PTE Listening Practice Test (Free, with Answers)
PTE Academic's listening part runs for 31 to 39 minutes and has eight question types. Each recording plays once and you may take notes. Below you can try 44 original items of three types, with instant marking, then read the guide to each type.
Item 1 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What is the main point of the talk?
Item 2 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
The bridge will be for repairs from Monday until the end of the month, so commuters should use the instead.Item 3 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 4 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What does the speaker say about parrotfish?
Item 5 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What is the speaker's main argument?
Item 6 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What is the main point of the lecture?
Item 7 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Why does the speaker caution against very long gaps between study sessions?
Item 8 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What does the speaker say happened to the postal service?
Item 9 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
In eighteen fifty-four, a physician in London mapped cases and noticed that they clustered around one water . When the pump handle was removed, new cases declined. His careful mapping became an early example of using to guide public health decisions, and it supported the idea that disease could spread through contaminated .Item 10 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
Solar panels and wind turbines produce electricity only when the sun shines or the wind blows, so grids need ways to energy for later. One long-established method is pumped hydropower. Surplus electricity pushes water uphill into a , and when demand rises, the water is released through to generate power again. Pumped storage can supply large amounts of electricity for many .Item 11 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
Languages constantly words from one another. English, for example, took the word algebra from Arabic and the word kindergarten from German. Linguists call such words . Over time, borrowed words usually change in so that they fit the sound patterns of the new language, and most speakers are that a familiar word began somewhere else.Item 12 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
The clock appeared in European towns several centuries ago, and it slowly changed daily life. Before then, people relied on and church bells to mark the hours. Public clocks encouraged shared for markets and work, which made it easier for large groups to coordinate. Historians argue that measuring time in units was as important as the machine itself.Item 13 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 14 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 15 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 16 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 17 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 18 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What limitation of radiocarbon dating does the speaker mention?
Item 19 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What is the speaker's main point?
Item 20 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What misunderstanding does the speaker correct?
Item 21 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What does the speaker say about the brain's energy use?
Item 22 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Why does the speaker mention legumes?
Item 23 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
Many medieval cathedrals look as though their tall walls are made almost entirely of glass. This was possible because of flying , which are stone arms built outside the walls. They carry the of the roof outward and down to solid piers on the ground. With the load carried this way, the walls themselves could be , and builders were free to fit much larger into them.Item 24 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
Shipping used to be slow because goods were packed loosely into the hold of a vessel and unloaded piece by piece. The standard shipping changed this. Because every container has the same , it can be lifted from a ship onto a train or a lorry without being . This saves time at ports and lowers the of moving goods, and it is one reason why products made far away can reach shops so cheaply.Item 25 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
Education ministries sometimes debate how students should be . A single final examination is simple to organise and treats every student in the same way. However, critics say it rewards and can cause heavy stress on one day. Continuous assessment spreads marks across the whole course through projects and short tests, which can show steady , but it takes more teacher time to mark and .Item 26 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
Modern weather forecasts rely on computer of the atmosphere. The model divides the air above the Earth into a of boxes, and for each box it calculates how temperature, pressure and will change over the next few hours. Measurements from and weather stations provide the starting conditions. Because small errors can grow with time, forecasts are generally more for tomorrow than for a week ahead.Item 27 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 28 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 29 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 30 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 31 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
According to the lecturer, why do migrants tend to follow well-worn routes?
Item 32 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What does the speaker say is the effect of an unreliable narrator on readers?
Item 33 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What does the speaker say determines the best span of control?
Item 34 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What does the speaker recommend?
Item 35 · Multiple Choice, Single Answer
What is the lecturer's main point?
Item 36 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
Soap works because each of its molecules has two different ends. One end is attracted to water, while the other end clings to . When you wash a greasy plate, the soap surrounds tiny drops of and lifts them away, so that the water can them down the drain.Item 37 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
Most sedimentary rocks form in . Over long periods, mud and sand settle on the bed of a lake or sea and are pressed together. Geologists reading a cliff face can usually assume that the layers are older than the upper ones, unless the rocks have been folded or tilted by later movements of the .Item 38 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
Before exercise, athletes usually spend ten minutes on a gradual warm-up. Light movement raises the heart rate and increases blood flow to the muscles, which become warmer and more . Coaches believe this prepares the body for harder effort, although the for preventing injury is still debated.Item 39 · Fill in the Blanks (type in)
When a data set contains a few extremely large values, the can be misleading. Imagine a small village where most families earn modest incomes and one earns a fortune. The mean income will be pulled upwards, while the , which is the middle value when the numbers are ordered, stays close to what a family earns.Item 40 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 41 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 42 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 43 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Item 44 · Select Missing Word
The recording stops at the beep. Choose the word that completes it.
Answer at least one item to see your result.
Audio uses your browser's built-in voices, so it sounds a little different on each device. Your result is a practice estimate, saved in this browser only (see My progress). Marking is our own application of the published rules and is not Pearson's scoring engine.
The 8 PTE listening question types
Pearson's test format page lists the timings below for each type. Prompt length is how long the recording runs. Pearson lists “time to answer” as not applicable for each type, except that Summarize Spoken Text gives 10 minutes to listen and write, so plan your answers as you listen.
| Question type | Prompt length | What you do | How it is scored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summarize Spoken Text | 60 to 90 seconds | Write a summary of the recording in 50 to 70 words | Listening + writing. Partial credit on content, form, grammar, vocabulary, spelling; 10 minutes to listen and write |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | 80 to 120 seconds | Select all options that are correct; more than one is right | Listening only. Partial credit |
| Fill in the Blanks (type in) | 30 to 60 seconds | Type the missing words into a transcript | Listening + writing. One point per correctly spelled word; partial credit |
| Highlight Correct Summary | 30 to 90 seconds | Choose the paragraph that best summarises the recording | Listening + reading. Correct or incorrect; no partial credit |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 30 to 60 seconds | Choose one answer to a question about the recording | Listening only. Correct or incorrect; no partial credit |
| Select Missing Word | 20 to 70 seconds | Choose the word that completes the recording from a list of options | Listening only. Correct or incorrect; no partial credit |
| Highlight Incorrect Words | 15 to 50 seconds | Read a transcript that has errors and select the words that differ from the audio | Listening + reading. +1 per correct word, -1 per wrong word selected |
| Write from Dictation | 3 to 5 seconds | Type the short sentence you hear, exactly as you hear it | Listening + writing. Counted by correct words, spelled correctly; partial credit. See our Write From Dictation page for our own marking |
How this task is scored (practice estimate)
The set above is marked by code on this site, using the per-question rules in Pearson's Test Taker Score Guide. The result is a practice estimate, not an official score.
What is measured
- Multiple Choice, Single Answer: 1 point if you pick the correct option, otherwise 0.
- Select Missing Word: 1 point if you pick the word that completes the recording, otherwise 0.
- Fill in the Blanks (type in): 1 point for each gap you spell exactly right. Capital letters and spaces or punctuation around the word are ignored. A near spelling, a plural instead of a singular, or a different word scores 0 for that gap, and a wrong gap does not take points away.
- Points are added across the items, shown as a percent, and broken down by question type. Every question is listed with your answer, the correct answer and a one-line reason.
What is not measured
- The percent is never converted to a 10-90 score. Pearson does not publish how item points are weighted into the listening score.
- A practice set is a small sample, so each point can move the percent a lot. Treat it as a quick check.
- Here you can replay the audio, which is read aloud by your browser's voice. In the real test each recording plays once, so a score here is likely to look kinder than the real thing.
- Summarize Spoken Text, Multiple Choice (multiple answers), Highlight Correct Summary, Highlight Incorrect Words and Write From Dictation are not in this set. Several of them have their own practice pages, linked at the bottom of this page.
- Only the official test provider issues an official PTE score.
Official timing and rules
Source: Pearson, PTE Academic & UKVI test format: Listening (checked 9 October 2026).
- Length: 31 to 39 minutes for the whole listening part, per Pearson.
- Order:Part 1 is Speaking & Writing, Part 2 is Reading, and Part 3 is Listening.
- Audio: Audio or video clips play automatically and you hear each one only once.
- Notes: You may take notes while a recording plays.
- Scoring: Every type affects the listening score. Pearson says Summarize Spoken Text, Fill in the Blanks, Write from Dictation (with writing) and Highlight Correct Summary, Highlight Incorrect Words (with reading) also feed other skills. See the table for each type.
How to practise PTE listening in 4 weeks
- Week 1: learn the types. Read the table above and try some items of each type in the set. Note which types feel hardest.
- Week 2: listen once, then check. Play a recording without looking at the transcript, write what you can, then check the transcript and count the words or ideas you missed.
- Week 3: build accuracy. Do dictation and fill-in-the-blank drills daily. Repeat any sentence you got wrong until you get it right.
- Week 4: full-length timing. Work through all eight types in one sitting, keeping to the Pearson timings above.
Study tips that work across all types
- Listen for the main idea first. Gist questions such as Highlight Correct Summary reward understanding the central point.
- Predict the answer before the options appear. It helps you spot a wrong option quickly.
- Keep your notes short. Long notes slow you down and cause you to miss the next sentence.
- Learn academic vocabulary, including common collocations and linking words.
- Use the accent buttons in the set above to practise with voices you find harder to follow.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the PTE listening section?
Pearson lists Part 3 (Listening) of PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI as 31 to 39 minutes. It comes after Part 1 (Speaking & Writing) and Part 2 (Reading).
How many question types are in PTE listening?
Eight: Summarize Spoken Text, Multiple Choice Multiple Answers, Fill in the Blanks (type in), Highlight Correct Summary, Multiple Choice Single Answer, Select Missing Word, Highlight Incorrect Words, and Write from Dictation. Pearson does not publish how many items of each type a candidate receives.
Can I replay the audio in the PTE listening test?
Pearson says the audio or video clips play automatically and you hear each one only once. You may take notes while it plays. On this page you can replay audio, so use the 'Play again' button only when you are checking a specific detail.
Are the practice questions on this page real PTE questions?
No. Every item on this page was written from scratch for practice. They match the format and length of the task types but are not copied from any real test, and they are not predictions of future questions.
Is there a free PTE listening practice test with answers?
Yes. The set above has 44 original items of three different types. Press Check my score and you get a practice estimate, the points for each item, your answer next to the correct one with a one-line reason, then the transcripts. The task pages linked below go deeper into each type with more items.
How is PTE listening scored?
Scoring depends on the question type. Multiple Choice Single Answer, Select Missing Word and Highlight Correct Summary are marked correct or incorrect. Multiple Choice Multiple Answers gives partial credit. Highlight Incorrect Words deducts one point for each wrong option. Pearson also lists which skills each type affects: Multiple Choice Multiple Answers, Multiple Choice Single Answer and Select Missing Word affect listening only, while the other types also affect reading or writing. Summarize Spoken Text is partial-credit and AI-scored on content, form, grammar, vocabulary and spelling.
How does the practice set on this page score my answers?
It applies Pearson's published per-question rules to the three item types in the set: Multiple Choice Single Answer and Select Missing Word are 1 or 0, and each gap in Fill in the Blanks is 1 point when it is spelled exactly right. The points are added up and shown as a percent labelled a practice estimate. It is not an official score, it is never converted to the 10-90 scale (Pearson does not publish how item points are weighted into the listening score), and it says nothing about the other five listening types. Your results are saved in this browser only.
Does Highlight Incorrect Words have negative marking?
Yes, in the sense that Pearson's published rule deducts one point for each incorrect word you select. Only select words you are confident about.
PTE listening kaise practice karein? (How do I practise PTE listening?)
Start with the set on this page, then practise one question type each day for about 20 minutes. Listen to each recording once without looking at the transcript, write down key words while it plays, then check the transcript and note the words you missed. Repeat the same type until you get it right, then move on.
PTE listening er jonno ki ki practice korbo? (What should I practise for PTE listening?)
Practise all eight question types, but spend more time on the ones you find hardest. Fill in the Blanks and Write from Dictation test accurate spelling and word recognition, so daily dictation practice helps both. Summarize Spoken Text and Multiple Choice Multiple Answers test understanding of the main ideas and the speaker's tone.
What is the best way to take notes in PTE listening?
Write keywords, names, numbers and dates rather than full sentences. Use short symbols such as arrows for cause and effect. Listen for signpost phrases such as 'the main reason', 'however' or 'in conclusion', because they often mark the point the question will ask about.