We have all been there—you study hard, you know your English is good, but when the exam results come, the score is lower than you expected. It feels frustrating, doesn't it?
The truth is, the PTE exam is not just about how much English you know. It is about how you take the test. Since a computer grades your answers, it doesn't care about your feelings or your style. It only cares about the rules.
If you are preparing for your PTE, grab a cup of coffee and read this carefully. Here are the simple "human" mistakes that might be costing you big points—and how to stop making them.
1. The "Speed" Trap: You Are Speaking Too Fast
Many students think, "If I speak fast, I will sound fluent like a native speaker." Please don't do this.
When you rush, you tend to mumble. You might eat up the ends of words (like saying "govern" instead of "government"). The computer can’t guess what you meant to say. If it hears a blur of noise, it gives you a zero for pronunciation.
Simple Fix: Breathe. Speak at a normal, conversational pace. Imagine you are explaining something to a friend, not racing a car. Clarity is king.
2. The "Fancy Word" Mistake
We often try to impress the examiner by using big, complicated words we found in a dictionary.
The Problem: If you use a fancy word like "ameliorate" but put it in the wrong sentence, you lose marks for "content." It looks unnatural.
Simple Fix: Stick to simple, correct English. It is better to write a clear sentence that makes perfect sense than a complex one that confuses the reader (and the computer!).
3. Not Listening to the Microphone
This is a technical mistake, but it happens all the time.
The Problem: If you put the microphone right in front of your lips, every time you say words with 'P' or 'B' (like "Project" or "Banana"), it creates a popping sound. This "pop" sounds like noise to the computer, and it ruins your score.
Simple Fix: Adjust your mic before the test starts. Keep it slightly to the side of your mouth, not directly in front. Do a sound check and listen to your own voice. If you can't hear yourself clearly, neither can the computer.
4. Ignoring the Word Count (It’s Strict!)
In the writing section, the instructions are not suggestions—they are laws.
The Problem: If the question says "Write between 5 and 75 words" and you write 76 words, you get zero. Not half marks, zero.
Simple Fix: Keep an eye on the screen counter. If you are writing an essay, stay safely between 200 and 300 words. Don't take unnecessary risks.
5. Getting Stuck on One Hard Question
This is a psychological trap. You see a hard question, you panic, and you spend 5 minutes trying to solve it.
The Problem: While you were fighting with that one hard question, you lost time for three easy questions at the end.
Simple Fix: If you don't know the answer, guess and move on. PTE is a game of time management. Don't let one battle lose you the whole war.
Need a Real Human to Help You?
Self-study is great, but sometimes you just need a real person to tell you, "Hey, you are pausing too much here," or "Your essay structure needs a small tweak."
At Suganta Tutors, we don't just teach you English; we teach you how to beat the exam. Our verified teachers have helped hundreds of students get their 79+ scores by fixing these exact small mistakes.
Find a Personal Mentor: Check out our list of verified experts here: Suganta Teachers
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Final Thoughts
Don't let the computer intimidate you. You have the skills; you just need the right strategy. clear your mind, avoid these simple traps, and you will see your score go up. You’ve got this!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is the PTE really easier than IELTS?
Answer: It depends on what you prefer! If you have good handwriting and like talking to real people, you might like IELTS. But if you are comfortable with computers and get nervous speaking face-to-face with an examiner, PTE is usually a better choice. plus, the computer is unbiased—it doesn't care about your accent or your clothes!
Q2. What happens if I make a spelling mistake?
Answer: In PTE, spelling matters a lot, especially in the Write from Dictation section. If you write "color" instead of "colour," don't worry—both US and UK spellings are accepted. However, if you write "colur," you will lose points. Always take a few seconds to check your typing before clicking 'Next'.
Q3. My typing speed is slow. Will I fail?
Answer: Not at all. The PTE is not a typing test. You have enough time to type your answers comfortably. What matters more is accuracy. It is better to type slowly and correctly than to type fast and make typo errors.
Q4. Can I go back and change my answer?
Answer: No. This is a very important rule. Once you click the "Next" button in PTE, you cannot go back to the previous question. So, be 100% sure before you move forward.
Q5. How long is my PTE score valid?
Answer: Your score is valid for 2 years for most study applications. After that, you will have to take the test again.
