Why long Write from Dictation sentences go wrong, and what still scores
Seven or eight words you can type almost as an echo. Past that, typing word for word falls behind the speaker, and most learners either chase the sentence from its first word until it is gone, or type a loose paraphrase. Both throw away points that were easy to keep.
So a long sentence is a list of separate points, not one prize. Every word is worth the same, but not every word is equally easy to recover. Content words (nouns, main verbs, adjectives, numbers, and words like across, before, almost) carry the meaning and cannot be guessed afterwards. Small words (the, a, of, have, to, than, by) are hard to hear, but many are demanded by the grammar around them.
The young eels driftcontent across the ocean forsmall almost a year before they reach European riverscontent.
- → Eleven of the sixteen words carry the meaning. Lose one and no rule brings it back.
- → Four of the other five are demanded by grammar: articles for the singular ocean and year, a subject (they) after "before", "for" with a length of time. Only the opening "The" needs your ear.
Premium sheet · 5 more sections
- How to remember long Write from Dictation sentences: type notes
- Rebuilding the small words from grammar
- PTE Write from Dictation long sentence examples
- Write from Dictation tips: spelling, extra words and the final check
- Your turn: rebuild the long sentence
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Questions
FAQ
How is Write from Dictation scored in PTE?+
With partial credit: 1 point for each correct word spelled correctly, 0 for each incorrect or misspelled word. It counts for Listening and Writing (Academic guide p. 44; Core guide p. 38).
How many Write from Dictation questions are in the PTE exam?+
3–4 items in both PTE Academic and PTE Core (Academic guide p. 44; Core guide p. 38).
How do I remember long sentences in Write from Dictation?+
Do not hold every word in your head. Type the content words as shorthand while the audio plays, then expand them and rebuild the small words from grammar (BandLadder advice).
Does Write from Dictation have negative marking?+
No deduction is listed for this task, unlike Highlight Incorrect Words (Academic guide p. 44). But words the speaker did not say earn nothing, so do not pad your answer.
Does sequence matter in Write from Dictation?+
The Score Guide gives the per-word rule but not how word order is matched. Type the words in the order you heard them anyway; your notes keep that order (BandLadder advice).
Does spelling matter in Write from Dictation?+
Yes. A misspelled word scores 0, the same as a wrong one (Academic guide p. 44). Watch long content words and endings such as -s and -ed.
Sources
- PTE Academic Score Guide for Test Takers (July 2025): p. 44 (Write from Dictation: items, scoring, skills; Highlight Incorrect Words and Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers deductions)
- PTE Core Score Guide for Test Takers (January 2026): p. 38 (Write from Dictation: items, scoring, skills)
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