Listening

PTE Highlight Incorrect Words Practice

Highlight Incorrect Words shows a transcript that does not quite match the recording, and you click each word that differs from what the speaker says. Practice here with instant marking that applies the same minus-mark rule as the test.

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How Highlight Incorrect Words works

You see a transcript on screen and hear a recording of 15 to 50 seconds, once. A few words in the transcript are different from the words the speaker actually says. Your job is to click each of those words as you hear the difference. Clicking a word highlights it, and clicking again removes the highlight.

This is a reading and listening task at the same time. Your eyes follow the text while your ears check it, and a lapse in either one causes a miss.

What is scored

You earn a point for each incorrect word you correctly highlight. You lose a point for each word you highlight that was actually correct. Random clicking therefore does more harm than good, and a wrong highlight can cancel out a right one.

How to answer

  1. Put your cursor or finger on the first word before the audio starts. Physically pointing keeps your place.
  2. Read in step with the speaker. Do not race ahead or fall behind. Most errors come from losing the exact position in the text.
  3. Click the moment you hear a mismatch. Do not wait until the end of the sentence. If you hesitate, you will lose your place and may miss the next difference.
  4. If you lose your place, find it and move on. Pick up again at the next word you recognize rather than guessing at what you missed.
  5. Review your highlights before moving on. Remove any you are genuinely unsure of. An uncertain click risks a minus point.

What the changed words usually look like

The replaced words tend to be plausible in context, so you cannot spot them by reading alone. Common patterns include:

  • A word with the opposite meaning, such as rose shown where the speaker says fell.
  • A word that looks or sounds similar, such as adapt and adopt.
  • A word from the same topic that changes the detail, such as weekly for monthly.

This is why you must listen to every word. The sentence on screen will still make sense, and only the audio tells you it is wrong.

Common mistakes

  • Highlighting words the speaker pronounced unusually but did say. An accent is not an error. The recordings use a range of accents on purpose, so judge the word, not the delivery.
  • Clicking a word next to the real error because your eyes had moved on.
  • Clicking extra words at the end to be safe, which only loses points.

For a broader view of how this task fits into the listening section, see the PTE Academic exam format.

Frequently asked questions

Is there negative marking in Highlight Incorrect Words?

Yes. Each correctly highlighted word earns a point, and each word you highlight that was actually correct loses a point. Only click when you clearly heard a different word.

How do I avoid losing my place in the text?

Point at the words with your cursor as the speaker reads, and click immediately when you hear a difference instead of waiting to be sure.

Can I unhighlight a word?

Yes. Clicking a highlighted word again removes the highlight, so you can correct a mistaken click before moving on.

More listening practice

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Scores on this page are practice feedback from MocksPTE, not official PTE scores. Highlight Incorrect Words counts toward: Listening and Reading.