While many students would agree that the Writing section is the hardest to pass in IELTS, they find that, to their amazement, PTE Writing is the ‘easiest’ skill to score high. That’s right, if only you know these secrets!

1. Know how to write the essay.
   The structure of the introduction and body paragraphs depend on what type of question it is. There are six (6) types in PTE, including two types unseen in IELTS.
2. Know what to include in summaries.
   In Summarise Written Text, you have to know where the main points are usually placed, when the text has 1, 2 or 3-5 paragraphs,
3. Know how to take notes.
   In Summarise Spoken Text, what and how much do you need to take down and how do you ‘transfer’ these bullet points into interconnected academic sentences?
4. Know what phrases to use.
   Yes, you’re right. You can memorise and copy some phrases from our resources and the computer won’t penalise you!
5. Know what topics wil be examined.
   Yes, you can know what the essay questions may be, so you can brainstorm ideas and prepare how to explain the points and what examples to use BEFORE the exam!

Okay! Once you are familiar with these ‘secrets’, the PTE Writing section will just taste like a piece of cake!
Enjoy!

27 March 2017
Telaga

By now, some of you may have realized that it’s ‘easier’ to pass some skills than the others. Most students can pass, say. Listening and Writing, fairly more readily than say, Reading and Speaking. So, what does it take to pass ALL skills? Here are five (5) PTE secrets revealed!

1. Really get to know the Score Guide. Seriously, some students lose valuable marks just because they misunderstand the scoring system. You want to earn as many marks as possible, while avoiding losing as few marks as possible.
2. Devise appropriate strategies and stick to them. Once you know what criteria each test item is based on, practise to improve that criterion. For example, good fluency without undue gaps in all speaking item types will not only help boost your score in Fluency, but a high fluency mark can compensate for a lower Pronunciation mark, pushing you across the threshold of your target score.
3. Focus and maintain. You need to devote more hours to address your weaknesses, yet still practise on those areas you have passed. Your scores for each skill may go up or down by 10 or even 20 points. Do NOT ignore any part altogether.
4. Allow yourself ample time to prepare for the test. Students who have average scores of around 65 would need roughly 3-4 months of concentrated efforts and at least three trials of the test before achieving over 79 in all bands. PTE is not a ‘trial and error’ or ‘just in case I’m lucky this time’ test!
5. Understand the score. Some students may achieve, say around >80 in enabling skills, but only get 70 in communicative skills. The reverse can happen too. Lower enabling skill scores but 10 point higher communicative skill score! Weird! The secret? The Main Points! So, make sure you practise taking notes of main points in writing and listening too!

25 January 2017
Telaga

Many students find the reading section the hardest section of the test because it relies on your fast high level reading skills, wide vocabulary, and strong familiarity with written expressions and collocations. So from now until you pass your test read for at least one hour everyday, in quiet, without stopping to use a dictionary. Choose a book with a good story so you want to read, and use your finger or a pen as a guide to force you to read at a good speed. If you’re not used to reading then this takes practice, but it won’t take long to get your reading speed and comprehension up to 300+ words per minute. We don’t need luck 😉

Like many, you may have heard that the PTE test is ‘easier’ to pass than IELTS, and the good news is, you may be right! Our students have been passing this test regularly every month. Yet, still many find this test another hurdle for them. So, whether you’re aiming for 79,  65 or ‘only’ 50, we are here to help you achieve your target band. Just follow these five (5) easy steps:

 

1. Take one of our courses. This will give you all-round familiarity and understanding of the test. This option will save you plenty of time of self research into the test because we are qualified trainers and assessors in exam preps, including the PTE.
2. Get a book. It’s worthwhile to run that extra mile of practice to score higher, and pick a suitable one for your level of English.
3. Free practice on the moodle. We’ve designed numerous online practices so that you can apply the tips, strategies and language you’ve learned in class to boost your test-taking confidence.
4. Buy the Pearson mock tests. For one thing, you can experiment on your speaking style to maximise your score. Many students pass the test after they know how to approach the mock test and then replicate this strategy in the real exam.
5. Book a tutor. Tutors will help push you across the finish line by giving you expert personalised coaching to identify and work on your weaknesses.

 

FINAL TIPS: Plan and book your favourite test centre 2-3 months in advance and prepare accordingly. Good luck!

 

19 December 2016

Telaga