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PTE Write From Dictation Practice

Listen to a sentence, type it exactly, and work through a set of five. At the end you get a practice score estimate and a word-by-word review. 110 original sentences in three difficulty levels, with British, Australian, American and Indian accents.

Set 1 of 22
Sentence 1 of 5 · easyMarked at the end of the set

Your answers are marked together when you finish the set.

Audio uses your browser's built-in voices, so it sounds a little different on each device. Your results are saved in this browser only. Marking is a practice estimate based on the published per-word rule, not Pearson's scoring engine.

How Write From Dictation works

You hear a short sentence, usually about 8–15 words, and type it into the box exactly as you heard it. The sentence plays once. Spelling counts. In this practice checker, capital letters, punctuation and word order are ignored.

How this task is scored (practice estimate)

Pearson's Score Guide awards one point for each correct, correctly spelled word. We apply that rule to each sentence, then add up the points across the set of five and show the total as a percentage. It is a practice estimate, not an official score, and we never turn it into a 10–90 score.

What is measured

  • Each word of the original sentence is matched, one for one, against the words you typed. A word you spelled exactly earns a point; a missing or misspelled word does not.
  • Repeated words count separately: if the sentence has “the” three times, you need it three times.
  • Plurals, tenses and word endings must match, so “the results” against “the result” costs a word.
  • A sentence you skip scores 0 and still counts in the set total.

What is not measured

  • Capital letters and punctuation are not checked, and word order is ignored. A scrambled answer with every word present would score full points here.
  • Extra words are not penalised here. Pearson says full marks need all and only the words of the sentence, but does not publish how much extra words cost, so this estimate can be a little more generous than the real task.
  • How points from several items are weighted into a 10–90 Listening or Writing skill score is not published, so the percentage does not predict a result.
  • The audio uses your browser's built-in voice, which will not sound exactly like the test recording.

The result screen repeats these limits after every set. In practice:

  • Always type something. A partial sentence still earns points for the words you got.
  • If you're unsure between two forms (“effect”/“affect”), the right one earns the point.
  • Watch plurals, past tenses and articles.

Five strategies that work

  1. Listen for meaning, not single words. A sentence you understand is far easier to rebuild than a list of sounds.
  2. Jot first letters while listening.Typing “t l w r o u m d t e p” as it plays gives you a skeleton to expand afterwards.
  3. Re-read for grammar. Subject–verb agreement and articles often reveal a word you missed.
  4. Learn academic spellings. Words like environment, government, significant and accommodation come up again and again.
  5. Pick the accent you find hardest. Switch the accent above and practise with it until it stops feeling unfamiliar.

Frequently asked questions

How is PTE Write From Dictation scored?

Pearson's Score Guide gives one point for each correct, correctly spelled word. Our checker counts the words of the original sentence that appear in your answer, ignores capital letters, punctuation and word order, and shows which words cost you points. Pearson does not publish how extra words are treated, so we do not penalise them here. The result is a practice estimate, not an official score.

Can I replay the audio in the real exam?

No. In the real test the sentence plays once. Keep exam mode switched on here to practise under the same condition, and switch it off only when you're drilling a sentence you got wrong.

What does the result at the end of a set show?

A practice percentage (points earned out of the words available across the five sentences), a word-by-word review of each sentence with your answer, the correct sentence and the words you missed, and a note on what the check cannot see. It is saved in this browser only so you can follow your trend on the progress page. It is never converted into a 10-90 score.

Are these real PTE exam questions?

No. Every sentence on this page was written from scratch for practice. They copy the length, vocabulary level and academic topics of the real task, not any actual test item.

Why does Write From Dictation matter so much?

It contributes to both your Listening and Writing scores, and each sentence has several marks available, so a small improvement in accuracy moves two skill scores at once.

All 110 sentences (transcripts)

Try the audio first, then open this list for review or to practise spelling.

Show transcripts
  1. The library will remain open until midnight during the examination period. (easy)
  2. Students must submit their assignments through the online portal by Friday. (easy)
  3. The lecture has been moved to the main hall on the ground floor. (easy)
  4. Please read the first two chapters before attending the seminar next week. (easy)
  5. Most of the research was carried out in remote coastal villages. (easy)
  6. The professor asked everyone to switch off their phones during the presentation. (easy)
  7. A short summary of the findings is available on the department website. (easy)
  8. New students can collect their identity cards from the reception desk. (easy)
  9. The results of the survey will be discussed in the next tutorial. (easy)
  10. Group projects account for half of the final grade in this course. (easy)
  11. Urban planners are increasingly concerned about the rising cost of public housing. (medium)
  12. The experiment was repeated several times to confirm the accuracy of the data. (medium)
  13. Renewable energy sources now supply a significant proportion of the national grid. (medium)
  14. Applicants are advised to check the eligibility criteria before completing the form. (medium)
  15. Several factors contributed to the gradual decline of the ancient trading city. (medium)
  16. The committee will announce the scholarship recipients at the end of the semester. (medium)
  17. Changes in consumer behaviour have forced many retailers to rethink their strategies. (medium)
  18. Field trips give students a valuable opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge. (medium)
  19. The museum's collection includes rare manuscripts from the sixteenth century. (medium)
  20. Researchers observed a strong correlation between sleep quality and academic performance. (medium)
  21. International students often find the first few months the most challenging. (medium)
  22. The government introduced new regulations to reduce plastic waste in cities. (medium)
  23. Access to clean water remains a major challenge in many developing regions. (medium)
  24. The guest speaker described her experience of working in rural hospitals. (medium)
  25. Most participants preferred flexible working hours to a higher starting salary. (medium)
  26. Historians continue to debate the economic consequences of the industrial revolution. (hard)
  27. The hypothesis was rejected because the sample size was statistically insufficient. (hard)
  28. Biodiversity in tropical rainforests is threatened by extensive agricultural expansion. (hard)
  29. Critics argue that standardised testing fails to measure genuine intellectual ability. (hard)
  30. The architecture of the cathedral reflects a combination of distinct artistic traditions. (hard)
  31. Psychologists have identified several cognitive biases that influence financial decisions. (hard)
  32. The pharmaceutical industry invests heavily in the development of experimental treatments. (hard)
  33. Sustainable agriculture requires a careful balance between productivity and environmental protection. (hard)
  34. Linguists study how languages evolve when different communities interact over time. (hard)
  35. The university's archive contains correspondence between prominent nineteenth century scientists. (hard)
  36. Fluctuations in global commodity prices have a disproportionate effect on smaller economies. (hard)
  37. Advances in satellite technology have transformed the accuracy of weather forecasting. (hard)
  38. The anthropologist documented traditional ceremonies that had rarely been recorded before. (hard)
  39. Effective leadership depends on the ability to communicate a clear and consistent vision. (hard)
  40. Climate scientists warn that melting glaciers could significantly accelerate sea level rise. (hard)
  41. Coral reefs provide shelter for thousands of marine species. (easy)
  42. The new bus route will reduce traffic in the city centre. (easy)
  43. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity without burning any fuel. (easy)
  44. Regular exercise can improve both physical and mental health. (easy)
  45. Prices usually rise when demand is greater than supply. (easy)
  46. The printing press helped knowledge spread across Europe. (easy)
  47. Please return your library books before the end of term. (easy)
  48. Vaccination programmes have prevented millions of serious illnesses. (easy)
  49. Children learn new vocabulary quickly through daily conversation. (easy)
  50. The tutorial will focus on how to structure an essay. (easy)
  51. Overfishing has reduced the number of large predators in the ocean. (medium)
  52. Green spaces make crowded neighbourhoods healthier and more pleasant to live in. (medium)
  53. Inflation reduces the purchasing power of savings over a long period. (medium)
  54. Repeating information at spaced intervals helps people remember it for longer. (medium)
  55. Offshore wind farms often generate more power because the wind is stronger. (medium)
  56. The telegraph transformed long distance communication in the nineteenth century. (medium)
  57. Clean drinking water is essential for preventing the spread of disease. (medium)
  58. Dialects often differ in pronunciation as well as in vocabulary. (medium)
  59. Many cities now encourage cycling by building separate lanes for bicycles. (medium)
  60. Competition between firms generally gives consumers a wider choice of products. (medium)
  61. Stress can interfere with the brain's ability to store new memories. (medium)
  62. Mangrove forests protect coastlines by absorbing the force of storm waves. (medium)
  63. Your dissertation proposal should include a clear research question and timetable. (medium)
  64. Early steam engines were used mainly to pump water out of mines. (medium)
  65. Hand washing remains one of the most effective ways to limit infection. (medium)
  66. Reliable storage remains the main obstacle to wider use of renewable power. (medium)
  67. Plankton form the foundation of marine food chains worldwide. (medium)
  68. Zoning regulations can unintentionally restrict the supply of affordable accommodation. (hard)
  69. Economists distinguish between short term fluctuations and long term structural change. (hard)
  70. Eyewitness testimony is often less reliable than people commonly assume. (hard)
  71. Smaller communities may achieve energy independence through locally managed, decentralised power systems. (hard)
  72. Epidemiologists track the spread of infectious diseases by analysing patterns within populations. (hard)
  73. Written language emerged independently in several regions, according to archaeological evidence. (hard)
  74. Bilingual speakers frequently switch between languages within a single conversation. (hard)
  75. The mechanisation of textile production fundamentally altered working conditions and urban populations. (hard)
  76. Archaeologists carefully brush the soil away from fragile pottery. (easy)
  77. Heavy rain is expected across the region this weekend. (easy)
  78. Farmers usually plant wheat in the autumn or spring. (easy)
  79. The telescope is kept in a dome on the hill. (easy)
  80. Trains carry goods more cheaply than lorries over long distances. (easy)
  81. The brain uses a large share of the body's energy. (easy)
  82. Our new campus building has a bright, open entrance hall. (easy)
  83. Primary schools often begin the day with a reading session. (easy)
  84. Bread is made from flour, water, yeast and salt. (easy)
  85. The moon takes about a month to orbit the Earth. (easy)
  86. Tree rings can reveal how much rain fell in past centuries. (medium)
  87. Excavation of the ancient harbour will continue throughout the summer. (medium)
  88. Droughts have become longer and more frequent in several farming regions. (medium)
  89. Crop rotation helps farmers keep their soil fertile without extra chemicals. (medium)
  90. Schools in rural areas often struggle to recruit experienced teachers. (medium)
  91. Astronomers measure the distance to nearby stars using a method called parallax. (medium)
  92. Thick stone walls keep traditional houses cool during the hottest months. (medium)
  93. Efficient warehouses can shorten the time between ordering and delivery. (medium)
  94. Neurons communicate with one another through tiny chemical and electrical signals. (medium)
  95. Several governments have extended compulsory education by two years. (medium)
  96. Food waste can be reduced through better storage and clearer labelling. (medium)
  97. The bridge was designed to withstand strong winds and heavy traffic. (medium)
  98. Sea ports depend on reliable road and rail connections to inland markets. (medium)
  99. Radiocarbon dating allows researchers to estimate the age of organic remains. (medium)
  100. A sudden drop in air pressure often signals approaching stormy weather. (medium)
  101. Sleep plays an important role in consolidating what we have learned. (medium)
  102. Interdisciplinary collaboration has substantially improved our understanding of prehistoric settlement patterns. (hard)
  103. Monoculture farming leaves entire harvests vulnerable to a single outbreak of disease. (hard)
  104. Policymakers disagree about whether smaller classes genuinely improve long term educational outcomes. (hard)
  105. Distant galaxies show us how the universe looked long ago. (medium)
  106. Sustainable architecture prioritises natural ventilation, durable materials and efficient use of resources. (hard)
  107. Congestion charges are intended to discourage unnecessary journeys by private vehicles. (hard)
  108. Neuroscientists believe the adult brain remains adaptable throughout a person's lifetime. (hard)
  109. Atmospheric moisture, temperature and ocean currents together determine regional climate patterns. (hard)
  110. Disruptions at a single supplier can interrupt production across an entire network. (hard)