Hi guys! I'm a follower of this thread for the past months getting some insights, tips and what to expect on test day. Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa lahat ng nagshare ng knowledge and experiences nila dito sa thread, very helpful indeed.
I gave it a try last Monday and unexpectedly, I got a superior on my 1st take: L=86, R=90, S=90, W=90. The result was released same day. I didn't expect na makakasuperior ako kasi admittedly, may mga mali ako sa speaking (repeat sentence at answer short question) tapos marami akong hindi sigurado sa reading at listening. Nevertheless, I'm thankful na nakuha ko pa rin yung desired score. 🙂
It's time na ako naman magshare ng inputs ko. 🙂
<b class="Bold">Review Materials:</b>
PTE Tutorials App (sample questions and mock exam)
E2 Language (particularly sa describe image)
www.pteexampreparation.com (mostly for essay writing and summarize written text)
<b class="Bold">Strategy:</b>
Allot a significant amount of time to practice. Focus and understand everything during practice questions. Alamin yung madalas na nagiging mali sa lahat ng part ng exam then focus ka doon para maitama nyo yun, very particular ito sa pronunciation, fluency and grammar.
Try the free mock test of PTE Tutorials (desktop based exam) para maging familiar sa flow ng exam at hindi mabigla sa test day. Also consider the time pressure, challenge your self and always give your best shot kahit sa mock exam.
<b class="Bold">Speaking:</b>
Read Aloud - Practice. Wag magmadali pero wag din sobrang bagal, be clear sa pagsasalita and be confident. Kung may time na mabulol ka, let it go and just continue. Understand the statement para makuha mo yung dapat na tone at kung anong dapat ma-emphasize. Wag kalimutan mag-pause sa mga punctuation marks.
Repeat Sentence - Gaya ng natutunan ko dito, i write the first letter of each of the words na sasabihin ng speaker at focus sa pinakikinggan.
Describe image - Practice. use the magic templates na nandito sa thread and yung strategy ni E2 language.
Retell Lecture - Practice. again, use the magic templates na nandito sa thread. naging effective saken dito, get the main subject, note down 2 to 3 statements, then yun na ang isagot using the template.
Answer Short question - answer as many questions as you can. kung hindi alam ang sagot, alamin. importante dito yung maging familiar ka sa tanong at sa sagot just in case na lumabas ulit during exam. basically, stock knowledge ang foundation nito.
<b class="Bold">Writing:</b>
Summarize Written Text - read and understand first. may mga given templates din dito pero i choose to summarize it my own way. paraphrasing will be helpful dito. wag kalimutan na 1 sentence lang ito, usually around 40 to 50 words ang nagagawa ko.
Essay - Practice, practice, practice. Again, may templates na available dito na sinunod ko rin. keep an eye on the number of words 200-300 lang dapat. check on your grammar, punctuation marks, and spelling.
<b class="Bold">Reading:</b>
Multiple fill in the blanks - hindi ko alam kung gaano kaimporante ito pero based sa naging experience ko sa mock test, sobrang lakas kumain ng oras nito. dinisregard ko yung mga sentences na wala naman blank at nagfocus ako dun sa mga sentences na may blanks lang. kung hindi ko maintindihan yung statement, that's the time na babasahin ko yung sentence before baka makatulong sa pagpili ng sagot.
Fill in the blanks - practice. read and understand.
Multiple choice (multiple answer/single answer) - read the instructions first! make sure na single answer o multiple answer and sasagutan. again, practice. read and understand. makakatulong dito ang process of elimination. by the way, understand the question as well.
Re-order paragraph - get the topic sentence first tapos hanapin ang linking words. mahirap pero makukuha sa tiyaga. practice. practice. practice.
<b class="Bold">Listening:</b>
Summarize Spoken Text - Almost the same strategy with re-tell lecture, wala lang conclusion. mga 2 to 3 key points ang sinusulat ko depende kung within 50-70 words pa.
Fill in the blanks - type na agad diretso sa screen. use the "tab" key para mabilis makapag switch ng blank.
Multiple choice (multiple answer/single answer) - again, read the instructions first! same strategy with reading pero this time, focus and understand the audio. bago magstart ang recording, scan the answers as fast as you can pero once the audio start, all out focus na sa sinasabi para maintindihan. again, process of elimination ulit ang makakatulong dito. by the way, understand the question as well.
Highlight incorrect words - i follow the transcript using the cursor, click once meron mismatch sa lecture at sa transcript. kung may ma-miss, wag magpanic at proceed lang sa binabasa at pinakikinggan. wag mawala sa focus.
Highlight correct summary - Scan the answers first as quick as you can pero again, once the audio starts to play focus na sa audio. You can take down notes on the key words. Process of elimination is also applicable here.
Select Missing Word - Listen carefully and understand the audio. Understand the message what the speaker is trying to convey.
Write from Dictation - this is very important. magtira ng sapat na oras para sa last part ng test na ito. Similar sa repeat sentence ang naging strategy ko. Write the first letter of each word. Listen carefully and understand the sentence. You may type the words as the audio plays if you can type quickly.
<b class="Bold">Test day tips:</b>
Pwedeng magdala ng jacket dahil medyo malamig sa test center (sa makati) pero be aware of the material of fabric, yung isang kasabay ko pinatanggal jacket nya kasi ang material na gamit is parang sa mga windbreakers na maingay kapag nagkiskisan yung fabric.
Maging kalmado, hinga ng malalim before/during the exam. makakatulong yan.
Make sure na functional ang headset bago magstart.
Magdala ng tubig at snack in case mauhaw at magutom.
Lastly, maximize the free information na available dito sa thread. A lot of people have already shared their knowledge here which may also be useful for you. Sa naging experience ko, nag tweak ako ng mga templates na nabasa ko dito kung saan ako magiging komportable lalo na sa mga words ng readily available templates na i find difficult to pronounce.
More than anything else, always pray. 🙂