Day 7

PTE Academic Preparation Course – Day 7

Achieve Your Perfect Score of 90 in PTE Academic

Welcome to Day 7 of your comprehensive PTE Academic preparation journey. Today’s focus is on enhancing your Listening Skills, specifically the “Highlight Correct Summary” and “Multiple-choice Questions” tasks. You will learn strategies to improve your listening comprehension, note-taking abilities, and analytical skills to excel in these tasks.

Objectives

  • Understand the “Highlight Correct Summary” and “Multiple-choice Questions” Task Formats
  • Develop Effective Listening and Note-taking Techniques
  • Practice Listening Comprehension and Summary Skills
  • Expand Vocabulary with Academic and Contextual Words
  • Improve Critical Thinking and Inference Abilities

Estimated Time: 2 Hours

Materials Needed

  • Device: Computer or smartphone with internet access
  • Headphones
  • Notebook and Pen
  • Access to Audio Clips or Videos
  • Dictionary or Thesaurus
  • Access to PTE Practice Platforms or Websites
  • Recording Device (optional for self-assessment)

Schedule and Activities

1. Understanding “Highlight Correct Summary” and “Multiple-choice Questions” Tasks (30 Minutes)

a. Task Formats Overview

Highlight Correct Summary:

  • Instructions:
  • You will hear a recording (30–90 seconds).
  • After listening, you need to select the summary that best matches the recording from several options.
  • Scoring Criteria:
  • Content: Correct summary selected based on accurate understanding of the recording.

Multiple-choice, Choose Single Answer:

  • Instructions:
  • You will hear a recording (30–90 seconds).
  • Answer a question about the recording by selecting one correct response from several options.
  • Scoring Criteria:
  • Content: Correct option selected.

Multiple-choice, Choose Multiple Answers:

  • Instructions:
  • Similar to the single-answer task, but you need to select all correct responses from several options.
  • Scoring Criteria:
  • Content: Partial credit given for each correct option selected; points deducted for incorrect options selected.

b. Watch Instructional Videos

  • Highlight Correct Summary:
  • Video Title: “PTE Listening: Highlight Correct Summary Tips and Strategies”
  • Channel: E2 PTE Academic
  • Link: PTE Highlight Correct Summary Strategies (Note: Replace with actual URL)
  • Duration: 15 minutes
  • Multiple-choice Questions:
  • Video Title: “PTE Listening: Multiple-choice Questions Techniques”
  • Channel: E2 PTE Academic
  • Link: PTE Listening Multiple-choice Strategies (Note: Replace with actual URL)
  • Duration: 15 minutes

Action: Take detailed notes on strategies, such as focusing on the main ideas, eliminating incorrect options, and using keywords to identify the correct summary.

2. Developing Effective Listening and Note-taking Techniques (30 Minutes)

a. Active Listening Practice (15 Minutes)

Instructions:

  1. Select an Audio Clip:
  1. Listening Activity:
  • First Listening (No Notes): Listen to the audio clip to grasp the general idea.
  • Second Listening (With Notes): Listen again, taking detailed notes.
  1. Focus Areas:
  • Main ideas and themes
  • Supporting details
  • Speaker’s attitude or opinion
  • Any conclusions or recommendations
  1. Review Your Notes:
  • Organize them logically.
  • Highlight keywords and phrases.

b. Note-taking Techniques (15 Minutes)

Instructions:

  1. Use Abbreviations and Symbols:
  • Abbreviations:
    • e.g. = for example
    • i.e. = that is
    • vs. = versus
    • & = and
    • w/ = with
    • w/o = without
  • Symbols:
    • → = leads to/results in
    • ↑ = increase
    • ↓ = decrease
    • = = equals/is
    • ≠ = not equal to
  1. Structured Note-taking:
  • Cornell Method:
    • Divide your page into three sections: cues, notes, summary.
    • Notes: Take notes during the lecture.
    • Cues: Keywords or questions after the lecture.
    • Summary: Brief summary at the bottom.
  1. Practice with Short Audio Clips:
  • Use news segments from BBC News or NPR.
  1. Tips:
  • Focus on capturing the essence of what’s being said.
  • Don’t try to write down everything verbatim.
  • Pay attention to the speaker’s tone and emphasis.

3. Practicing “Highlight Correct Summary” Task (40 Minutes)

a. Practice Exercises (30 Minutes)

Instructions:

  1. Select Audio Recordings:
  • Recording 1: “Advancements in Renewable Energy”
  • Recording 2: “Effects of Social Media on Society”
  • Recording 3: “Historical Significance of the Silk Road”
  • Recording 4: “Importance of Mental Health Awareness”
  • Recording 5: “Challenges of Urbanization”
  • Sources:
  1. For Each Recording:
  • Listen Carefully:
    • Duration: 60–90 seconds.
    • Focus on the main idea, supporting details, and the speaker’s purpose.
  • Take Notes:
    • Use your note-taking techniques.
  • Read Summary Options:
    • Usually, 4 options are provided.
  • Strategies:
    • Eliminate Incorrect Summaries:
    • Look for options that contain incorrect information or distort the speaker’s message.
    • Match Keywords:
    • Identify keywords or phrases from your notes that align with the summary options.
    • Avoid Distractors:
    • Be cautious of options that are partially correct but miss the main point.
  1. Practice Exercise Example:
  • Recording Topic: “Advancements in Renewable Energy”
  • Summary Options:
    1. The speaker discusses how renewable energy sources are becoming more affordable and the positive impact this has on global economies.
    2. The speaker explains that renewable energy is too expensive and not widely adopted due to technological limitations.
    3. The speaker describes the history of fossil fuels and their role in industrial development.
    4. The speaker emphasizes the environmental benefits of renewable energy and the challenges in transitioning from fossil fuels.
  • Solution:
    • Correct Answer: Option 4.
  • Explanation:
    • Option 4 aligns with the main ideas discussed in the recording.

b. Self-Assessment and Review (10 Minutes)

  • Check Your Answers:
  • Compare your selected summaries with the correct ones.
  • Analyze Mistakes:
  • Understand why an option was correct or incorrect.
  • Reflect on Strategies:
  • Which strategies helped you the most?

4. Practicing Multiple-choice Listening Tasks (30 Minutes)

a. Multiple-choice, Choose Single Answer Practice (15 Minutes)

Instructions:

  1. Select Audio Recordings:
  • Recording 1: “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare”
  • Recording 2: “The Role of Education in Economic Development”
  1. For Each Recording:
  • Listen Carefully:
    • Focus on the question posed.
  • Take Notes:
    • Jot down key points relevant to the question.
  • Read the Question and Options:
    • Identify keywords in the question.
  • Strategies:
    • Eliminate Incorrect Options:
    • Discard options that are not mentioned or contradict the recording.
    • Select the Best Answer:
    • Choose the option that directly answers the question.
  1. Practice Exercise Example:
  • Question: According to the speaker, what is the primary benefit of AI in healthcare?
    • A. Reducing the cost of medical equipment.
    • B. Improving patient diagnosis accuracy.
    • C. Training medical professionals.
    • D. Developing new pharmaceutical drugs.
  • Solution:
    • Correct Answer: B. Improving patient diagnosis accuracy.

b. Multiple-choice, Choose Multiple Answers Practice (15 Minutes)

Instructions:

  1. Select Audio Recordings:
  • Recording 1: “Climate Change and Its Impact on Agriculture”
  • Recording 2: “Cultural Diversity in the Workplace”
  1. For Each Recording:
  • Listen Carefully:
    • Focus on multiple points mentioned.
  • Take Notes:
    • Note down all significant points.
  • Read the Question and Options:
    • Identify what is being asked.
  • Strategies:
    • Select All Correct Options:
    • There may be more than one correct answer.
    • Beware of Penalty Scoring:
    • Incorrect options may reduce your score.
  1. Practice Exercise Example:
  • Question: What challenges does the speaker mention regarding climate change’s impact on agriculture? (Select all that apply.)
    • A. Increased pest infestations.
    • B. Longer growing seasons.
    • C. Water scarcity.
    • D. Enhanced soil fertility.
    • E. Extreme weather events.
  • Solution:
    • Correct Answers: A, C, E
  • Explanation:
    • The speaker discusses pest infestations, water scarcity, and extreme weather as challenges.

5. Vocabulary Building (20 Minutes)

a. Academic and Contextual Words

  1. Word List with Examples:
  • 1. Imminent(adjective)
    • Definition: About to happen.
    • Sentence: “The scientist warned of the imminent threat of a natural disaster.”
  • 2. Pervasive(adjective)
    • Definition: Spreading widely throughout an area or group.
    • Sentence: “Social media has a pervasive influence on today’s youth.”
  • 3. Catalyst(noun)
    • Definition: An agent that provokes or speeds significant change.
    • Sentence: “Technological innovation acts as a catalyst for economic growth.”
  • 4. Disparity(noun)
    • Definition: A great difference.
    • Sentence: “There is a significant disparity in income levels across regions.”
  • 5. Intrinsic(adjective)
    • Definition: Belonging naturally; essential.
    • Sentence: “Artistic expression is intrinsic to human culture.”
  • 6. Facilitate(verb)
    • Definition: To make an action or process easy or easier.
    • Sentence: “The new software will facilitate project management.”
  • 7. Consensus(noun)
    • Definition: General agreement.
    • Sentence: “The team reached a consensus on the project timeline.”
  • 8. Impede(verb)
    • Definition: To delay or prevent by obstructing.
    • Sentence: “Lack of funding could impede the research progress.”
  • 9. Prevalent(adjective)
    • Definition: Widespread in a particular area or at a particular time.
    • Sentence: “Obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent in urban areas.”
  • 10. Articulate(verb/adjective)
    • Definition (verb): To express an idea fluently and coherently.
    • Definition (adj.): Having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently.
    • Sentence (verb): “She was able to articulate her thoughts clearly.”
    • Sentence (adj.): “He is an articulate speaker.”

b. Activities

  1. Write Definitions in Your Own Words:
  • Paraphrase each definition.
  1. Create Sentences:
  • Use each word in a sentence related to today’s listening topics.
  1. Synonyms and Antonyms:
  • Find at least one synonym and one antonym for each word.
  1. Flashcards:
  • Create flashcards for review.

6. Critical Thinking and Inference Skills (20 Minutes)

a. Making Inferences from Audio

Instructions:

  1. Understand Inference Questions:
  • Require you to deduce information that is not explicitly stated.
  1. Practice Exercise:
  • Listen to an Audio Clip:
    • Topic: “The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Function”
  • Question:
    • What can be inferred about the speaker’s view on work culture?
    • Options:
    • A. The speaker believes that current work culture undervalues sleep.
    • B. The speaker thinks work culture promotes sufficient rest.
    • C. The speaker is indifferent to work culture practices.
    • D. The speaker believes work culture is improving sleep habits.
  • Solution:
    • Correct Answer: A. The speaker believes that current work culture undervalues sleep.
  • Explanation:
    • The speaker discusses negative impacts of lack of sleep due to demanding work schedules.

b. Summarizing Skills

Instructions:

  1. Practice Summarizing Short Audio Clips:
  • Listen to a News Segment:
    • Summarize the main points in 1-2 sentences.
  1. Focus on:
  • Main idea.
  • Supporting details.
  • Speaker’s purpose.

7. Reflection and Goal Setting (15 Minutes)

a. Self-Reflection Questions

  • Which listening task did you find most challenging, and why?
  • How effective were your note-taking strategies today?
  • What can you do to improve your listening comprehension and analytical skills?

b. Goal Setting for Tomorrow

  • Goal 1: “I will practice listening to different English accents to improve comprehension.”
  • Goal 2: “I will expand my vocabulary with 10 new words related to technology and society.”

c. Journal Entry

  • Write About:
  • Your experiences with today’s listening tasks.
  • Any improvements or breakthroughs.
  • Areas you plan to focus on moving forward.

8. Optional Extension Activity (35 Minutes)

a. Additional Listening Practice

  1. Use Online Resources:
  • IELTS Listening Samples: Good for practicing with different accents.
  • BBC Radio: BBC Sounds
  • NPR Podcasts: NPR
  1. Listen to Longer Lectures:
  • Practice taking notes and summarizing.

b. Exposure to Various Accents

  • Purpose: Enhance your ability to understand different English accents.
  • Activities:
  • Listen to speakers from the UK, US, Australia, and other English-speaking countries.
  • Action:
  • Note any words or pronunciations that are challenging.
  • Practice mimicking the accent to improve listening and speaking skills.

Summary of Day 7

Today, you have:

  • Understood the Formats and Requirements of “Highlight Correct Summary” and “Multiple-choice Questions” Listening Tasks.
  • Developed Effective Listening and Note-taking Techniques to Capture Essential Information.
  • Practiced Listening Comprehension and Summary Skills through Various Exercises.
  • Expanded Your Vocabulary with 10 New Academic and Contextual Words.
  • Improved Critical Thinking and Inference Abilities Necessary for Comprehension.
  • Set Personal Goals for Continuous Improvement.

Preparation for Day 8

Focus: Writing Skills – Essay Writing

Action Items:

  • Familiarize Yourself with the Essay Writing Task Format.
  • Prepare to Practice Organizing Ideas and Writing Coherent Essays.

Additional Resources

  • Listening Practice:
  • PTE Academic Official Practice Tests: Practice Listening Tasks
  • Note-taking Techniques:
  • Video: “Effective Note-taking Strategies for Listening Comprehension”
  • Podcasts for Listening:
  • TED Talks Daily: Subscribe on your preferred podcast platform.
  • Vocabulary Apps:
  • Quizlet: Create and study vocabulary flashcards.

Tips for Success

  • Active Listening: Eliminate distractions to focus fully on the audio material.
  • Effective Note-taking: Develop a consistent system using abbreviations and symbols.
  • Practice Regularly: Consistency helps reinforce strategies and improve skills.
  • Exposure to Various Topics: Broaden your knowledge by listening to different subjects.

Congratulations on Completing Day 7!

By dedicating time and effort today, you’ve significantly enhanced your listening comprehension and analytical skills, which are crucial for excelling in the PTE Academic test. Keep building on these strategies as you progress toward achieving a perfect score.

Stay Tuned for Day 8!

Note: All external links are provided for educational purposes. Please ensure you have access to the internet to utilize these resources.

Share Your Progress

We encourage you to share your experiences and progress with others:

  • Join Our Community Forum: Connect with fellow learners to exchange tips and resources.
  • Feedback: Let us know how Day 7 went for you and any suggestions you have to improve the course.

Remember: Consistent practice and a proactive approach to learning are keys to success. Keep pushing forward, and don’t hesitate to revisit any sections as needed.

Best of luck on your journey to mastering the PTE Academic!

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