How to Get 79+ in PTE on Your First Attempt: A Comprehensive Guide

Scoring 79+ on your first attempt might be a challenging task, but with the right strategies and preparation, it’s absolutely achievable. You need to follow the following strategies to get 79+ on your first attempt.

1. Understand the PTE Test Format and Structure

The first step toward success in any exam is understanding its structure. The PTE test is mainly classified into three main sections: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening. Each section contains various question types, which are mentioned below:

• Speaking Tasks: These include activities such as Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell lecture, and Answer Short Questions. It will evaluate your pronunciation, fluency, and ability to organize thoughts.
• Writing Tasks: Tasks like Summarize Written Text and Write Essay assess your grammar, vocabulary, and ability to express your ideas coherently.
• Reading Tasks: This section includes tasks like Multiple-Choice Questions, Reorder Paragraphs, and Fill in the Blanks (Reading, Reading and Writing). It will evaluate your ability to identify main ideas and details within texts.
• Listening Tasks: The listening section includes tasks like Summarize Spoken Text, Fill in the Blanks, Multiple Choice Questions, Highlight Correct Summary, Select Missing Word, and Write from Dictation. It will evaluate your ability to listen actively, understand spoken English, and capture key information accurately.

The PTE is scored by an AI system. Your performance will be evaluated based on several factors such as fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and so on.

2. Improve Your English Skills

To achieve a score of 79+, it’s essential to develop all aspects of your English language skills. Here’s a breakdown of how to improve each skill:

Speaking:

• Pronunciation and Fluency: Practice speaking clearly and maintaining a natural flow. Avoid hesitations or filler words (such as “um” or “like”) as they can affect your fluency score.
• Vocabulary and Grammar: Expand your vocabulary by reading and listening to English language content. Also, review sentence structures and verb tenses so that you can strengthen your grammar.

Reading:

• Speed and Comprehension: Reading more often will increase your reading speed. Try to read texts like newspapers, books, or academic articles to improve both speed and accuracy.

Writing:

• Grammar and Vocabulary: Focus on refining your grammar and expanding your vocabulary. Read well-written articles and practice incorporating new words and grammatical structures into your writing.
• Coherence and Cohesion: Make sure your essays have a logical flow. Practice using transition words (like “however,” “therefore,” and “in conclusion”) to connect your ideas effectively.

Listening:

• Comprehension: To improve your listening skills, listen to a variety of English audio materials, such as podcasts, news reports, and documentaries. Focus on understanding the main ideas and details.
• Active Listening: Active listening is crucial for improving your comprehension. Try to focus fully on what is being said and take notes as you listen.

3. Effective Strategies for Each Section

To score 79+ in the PTE, it’s not just about understanding the question types but it’s about having a solid strategy for each section. Here’s how to approach each part of the exam with the right techniques:

Speaking Section

• Focus on Clarity and Fluency: During the speaking section, aim for clear and smooth speech. Fluency is a major scoring factor, so practice speaking without long pauses or filler words. Make sure your responses flow naturally and sound confident.
• Practice Pronunciation and Intonation: In addition to speaking clearly, work on your intonation, stress, and rhythm. English is a stress-timed language, meaning some words are stressed more than others. Avoid speaking too quickly or too slowly. You should try to maintain a moderate speed.
• Engage in Regular Speaking Practice: Regularly practice speaking English aloud. Record your response while you are speaking and listen to them. In this way you will be able to identify areas of improvement.
• Stay Calm and Collected: During the exam, stay calm and take a moment to gather your thoughts before responding. Even if you make a small mistake, don’t let it disrupt the rest of your response. Keep going smoothly.

Writing Section

• Plan Before You Write: Always spend a few minutes planning your response before diving into writing. For the essay and summarizing written text, organize your thoughts clearly and outline the main points you want to include and how they should flow.
• Keep It Concise: In both writing tasks, focus on being concise yet clear. Avoid over- elaboration. Stick to the key points and ensure your response addresses the question fully. The PTE AI scoring system values clarity and precision.
• Use Transitional Phrases: Whether you’re writing an essay or summarizing a text, use transition words (like “in addition,” “however,” or “for instance”) to connect your ideas.
• Time Management: The writing section is time-pressured, so avoid spending too much time on one task. Allocating a set amount of time for each task and sticking to it helps most of the time. Ensure you leave a few minutes at the end to proofread your work.

Reading Section

• Read Strategically: Instead of focusing too much on every single word, train yourself to read strategically. Skim the passage to get a sense of its structure and main ideas, then read the questions carefully to understand what you’re being asked.
• Understand Context and Vocabulary: Many reading tasks test your understanding of context. If you don’t know the meaning of a particular word, try to understand the meaning of the overall text to find the correct answer.
• Pace yourself: The reading section is often one of the most time-consuming, so it’s essential to manage your time well. Don’t spend too much time on difficult questions.

Listening Section

• Practice Active Listening: Listening requires you to be engaged and fully focused. Try to listen for both the main ideas and details.
• Don’t Rely on Notes Too Much: While taking notes is important, don’t spend too much time writing down everything. Focus should be on the overall idea which will help you answer the questions more effectively.
• Improve Listening for Different Accents and Contexts: The listening section will feature different accents, so it’s important to expose yourself to diverse English speakers. Listen to various English podcasts, news broadcasts, or academic content to familiarize yourself with different speech patterns and speeds.
• Manage Your Focus: It’s easy to get distracted, especially when multiple speakers are involved. Practice maintaining your concentration throughout the listening material. Avoid understanding every single word instead of focusing on the main ideas and critical details.

4. Practice and Preparation

Regular practice is key to achieving a high score. Here’s how to make your preparation effective:

• Use PTE Practice Materials: The best way to prepare is by practicing with Sumlingo practice software. This will familiarize you with the exact type of questions you will encounter in the exam.
• Focus on Weak Areas: Identify which section you find most challenging (speaking, writing, reading, or listening) and dedicate extra time to improving those areas.
• Consistent Practice: Make it a habit to practice English every day. Short, regular practice sessions are more effective than cramming the night before.
• Take Mock Tests: Simulate exam conditions by taking full-length pte mock tests with instant scoring or practice tests.