PTE Academic · Listening · L7
PTE Academic Listening: Highlight Incorrect Words
Highlight Incorrect Words shows a transcript while a recording plays once. Some words in the transcript differ from what the speaker says, and you click each one. Correct clicks earn points and wrong clicks lose them, down to zero. PTE Academic includes 2 to 3 of these items.
- Items per test
- 2–3
- Recording
- Played once
- On screen
- Full transcript with some words changed
- Response
- Click each word that differs
- Scoring
- +1 per correct click, −1 per wrong click; item minimum 0
How it works
- 1The transcript appears before the audio starts.
- 2You follow the text as the speaker talks.
- 3You click each word that does not match what you hear.
- 4Incorrect clicks subtract marks, so click only when you hear a difference.
Sample task
Original sample · not from an official test
Transcript: "The museum opened in 1998 and now receives more than two million visitors every month." You hear: "The museum opened in 1998 and now attracts more than two million visitors every year."
Show a strong responseHide response
Outline: Click 'receives' and 'month'.
Two words on screen differ from the audio: 'receives' (said: attracts) and 'month' (said: year). Everything else matches, so clicking any other word would cost a point.
Tips that work
- Keep a finger or cursor moving under the text with the speaker so you do not lose your place.
- Click immediately when you hear a mismatch; going back afterwards from memory is unreliable.
- Changed words often keep the grammar but alter the meaning, so listen for sense, not only sound.
- Do not click words you merely missed hearing. Only click when you clearly heard something different.
Common mistakes
- Clicking extra words out of doubt, which cancels correct clicks.
- Falling behind the audio while deciding on one word.
Questions candidates ask
Does this task have negative marking?
Yes. Each correct click earns a point and each wrong click removes one, with a minimum of zero for the item.
Should I click words I did not catch clearly?
No. Only click when you clearly heard a different word. Guessing on unclear words risks losing points you have already earned.
Which skill scores does it feed?
It is a Listening task. Check Pearson's current score guide for any integrated contribution to other skills.
Other PTE Academic Listening tasks
PTE Academic overviewPTE Academic Listening: all partsPTE Academic full mock testsPTE Academic articles on the blog