PTE Listening Write From Dictation: Questions with Answers
PTE Listening
At the very end of PTE Listening, a short sentence plays once and you type it exactly as you heard it. Write from Dictation gives 1 point for each correct word spelled correctly, so a response with a slip still earns partial credit for the correct words. Pearson's Score Guides list 3-4 of these items in both PTE Academic and PTE Core, and the task works the same way in PTE Academic UKVI.
The 50 sample sentences below are original practice items grouped by sentence type, each with its trap word, not real or "repeated" exam questions.
Table of Contents
What Is Write From Dictation in PTE?
Write from Dictation is a PTE Listening task in which a recorded sentence of 3-5 seconds plays once and you type the whole sentence. It's the last Listening task: task 8 of 8 in PTE Academic and task 7 of 7 in PTE Core. Your typed answer counts toward both Listening and Writing. You may take notes on the erasable noteboard while the audio plays.
Pearson's on-screen instruction asks for the exact sentence, as much of it as you can manage, and warns that it plays only once. Pearson's sample screen shows a status countdown before the audio starts, a volume slider, Cut, Copy and Paste buttons and a Total Word Count under the response box.
What Is the Write From Dictation Task Format?
One sentence plays once, you type it in the box, and only the words you type are scored, word by word. Pearson's task page and Score Guides together give every detail in this table.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Test variants | PTE Academic, PTE Academic UKVI, PTE Core |
| Task position | Academic task 8 of 8; Core task 7 of 7 |
| Audio length | 3-5 seconds, plays once |
| What you do | Type the sentence you heard |
| Time to answer | Not applicable (no separate timer on the item) |
| Skills scored | Listening and writing |
| Notes | Erasable noteboard allowed |
| Spelling convention | Not stated for this task; Pearson's one-convention rule (US, UK, Australian or Canadian) appears under Summarize Spoken Text |
| Item count | 3-4 per test (Academic and Core) |
| Sentence length | Not given by Pearson; audio is 3-5 seconds |
The task page itself shows no item count, while both Score Guides list 3-4. Word ranges such as 8-12 or 8-15 words aren't Pearson figures, so the audio length of 3-5 seconds is the official measure of sentence length.
How Many Marks Is Write From Dictation Worth?
The worked comparison below checks an omission and a spelling error against the exact transcript.
Pearson scores Write from Dictation on Content only: each correct word spelled correctly earns 1 point, and each incorrect or misspelled word earns 0. The Score Guide row lists partial credit for each word spelled correctly, and the points feed both Listening and Writing. The task page frames Content as one question: does your response include all the words in the sentence and only these words? A sentence is therefore worth as many points as it has words.
Dictation 51
Listen once, then type the sentence you heard.
Recording voice: UK English.
Original practice recording.
Transcript
The design team displayed their drawings beside the workshop entrance today.
Answer and explanation
Practice key: The design team displayed their drawings beside the workshop entrance today.
The target sentence contains 11 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “displayed”.
Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score.
The Score Guide lists no deduction for this task, unlike Highlight Incorrect Words, which takes off 1 point per wrong word.
A wrong guess scores 0, not minus 1, so the Score Guide row shows no point lost for typing a word you half-heard. Extra words earn nothing either, because Pearson's "only these words" test rewards the sentence's own words alone.
On word order, Pearson's tip says to type as many correct words as you remember in the correct order, and its scoring text counts correct words without describing a separate order penalty. Some prep sites still quote capital letters as a scoring rule; Pearson's current page and Score Guide don't mention capitalization or punctuation for this task. Start with a capital and end with a period simply as a clean habit.
Write from Dictation is AI-scored and isn't on the Score Guide's list of tasks that get a human review of Content. Raw word-points do not convert directly into a fixed Listening or Writing score; Pearson also uses difficulty and question weighting.
How Many Write From Dictation Questions Are in PTE?
Pearson's Score Guides list 3-4 Write from Dictation items in PTE Academic and 3-4 in PTE Core, and they always come at the end of Listening. The task web pages don't show this item count, but the Score Guide tables do. Since each word is a point, the number of sentences matters less than how many words you get right in each one, and raw word-points do not translate directly into a fixed reported score.
What Types of Sentences Does Write From Dictation Use?
Dictation sentences sound like short lecture or campus statements, and most fit one of four sentence patterns. Each pattern hides different small words, so knowing the type tells you what to listen for.
- Research facts: a finding or a fact from a field of study, such as "Surveys show that…". Watch for plural nouns and past-tense -ed verbs.
- Instructions or processes: a step to follow, built on sequence words like before, after, once and during. The sequence word and the verb that follows it carry the meaning.
- Cause and effect: two events joined by because, so, since or as a result. The linking word is short and easy to drop.
- General statements: a broad claim such as "Many experts believe that…", often with a that-clause or a modal verb like can or should.
These four groups are a practice grouping, not a Pearson classification. The 50 samples in the next section follow the same order.
What Do Write From Dictation Sample Questions and Answers Look Like?
The 50 original practice sentences are grouped below. Each includes its own word count and spelling focus. They are practice drills, not timed replicas of test items.
Fictional project observations (1–13)
| No. | Sentence (answer) | Words | Trap word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dictation 1Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe project team counted every empty seat before the afternoon workshop. Answer and explanationPractice key: The project team counted every empty seat before the afternoon workshop. The target sentence contains 11 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “counted”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 11 | Spelling focuscounted |
| 2 | Dictation 2Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptOur class compared two layouts for the new student noticeboard. Answer and explanationPractice key: Our class compared two layouts for the new student noticeboard. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “compared”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focuscompared |
| 3 | Dictation 3Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe volunteers recorded their arrival times in a shared notebook. Answer and explanationPractice key: The volunteers recorded their arrival times in a shared notebook. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “arrival”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusarrival |
| 4 | Dictation 4Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThree groups submitted different suggestions for the entrance hall display. Answer and explanationPractice key: Three groups submitted different suggestions for the entrance hall display. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “submitted”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focussubmitted |
| 5 | Dictation 5Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe interview notes contained several questions about the booking process. Answer and explanationPractice key: The interview notes contained several questions about the booking process. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “several”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusseveral |
| 6 | Dictation 6Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptOur survey asked students which rooms they used after lunch. Answer and explanationPractice key: Our survey asked students which rooms they used after lunch. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “which”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focuswhich |
| 7 | Dictation 7Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe library team measured the shelves before ordering new boxes. Answer and explanationPractice key: The library team measured the shelves before ordering new boxes. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “measured”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusmeasured |
| 8 | Dictation 8Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptEach participant described a different problem with the registration form. Answer and explanationPractice key: Each participant described a different problem with the registration form. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “participant”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusparticipant |
| 9 | Dictation 9Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe class collected written comments at the end of rehearsal. Answer and explanationPractice key: The class collected written comments at the end of rehearsal. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “collected”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focuscollected |
| 10 | Dictation 10Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptOur first draft included fewer examples than the revised version. Answer and explanationPractice key: Our first draft included fewer examples than the revised version. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “fewer”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusfewer |
| 11 | Dictation 11Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe discussion revealed a clear preference for shorter meeting agendas. Answer and explanationPractice key: The discussion revealed a clear preference for shorter meeting agendas. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “agendas”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusagendas |
| 12 | Dictation 12Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptTwo observers checked the labels against the original packing list. Answer and explanationPractice key: Two observers checked the labels against the original packing list. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “observers”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusobservers |
| 13 | Dictation 13Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe final chart showed attendance for each of our workshops. Answer and explanationPractice key: The final chart showed attendance for each of our workshops. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “attendance”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusattendance |
Instructions or processes (14-25)
| No. | Sentence (answer) | Words | Trap word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Dictation 14Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptPlease attach your revised timetable to the message before sending. Answer and explanationPractice key: Please attach your revised timetable to the message before sending. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “attach”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusattach |
| 15 | Dictation 15Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptStore the spare notebooks in the cupboard beside the entrance. Answer and explanationPractice key: Store the spare notebooks in the cupboard beside the entrance. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “cupboard”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focuscupboard |
| 16 | Dictation 16Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptCheck that each application includes a current telephone contact number. Answer and explanationPractice key: Check that each application includes a current telephone contact number. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “application”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusapplication |
| 17 | Dictation 17Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptReturn the borrowed scissors to the drawer after your lesson. Answer and explanationPractice key: Return the borrowed scissors to the drawer after your lesson. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “scissors”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusscissors |
| 18 | Dictation 18Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptWrite a separate heading above each section of your report. Answer and explanationPractice key: Write a separate heading above each section of your report. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “separate”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusseparate |
| 19 | Dictation 19Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptBefore leaving the studio, place all brushes in the container. Answer and explanationPractice key: Before leaving the studio, place all brushes in the container. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “brushes”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusbrushes |
| 20 | Dictation 20Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptAsk the receptionist whether the smaller meeting room is available. Answer and explanationPractice key: Ask the receptionist whether the smaller meeting room is available. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “whether”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focuswhether |
| 21 | Dictation 21Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptArrange the printed notices in alphabetical order before the meeting. Answer and explanationPractice key: Arrange the printed notices in alphabetical order before the meeting. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “alphabetical”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusalphabetical |
| 22 | Dictation 22Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptKeep the original receipt until your replacement ticket has arrived. Answer and explanationPractice key: Keep the original receipt until your replacement ticket has arrived. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “receipt”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusreceipt |
| 23 | Dictation 23Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptPlease describe the problem clearly when you request further assistance. Answer and explanationPractice key: Please describe the problem clearly when you request further assistance. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “assistance”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusassistance |
| 24 | Dictation 24Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptAfter checking the figures, save another copy of the document. Answer and explanationPractice key: After checking the figures, save another copy of the document. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “figures”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusfigures |
| 25 | Dictation 25Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptCollect your belongings before the caretaker locks the rehearsal room. Answer and explanationPractice key: Collect your belongings before the caretaker locks the rehearsal room. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “belongings”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusbelongings |
Cause and effect (26-37)
| No. | Sentence (answer) | Words | Trap word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Dictation 26Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe delivery arrived late, so we postponed our afternoon demonstration. Answer and explanationPractice key: The delivery arrived late, so we postponed our afternoon demonstration. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “postponed”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focuspostponed |
| 27 | Dictation 27Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptBecause the main door was locked, visitors used another entrance. Answer and explanationPractice key: Because the main door was locked, visitors used another entrance. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “entrance”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusentrance |
| 28 | Dictation 28Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptOur display needed extra space, so we moved the tables. Answer and explanationPractice key: Our display needed extra space, so we moved the tables. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “tables”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focustables |
| 29 | Dictation 29Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe microphone stopped working, and the speaker repeated her announcement. Answer and explanationPractice key: The microphone stopped working, and the speaker repeated her announcement. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “repeated”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusrepeated |
| 30 | Dictation 30Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptSince fewer people registered, we booked a smaller meeting room. Answer and explanationPractice key: Since fewer people registered, we booked a smaller meeting room. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “registered”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusregistered |
| 31 | Dictation 31Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe instructions were unclear, so several students requested another explanation. Answer and explanationPractice key: The instructions were unclear, so several students requested another explanation. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “explanation”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusexplanation |
| 32 | Dictation 32Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptOur printer needed paper before we could finish the invitations. Answer and explanationPractice key: Our printer needed paper before we could finish the invitations. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “invitations”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusinvitations |
| 33 | Dictation 33Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe first session finished early, leaving time for more questions. Answer and explanationPractice key: The first session finished early, leaving time for more questions. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “questions”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusquestions |
| 34 | Dictation 34Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptWe added clearer labels because the storage boxes looked identical. Answer and explanationPractice key: We added clearer labels because the storage boxes looked identical. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “identical”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusidentical |
| 35 | Dictation 35Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe lift was unavailable, so the class met downstairs instead. Answer and explanationPractice key: The lift was unavailable, so the class met downstairs instead. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “downstairs”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusdownstairs |
| 36 | Dictation 36Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptAfter the schedule changed, our team rearranged the practice sessions. Answer and explanationPractice key: After the schedule changed, our team rearranged the practice sessions. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “rearranged”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusrearranged |
| 37 | Dictation 37Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe parcel needed another label because its address was incomplete. Answer and explanationPractice key: The parcel needed another label because its address was incomplete. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “address”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusaddress |
General statements (38-50)
| No. | Sentence (answer) | Words | Trap word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Dictation 38Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptEvery group has a different reason for choosing its topic. Answer and explanationPractice key: Every group has a different reason for choosing its topic. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “choosing”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focuschoosing |
| 39 | Dictation 39Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptA useful meeting agenda includes space for questions and decisions. Answer and explanationPractice key: A useful meeting agenda includes space for questions and decisions. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “decisions”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusdecisions |
| 40 | Dictation 40Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptOur shared workspace contains both quiet desks and discussion areas. Answer and explanationPractice key: Our shared workspace contains both quiet desks and discussion areas. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “discussion”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusdiscussion |
| 41 | Dictation 41Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThis handbook includes examples from several imaginary student projects. Answer and explanationPractice key: This handbook includes examples from several imaginary student projects. The target sentence contains 9 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “imaginary”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 9 | Spelling focusimaginary |
| 42 | Dictation 42Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe evening workshop gives beginners time to practice basic techniques. Answer and explanationPractice key: The evening workshop gives beginners time to practice basic techniques. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “techniques”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focustechniques |
| 43 | Dictation 43Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptEach team member is responsible for one section of the presentation. Answer and explanationPractice key: Each team member is responsible for one section of the presentation. The target sentence contains 11 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “responsible”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 11 | Spelling focusresponsible |
| 44 | Dictation 44Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptOur weekly newsletter includes announcements and a short reader questionnaire. Answer and explanationPractice key: Our weekly newsletter includes announcements and a short reader questionnaire. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “questionnaire”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusquestionnaire |
| 45 | Dictation 45Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe activity requires patience when several instructions arrive together. Answer and explanationPractice key: The activity requires patience when several instructions arrive together. The target sentence contains 9 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “patience”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 9 | Spelling focuspatience |
| 46 | Dictation 46Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptStudents can request additional feedback after completing their first draft. Answer and explanationPractice key: Students can request additional feedback after completing their first draft. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “additional”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusadditional |
| 47 | Dictation 47Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe visitor guide describes the facilities available inside this building. Answer and explanationPractice key: The visitor guide describes the facilities available inside this building. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “facilities”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusfacilities |
| 48 | Dictation 48Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptOur practice sessions include opportunities to explain choices to others. Answer and explanationPractice key: Our practice sessions include opportunities to explain choices to others. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “opportunities”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusopportunities |
| 49 | Dictation 49Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: UK English. Original practice recording. TranscriptThe revised checklist covers preparation, equipment and the final inspection. Answer and explanationPractice key: The revised checklist covers preparation, equipment and the final inspection. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “equipment”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusequipment |
| 50 | Dictation 50Listen once, then type the sentence you heard. Recording voice: US English. Original practice recording. TranscriptEach completed exercise belongs in a separate folder for review. Answer and explanationPractice key: Each completed exercise belongs in a separate folder for review. The target sentence contains 10 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “exercise”. Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score. | 10 | Spelling focusexercise |
To turn the tables into listening practice, have a partner or a text-to-speech voice read each sentence once at normal speed. Type it without pausing the audio, then mark your answer against the sample answers word by word. If you'd rather hear recorded items with automatic scoring, create a free account and use the listening practice app. These are original practice sentences, never real, repeated or predicted exam questions.
How Do You Answer Write From Dictation Step by Step?
The method is to listen to the whole sentence, echo it, hold it as chunks, note first letters, type every word in order and proofread before you click Next. Use the first four ideas flexibly while listening or immediately afterward, then type and proofread.
- Listen to the whole sentence without typing, and notice where the speaker pauses or the tone changes, since those mark the phrase boundaries.
- Use echoing: repeat the sentence silently straight away. Try closing your eyes while you echo, and keep the habit only if it helps you.
- Use chunking: hold the sentence as two or three meaning groups instead of single words.
- Note the first letters or the content words on the noteboard.
- Type every word you remember in order, using grammar to place any word you're unsure of.
- Do your proofreading last: check grammar endings, plurals, -ed forms, articles and spelling.
Dictation 52
Listen once, then type the sentence you heard.
Recording voice: US English.
Original practice recording.
Transcript
The music group will rehearse in the smaller room after lunch.
Answer and explanation
Practice key: The music group will rehearse in the smaller room after lunch.
The target sentence contains 11 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “rehearse”.
Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score.
Dictation 53
Listen once, then type the sentence you heard.
Recording voice: UK English.
Original practice recording.
Transcript
Several classmates have agreed to carry the boxes into our studio.
Answer and explanation
Practice key: Several classmates have agreed to carry the boxes into our studio.
The target sentence contains 11 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “agreed”.
Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score.
Dictation 54
Listen once, then type the sentence you heard.
Recording voice: US English.
Original practice recording.
Transcript
A trolley holds three small boxes.
Answer and explanation
Practice key: A trolley holds three small boxes.
The target sentence contains 6 words. Retain every word in order, including small function words. Check the spelling of “holds”.
Original learning exercise; practice only, not an official Pearson test item or score.
Is There a Write From Dictation Template That Works?
No, no fixed template exists for a dictation, because every sentence is different. What people call a template is really a routine that repeats four actions: echo, chunk, type, proofread. That routine is the step list above, so run it on every item. Memorizing sentence banks isn't a template either, because you can't know which sentence the test will play, and the routine still uses the same four steps.
What Are Common Write From Dictation Mistakes?
The common mistakes are dropping plural endings and past tense endings, leaving out articles and prepositions, misspelling or swapping similar words, mixing spellings and leaving a blank answer. Every one of them costs a single word-point, and every one has a drill that fixes it.
- Dropping plural endings: a missing -s costs the word, so listen for it while you echo.
- Losing the past tense: "-ed" is easy to miss before a vowel, so check every verb in proofreading.
- Leaving out articles and prepositions: "the", "a", "at" and "on" each count as a word, so check them in the last step.
- Misspelling a word you heard correctly: drill words with double letters and silent letters.
- Typing a similar-sounding word: "write" for "right" or "fairs" for "fares" scores 0, so let the meaning of the sentence pick the word.
- Mixing US and UK spelling: Pearson states its one-convention rule for Summarize Spoken Text, so for dictation use the spelling you know best and keep it consistent.
- A blank answer: it earns nothing, and a wrong word costs no points, so type every word you caught.
How Do You Improve PTE Write From Dictation?
Improvement comes from daily dictation of a few sentences from real audio, then self-scoring word by word against the transcript. A list of missed words records each word you lose and its pattern, such as endings, articles or double letters. Run that practice loop for ten minutes a day, and the list measures your progress and shows exactly what to drill next.
Which Dictation Words Should You Practice?
Academic words with spelling traps, such as double letters, silent letters and -ance or -ence endings, are the ones worth drilling. Each one tests whether you can spell a word you heard correctly. Words like "accommodation" and "independence" hide their double letters and endings, because the sound doesn't show the spelling. Our list of PTE dictation words groups academic words by topic with a spelling note for each.
Where Can You Find a PTE Dictation Spelling List?
This is an authored spelling practice list, not an official exam-word list, so any list is a publisher's practice pick; use one built from misspelled words that recur in academic writing. Our PTE listening spelling words page collects them by trap, from doubled consonants to confusable pairs.
Should You Memorize the Most Repeated Write From Dictation Sentences?
These examples are not verified repeated exam sentences, so memorizing a bank is a gamble; the skills that score are hearing, holding and spelling a new sentence. A sentence bank trains memory, not listening skill. Our PTE listening tips build habits that work on any sentence.
Which PTE Listening Tasks Train the Same Skills as Write From Dictation?
Listening Fill in the Blanks trains the same typed, correctly spelled words, and Repeat Sentence trains holding a short sentence in memory. The Score Guide lists 2-3 Listening Fill in the Blanks items, each scored on correct words spelled correctly, and 10-12 Repeat Sentence items in Part 1, scored for listening and speaking. Our overview of the PTE listening section covers all eight PTE Listening tasks.
Is Write From Dictation the Same in PTE Core?
Yes, PTE Core uses the same 3-5 second sentence, the same 3-4 items and the same 1-point-per-correct-word scoring. It is the last of seven tasks in Listening instead of eight, and both Score Guides give it the same scoring. Core's Listening part runs 22-37 minutes, against 31-39 minutes in PTE Academic, and its page calls the note surface an erasable whiteboard. More on the PTE Core test.
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We build EasyEnglish PTE practice tasks and mock tests. Official test rules are checked against Pearson guidance; exercises are authored examples, not official or predicted exam questions. Practice scores are estimates. EasyEnglish is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson. Contact support@inverseai.com.
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