Understanding the Listening Fill in the Blanks Task in PTE Academic, UKVI & Core

The Listening: Fill in the Blanks task sits at the heart of the PTE Listening section. It checks our listening skills, spelling, and our ability to spot academic words in context. We must understand single words and how they fit into each sentence. Getting strong at this task lifts our listening and writing, helpful for school and daily communication.
Note: This task adds marks to both Listening and Writing in PTE Core. In PTE Academic and UKVI, it adds marks only to Listening.

What is the Listening Fill in the Blanks Task?

  • We listen to a 30 to 60-second audio recording, and it plays only once.
  • You have to type and fill in missing words in a transcript, which is shown on screen
  • You need to take care of spellings as this is essential for scoring in Writing
  • This task appears 2–3 times in the Listening section

This task tests your ability to:

  • Recognize spoken words and phrases in academic contexts
  • Understand the meaning in context
  • Accurately spell and type words quickly and correctly
  • Identify content words that carry key meaning
  • You can only hear the recording once, so focused attention and quick typing are essential.
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Types of Audio in the Listening Fill in the Blanks PTE Task

The recordings usually come from academic contexts and use a neutral or formal tone. They can include:
Lectures or Presentations
Listen for structured ideas, definitions, and examples
Example topics: Social psychology, Global health, Environmental science
Narratives or Descriptions
Focus on key events or descriptive details
Example topics: Scientific discoveries, Historical accounts, Cultural traditions
Explanatory or Instructional Talk
Talks that explain processes, methods, or cause and effect
Example topics: Data analysis, Technology change, Teaching methods

Fill In The Blanks

In this task, you will see a text displayed on the screen. You are required to read the text aloud clearly and naturally. You will have 35 seconds to complete your reading, so focus on maintaining clarity, proper pronunciation, and a natural flow.

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Tips to Ace the PTE Listening Fill in the Blanks

Listen with Focus and Read Along
Skim the transcript and spot the blanks. Then listen and type the words as you hear them.
Prioritize Spelling and Precision
Only exact spelling earns points. Any misspelling gets zero.
Take Brief Notes if Helpful
Write quick keywords or sound hints during the audio, then complete the blanks right after.
Do Not Guess Wildly
If unsure, use the nearby words to make a smart, context-based choice.
Practice Typing While You Listen
Build muscle memory for common academic words, with speed and accuracy.

How to Tackle Listening: Fill in the Blanks in PTE

A simple plan helps us catch the right words and use time well.

Step-by-Step Strategy

Previewing Transcript while listening to the audio
Spot blanks immediately before the audio starts
Typing While Listening
Stay with the audio flow, you can fix spellings later on
Using Context
Guessing logically if a word is missed while audio is played and while typing
Checking Spellings
Only exact spellings will help you score
Reviewing your answers quickly
If the time allows it, check the coherence of your transcript and your spellings for correct formation
Previewing Transcript while listening to the audio
Spot blanks immediately before the audio starts
Typing While Listening
Stay with the audio flow, you can fix spellings later on
Using Context
Guessing logically if a word is missed while audio is played and while typing
Checking Spellings
Only exact spellings will help you score
Reviewing your answers quickly
If the time allows it, check the coherence of your transcript and your spellings for correct formation
By familiarizing yourself with various audio types and practicing regularly, you can gain confidence in tackling the Listening Fill in the Blanks effectively, ultimately boosting your PTE Academic, UKVI, or Core score.

Use full video for Listening: Fill in the Blanks

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Learn more about other questions

Your Guide to Every Section of the PTE Exam

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Speaking
Read AloudRepeat SentenceDescribe ImageRe-Tell Lecture (Academic / UKVI)Answer Short QuestionRespond to a SituationSummarize Group Discussion (Academic / UKVI)
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Writing
Summarize Written TextWrite Essay
Write Email (Core)
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Reading
Fill in the Blanks (Drop Down)Multiple Choice, Multiple AnswersRe-order ParagraphsFill in the Blanks (Drag & Drop)Multiple Choice, Single Answer
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Listening
Summarize Spoken TextMultiple Choice, Multiple AnswersFill in the BlanksHighlight Correct SummaryMultiple Choice, Single AnswerSelect Missing WordHighlight Incorrect WordsWrite from Dictation

FAQs

Here are answers to some of the frequently asked questions.

You can expect about 2-3 of these tasks in the real exam in the listening section.

No, the audio will be played only once.

Keywords (nouns, verbs, adjectives)

Yes, as this task evaluates your writing skills as well, only correctly spelled words give scores.

Yes, each accurately spelled word will give a full score.

This can impact both Listening and Writing for PTE Core, while it only impacts Listening in PTE Academic.