PTE Write from Dictation: Complete Guide | PTE Academic

Write from Dictation is the last task in PTE Academic, and it is one of the most valuable for its size. You hear a short sentence once, and you type it exactly as you heard it. It tests your listening and your spelling together, which is why it counts toward two of your scores.

The task is short, but small mistakes add up because every correct word earns a point. With a simple method, listening for the whole sentence and typing it accurately, it becomes a reliable way to pick up marks at the end of the test. This guide explains how it works, how it is scored, and how to capture every word.

Table of Contents

• What is the "Write from Dictation" question type?
• How "Write from Dictation" is scored
• Tips to do well on "Write from Dictation" questions
• How to practice "Write from Dictation" questions
• Frequently asked questions
• Conclusion

What is the "Write from Dictation" question type?

Write from Dictation is a listening and writing task in PTE Academic. You hear a short recorded sentence, usually only 3 to 5 seconds long, and you type it into a response box exactly as you heard it. According to Pearson, you can only listen to the recording once, so you must catch the sentence the first time.

The official Pearson score guide states that a test includes 3 to 4 Write from Dictation items, and the task counts toward both your Listening score and your Writing score, which makes it well worth practicing.

Here is a real example from our practice set. You hear one short sentence, played once, and type it exactly:

Sentence: "Scientists are discovering new links between genes and diseases."

You score for each word you type correctly and in the right place. If you wrote "Scientists are discovering new links between gene and disease," you would still earn most of the points, but lose marks on the two misspelled or changed words. Typing the full sentence accurately earns every available point.

For more worked examples like this one, see our Write from Dictation practice questions with answers, which cover the full range of contexts and patterns you may face.

How "Write from Dictation" is scored

Write from Dictation uses partial credit. The official Pearson score guide states that you get a point for each word spelled correctly, so you do not need a perfect sentence to score well.

This is the key to the task: even if you miss one or two words, every correct word still earns its point. There is no penalty for a wrong word, so it is always worth typing as much of the sentence as you can remember.

The total feeds both your Listening and your Writing scores, and the task is marked automatically by the computer.

Tips to do well on "Write from Dictation" questions

Listen to the whole sentence

Focus on the meaning of the complete sentence, not just the first few words. A sentence you understood is far easier to remember than a string of separate words. Because the audio plays once, give it your full attention the first and only time.

Use quick notes or shorthand

As you listen, you can jot down the first letters or short forms of the words to hold the sentence in memory. Then type the full sentence from your notes. This helps with longer sentences, where the last words can slip away before you start typing.

Type every word you remember

Because each correct word scores and there is no penalty, write down all the words you caught, even if you are missing one or two. A partial sentence still earns points for the correct words, so never leave the box empty or stop halfway.

Check your spelling

A word only scores if it is spelled correctly, so spelling matters as much as hearing. Take a moment to check tricky words and common endings like plurals. Correcting one or two spellings before you submit can add easy points.

Keep the word order

Type the words in the order you heard them. The sentence is short and grammatical, so if a word seems out of place, trust the natural order of English. Keeping the correct sequence helps your words match what was said.

Do not add extra words

Write only the words in the sentence, without adding your own. Extra words will not help your score and can make your sentence harder to match. Aim to reproduce exactly what you heard, no more and no less.

How to practice "Write from Dictation" questions

Write from Dictation improves quickly with practice, because the skill is specific: hold a short spoken sentence in memory and type it accurately. The useful feedback is seeing exactly which words you missed or misspelled.

On Arno you can practice real Write from Dictation sentences with audio and get instant scoring on every word, showing exactly which words you missed so you can win those points back next time. Regular practice trains both your listening and your spelling.

Click here to create your free account and start practicing Write from Dictation.

Frequently asked questions

How is PTE Write from Dictation scored?

It uses partial credit. You get a point for each word you type correctly and spell correctly, so even a partial sentence scores. There is no penalty for a wrong word.

Does Write from Dictation count for Listening and Writing?

Yes. It counts toward both your Listening score and your Writing score, which makes it one of the most valuable tasks for its size.

How many times do I hear the sentence?

Only once. The recording plays a single time and you cannot replay it, so you need to listen carefully the first and only time.

How many Write from Dictation items are on PTE Academic?

A PTE Academic test includes 3 to 4 Write from Dictation items, according to the Pearson score guide. It is the last task in the test.

Does spelling matter?

Yes. A word only earns its point if it is spelled correctly, so checking your spelling before you submit can add easy points.

What if I forget part of the sentence?

Type the words you remember in the right order. Because each correct word scores and there is no penalty, a partial sentence still earns points, so never leave the box empty.

Conclusion

Write from Dictation is small but powerful, feeding both your Listening and Writing scores. Listen to the whole sentence, hold it with quick notes, and type every word you remember in the right order. Then check your spelling, because only correctly spelled words count.

With partial credit and no penalty, every word you get right is a point earned. Practice short sentences regularly to build your memory and spelling, and this final task becomes a dependable score booster.