Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
Blank answers task by task
From the Score Guide and Pearson's format pages:
| Type of task | Blank or silent answer | Guessing |
|---|---|---|
| Correct/incorrect (Answer Short Question, Highlight Correct Summary, Multiple Choice Single Answer, Select Missing Word) | 0 | No penalty for a wrong guess |
| Per-blank or per-word (Fill in the Blanks, Write from Dictation) | 0 for each empty gap or missing word | No penalty for a wrong word |
| Negatively marked (Multiple Choice Multiple Answers, Highlight Incorrect Words) | 0 | Each wrong choice costs 1 point, down to a minimum of 0 |
| Spoken tasks | No credit for no response | Not applicable |
| Writing tasks | Too few words scores 0 for Form, and the answer gets nothing | Not applicable |
You cannot come back later
The Test Taker Handbook says you cannot go back to previous questions to amend your answers. Leaving an item to return to at the end does not work in PTE; whatever is on screen when you click Next is your answer.
In speaking tasks there is no blank to leave. Pearson's tips say that if you wait more than three seconds after the microphone opens, the recording stops and you lose the chance to answer.
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When to answer anyway
Because correct/incorrect and per-blank items have no penalty for a wrong answer, an informed guess can only help there. On the two negatively marked task types, a guess that turns out wrong cancels a correct choice, so choose only options you are fairly sure of. A blank and a net-zero answer score the same.
Frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking for blank answers in PTE?+
No. Blanks score zero. Only wrong selections on Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers and Highlight Incorrect Words cost points, and those items cannot go below zero.
Can I skip a PTE question and return to it?+
No. The handbook says you cannot go back to previous questions.
What if I say nothing in Describe Image?+
No credit is given for no response, and the recording closes after three seconds of silence.
Should I guess in Fill in the Blanks?+
Pearson scores each correct word with no penalty for wrong ones, so a reasonable guess cannot lower the score.
Keep reading
Related
- PTE negative marking: Highlight Incorrect Words
- Can you change your answer in PTE?
- What happens if you stop speaking for 3 seconds
- All 3112 guides
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