How to Read and Listen for Meaning

In many PTE (Pearson Test of English) test items, you need to think deeply about what you read and listen to in order to understand the text at a deeper level. Watch the video above to learn how to read and listen for meaning.

Your ‘Listen for Meaning’ Task

The Listening: Multiple Choice, Single Answer item tests your listening skills in an academic environment. Any one of the following listening skills could be tested by this item type.

Main idea or gist: Listen for the main idea or gist of the recording, for example:

• What was the lecture mainly about?
• What was the main cause of the poor election result?

Supporting information or details: Listen for specific details that provide elaboration, examples or reasons to support the main idea, for example:

• According to the speaker, what was the benefit of solar power?
• Where was opal first discovered?

Fact, speculation or opinion: Listen for the speaker’s attitude, feelings or degree of certainty on an issue, do they speculate? Do they express their opinion or present someone else’s opinion, for example:

• How does the speaker feel about stem cell therapy?
• What is the speaker’s attitude towards the United Nations?

Inference: Listen for information that helps you infer meaning, for example:

• What does the speaker imply about the process of invention?
• What can be inferred about Sir John Franklin’s voyage?

Look at the example questions from Listening: Multiple Choice, Single Answer below. Decide which listening skill is being tested and make a note of your answers.

• Main idea
• Supporting information
• Fact, speculation or opinion
• Inference

Listening for Meaning Practice

Now practice the skill of listening for the main idea or gist of a recording in Listening: Multiple Choice, Single Answer.

References

Western, V & Gasper, V. (2018). PTE Academic Lesson Plan Ideas. Pearson