If you're preparing for the PTE exam, you know how crucial the "Repeat Sentences" and "Write from Dictation" tasks are. These sections can significantly impact your score, especially in the Listening and Speaking modules. But don’t worry—today, I’m going to share some master strategies that will help you boost your marks in these tasks.
These are the same strategies we teach our face-to-face students at Vision Language Experts—and now, you can benefit from them too!
✅ Repeat Sentences: This task tests your ability to listen, comprehend, and reproduce a sentence accurately. It evaluates both your content retention and fluency.
✅ Write from Dictation: This task assesses your listening and writing skills. You need to write down a sentence exactly as you hear it, focusing on accuracy and spelling.
Both tasks require a combination of quick thinking, effective note-taking, and memory retention. The good news? With the right strategy, you can ace them!
One of the biggest challenges in the Repeat Sentences task is retaining the entire sentence, especially when it’s lengthy. Students often lose marks in content or fluency due to pauses or incomplete sentences.
🔹 Memorize the First Few Words: Instead of writing down the first 2-3 words, memorize them. Short phrases are easier to retain.
🔹 Use Abbreviations for the Rest: For the remaining sentence, take notes using abbreviations, not initials. Abbreviations are easier to recall and help maintain fluency.
🔹 Remember the Last Few Words: Just like the beginning, try to memorize the last 2-3 words of the sentence.
Why This Works:
By memorizing the start and end of the sentence, you only need to focus on the middle part. Even if you miss a few words, you’ll still cover 80% of the content, ensuring a high score.
Example:
Sentence: "There are various approaches for plagiarism across different university departments."
✅ Memorize: "There are various"
✅ Abbreviate: "approaches for PL across diff uni depts."
✅ Memorize: "university departments."
This strategy ensures fluency and content accuracy, even with longer sentences.
The Write from Dictation task requires you to write down a sentence exactly as you hear it. Here’s how to tackle it effectively:
🔹 Use Initials for Quick Note-Taking: As you listen, jot down the first letter of each word. This helps you capture the sentence quickly.
🔹 Write Rough Notes Immediately: After taking initials, write the full sentence in abbreviated form below your initials. This reinforces your memory and ensures you don’t forget the words.
🔹 Transfer to the Answer Box: Once you’ve written the rough notes, transfer the full sentence to the answer box as quickly as possible.
Writing rough notes immediately after taking initials helps you retain the sentence in your long-term memory. This way, even if you forget a word, you can recall it easily.
Example:
Sentence: "Students are required to have an undergraduate degree in biology to be enrolled in this course."
✅ Initials: "S r t h a u d i b t b e i t c."
✅ Rough Notes: "Stu req to have undergrad deg in bio to be enroll in this course."
Pro Tip: Don’t worry about adding extra words if you’re unsure. There’s no penalty for extra words, so if you remember additional details, include them!
Both strategies require consistent practice. Here’s how to incorporate them into your routine:
✅ Repeat Sentences: Practice 25 sentences daily using the Hybrid Strategy. Focus on memorizing the start and end while abbreviating the middle.
✅ Write from Dictation: Practice 25 dictations daily. Time yourself to ensure you complete each task within 1 minute 30 seconds, the average time available in the exam.
📌 Remember: You might struggle initially, but don’t give up. After 4-5 days, you’ll notice a significant improvement in your performance.
Final Tips for Success
🎯 Don’t Overthink: Trust your notes and memory. Overthinking can lead to unnecessary pauses or errors.
🎯 Focus on Fluency: Even if you miss a word, maintain a steady flow. Fluency is key to scoring well.
🎯 Practice with AI Tools: Use platforms like Vision Language Experts’ AI-powered portal to simulate real exam conditions and get instant feedback.
Mastering the Repeat Sentences and Write from Dictation tasks is entirely possible with the right strategies. The Hybrid Strategy and Note-Taking Strategy are proven methods that have helped countless students achieve high scores.
Consistency is key—practice daily, and you’ll see remarkable progress.
💡 If you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to subscribe and like the video. For more tips and free PTE Practice resources, visit Vision Language Experts.
All the best for your PTE Preparation—you’ve got this! 🚀
Vishal is a PTE expert and the founder of Vision Language Experts, a platform dedicated to helping students achieve their dream PTE scores. With years of experience and proven strategies, Vishal has guided thousands of students to success.
Vishal Kapoor is having 6+ years of expertise in instructing PTE and NAATI, both in Australia and internationally, with an impressive 100% success rate among students. As a certified expert by Pearson in PTE and NAATI, Vishal Kapoor has developed a comprehensive teaching approach derived from extensive research and a wealth of teaching experience. Tailoring coaching techniques to individual skill levels and target scores, Vishal's guidance has proven instrumental in helping numerous aspirants attain their desired scores. With a commitment to personalized tips and solutions, Vishal Kapoor is dedicated to facilitating the success of those preparing for PTE and NAATI examinations.
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