PTE Listening has four choice tasks: Select Missing Word, Highlight Correct Summary, Multiple Choice (single answer) and Multiple Choice (multiple answers). Only the multiple-answer task has negative marking. By Pearson's question weightings, each is worth just 1% to 3% of your Listening score, and our class priority guide puts them among the least important tasks in the test. Learn how they work so you do not throw away easy marks, then spend most of your practice time on the bigger tasks.
The four tasks at a glance
| Task | What you do | Skills (Pearson weighting) | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select Missing Word | A beep replaces the last word(s), and you choose what comes next | Listening (1%) | No |
| Highlight Correct Summary | Choose the paragraph that best summarises the recording | Listening (2%), Reading (3%) | No |
| Multiple Choice, single answer | Choose one correct option | Listening (2%) | No |
| Multiple Choice, multiple answers | Choose all correct options | Listening (3%) | Yes |
Select Missing Word
Listen for the logic of the recording. Is the speaker building to a result, a contrast or a conclusion? The missing word completes that logic. Read the options quickly before the audio starts.
Highlight Correct Summary
Take short notes of the main point and the conclusion. Eliminate options that add details not in the recording, contradict it, or only describe one part. The right answer covers the whole recording.
Wrong summaries often contain one false detail. Check every option against your notes.
Multiple Choice, single answer
Read the question before the audio starts, and listen for the speaker's main purpose or opinion, not a single detail. No negative marking, so always choose an answer.
Multiple Choice, multiple answers
Each correct option earns a point and each wrong option loses one (minimum zero). Choose only what you are sure of, usually one or two options. Guessing extra options often lowers your score.
Where these tasks fit in your study plan
Together, the four choice tasks are about 8% of your Listening score. Summarize Group Discussion alone is 20%, Repeat Sentence is 17%, and Retell Lecture and Write from Dictation are 13% each. If your Listening score is low, the fastest gains come from those tasks, not from more multiple-choice practice.
Frequently asked questions
Which listening choice task has negative marking?
Only Multiple Choice (multiple answers). Highlight Incorrect Words in Listening also has negative marking. See our Highlight Incorrect Words guide.
Should I take notes for these tasks?
Short notes help in Highlight Correct Summary. For the other tasks, focus on listening.
How do these tasks compare in value?
They are among the least important tasks in the test, so practise the big Listening tasks first: Summarize Group Discussion, Repeat Sentence and Write from Dictation.
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