Summarise Spoken Text: Overview and Tips | Listening Section for PTE PDF Download

Be attentive and be ready to listen

The initial tip for PTE Summarize spoken text is to be attentive. Ensure you are completely focused before the audio starts. If you plan to type your notes, position your cursor in the answer window; if you prefer using a scratch pad, have it ready to jot down your notes.

Take good notes while listening to the audio

Effective note-taking is a crucial skill, especially for questions involving listening to audio, and its significance is heightened in this context. Constructing a summary solely based on memory can be challenging, so relying on your notes adds an extra layer of assurance. Taking the time to refine your note-taking technique before the exam is a worthwhile investment.

Don’t jump into writing immediately after the audio ends

We hope you have prepared well before the exam. That will give you the confidence to approach all questions in a systematic manner. Those who aren’t confident or don’t have a well-defined strategy jump into answering immediately. You shouldn’t do that, there are other things to be done before that – such as reviewing your notes.

Stick to the word limit of 50 to 70 words

Avoiding this mistake is straightforward yet crucial; adhere to the specified word limit. If you find yourself below the limit, include additional details or reiterate a point if necessary. Conversely, if you exceed the word limit, consider consolidating certain sections or removing less crucial points.

Don’t make unnecessarily complex sentences

Craft your sentences with an academic tone, ensuring proper linkage and freedom from spelling and grammar errors. However, this doesn't imply the need to inundate them with obscure words or unnecessary complexity, as it only heightens the likelihood of errors.

Review what you have written in the end

Allocate 10 minutes for each question of this type, reserving a minimum of 2 minutes at the conclusion for a thorough review. Verify adherence to the word limit, scrutinize for spelling and grammatical errors, and ensure comprehensive coverage of key points.

Use your time effectively

The subsequent item on our list of PTE Summarize Spoken Text tips and tricks is focused on time management. As mentioned in a previous tip, you are allotted 10 minutes for each question of this type. Divide this time efficiently by dedicating 1 minute to review your notes, 5-6 minutes for crafting your summary, 2 minutes for a thorough review, and the remaining time for addressing any identified mistakes.

Answer based on your notes

Rely not solely on memory; instead, rely on a structured approach by reviewing your notes and constructing your answer accordingly. The essence of this method lies in creating comprehensive notes and utilizing them effectively.

Don’t put unnecessary details in your summary

As this is a summary question, it should only encompass the essential points, excluding additional details or examples. Typically, each key point is accompanied by supplementary sentences providing more information, but these details can be disregarded in the summary.

Practice listening to a wide variety of academic audios

Your PTE Academic questions will contain audios from different academic sources. They will also have different accents and speaking speeds. So make sure your practice materials are similar in nature. Best source for this is the PTE Mock Tests packages.