, and practice pte summarise spoken text to enhance comprehension. Additionally, highlight incorrect words pte practice helps with attention to detail.

Q. What is PTE Summarise Spoken Text, and how can I improve in it?

Ans. Summarise Spoken Text requires you to listen to a short lecture and summarise it in 50-70 words. To improve, practice active listening, take short notes, and structure your response with a clear introduction, key points, and conclusion. Regular pte summarise spoken text exercises will help enhance your performance.

Q. How does Highlight Incorrect Words PTE practice help?

Ans. The Highlight Incorrect Words task tests your ability to identify errors in a transcript while listening. This improves your focus, concentration, and attention to detail. Practicing highlight incorrect words pte practice daily will sharpen your listening accuracy.

Q. Can I replay the audio in the PTE listening section?

Ans. No, you cannot replay the audio in the PTE listening test. You must listen carefully and take quick notes while the audio plays. To improve, practice with pte listening test with answers and develop quick response skills.

Q. How important is time management in the PTE listening test?

Ans. Time management is crucial, as the PTE listening section is the last part of the exam and follows the Reading and Writing sections. Use pte listening mock test to practice allocating time efficiently across all questions and avoid spending too long on any single task.