Okay, so this is my way of giving back to those people who helped me thru this thread. I will share my experiences before and during the exam last Oct 12, 2pm. Please don't find this post mayabang, as that is not my intention. I hope this post will help other future PTE passers. 🙂
For the PREPARATION:
I enrolled to a PTE review class here in Makati
I purchased Gold Kit (btw, I kinda selling my unused 2nd mock test, so let me know if you are interested 🙂)
I watched YouTube videos, search for videos of <b class="Bold">Jay</b> from<b class="Bold"> E2 Language PTE</b> Take time finishing and practicing with Jay as he really helped me with the techniques and stuffs. His methods are very helpful, like for describe image, writing essay, repeat sentence. Always have your pen and paper ready so you can write down his tips and answer his online mock tests. 40mins up to 2hours yung isang video nya, so you might need lots of caffeine for this.
Medyo OA, but it's better than me repeating the exam. Did it one time big time and I tell you, it's worth it.
The key here is really familiarizing yourself with the test proper, its sequence (kasi nga may time limit, so dapat alam mo kelan mo hahawakan yung pen and paper mo and/or kelan mo need magtype sa keyboard. You should not waste a single minute.), time limit, etc.
For the actual EXAM:
Once you're inside the testing center, no time to make last minute review. You will be asked immediately to put your things in the locker provided. No need to bring anything inside except for your passport. All accessories, including watch, earrings, necklace, etc. will be put inside the locker. All pockets will be turned and shown to the proctor. Make sure you empty your pockets- no coins, tissue, whatsoever. All phones and digital devices will be turned off, you have to show to the proctor that it is really off. Don't try to cheat, else they might charge you for misconduct and prevent you from taking future exams.
My exam was supposedly at 2pm. I arrived 12.30-ish. I lost track of time, but I finished and got my things from locker around 2.45pm. so I realized we started earlier than scheduled- yes it's possible so it's better to arrive early.
SPEAKING- All of you will be speaking at the SAME TIME. SOBRANG INGAY, parang palengke. 😢 But try not to be intimidated by them. kasi I think ang galing nila mageenglish. sobrang slang and anlakas ng boses tlaga. Instead, calm yourself and try to focus and start speaking (for read aloud) as clearly as possible and at your own normal pace. I don't think shouting is the key here. I didn't shout. I stayed calm and relaxed. Alam ko may mali ako sa repeat sentence (and other parts of the exam) but I managed to get 90 for speaking. Yes, just speak normal and clear. If you think you made mistake somewhere in the middle, forget it and continue. marami pang way para bumawi ng scores. 🙂
WRITING- I got 3 summarize written texts and 1 essay. Essay topic for me is about the positive and negative consequences of information revolution brought by mass communication to human and the society. Key here is practice. Remember paragraph structures from E2 Language. Search something in Google like "PTE academic actual essay topics" I happened to find this blog where there is list of past actual topics with inputs on how to write them. This will somehow give you an idea on how to construct essay.
READING- I can say na mas madali ng konti yung actual exam compared sa mga mock tests from review center, gold kit and online mock test videos. Yep, Lalo na yung reorder paragraph, remember yung subject-verb-object ng e2 Language. You will need your prowess in vocabulary here 🙂 read dictionary if you need to.
10-min break is optional. I didn't take it but just took 2mins to breath and calm myself before proceeding to Listening. It will clear your mind and refresh you. 🙂
LISTENING- Fix the volume of your headset if recording is too loud, else you will not hear it clearly. For Mul choice-single and/or multiple answer, read and understand the question quickly first (same apply for reading exam din pala). So you somehow get the idea on what you need from the text or recording. Again, if you make mistake, just forget and move on. Key here is focus while listening.
And of course, pray. Pray whenever you are able. (I wore red shirt and red underwear btw. HAHAHA) Computer is not strict and will consider some of your mistakes. Also, I think I have a diff set of exam compared to my seatmates so don't get confused when you hear something that's diff from your answer.
My scores are: S-90, W-86, R-85, L-90, OBS-89. Enabling skills are all 90, except for spelling w/c is 89.
Message me if you have any more questions. I am more than willing to answer them 🙂
Hope this post help. Thank you and God bless!