Hi Everyone,
Would like to share my very simple tips and techniques sa Exam for your info and guidance. Some of these I gathered on this forum, some from my personal research, while some from doing experiments with the PTE Practice exams. Hope it helps.
PART 1. Speaking and Writing
A. Read Aloud
Nung nagtake ako ng Practice Test A around 2 weeks before the exam, kala ko okay na yung speaking skills ko. I was disappointed when I received my scores sa Speaking, 76 lang. Pronunciation ko was 79, and Oral Fluency was at 66. So nagmuni muni ako ano ba ang kulang ko, e relaxed lang yund speed ko at pagkatanda ko napronounce ko namang mabuti yung mga words. Then I posited it must be my Accent as I used the natural Filipino Accent, so I devised an experiment, dun sa Practice Test B ko, I spoke with an American twang, and , I scored 90. Another thing, please read on SCHWA phonetics. Maiintindihan nyo paano ipronounce yung words in American accent. Then click next agad.
B. Repeat Sentence
Same lang, just close your eyes, use your memory cache, and listen to the words being spoken, then say the words exactly as you hear it. No need to write the whole sentence down. Then click next agad.
C. Describe Image
I used a template.
1st sentence: Pag single graph, say "This graph shows the (then read the title of the graph), kapag 2 or more graphs naman, say "This graph compares the (then read the title of the graph). Ganun din kung Table naman or 2 or 3 separate graphs.
2nd Sentence: The horizontal axis represents the (Value) from XXX to XXX.
3rd Sentence: The vertical axis is expressed in XXXX and is measured in increments of XXX at each level.
Optional 4th Sentence: Read the footnote on where the data came from, for example, "The data was collected by the United Nations World Food Programme in their paper "TITLE OF THE PAPER".
Lahat yan binasa mo lang sa graph, di kailangang magisip. Jan pa lang 30 seconds na naubos mo. Then yung 5th sentence mo, describe mo lang trend na nakikita mo sa graph, is it rising, is it falling, or both. Then 6th sentence mo say the highest and the lowest figures. Timer ends. Click next agad.
D. Re-Tell Lecture
Listen carefully. Write down the key points of the lecture. Start your summary with this:
"The speaker expatiates on the topic of blah blah blah....". Use synonyms lang nung kung ano yung mga sinulat mong words. Tuloy tuloy lang na parang binabasa mo lang yung ga sinulat mo. Mind your grammar (usually past tense) and pronunciation, American Accent pa rin ako dito. The more technical terms, the better. Then click next agad.
E. Answer short question
Just a single, clear answer. Then click next agad.
F. Summarize Written Text (I got 3)
Read the whole sentence and understand the context, usually, yung key summary nagtatago sa 1st and last sentences, but you need to grab tidbits of GENERALIZED info from the body, a few words will do. Paraphrase lang, use synonyms, and never use it again in your succeeding choice of words. Did an experiment as well on this. Ang tip ko, write one cohesive sentence using conjunctions, use up 45-55 words. Then click next na agad. Para di ka kapusin ng oras sa Write Essay.
G. Write Essay ( I received 1)
You need a great 3 liner introduction. Here's my template.
1st Sentence: The (topic) is undoubtedly/undeniably a blah blah blah in our society (just paraphrase the question).
2nd Sentence: The question on whether XXXXX is blah blah blah is an interesting/complex issue, upon which opinion varies greatly. In this essay I will discuss the good and bad points/advantages and disadvantages/pros and cons/why I totally agree/disagree with the blah blah blah and will cite examples of XXX ( only if you are being asked to give examples).
Then sa body, its up to you, write anything you like, just remember to use 2 paragraphs one for the good/pros/advantages, and the second one for the bad/cons/disadvantages. Kung agree or disagree lang, then 1 paragraph will do, just detail your argument agreeing to the issue. Dito pa lang nasa 260 words ka na.
Conclusion:
In Conclusion, (say the benefit of the issue at hand), but it must also be blah blah. mga 25-30 words to. In total, use up more than 285 words. I usually write 299 words.