1
Helium Gas Storage
Speaker: American English
Plays once, as in the test: no pausing or replay
0:00 / 0:03
0 words · spell-check is off, as in the test
The task
What is Write from Dictation in PTE?
- Recording
- 3–5 seconds: one sentence
- Section
- Part 3: Listening (about 31–39 minutes in PTE Academic)
- Audio
- Plays automatically, once. No pausing or replay
- In the test
- 3–4 items in PTE Academic, at the end of the Listening part
- Skills
- Listening and Writing
Source: Pearson's PTE test-format pages and Score Guides (PTE Academic July 2025, PTE Core January 2026).
Marks
How PTE Write from Dictation is scored
- •Partial credit: one point for each word of the sentence you type and spell correctly.
- •A missing or misspelled word earns nothing for that word; there is no deduction beyond that.
- •Full marks need every word, correctly spelled. British and American spellings are both accepted.
In the test
How many Write from Dictation questions are in the PTE test?
Pearson's PTE Academic Score Guide (July 2025) lists 3–4 Write from Dictation items, the last items of the Listening part. Each counts towards both Listening and Writing.
Two tests
Write from Dictation in PTE Academic vs PTE Core
| PTE Academic | PTE Core | |
|---|---|---|
| Recording | 3–5 seconds, once | The same |
| Marking | One point per correct, correctly spelled word | The same |
Free, no login
PTE Write from Dictation sample question with answer
You will hear a sentence. Type the sentence in the box below exactly as you hear it. Write as much of the sentence as you can. You will hear the sentence only once.
Finished?
Check it for your score, the answer and an explanation and the transcript. Free, no login needed.
From the set Airships and Aeronautical History: attempt all 5 questions free.
Tips
PTE Write from Dictation tips and tricks
- 1
Keep your eyes off the screen while it plays and listen for meaning: a sentence you understood is far easier to rebuild.
- 2
Start typing the moment it ends, while it is still in your short-term memory. Rough first, then fix.
- 3
Rebuild the grammar: check every plural -s, past -ed, article and preposition against the sentence's meaning.
- 4
Check spelling word by word. A word you heard but misspelled scores zero.
- 5
If you lost a word, still type the rest: every correct word is a point.
70+ sets
PTE Write from Dictation practice questions
- Airships and Aeronautical HistoryHelium Gas Storage · Rigid Frame Testing · Cabin Crew Duties · Mooring Mast Operations · Propulsion System Trials5 questions · free, with answers →
- Ancient Olympic TraditionsSacred Truce Proclamation · Training Period Requirements · Equestrian Race Tracks · Prize Olive Wreaths · Ancient Running Events5 questions · free, with answers →
- Anthropology and Cultural TraditionsTraditional Textile Weaving · Seasonal Harvest Ceremonies · Ancestral Pottery Techniques · Nomadic Pastoral Practices4 questions · free, with answers →
- Architecture and Building DesignSustainable Timber Structures · Natural Ventilation Principles · Acoustic Wall Panels · Earthquake Resistant Foundations · Thermal Insulation Materials5 questions · free, with answers →
- Astronomy and Space ScienceObservations of Distant Galaxies · Formation of Rocky Planets · Surface Conditions on Venus · Radio Telescope Operations · Orbits of Frozen Comets5 questions · free, with answers →
- Botanical Gardens and Plant ScienceSeed Vault Preservation · Herbarium Plant Archives · Medicinal Flora Research · Living Plant Collections · Botanical Library Records5 questions · free, with answers →
- Crucible Steel ProductionClay Vessel Composition · Charcoal Fuel Requirements · Sealing Ancient Containers · Cooling Metallic Ingots · Slag Separation Methods5 questions · free, with answers →
- Development of Early BicyclesTimber Frame Construction · Iron Wheel Improvements · Pedal Mechanism Innovations · Early Braking Methods · Popular Riding Academies5 questions · free, with answers →
- Dictionary Making MethodsTracking Word Evolution · Collecting Language Samples · Defining Technical Terms · Phonetic Transcription Rules · Digital Corpus Searches5 questions · free, with answers →
- Digital Technology and SocietyOnline Privacy Protection · Automated Workplace Tools · Virtual Classroom Environments · Social Media Interactions · Smart City Sensors5 questions · free, with answers →
- Early Calculating MachinesMechanical Gear Operation · Stepped Drum Mechanisms · Punched Card Programming · Difference Engine Concept · Sliding Rod Counters5 questions · free, with answers →
- Early Compilations of KnowledgeScholarly Classification Schemes · Alphabetical Reference Volumes · Editorial Team Contributions · Preserving Ancient Manuscripts · Circulation of Printed Folios5 questions · free, with answers →
All 70+ Write from Dictation sets
- Early Photographic Processes: Write from Dictation practice
- Evolution of the Stethoscope: Write from Dictation practice
- Evolution of Zip Fasteners: Write from Dictation practice
- Evolution of Zoological Parks: Write from Dictation practice
- Gas Street Lighting Networks: Write from Dictation practice
- Geology and Natural Hazards: Write from Dictation practice
- Gliders and Early Flight: Write from Dictation practice
- Global Container Shipping Systems: Write from Dictation practice
- Global Tea Cultivation: Write from Dictation practice
- Global Water Resources: Write from Dictation practice
- Helicopter Flight Mechanics: Write from Dictation practice
- Heritage Sites and Visitor Impact: Write from Dictation practice
- Historical Bronze Casting Methods: Write from Dictation practice
- Historical Ink Production Methods: Write from Dictation practice
- History of Ancient Board Games: Write from Dictation practice
- History of Coffee Houses: Write from Dictation practice
- History of Fountain Pens: Write from Dictation practice
- History of Global Transport: Write from Dictation practice
- History of Inventions and Materials: Write from Dictation practice
- History of Playing Cards: Write from Dictation practice
- History of Shorthand Writing: Write from Dictation practice
- History of the Typewriter: Write from Dictation practice
- Lighthouse Engineering and Design: Write from Dictation practice
- Long Distance Running Physiology: Write from Dictation practice
- Map Projections and Cartography: Write from Dictation practice
- Maritime Navigation Instruments: Write from Dictation practice
- Measuring Atmospheric Pressure: Write from Dictation practice
- Medieval Mechanical Clocks: Write from Dictation practice
- Milestones in Early Anaesthesia: Write from Dictation practice
- Modern Public Library Services: Write from Dictation practice
- Music and Fine Arts Studies: Write from Dictation practice
- Origins of Modern Football: Write from Dictation practice
- Origins of Public Museums: Write from Dictation practice
- Parchment and Vellum Production: Write from Dictation practice
- Plant Science and Botany: Write from Dictation practice
- Porcelain Production and History: Write from Dictation practice
- Postal Systems Through History: Write from Dictation practice
- Principles of Hot Air Balloons: Write from Dictation practice
- Principles of Jet Propulsion: Write from Dictation practice
- Printing in East Asia: Write from Dictation practice
- Public Baths and Sanitation: Write from Dictation practice
- Roman Road Construction Methods: Write from Dictation practice
- Semaphore Telegraph Networks: Write from Dictation practice
- Silk Road Commercial Exchanges: Write from Dictation practice
- Sleep Science and Health: Write from Dictation practice
- Stained Glass Window Production: Write from Dictation practice
- Studies in Animal Behaviour: Write from Dictation practice
- The European Potato History: Write from Dictation practice
- The Global Sugar Trade: Write from Dictation practice
- The Historic Spice Trade: Write from Dictation practice
- The History of Chess: Write from Dictation practice
- The History of Chocolate: Write from Dictation practice
- The History of Soap: Write from Dictation practice
- The History of Spectacles: Write from Dictation practice
- The History of the Umbrella: Write from Dictation practice
- The Invention of the Pencil: Write from Dictation practice
- The Marine Chronometer: Write from Dictation practice
- The Natural Ice Trade: Write from Dictation practice
- Traditional Bookbinding Techniques: Write from Dictation practice
- Traditional Glassblowing Techniques: Write from Dictation practice
- Watermill Engineering and History: Write from Dictation practice
- Windmills and Mechanical Energy: Write from Dictation practice
- Workplace and Organisational Psychology: Write from Dictation practice
Practise against the clock
One type at a time builds accuracy. A timed sectional test or full mock adds the real timings and a score on Pearson's 10–90 scale.
Try a free PTE mock →Write from Dictation: frequently asked questions
Does spelling count in Write from Dictation?+
Yes. Pearson gives a point only for a correct, correctly spelled word, so a misspelled word scores zero for that word. British and American spellings are both accepted.
How do I remember long sentences in Write from Dictation?+
Listen for meaning, not single words, and hold the sentence as two or three chunks (subject, action, the rest). Type it straight away, then rebuild the small words such as articles and plural endings.
How many Write from Dictation questions are in PTE?+
Pearson's PTE Academic Score Guide (July 2025) lists 3–4 Write from Dictation items, at the end of the Listening part.
How do I practise Write from Dictation online for free?+
Play a sentence from any set above once, type what you hear and check it: it is marked instantly, one point per correct word.
How is Write from Dictation scored?+
One point per correct, correctly spelled word of the sentence. A ten-word sentence is worth ten points, so getting most of it right still scores well.
Does Write from Dictation affect Writing as well as Listening?+
Yes. Pearson's Score Guide counts it towards both Listening and Writing, which is why it matters so much despite being short.
Can I play the sentence again?+
No. Each sentence plays once, as in every Listening item.
Do capital letters and full stops count?+
The score is based on the words. Still, write a normal sentence with a capital letter and full stop: it helps you check the grammar.
Do I need an account?+
No. Every set is free to attempt in full without a login: check your answers for an instant score, with the answer and explanation for each question, the transcript for listening items and model answers for speaking and writing. Create a free account to save your score, take full mock tests and get a BandLadder AI score for speaking and writing.
Other question types
Practise another PTE type
- PTE Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks practice
- PTE Reading: Fill in the Blanks practice
- PTE Multiple Choice, Single Answer practice
- PTE Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers practice
- PTE Reorder Paragraphs practice
- PTE Summarize Written Text practice
- PTE Write Essay practice
- PTE Write Email practice
- PTE Read Aloud practice
- PTE Describe Image practice
- PTE Respond to a Situation practice
- PTE Repeat Sentence practice
- PTE Answer Short Question practice
- PTE Summarize Spoken Text practice
- PTE Highlight Incorrect Words practice
- PTE Listening: Fill in the Blanks practice
- PTE Listening: Multiple Choice, Single Answer practice
- PTE Listening: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers practice
- PTE Retell Lecture practice
- PTE Summarize Group Discussion practice
- All PTE practice questions
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