Your FREE PTE Academic Flashcards 2026 – 200+ Cards

A speaking task: read a short text aloud after ~30–40s prep. Scored on reading content, oral fluency, and pronunciation.

A speaking task: hear a sentence and say it back exactly. Tests listening and speaking; aim for a full, fluent repetition.

A speaking task: describe a graph, chart, map, or picture in ~40s using a fixed template: overview → key features → trend.

A speaking task: listen to a lecture, then summarize its main points aloud in ~40s. Take notes on key ideas as you listen.

A speaking task: answer a simple factual question in one or a few words. Quick general-knowledge or vocabulary items.

A writing task: read a passage and write ONE sentence (5–75 words) capturing its main idea. Scores reading and writing.

A writing task: write a 200–300 word argumentative essay on a prompt in 20 minutes. Tests structure, development, and grammar.

An untimed opening task in PTE Academic that is NOT scored; it is sent to receiving institutions but does not affect your result.

How smoothly and naturally you speak — steady rhythm, few hesitations, no unnecessary repetition. A scored speaking trait.

How clearly you produce sounds, stress, and intonation so a listener understands you. Scored separately from fluency.

A single sentence that states the clear, arguable position an essay will develop, usually placed at the end of the introduction.

The sentence that states the main point of a paragraph; the other sentences support or develop it.

Restate an idea in your own words while keeping the meaning. Essential for summaries and essay introductions.

How logically ideas connect and flow across a text, helped by clear organization and transitions.

How sentences and ideas are linked with devices like pronouns, conjunctions, and transition words.

Grammar rule: a singular subject takes a singular verb, a plural subject a plural verb ('the result is' vs. 'the results are').

Using the same grammatical form for items in a list or comparison: 'reading, writing, and speaking,' not 'reading, writing, and to speak.'

A pronoun must match the noun it refers to in number and gender ('every student … their' is widely accepted).

An incomplete sentence missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.

Two complete sentences joined without correct punctuation or a conjunction; a comma splice is one type.

Joining two independent clauses with only a comma; fix with a period, semicolon, or comma plus a conjunction.

A group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone as a complete sentence.

A clause that has a subject and verb but cannot stand alone; it begins with a word like 'because,' 'although,' or 'when.'

Describes an action that will be completed before a future point: 'By Friday, the team will have finished.'

Links past to present: 'The committee has reviewed the report' — completed but relevant now.

A word or phrase that describes another; place it next to what it modifies to avoid a dangling or misplaced modifier.

A modifier with no clear word to describe: 'Walking to class, the rain started' — the rain wasn't walking.

A word that joins words or clauses: coordinating (and, but, or), subordinating (because, although), or correlative (either…or).

A word or phrase (however, therefore, for example) that signals the logical relationship between ideas.

PTE essays must be 200–300 words; under or over the range lowers the form score, so check length before submitting.

An essay that takes and defends a clear position with reasons and evidence — the PTE Write Essay format.

Saying something in as few words as needed; cutting wordiness improves clarity and is rewarded in PTE writing.

The writer's attitude toward the subject, shown through word choice — formal, critical, neutral, or enthusiastic.

The level of formality of language; academic writing uses a formal register, avoiding slang and contractions.

Words that naturally go together: 'reach a conclusion,' 'conduct research' — choosing the right pairing aids fill-in-the-blanks.

Showing great attention to detail; careful and precise.

To make something less severe, serious, or painful.

To confirm or support a statement or theory with evidence.

Open to more than one interpretation; unclear in meaning.

Honest and straightforward; frank.

To calm or soothe someone who is angry or upset.

Needlessly repetitive; using more words than necessary.

General agreement among a group.

Showing subtle, careful distinctions; not oversimplified.

Fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing.

Using more words than needed; wordy.

Clear, logical, and convincing.

No longer useful, current, or in use.

Fair and unbiased; not favoring one side.

Sensitive and diplomatic in handling difficult situations.

Complete and wide-ranging; covering all or nearly all aspects.

To examine closely and critically.

To postpone or delay an action or decision.

Brief but complete; expressing much in few words.

The arrival or coming of an important event, person, or thing.

Very complex or detailed.

Strong public praise or approval.

To bring a feeling, memory, or image to mind.

Combining so as to enhance or complete each other.

A speaking task added in August 2025: hear a discussion among about three speakers, then summarize it in your own words (up to 2 minutes). Scores listening and speaking.

A speaking task added in August 2025: read or hear a described real-life situation, then give an extended spoken response (~40s). Scores speaking.

Pearson’s 10–90 scale for measuring English proficiency, more fine-grained than the CEFR bands it aligns to. PTE reports your overall and four skill scores on it.

The four skills PTE reports as subscores: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing — each on the 10–90 scale alongside the overall score.

Private, test-taker-only feedback that replaced the old enabling-skill subscores in November 2021; it is not shared with institutions.

One PTE response can count toward more than one communicative skill — e.g., Re-tell Lecture scores listening and speaking; Write from Dictation scores listening and writing.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (A1–C2); PTE scores align to it, with GSE 59–75 roughly B2, 76–84 C1, and 85–90 C2.

The subject performs the action ('The team completed the study'); preferred for clear academic writing.

The subject receives the action ('The study was completed'); useful when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

Words that define a noun as specific (the) or general (a/an); a key fill-in-the-blank skill.

Countable nouns take a/an and plurals (books); uncountable nouns do not (information, advice).

A clause beginning with who, which, or that that gives more information about a noun.

An 'if' sentence expressing a condition and its result; types range from real to hypothetical.

The -ing form of a verb used as a noun ('Reading improves vocabulary').

The base form of a verb with 'to' ('to read'); some verbs take an infinitive, others a gerund.

A word showing relationship in time or space (in, on, at, by); collocations matter in fill-in-the-blanks.

Comparative compares two (taller); superlative ranks three or more (tallest).

Joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction.

Introduces a list, explanation, or quotation after a complete clause.

Shows possession (student's) or contraction (it's = it is); 'its' (possessive) takes no apostrophe.

The variety of vocabulary and sentence structures used; greater range raises essay scores.

The correct part of speech for a slot (analyze/analysis/analytical); often tested in fill-in-the-blanks.

A word or phrase that organizes speech or writing (firstly, in contrast, to sum up).

Cautious wording (may, suggests, tends to) used to avoid overstating claims in academic English.

Replacing words with synonyms to paraphrase a source without copying it.

Turning a verb or adjective into a noun (decide → decision); common in formal writing.

A linking word or reference that ties a text together (however, therefore, this, such).

A helping verb expressing possibility, ability, or obligation (can, should, must, might).

A clause has a subject and verb; a phrase does not. Both build sentences.

Expanding a main point with reasons, examples, and detail — a scored essay criterion.

The final paragraph that restates the position and summarizes reasons without adding new ideas.

The opening paragraph that paraphrases the prompt and states the thesis.

Use prep time to scan for hard words; read at a steady pace with clear stress and minimal pauses.

Hesitation sounds like 'um' and 'uh' that lower fluency scores; reduce them by pausing silently instead.

Points for covering the required ideas accurately; one of several criteria across PTE tasks.

Points for meeting length and format rules (word count, single sentence); easy to lose if ignored.

Keep a steady pace, avoid restarts, and use linking so speech flows for the whole response window.

A reading task with drop-down blanks; pick the word that fits both grammar and meaning. Despite the name, Pearson scores Reading only.

A reading task: drag words from a box into blanks in a passage. Tests vocabulary and collocation in context.

Choose every correct option about a passage. Negative marking applies — a wrong pick cancels a right one.

Pick the one best answer about a passage's meaning, purpose, or detail. No negative marking.

Drag jumbled sentences into a logical order. Find the topic sentence first, then follow the linking words.

On multiple-answer items, an incorrect selection cancels a correct one — only choose options you are confident about.

The central point a passage conveys — what the whole text is mostly about.

A fact, example, statistic, or reason that explains or develops the main idea.

A logical conclusion drawn from textual evidence plus reasoning — implied but not stated outright.

The reason a text was written — to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain.

The writer's attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice.

The meaning of a word as it is used in a sentence, which can differ from its dictionary definition.

Reading quickly to get the gist or main idea of a text.

Reading quickly to find a specific piece of information, such as a name or number.

A link between two things (correlation) does not prove one causes the other (causation) — a common reading trap.

A word like 'however,' 'therefore,' or 'moreover' that signals how ideas relate; key to re-order and fill-in tasks.

A word like 'this,' 'they,' or 'such' that points back to an earlier idea — a clue for ordering paragraphs.

A word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another.

A word with the opposite meaning of another.

Information in surrounding text — a definition, example, or contrast — that reveals a word's meaning.

To make less severe — common academic vocabulary tested in fill-in-the-blanks.

To combine or blend two or more things into one.

To resist or endure successfully.

Genuine; of undisputed origin.

A situation in which no progress is possible; a deadlock.

In spite of that; a contrast connector meaning 'even so.'

A relationship in which both parties gain, such as a fungus and tree exchanging nutrients.

Coming before the main part; early and not yet final or confirmed.

In short supply; not enough to meet demand.

Expressed clearly in few words; brief and to the point.

Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion.

Tiresome because of length or dullness; boring.

Decisive; settling an issue beyond doubt.

To support a claim with evidence or proof.

Not supported by evidence.

To continue trying despite difficulty or setbacks.

To restrain or limit something.

Careful to avoid danger or mistakes.

Holding attention; interesting and appealing.

A part of a contract that explains how and when the agreement can be ended.

Thorough, demanding, and carefully precise.

In modern usage, to destroy or greatly reduce something.

Not in agreement; containing contradictory parts.

To assign a task or responsibility to someone else.

New and original; not previously known.

Evidence strong enough to settle a question definitively.

Including many particulars; thorough.

Created or written; also, calm and in control.

Existing as an idea rather than a physical thing; also, a short summary at the start of a paper.

To publicly support or recommend a cause or policy.

To make a problem or suffering less severe.

Having mixed or contradictory feelings about something.

Comparable in certain respects; similar.

Something that deviates from the standard or expected; an irregularity.

Based on random choice or personal whim rather than reason.

To express an idea clearly and effectively in words.

To make something greater by adding to it; increase.

Something that causes or speeds up an event or change.

Logical and consistent; clearly connected.

Convincing and powerfully holding attention.

Making a particular outcome likely or possible.

Following accepted or traditional standards.

Increasing by successive additions.

To become progressively worse.

To make or become less.

A lack of agreement or consistency between things.

Based on observation or experiment rather than theory.

To make a problem or bad situation worse.

Stated clearly and openly, with no room for confusion.

Possible to do easily or conveniently; practicable.

A system in which people or things are ranked above one another.

A proposed explanation made on limited evidence as a starting point for investigation.

A conclusion that can be drawn from something although not explicitly stated.

A thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.

Certain to happen; unavoidable.

Featuring new methods or ideas; original.

Necessary to make a whole complete; essential.

Belonging naturally; essential to the nature of something.

Producing a great deal of profit.

Lacking interest or excitement; dull and ordinary.

So small as to be not worth considering; insignificant.

A typical example or model of something; a framework of ideas.

Seeming reasonable or probable.

Dealing with things sensibly and realistically.

Present as the strongest or main element.

Widespread in a particular area or at a particular time.

Very great or intense; having deep meaning or insight.

To increase rapidly in number; multiply.

To prove a statement or theory to be wrong.

To strengthen or support.

Able to recover quickly from difficulties; tough.

Strong and healthy; able to withstand challenge.

Not easily convinced; having doubts.

Coming after something in time; following.

So delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe.

Not certain or fixed; provisional.

Lying beneath the surface; fundamental but not obvious.

Capable of working successfully; feasible.

Absolutely necessary; essential.

A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen.

Standards by which something is judged (singular: criterion).

To be a part of a whole; to make up or form.

To obtain something from a source.

To make an action or process easier.

To regard something as caused by a particular person or thing.

To include comprehensively; surround or cover.

To weaken or damage something gradually.

A listening task: hear a 60–90s lecture and write a 50–70 word summary. Scores listening and writing.

Choose every correct option about a recording. Negative marking applies.

Pick the one best answer about a recording. No negative marking.

Type the missing words into a transcript as you hear them. Tests listening and spelling.

Pick the paragraph that best summarizes what you heard. Listen for overall gist, not details.

The recording ends with a beep over the last word(s); choose the option that best completes it.

Read a transcript while listening and click the words that differ from what is spoken.

Hear a sentence and type it word-for-word. High-value — it scores both listening and writing.

Grasping the overall main idea and purpose of a recording rather than specific facts.

Catching specific facts, numbers, or exact words in a recording.

Spoken cues like 'first,' 'on the other hand,' and 'in conclusion' that mark a talk's structure.

Writing keywords, names, and numbers (not every word) to capture a talk's main points for later use.

Concentrating fully on a speaker to understand meaning, not just hearing sounds.

The rise and fall of the voice that conveys meaning, emotion, or whether a sentence is a question.

Emphasizing certain syllables or words; it can change meaning and aids comprehension.

How sounds blend together in natural speech (linking, contractions), which can make words hard to catch.

The general meaning or main point of a passage or talk.

Restating what you heard in your own words — needed for Summarize Spoken Text and Re-tell Lecture.

Listening for the most meaningful content words to anchor your understanding of a recording.

Correct spelling earns the point in Fill in the Blanks and Write from Dictation; misspelled words score zero.

An incorrect answer choice designed to seem plausible; common in listening multiple-choice items.

A typical talk: introduction (topic) → body (reasons/examples) → conclusion (summary).

A meaning a speaker suggests without stating directly — inferred from tone and context.

A listening item asking for a specific fact, figure, or example mentioned in the audio.

A listening item asking for the overall point or purpose of the recording.

Words that sound alike but differ in meaning/spelling (their/there) — a trap in dictation and fill-in-the-blanks.

A reusable speaking structure: state the topic, give 2–3 main points the speaker made, then a brief conclusion.

Listen for meaning and chunk the sentence; repeat the full sentence fluently even if you miss a word.

Listen for the key noun in the question and reply with the single correct word — speed and accuracy matter.

Grouping words into meaningful phrases when speaking or listening, which improves fluency and recall.

Two words differing in one sound (ship/sheep); practicing them sharpens pronunciation and listening.

Emphasizing the most important words in a sentence; it carries meaning and aids comprehension.

Restating a lecture's ideas in your own words for Re-tell Lecture and Summarize Group Discussion.

Using the question or context to anticipate what you'll hear, which sharpens comprehension.

The tone that replaces the final word(s) of a recording; choose the option that best fits the meaning.

Typing exactly what is heard, including spelling, in Write from Dictation and Fill in the Blanks.