Tips For PTE Listening: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers

1. Overview of the Task

In the Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers item type, you will listen to an audio recording (40–90 seconds) and answer a multiple-choice question. You will be required to select more than one correct option from a list of possible answers. The question will focus on the content, main idea, or attitude/tone of the speaker.

• Audio plays automatically and only once
• You must select all the correct responses
• You may select or deselect an option by clicking on it.

Prompt Length	Skill Assessed	Time to Answer
40-90 seconds	Listening and Writing	Not Applicable

2.  Scoring

Correct Response: +1 point Incorrect Response: –1 point Minimum Item Score: 0

Note: There is no partial credit per option i.e., if you select two options one right and one wrong you receive 0.

3.  Time Management

• No individual timer is set for this task.
• The audio begins automatically.
• Candidates are advised to answer quickly but accurately to manage overall test time efficiently.

4.  How to Approach the Task

• Before the Audio Starts (7 seconds): Read the question prompt carefully.

➤ Skim through the options to understand what kind of information to listen for.

➤ Prepare to take brief, structured notes.

While Listening focus on identifying:

• Main points
• Important details (dates, statistics, comparisons, cause-effect relationships)
• Speaker’s attitude, opinions, and emphasis
• Avoid trying to match words verbatim; focus on meaning and context.
• Take notes in bullet points or shorthand.

After Listening

• Use your notes to evaluate each option.
• Select only those options that are clearly supported by the recording.
• Avoid selecting options that:
• Contradict the recording
• Are not mentioned at all
• Distort the speaker’s opinion or tone

5.  Tips and Strategies

➤ Take Effective Notes

• While taking notes, pay attention to the following:
• Keywords: Capture the main ideas and significant details like names, places, dates, and facts.
• Transitions: Focus on relationships between ideas and changes in direction or tone.
• Numbers and Data: Write exact figures, comparisons, and any time-related information.

➤ Focus on Meaning, Not Exact Words

• Many incorrect options will use words or phrases from the audio, but misrepresent the meaning.
• Choose options based on overall interpretation, not superficial word matching.

➤ Don’t Overselect

• Each incorrect choice lowers your score.
• Only select answers you are reasonably confident are correct.
• If unsure, it’s safer to select one option confidently than to guess multiple.

➤ Learn to Identify Speaker Attitudes

• Pay close attention to tone, word choice, and context.
• Ask yourself: Is the speaker supportive, critical, neutral, or analytical?
• Use this understanding to confirm or eliminate answer choices that reflect or contradict that tone.

➤ Practice with Authentic Materials: Authentic materials such as real academic lectures, interviews, news reports, and podcasts help develop the exact listening skills needed for the PTE Listening section. You can also practice on Sumlingo practice software to ace the exam.

• Represent natural speech flow
• Include realistic pacing, accents, and discourse markers
• Mirror the structure and style of recordings used in the actual test

Practice Question:

Abiotic components are the non-living parts of an ecosystem that has significant impact on the biotic components of the environment. These components include physical and chemical elements like temperature, light, water, soil, and air. All of them impact the living organisms within the ecosystem. For example, temperature affects the metabolic rates of organisms and their habitat ranges. Light helps in photosynthesis process and influences animal behavior. Water is vital for all lives, impacting plant and animal growth and climate regulation. Another important component, soil provides essential nutrients for plants, improves air quality, which is important for respiration in animals. Together, these abiotic factors create the foundation for ecosystems to function and support biodiversity.

Choose all the correct statements as per the audio?

• Temperature plays a vital role in regulating the metabolic rate of organisms.
• Light does not influence animal behavior
• Water impacts the growth of plants and animals.
• Soil does not impact plant growth.
• Air quality is important for respiration in animals.

Correct Answers:

• A. Temperature plays a vital role in regulating the metabolic rate of organisms.
• C. Water impacts the growth of plants and animals.
• E. Air quality is important for respiration in animals.

Explanation:

• A: Correct. The passage states that temperature determines the metabolic rate of organisms, making this a true statement.
• C: Correct. The passage mentions that water…affects the growth of plants and animals, so this is accurate.
• E: Correct. The passage highlights that air quality can impact respiration in animals, confirming this as true.