‘Write from dictation’ is the last question in the PTE Academic listening section. In this task, you listen to a sentence that is played only once. After listening, you need to type exactly what you heard into a text box. You will get 3 or 4 sentences, and you must allocate 1 and half minutes to each question.

This task evaluates how well you can understand spoken English and accurately write it down, paying attention to spelling, punctuation, and grammar. This task influences your scores in both listening and writing modules. This question is the most crucial in the listening part. ‘Write from dictation’ comes at the end in the listening section. Therefore, it’s crucial to manage your time well right from the beginning of the module.

Wings Education Tips and Strategies to crack Write from Dictation:

• • Listen Carefully: Pay close attention to the audio. Don’t get distracted by other noises or thoughts. 
  • Note-taking: Take notes and use initial letters to speed up writing. Just focus on getting the main idea of the sentence down because you won’t have time for all the details. Use abbreviations and symbols where possible to save time. For example, use “b/w” instead of between or “&” instead of and. But when typing your answer, make sure to write the full word not the abbreviation. 
  • Time Management:Manage your time effectively. Don’t spend too much time on one question.
  • Punctuation and Spelling: Pay attention to punctuation and spelling. Incorrect punctuation or spelling can cost you points.
  • Grammar and Vocabulary: Have a strong grasp of grammar rules and a wide vocabulary. This will help you understand the sentence structure and fill in any missing words accurately.
  •  Regular Practice: Practice dictation questions regularly to improve your listening and writing skills. The more you practice this task, the better you’ll get at listening and writing quickly.
  • Regular Mock tests: Schedule regular sectional mock tests for listening. Use mock test to practice managing your time effectively. Aim to complete each dictation within the allotted time to simulate exam conditions accurately.
  • Review: After writing, review what you’ve written to ensure accuracy and correct any mistakes.
  • Track Progress: Keep track of your progress over time by comparing your scores and performance in mock tests. Celebrate improvements and use any setbacks as motivation to continue working hard.
  • Stay Calm: Stay calm and focused during the dictation. Don’t panic if you miss a word, focus on what you can understand and write that down. Nervousness can lead to errors and slower writing speed. Take deep breaths and stay focused.

By implementing these tips and practicing consistently, you can improve your performance in ‘Write from dictation’ task, leading to improved scores in the PTE Academic exam. Good Luck! 

Common mistakes in Write from dictation: 

• • • The results of the experiment were quite surprising (Missing full stop at the end)
  • • students must submit their assignments by friday. (Remember to capitalize the first word of a sentence and proper nouns like days of the week)
  • • The results of the experimint were quite surprizing. (Wrong spellings) 

Recent Write from dictation questions:

• • Rising inflation may indicate increasing demand for consumer products. 
• • The author expressed an idea that modern readers inevitably cannot accept. 
• • Many different conferences offer opportunities for volunteer work.