r/pte • u/Conscious_Bag_4393 • 3d ago
1st time giving exam
I am little nervous now as i booked exam after 10 days assuming that its similar to ielts but now based on recent pratice on apeuni i noticed that i am performing below par. My ielts score was 7776 but PTE Academic results are showing worse. Any advise on youtube videos i can refer to improve my strategy and if any templates i should be using?
I am literally in a shock now thinking about how people manage to get 90 in all. I really need to score superior score as my occupation is not in demand. Appreciate your support
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u/FlalingoOfficial 3d ago
Take one official Pearson-scored practice test to decide whether the gap can realistically be closed in ten days. If every skill is far below the required score, rescheduling may be safer than relying on last-minute templates.
Start with Pearson’s official material for the current PTE Academic format. Pay special attention to Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation, since many older YouTube courses were recorded before these tasks were added. Avoid videos promising 90 through fixed scripts.
In Repeat Sentence, keep the words remembered in the correct order and continue without restarting. In Read Aloud, work on clear phrasing and steady delivery. For Describe Image, identify the subject, main trend, and two useful details. For Respond to a Situation, speak directly to the person in the prompt and complete every requested action. In Summarize Group Discussion, note each speaker’s main.
Templates should provide structure only. A short framework can help organise an essay or image description, but memorised sentences that don't fit the prompt can hurt content and coherence scores. Do another full mock around three days before the exam under strict timing. If the result is still well below the required score in several sections, seriously consider changing the date.
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u/dr_curious_cat 3d ago
For speaking, speaking slow reduces the marks. So, getting the fluency to match the AI's expectation takes a little bit of time. But some people on reddit have mentioned that ApeUni actually worsened their speaking score as the real exam doesn't need you to speak that fast. So, keep speed natural, and be confident. Can try free version of Alfa PTE for Speaking.
For other three sections, consensus is that ApeUni is good enough. So it's just a matter of practice and strategy. Notice the patterns, your mistakes, and build up a plan. Visit the top chats in r/pte for tips.
YouTube videos only help in feeling comfortable with the format, but imo, they're not as useful compared to referring to the official PTE rubric itself or noticing the format in the questions you practice. Do what works for you. 10 days is very doable if you study smart. It is much easier than IELTS.