PTE Academic · Task guide 19 · 3 min read
PTE Listening Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers: tips
PTE Academic Listening Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers) explained: one hearing, negative marking, note-taking and a careful routine.
What you see and do
You hear a short recording, often a lecture or talk. On screen there is a question and a list of options, usually five to seven. More than one option is correct, but you are not told how many. You tick every option you believe is right.
You hear the recording once only, but the question and options are visible before the audio starts.
Timing
| Stage | About how long |
|---|---|
| Read the question and options before the audio | about 7 seconds |
| Audio | about 40–90 seconds |
| Answer | within the shared Listening timer |
After Summarize Spoken Text, all the remaining Listening items share one section timer, shown on screen.
How it is scored
Listening Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers) counts towards Listening.
It uses partial credit with negative marking:
| Your choice | Effect |
|---|---|
| Each correct option ticked | +1 |
| Each incorrect option ticked | −1 |
| Lowest possible score for the item | 0 |
Ticking options you are unsure about can cancel the marks you earned with correct ones.
Common mistakes
- Not using the seconds before the audio. Reading the question and options first tells you what to listen for.
- Ticking options because a word was mentioned. The speaker may mention something only to reject it.
- Over-ticking. If you only heard support for one option, tick one.
- Trying to remember everything. Notes beat memory for a 90-second recording.
A short routine
- Before the audio, read the question and skim the options. Note key words from each.
- While listening, write short notes against those key words: a tick for confirmed, a cross for rejected.
- Listen for contrast words such as "however", "but actually" and "contrary to popular belief", which often signal a rejected idea.
- After the audio, tick only the options your notes clearly support.
- Move on promptly to protect the shared timer.
Exam tip: on your noteboard, write the option letters A to G in a column before the audio begins. As you hear each idea, mark the letter. It is much faster than writing words.
Illustrative example
This recording summary and question were written for Fable Tests. They are not taken from any official material.
Imagine a short talk in which a speaker describes a city that planted trees along its busiest streets. The speaker says shade from the trees lowered summer pavement temperatures and that shopkeepers reported more people walking past. The speaker mentions that some residents expected the trees to reduce traffic noise, but measurements showed little change. The talk ends by noting that the trees need regular watering in their first few years.
Which of the following does the speaker mention as results of the tree planting?
| Option | Correct? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A. Cooler pavements in summer | Yes | Stated directly |
| B. Much quieter streets | No | Expected by residents, but measurements showed little change |
| C. More people walking past shops | Yes | Reported by shopkeepers |
| D. Lower water bills for the city | No | The trees actually need watering |
| E. Fewer cars on the road | No | Not mentioned |
The correct answers are A and C. Option B is the classic trap: it is mentioned, but rejected.
Key points
- More than one answer is correct, and you are not told how many.
- You hear the recording once.
- It counts towards Listening.
- +1 per correct option, −1 per wrong one, with a minimum of zero.
- Read the options first, take quick notes, and tick only what you clearly heard.
For the official current format, see pearsonpte.com. More guides are on the PTE hub.