Hello everyone! Been a silent reader here since Day 1 of my PTE test preparation. Gathering all of those tips/tricks/experiences to help me reach my desired score on the first try. Para sakin kasi mabigat yung $210 if ever hindi ko makukuha yung score na kelangan ko. Anyways, I would to thank each and everyone who contributed to this community and sharing their insights to help future and ongoing test takers. I would like to do the same and share with you what I've learned from this.
Here is the score I got all thanks to you guys!
Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig pagbukas ko nung results. Alam ko may sablay ako sa ilang items pero alam ko din na pinaka-best ko na yung binigay ko. Siguro malaking factor din while taking the exam is your faith in yourself. Kapag nawala na yung doubt or kaba. Sky is the limit na.
Hopefully, this inspires someone to push on and know that nothing is impossible. Kung kaya niya kaya ko din.
Anyways, here are the strategies I've collected and used throughout a whole month of preparation.
SPEAKING/WRITING
RA - Practice with background noise. Importanteng sanay kana sa distraction kasi maingay talaga during test day. Look for tutorials on how to read professionally parang newscaster. May konting confidence boost kapag feeling mo nagrereport ka sa TV.
RS - Pinaka-mahirap lalo na kapag may background noise pero kelangan mo parin mag practice ng may ingay para masanay ka mag focus sa headset. Listen carefully and get as much content as you can. I know for sure may 1 or 2 missing/incorrect words ako. But I filled in a few words just to maintain fluency. Don't lose focus. Kung magkamali ka man, wag mo na balikan or isipin and be ready for the next item. Kapag inisip mo lang yung mali. Lalo kang mahihirapan sa next item or mawala yung focus mo.
DI and RTL - Jimmyssem's template all the way. Check his Youtube videos.
ASQ - Kung sakaling hindi mo alam yung sagot, ulitin mo lang yung keyword sa tanung or guess the answer.
SWT - Check template from Singh PTE Classes (Youtube). Just don't copy the exact words on the question. Try to restructure the sentence but keep the keywords (nouns, pronouns, etc...). 5-75 words limit.
ESSAY - E2 Template. 1st paragraph = introduction of the topic, 2nd paragraph = first keyword on the question, 3rd paragraph = Additional info on 2nd, 4th paragraph = conclusion or re-affirm all key information you have on both 2nd and 3rd paragraph. Mind your spelling and grammar. It is important to reread what you wrote at least twice to catch any errors. 200-300 words limit.
READING
Multiple Choice items - regardless kung multiple or single answer, only give 2 minutes each question to give you more time on more important tasks. Isa lang pinili ko kahit multiple answer kasi may negative markings dito.
FIB - In both R&W or Reading, practice reading the entire sentence on where the blank is located. Tapos basahin mo ng malakas, yung nadidinig mo sarili mo. Kasi dito makakatulong na mapili mo yung correct na word para sa sentence. Parang mas obvious na mali yung ibang items sa drop down or sa list kapag binabasa mo sya ng malakas.
Re-Order Paragraph - Read each box and look for the one na complete yung thought and doesn't really need anything else. That is your first answer. Then hanapin mo yung next box na same ng thought as the first. Almost everytime, laging magkasunod yung thought nila. Then process of elimination kana sa rest of the options. Tapos basahin mo ng isang bagsak yung nare-order mo na to make sure tama yung thought nung paragraph at hindi magulo.
LISTENING
Multiple Choice Items - same lang sa Reading. Don't focus to much on this kasi kapag naubusan ka ng time sa WFD mas malaki bawas sa overall score mo kasi isa sa pinaka importanteng item ang WFD sa may pinaka-huling part ng exam.
FIB & SMW & HCS - Listen carefully lang on the missing words or the key notes. Hindi naman na maingay kung nasa reading or listening part na lahat ng kasama mo sa test area kaya madali na mag focus dito. Pero wag mo ubusin oras mo kasi nga nasa huli ang pinaka important.
HIW - Isunod mo yung mouse cursor sa passage word for word habang nagsasalita yung recording. And also basahin mo din yung passage para madali mo macatch yung incorrect na word sa passage.
WFD - Ulitin ko ulit kahit nakakasawa na (lol), pinaka importanteng task wag hayaang maubusan ng oras. Ang technique na ginawa ko. Sa countdown muna ako naka tingin tapos nung 2 seconds nalang sa keyboard na ako tumingin para lang sa hand eye coordination ko at makuha ko yung first few words then yung rest na ng sentence madali na maalala kasi yung ang huli mong nadinig. Usually ang namimiss ko dito nung nagpractice ako is yung middle part ng sentence.. pero yung last part laging tama kaya dun ako nag focus ng maigi sa first half of the sentence. Also wag mo intindihin spelling habang nag type and listen. I-correct mo nalang kapag tapos na yung recording kasi nawawala ka sa focus kapag nagcocorrect ka ng spelling habang nag type and listen.
Practice time = 1month / 2-4 hours everyday
20 items per question type (apeuni weekly predictions) everyday
1 full mock test (79score and language academy) everyday
Ayun hopefully may nashare ako na makatulong at hindi kayo lalong naguluhan. Mahirap talaga pero sobrang worth it kapag nakuha nyo yung desired score nyo. Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam.
Alright, thank you for reading and good luck! 🙂
