The Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic evaluates real-life English skills in speaking, writing, reading, and listening. While all tasks are important, some carry significantly more weight due to their complexity, the number of questions, and how many skills are assessed in each task. Below is a table breaking down the Priority Levels of the question types in the PTE exam.
| Priority Level | Question Type | Skills Assessed |
| Top Priority | Read Aloud | Speaking + Reading |
| Repeat Sentence | Speaking + Listening | |
| Describe Image | Speaking | |
| Retell Lecture | Speaking + Listening | |
| Write Essay | Writing | |
| Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks | Reading + Writing | |
| Fill in the Blanks (Reading Section) | Reading | |
| Fill in the Blanks (Listening Section) | Listening | |
| Highlight Incorrect Words (Listening Section) | Listening + Reading | |
| Write from Dictation | Listening + Writing | |
| High Priority | Summarize Written Text | Writing |
| Summarize Spoken Text | Speaking + Listening | |
| Medium Priority | Answer Short Questions | Speaking + Listening |
| Reorder Paragraphs | Reading | |
| Low Priority | Multiple Choice Single Answer (Reading) | Reading |
| Multiple Choice Multiple Answer (Reading) | Reading | |
| Multiple Choice Single Answer (Listening) | Listening | |
| Multiple Choice Multiple Answer (Listening) | Listening | |
| Select Missing Word | Listening | |
| Highlight Correct Summary | Listening + Reading |
Are you ready to test your skills?
We will explore the top high-scoring question types in the PTE exam, with a focus on the marks per question, number of questions, and the skills assessed.
1. Read Aloud (Speaking Section)
Skills Assessed: Speaking, Reading
Number of Questions: 6–7
Marks per Question: 15
Total Marks: 90–105
Why It’s High-Scoring:
Read Aloud assesses pronunciation, fluency, and reading accuracy. With 6–7 questions, each worth 15 marks, this task has a substantial impact on both your speaking and reading scores. The task’s dual contribution makes it a key area for maximizing your score.
2. Repeat Sentence (Speaking Section)
Skills Assessed: Speaking, Listening
Number of Questions: 10–12
Marks per Question: 13
Total Marks: 130–156
Why It’s High-Scoring:
Repeat Sentence is a major contributor to PTE scores that evaluates listening and speaking skills. With 10–12 questions, each worth 13 marks, it is one of the most impactful sections of the PTE exam. Accuracy in pronunciation and memory retention are crucial here, and performance on this task can significantly influence your overall score.
3. Write Essay (Writing Section)
Skills Assessed: Writing
Number of Questions: 1–2
Marks per Question: 15
Total Marks: 15–30
Why It’s High-Scoring:
Essay writing is a key component of the Writing section. Each essay, worth 15 marks, evaluates your ability to organize ideas, use appropriate grammar and vocabulary, and present coherent arguments. Since there are only 1–2 essay questions, they have a significant effect on your writing score.
4. Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks (Reading Section)
Skills Assessed: Reading, Writing
Number of Questions: 5–6
Marks per Blank: 1 per correct blank
Total Marks: Depends on the number of correct blanks in a question
Why It’s High-Scoring:
This task tests your ability to choose the correct word to complete a passage. Each blank filled correctly earns 1 mark, and since there are 5–6 questions, the total score depends on how many blanks you complete correctly. It impacts both your reading and writing scores, making it a vital area for preparation.
Are you ready to test your skills?
5. Write from Dictation (Listening Section)
Skills Assessed: Listening, Writing
Number of Questions: 3–4
Marks per Word: 1 per correctly spelled word
Total Marks: Depends on the number of correct words in a question
Why It’s High-Scoring:
Write from Dictation is one of the highest contributors to the Listening section. Each word is spelled correctly and earns 1 mark. Since there are 3–4 questions, the total marks depend on the number of words you get correct. This task contributes to both listening and writing.
