Write From Dictation has no useful sentence template because you must reproduce the sentence you hear. The repeatable part is your process: hear meaning groups, hold the sentence skeleton, type what you remember, then restore exact grammar and spelling.
The task appears in PTE Academic and PTE Core. Pearson currently describes a 3 to 5 second sentence that plays once. You type the sentence, and content is based on correct words; partial credit applies. The task contributes to listening and writing. Pearson Academic Listening format Pearson Core Listening format
Listen in chunks
Do not chase each sound separately. Listen for small meaning groups:
The revised timetable / will be available / after Friday’s meeting.
The chunks preserve order and grammar. Notice the subject, verb phrase and time expression. If you take notes, use fast, readable cues rather than trying to write every letter while the audio continues.
Reconstruct in three passes
- Type the words you confidently remember in their original order.
- Use grammar to restore small words, endings and agreement.
- Check spelling and remove words that were not spoken.
Do not replace a heard word with a synonym. “Purchase” may preserve the meaning of “buy”, but dictation requires the actual words.
Original mini-drill
Have someone read each sentence once, or use a text-to-speech tool. Keep the written sentence hidden until you finish.
1. Short sentence
Audio script: The museum closes earlier during winter.
Chunks: The museum / closes earlier / during winter.
Common error: “The museum close early during winter.”
“Museum” is singular, so the verb needs closes. “Earlier” is the comparative form actually spoken; changing it to early loses a word match.
2. Medium sentence
Audio script: Students should submit the revised report before Monday’s tutorial.
Chunks: Students should submit / the revised report / before Monday’s tutorial.
Common error: “Student should submit revised reports before Mondays tutorial.”
The original has plural Students, singular report, the article the, and the possessive Monday’s. Content words alone do not reconstruct the sentence accurately.
3. Longer sentence
Audio script: Although the initial results were promising, the researchers requested additional evidence.
Chunks: Although the initial results / were promising / the researchers requested / additional evidence.
Common error: “Although initial result was promising, researchers request additional evidence.”
Use the plural subject to recover results were. The past tense in the sentence also supports requested. The comma helps readability, but first ensure the word sequence and spellings match what you heard.
What to do when one word is missing
Keep the surrounding order intact. Read the partial sentence silently and ask what grammatical form fits, but do not add several speculative words. For example, “the researchers ___ additional evidence” requires a finite verb, and the rest of the sentence may signal past tense. Grammar narrows the gap; memory must choose the exact word.
A useful review log
Label each mistake by cause:
- missed content word
- lost small grammar word
- wrong singular, plural or tense
- spelling error
- correct words in the wrong order
- added word not present in the audio
Then repeat drills that target the cause. If endings disappear, practise short sentences with clear agreement. If order collapses, reduce note-taking and rehearse phrase chunks aloud after listening.
After restoring content words, read the sentence frame. A singular count noun usually needs a determiner; a finite clause needs a subject and verb; a preposition often introduces a noun phrase. Notes such as “researcher presented findings conference” allow several grammatical sentences: “The researcher presented the findings at the conference” or “A researcher presented findings during the conference.” Only remembered sound can decide the articles and preposition. Use grammar to test possibilities, then choose the wording you actually heard. Do not add decorative words or new ideas.
Compare your reconstructions in the original exercise above word by word with the supplied scripts, then continue with Write from Dictation practice.
Related guides
- Write From Dictation Practice: Original Sentences and Review
- PTE Listening Fill in the Blanks Tips for Prediction and Spelling