Select Missing Words is one of the eight question types asked in the PTE Listening exam. 1-2 Select Missing Words questions may be asked on your PTE test and 1 mark is awarded for every correct answer. Note that there is no penalty for incorrect or no response to this question.
The total time allowed for the PTE Listening section is 30-43 minutes in which the test takers have to attempt 8 different question types. One of these 8 different question types is the “Select Missing Words” question. Read this article to learn all about the PTE Listening Select Missing Words tips and tricks to score full marks in the PTE exam.
- What is PTE Listening “Select Missing Words” Task?
- PTE Listening Select Missing Words Question Format
- Tips to Answer the Select Missing Words Questions
- How is Select Missing Words PTE Question Scored?
What is PTE Listening “Select Missing Words” Task?
The “Select Missing Words” is one of the 8 different question types in the PTE Listening section. In this task, a recorded audio prompt of length 20-70 seconds is presented on the test taker’s screen. The prompt has some words omitted from it and at the end of the prompt (after listening to the recording carefully) test takers will be required to select the missing words from the list of possible options presented on the screen. Candidates have to draw cues from the prompt and note down the lines/context where they feel a word was omitted.
Also, Read: PTE Syllabus
PTE Listening Select Missing Words Question Format
The format of this question is described in the table below.
| Select Missing Words PTE Question Format |
|
|---|---|
| Number of Questions |
1-2 |
| Length of Question Prompt |
An audio recording of 20-70 seconds |
| How does the question indicate missing words? |
Every recording has some missing word(s) in the end which are replaced by a beep sound. |
| Question type |
Multiple Choice-based |
| Number of options provided |
4-5 options will be provided |
| How to answer |
Based on the understanding of the context of the question, candidates will have to select one out of the 4-5 choices given to them. The option of best interest can be chosen by left-clicking on it. |
| Marks per question |
1 |
| Negative Marking |
No |
| Scoring Pattern |
1 mark is provided for the correct answer and 0 marks are provided for an incorrect/no answer. |
Tips to Answer the Select Missing Words Questions
To perform this task, candidates will have to listen to the recording very attentively from the very beginning. Candidates must note that the missing word/group of words at the end of the recording are replaced by a beep sound.
To answer this question, candidates will have to select the best option that aligns with the context and completes the recording.
Here are a few important tips that will help you attempt this question righteously:
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- The audio begins to play automatically and can be played only once. So, make sure you do not miss out on listening to the details.
- There may be a word/group of words missing from your PTE Select Missing Words question, but there is only one correct option out of the 4-5 options given.
- You can select/deselect an option by left-clicking on it.
How is Select Missing Words PTE Question Scored?
Through this question in your PTE exam, your listening skills get assessed which means that the scores of this question will contribute only to the PTE listening section of your test.
There may be 1 or 2 Select Missing Words questions asked on your PTE test and each of these carries 1 mark each. The scoring of this question is done on the basis of correct/incorrect attempts. However, no score score is deducted for giving an incorrect/no response to this question which means there is no penalty/negative marking for this question.
By means of this question, your ability to guess/predict what the speaker is going to say based on your understanding of the context is judged.
The PTE Academic exam includes two distinct writing tasks: Summarize Written Text and Write Essay. While these are the only tasks in the PTE exam that require you to produce original writing, other integrated sections of the test also assess your writing skills.
The total questions in the PTE-A exam are distributed among Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3, as given below.
| Question Distribution as per the Latest PTE-A Exam Format 2025-26 | |
|---|---|
| Parts | Number of Questions |
| Part 1: Speaking and Writing | 35-43 |
| Part 2: Reading | 15-20 |
| Part 3: Listening | 15-22 |
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There is no set minimum or maximum number of questions in the PTE exam. The total number of questions is within a range and subject to change.
However, from 07 August 2025, there will be a total of 22 different question types (excluding the personal introduction) which will contribute to a total of 52-64+ questions in the PTE exam.