PTE Write from Dictation
In PTE Write from Dictation you hear a short sentence once and must type it exactly. Every correctly spelled word in the right place earns credit, and the task contributes to both the Listening and the Writing score. Word for word, it is widely considered the highest-value task in the whole exam relative to how little time it takes — which is why it should be the last thing you practise before test day.
- Timing
- The sentence plays once. Type it immediately.
- Contributes to
- Listening and Writing scores
How PTE Write from Dictation is scored
- One point per correct word, correctly spelled (partial credit)
How to score higher in Write from Dictation
- 1
Write keywords on the erasable notepad as you listen, then reconstruct the full sentence from them.
- 2
Type every word you caught, even if you cannot rebuild the whole sentence — scoring is per word, so partial answers score.
- 3
Spelling counts. A word spelled wrongly earns nothing, so favour a word you can spell over one you cannot.
- 4
Do not add words that were not said and do not paraphrase; only exact words score.
- 5
Check plurals and verb endings — 's' and 'ed' are the most commonly dropped letters.
Repeated Write from Dictation sentences
Write from Dictation is the most repeated task in the exam: sentences are drawn from a finite bank and the same ones are reported by test takers again and again. A sentence you have already practised is close to guaranteed content marks — you know the words, the order and the spelling before the audio ends. That, combined with the task feeding both your Listening and Writing scores, makes repeated WFD sentences the single highest-value prediction material in PTE.
On PTE Monster the WFD bank is ranked by prediction tier, with the sentences reported in recent real exams surfaced first. Work the Predictions tier until it is clear, then extend into the wider exam-seen tier as your test date approaches — typing every answer in full, because the spelling practice is half the score.
How PTE Monster’s prediction tiers rank the bankCommon mistakes in Write from Dictation
- Trying to hold the whole sentence in memory instead of noting keywords.
- Leaving the box empty because the sentence was not fully caught.
- Rephrasing the sentence into your own words.
Write from Dictation — frequently asked questions
How is PTE Write from Dictation scored?
You receive credit for each word you type correctly and spell correctly, so partial answers still score. It contributes to both the Listening and the Writing score, which makes it one of the highest-value tasks in the exam.
Does spelling matter in Write from Dictation?
Yes. A word that is misspelled scores nothing, so accurate spelling is as important as hearing the word in the first place.
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