Scoring high in PTE requires not only a strong understanding of exam structure but also effective last-minute strategies. As exam date approaches, students often experience anxiety, panic, and doubt. To help test takers improve their performance, here are details of the essential tips and strategies every PTE aspirant should follow to score 90/90.
11 Last Minute Tips
1. Importance of Mock Tests – Two Days before Exam
One of the biggest mistakes students make is taking PTE mock tests on the last day before their exam. Take a full-length mock test two days before the actual exam. This timing is important because it helps students-
- Identify weak areas: Mock tests help pinpoint areas where mistakes are common, providing an opportunity to focus on these weaknesses.
- Avoid last-minute discouragement: Taking a mock test a day before the exam can lead to unnecessary stress if the results are not as per expectations. Doing so two days before gives students enough time to spot their mistakes and rectify them.
Room for improvement: The gap between mock and the exam provides room for self-reflection and targeted practice. Students can work on specific tasks such as Essay, Summarize Written Text and time management, ensuring a well-rounded preparation.
2. Effective focus areas – 48 hours before the exam
Once the mock test is completed, the next 48 hours should be dedicated to refining specific areas. These include-
Time-based tasks: Focus on completing tasks such as Write Essay and Summarize Written Text within the deadline. This builds discipline and improves time management, which is especially important for the writing section of the exam.
- Skill-based tasks: Practise key skills such as Repeat Sentence, Write From Dictation and understanding patterns in sentence structure. These exercises sharpen listening and speaking abilities, which are two important components of PTE.
- Revision: Revisiting strategies, tips, and techniques will strengthen understanding and ensure that students are prepared to apply them effectively during the exam.
3. Avoiding exhaustion – the day before the exam
These are the things one should focus on the day before the exam-
- Light revision: This is the time to quickly cover important areas without overloading the brain. Focus on tasks like Fill in the Blanks, Reorder Paragraphs, and Highlight Correct Summary.
- Rest: Getting a good night’s sleep is a must. Fatigue caused by cramming for long hours can negatively impact performance. It is important to avoid stressing over missed details and, instead, maintain a calm and focused mindset.
4. Important tasks to focus on the day before the exam
There are some specific tasks that students should lightly practice the day before the exam-
- Essay keywords and short question answers: Reviewing essay structure and key answer formats is essential for essay writing and short question responses. This ensures that students are prepared to give coherent and accurate answers during the exam.
- Prediction files: Reviewing common question types and prediction files can provide an edge. These files often contain repeated questions or question patterns that may appear on the actual exam.
5. Staying calm on exam day
The most important factor on the exam day is to stay calm and focused. To ensure a smooth experience, students should-
- Plan the journey in advance: Plan the journey to the test center in advance. Whether using public transport, driving, or relying on someone else for transportation, it is important to take care of traffic and parking. This eliminates last-minute panic and ensures reaching the test center on time.
- Required documents: Make sure that necessary identification such as a passport is ready. Absence of required documents may result in disqualification from the exam.
- Avoid overthinking: Instead of stressing over what has not been revised thoroughly, focus on executing what has already been practised well. Remember, the aim is not to be perfect but to perform to the best of your ability.
6. Time Management – important for Success
Time management is a important skill in all sections of PTE. Candidates must-
- Reading and Writing: Allocate time efficiently to tasks such as summaries and essays, ensuring that adequate time is reserved for proofreading. This not only minimizes errors but also ensures clarity in responses.
- Listening and Speaking: Prioritize high-scoring tasks such as Fill-in-the-Blanks, Write From Dictation and Re-Tell Lecture, as these have a direct impact on the overall scoring.
7. Prioritization and task strategy
During exam, proper prioritization is essential to maximize scores-
- Focus on high-scoring tasks: Some tasks, such as Fill In The Blanks Reading And Writing and Write From Dictation, carry greater weightage. Students must devote proper time and effort to these sections to score high.
- Avoid spending too much time on low-scoring tasks: Tasks such as Multiple-Choice Question, while important, should not take up disproportionate time. These tasks usually fetch fewer marks and can easily take up time that could be better spent on more valuable sections.
8. Fluency in Speaking – A important Determinant
Fluency is important to scoring well in the Speaking section. Students should-
- Avoid self-correction: Pausing to correct mistakes can disrupt flow and lead to more errors. If a mistake is made, it is better to continue speaking rather than dwelling on it.
- Be confident: Hesitancy can harm the fluency score. Practicing with real-time prompts and staying calm under pressure ensures smooth speech delivery.
9. Microphone check and sound clarity
A common pitfall in the Speaking section is microphone problems. Students should-
- Test the microphone: Make sure the microphone is working properly before starting the test. Poor quality recordings can negatively affect the Speaking score.
- Minimize background noise: Make sure that external sounds are minimized and that the microphone is correctly positioned to capture clear speech.
10. Technical aspects - markers and equipment
Another often overlooked area is the use of markers during exam. For students taking notes:
- Check markers beforehand: Make sure markers are working properly. Testing them at the beginning of the exam can prevent problems during the listening section when taking notes is crucial.
- Lid management: Keep lids on markers when not in use so they don't dry out. If a marker becomes worn out, ask the invigilator to replace it immediately.
11. Ultimate mindset - focus on performance
Focus on delivering a solid, well-rounded performance rather than aiming for perfection. Nervousness and overthinking can lead to mistakes, while staying calm helps students tackle challenging questions with confidence.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vishal Kapoor
(PTE & NAATI Expert)
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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