PTE Highlight Incorrect Words
Audio 15–50 seconds plus transcript. Learn what the task asks, why it matters, and how to practise it without turning a planning heuristic into a score promise.
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Quick facts
These format and scoring facts are paraphrased from Pearson sources. Keep them separate from PTEFlow’s practice advice.
| Section | Listening |
|---|---|
| Prompt | Audio 15–50 seconds plus transcript. |
| Skills | Listening and Reading. |
| Timing | No per-item time limit. |
| Scoring | Partial credit; +1 correct selection, -1 incorrect selection, minimum item score 0. |
Why this task matters
It is a high-value integrated Listening and Reading task where false positives are directly penalized.
Average contribution is contextual data for study priority. It is not a fixed allocation of PTE points.
Pearson official
Score contribution
Overall
~4%
Listening
~8%
Reading
~13%
These percentages describe an average test and help explain relative study priority. They are not fixed PTE points, a score formula, or a guarantee for a particular test form.
Relative context
Where this task sits among related tasks
The comparison uses the same average-weighting dataset as the contribution card. It explains relative importance, not a deterministic score conversion.
Listening contribution
- Summarize Group Discussion~20%
- Repeat Sentence~17%
- Retell Lecture~13%
- Write from Dictation~13%
- Summarize Spoken Text~10%
- Fill in the Blanks (Type In)~8%
- Highlight Incorrect Words~8% · YOU ARE HERE
- Answer Short Question~4%
- Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers~3%
- Highlight Correct Summary~2%
- Multiple Choice, Single Answer~2%
- Select Missing Word~1%
Reading contribution
Pearson official tips
- Skim the transcript before audio to know the topic.
- Follow the text with the cursor while listening.
- Do not take notes; click only words that differ.
What the learner has to do
It is a high-value integrated Listening and Reading task where false positives are directly penalized.
PTEFlow strategy
- 1Use the cursor as a pacer.
- 2Compare sound to the exact printed word, especially content words and inflections.
- 3Click only when confident because false positives are penalized.
- 4Stay synchronized with the audio instead of looking backward for long.
Template or technique
Skim → synchronize → detect mismatch → confident click → keep moving.
Use a framework only when it fits the prompt. PTEFlow does not recommend irrelevant or unoriginal memorized responses.
Worked example
If the transcript says increase while the audio says decrease, click the printed word increase.
Review before test day
Common mistakes
- Clicking uncertain words.
- Taking notes and losing synchronization.
- Looking away from the current text position.
- Missing small differences such as singular or plural.
Target-score strategy
Practice benchmark
Aim for ~80%+ clean practice accuracy.
Study emphasis
Push consistency and reduce repeated error patterns.
This is a PTEFlow planning heuristic. It changes study emphasis, not Pearson’s rules, and it does not convert correct answers into a guaranteed score.
Personal notes
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Official sources and verification
Last verified against Pearson: 2026-09-20