The November 2024 update to PTE Academic has introduced significant changes that every test-taker must know to maximize their scores. This guide covers five essential rules and strategies to help you adapt to these updates effectively, ensuring your responses align with the new standards.
Rule 1: Avoid Templated Responses in Describe Image
The new system is stricter in identifying templated responses in the “Describe Image” task. If the software flags your response as templated, it will undergo manual review. If confirmed, you may lose marks for fluency, content, and pronunciation.
What Not to Do:
- Avoid generic phrases like:
“The image provided is beautiful. It shows important details about the topic.” - Do not fill blanks in a pre-prepared structure with single keywords like “time” or “distance.”
What to Do Instead:
- Use a flexible structure rather than a template. For example:
- Introduction: Start with a general overview of the image.
- Paraphrase: Describe the axes and what they represent.
- Details: Highlight trends, highest/lowest values, or unique features.
- Conclusion: Summarize the overall takeaway.
Example:
“The image provided is a bar graph depicting the number of pets in various households. The x-axis represents pet types, while the y-axis shows their count. The data reveals that dogs are the most common, while rabbits are the least. Overall, the graph highlights the popularity of different pets in households.”
Rule 2: Avoid Keyword Responses in Describe Image and Retell Lecture
Keyword-heavy responses are now flagged as lacking depth and originality. These responses use minimal effort to paraphrase content or simply state isolated keywords without meaningful connections.
What Not to Do:
- “The image shows time and distance. The x-axis is time. The y-axis is distance. Time is important. Distance is important.”
What to Do Instead:
- Use full sentences and logical observations.
- Focus on key details and trends.
- For Retell Lecture, summarize using structured phrases like:
- “In the beginning, the speaker mentioned…”
- “Later, they discussed…”
- “In conclusion…”
Rule 3: Avoid Mechanical Responses
Responses that lack logic or coherence, or that repeat predefined phrases without context, will not score well.
What Not to Do:
- “The image is about colors. Red is important. Blue is important. Yellow is important.”
What to Do Instead:
- Bring life to your response by adding logical connections and meaning.
- Acceptable occasional grammatical errors are better than illogical or lifeless content.
Example:
“The line graph illustrates the correlation between time and distance. Initially, at zero minutes, no distance was covered. However, by the fourth minute, a significant rise in distance to 15 meters is observed. The trend continues, with 25 meters covered by the sixth minute, demonstrating a steady increase over time.”
Rule 4: Focus on Content in Summarized Spoken Text
Summarized Spoken Text is now under stricter scrutiny. Using generic templates or only inserting a few keywords from the audio will lead to a low score.
What Not to Do:
- Avoid responses like:
“The lecture discusses some points. The first point is important. The second point is also important.”
What to Do Instead:
- Use structured summaries:
- Introduction: Start with “The lecture discusses…”
- Key points: Include three to five main ideas.
- Conclusion: End with a brief summary.
Example:
“The lecture discusses the competitive environment universities face globally. The speaker highlighted competition for staff, research funding, and philanthropic donations. They concluded by emphasizing the need for institutions to adapt to these challenges to remain relevant.”
Rule 5: Prioritize Core Modules
While the updates emphasize sections like Describe Image and Retell Lecture, the core modules remain the foundation of your score. These include:
- Read Aloud
- Repeat Sentence
- Reading Fill in the Blanks
- Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks
- Listening Fill in the Blanks
- Write from Dictation
Tips for Core Modules:
- Read Aloud: Focus on pronunciation and fluency over perfection.
- Repeat Sentence: Aim for accurate repetition but prioritize fluency if unsure.
- Fill in the Blanks: Improve vocabulary and grammar to boost accuracy.
Final Thoughts
The November 2024 update emphasizes originality, logical connections, and meaningful content. Avoiding templates and keyword-heavy responses is crucial to secure high marks. By focusing on structured answers and refining your core English skills, you’ll be well-prepared to excel in the updated PTE Academic exam.
