PTE listening task guide

PTE Highlight Incorrect Words: format, scoring and practice

Highlight Incorrect Words tests whether you can track a transcript against one-play audio. Correct selections earn credit, but incorrect selections lose points, so disciplined clicking matters.

Practise Highlight Incorrect Words See all PTE tasks
Task overview

Highlight Incorrect Words at a glance

Prompt15-50 seconds of audio
Preparation10-second transcript preview
ResponseNo separate item timer
Skills scoredListening and Reading
Test-day flow

How Highlight Incorrect Words works

  1. A transcript appears and you have about 10 seconds to skim it before the audio.
  2. A 15-50 second recording plays once while you follow the displayed words.
  3. You select words in the transcript that differ from what the speaker says.
Scoring

What your response is scored on

Correct selection

Each transcript word correctly identified as different earns one point.

Incorrect selection

Each word selected incorrectly deducts one point, so guessing can reduce the item score.

Integrated skills

The task contributes to both Listening and Reading.

Use scores as direction, not certainty

Pearson does not publish the complete scoring algorithm or raw-to-scale conversion. PrepEx feedback and 10-90 scores are practice estimates, not official PTE results.

Original example

Sample-style transcript task

Highlight Incorrect Words Sample task
Plays once

Thesurveyfoundthatcommuterspreferredshorterservicesduringtheeveningperiod.

This is an original PrepEx example designed to demonstrate the response format. It is not an official Pearson test item.

Practice method

How to improve at Highlight Incorrect Words

  1. Use preview time to identify the topic and visually locate content words.
  2. Track the transcript with the cursor and click only after hearing a clear mismatch.
  3. Keep moving with the recording; one uncertain word should not break your place in the text.
Practice this task type

Learn the strategy here, then practise filtered Highlight Incorrect Words items in the Practice Hub.

Practise Highlight Incorrect Words Back to all PTE task types
Focused session

A 15-minute Highlight Incorrect Words practice loop

01

Preview the rules

Re-read the timing, scoring traits and common mistakes on this guide before opening practice.

02

Run focused attempts

Open the filtered Practice Hub view and complete several Highlight Incorrect Words attempts without switching task types.

03

Review and repeat

Use your activity history and target plan to decide whether to repeat this task or move to the next weak family.

Continue the loop

Stay on this task for a short focused set, then review whether it should remain your priority.

Run focused attempts Review attempts Update target plan
Avoidable errors

Common mistakes

  • Reading ahead so far that you lose alignment with the audio
  • Clicking every word that merely sounds unclear
  • Taking notes instead of following the transcript
  • Ignoring the one-point penalty for incorrect selections
Accuracy and source

Checked against Pearson's current format

Task format, timing and published scoring traits were checked against Pearson's current PTE Academic test-format guidance on June 23, 2026. Pearson remains the final authority and may update the test.

Primary source: Pearson PTE Academic test format.

All PTE task typesBrowse the complete 22-task library by section. How PTE scoring worksUnderstand partial credit, score traits and the 10-90 scale. Practise Highlight Incorrect WordsGo directly to matching items in the PTE Practice Hub.
PTE Academic is a trademark of Pearson Education Ltd. PrepEx is independent of Pearson. PrepEx scores are practice estimates, not official Pearson scores.