PTE Listening Multiple Choice Single Answer: Best Way to Find Answer

The PTE Listening section features a task called Multiple Choice Single Answer (MCSA). In this task, you listen to a short audio recording and then choose the one correct answer from a list of options.

While it sounds like a standard listening test, the real challenge is managing your focus. You have to read the question and options while the audio is playing, making it easy to miss key information. The goal is not just to listen, but to listen with a clear purpose.

This guide provides a simple and effective method for this task. You will learn a 3-step process that helps you focus on what’s important, ignore distractions, and select the correct answer efficiently.

An Overview of PTE Listening Multiple Choice Single Answer

This Multiple Choice Single Answer (MCSA) task in PTE listening presents you with a short audio recording, usually between 30 and 90 seconds long. Before the audio starts, you will see a question and a set of 4 to 5 answer options on the screen. Your job is to listen to the recording and choose the single option that best answers the question. The audio plays only once.

How MCSA in PTE Listening is Scored

The scoring for this task is simple.

• Correct Answer: You receive 1 point.
• Incorrect Answer: You receive 0 points.
• Negative Marking: There is no negative marking.
• Score Contribution: The point you earn contributes only to your Listening score.

Because this is a single-point question, your strategy should be built around accuracy and efficiency.

A 3-Step Method for Answering MCSA Questions

To handle the split focus this task requires, you need a clear process. Following these steps can help you stay in control and avoid getting overwhelmed.

Step 1: Analyze the Question (Before the Audio Starts)

You have a few seconds of silence before the audio begins. Use this time wisely. Your first and most important job is to read the question prompt, not the answer options.

Identify the keywords in the question. What specific information are you being asked to listen for?

• Example Question: “What is the main reason the speaker gives for the company’s success?”
• Your Mission: Your brain is now primed. You are not just listening to a talk about a company; you are actively listening for the “main reason” for its “success.”

Step 2: Active Listening with a Purpose (During the Audio)

As the audio plays, your listening should be focused.

• Listen for the Keywords: Your ears are now tuned to find the answer to the question. When you hear the speaker talk about the company’s success, pay very close attention.
• Take Minimal Notes: For this task, you don’t need to write down everything. On your erasable noteboard, just jot down the one or two key phrases that directly answer the question you read. For our example, if the speaker says, “Our success was primarily due to our investment in customer service,” you would simply write “investment in customer service.”

Step 3: Match Your Notes to the Options (After the Audio)

Once the audio finishes, your job is to find the option that matches the information you identified.

• Read the Options: Now, read through the answer options carefully.
• Eliminate the Wrong Answers: Compare each option to your notes and your memory of the audio.
  • Eliminate any options that are clearly wrong or were not mentioned.
  • Be careful of options that use keywords from the audio but change the meaning.
• Confirm Your Answer: You should be left with one option that accurately reflects the main point you heard. This is your answer.

Putting the Method into Practice

Let’s walk through an example to see how this 3-step method works in a real question.

Example 1: Science Topic

• Question: “According to the speaker, what is the primary function of the hippocampus?”
• Your Mission before audio: Listen for the “primary function” of the “hippocampus.”
• Audio (Excerpt): “…While many parts of the brain are involved in memory, the hippocampus is particularly crucial. Its primary function is not to store memories for the long term, but rather to take new experiences and consolidate them, transforming short-term memories into lasting ones that are then stored in other parts of the brain…”
• Your Notes During Audio: “consolidate memories,” “short-term to long-term.”
• Answer Options (After Audio):
  • A) It is the main long-term storage area for memories.
  • B) It helps to convert new memories into a stable form.
  • C) Its primary function is to control short-term memory.
  • D) It is the part of the brain responsible for all memory.

The Solution Process:

1. Analyze the Options against your notes:
   • A) The speaker said its function is not to store memories long-term. Eliminate.
   • D) The speaker said “many parts” are involved, not just the hippocampus. Eliminate.
   • C) This is too simple and doesn’t capture the full process. It doesn’t “control” short-term memory, it transforms it.
   • B) The idea of “converting new memories into a stable form” is a perfect paraphrase of “consolidating” and “transforming short-term memories into lasting ones.” B is the correct answer.

Example 2: History Topic

• Question: “What was the main consequence of the invention of the printing press discussed by the speaker?”
• Your Mission before audio: Listen for the “main consequence” of the “printing press.”
• Audio (Excerpt): “…The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in the 15th century was a pivotal moment in history. While it had many impacts, its most significant consequence was the democratization of knowledge. For the first time, books could be produced cheaply and in large numbers, allowing information and ideas to spread far beyond the confines of monasteries and the wealthy elite, ultimately fueling the Renaissance and the Reformation…”
• Your Notes During Audio: “democratization of knowledge,” “books produced cheaply,” “info spread.”
• Answer Options (After Audio):
  • A) It made Johannes Gutenberg a very wealthy man.
  • B) It was the primary cause of several major wars.
  • C) It allowed information to be accessible to more people.
  • D) It was mainly used for printing religious texts in monasteries.

The Solution Process:

1. Analyze the Options against your notes:
   • A) The speaker does not mention Gutenberg’s wealth. Eliminate.
   • B) The speaker does not mention it causing wars. Eliminate.
   • D) The speaker says information spread beyond the monasteries, which contradicts this option. Eliminate.
   • C) The idea that “information to be accessible to more people” is a perfect match for “democratization of knowledge” and “info spread.” C is the correct answer.

How to Practice for PTE Listening MCSA

Your practice should focus on training your ability to listen with a purpose.

• Active Listening Practice: When you listen to any English audio, like a podcast or the news, practice by setting a “mission” beforehand. For example, tell yourself, “I am going to listen for the main cause of the problem being discussed.” This trains your brain to filter information.
  
• Focused Question Practice: When you work through questions on the PTE Listening MCSA page, strictly follow the 3-step method. Read the question first every single time. This builds the right habit.
  
• Building Your Stamina: To prepare for the full exam, you need to be able to maintain your focus across many different listening tasks. Practice with the complete PTE Listening practice section.
  
• Simulating Exam Day: A PTE Listening Sectional Mock Test is the best way to test your ability to apply the 3-step method under the pressure of a ticking clock.

Frequently Asked Questions About Listening MCSA

Q1. What if I miss the answer while listening?

If you get distracted and realize you missed the key information, do not panic. Quickly read the options and try to eliminate any that seem illogical or unlikely based on what you did hear. Then make your best educated guess. It is a single-point question, so it is better to guess quickly and save time than to spend minutes worrying about it.

Q2. Should I read all the options before the audio starts?

It is generally not recommended. Trying to read and remember 4-5 long options in the few seconds before the audio starts is very difficult and can cause you to miss the beginning of the recording. Focusing only on the question prompt is a much more efficient and reliable strategy.

Q3. How is this different from Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer in Listening?

The strategy is very similar, but the stakes are lower. In this task (Single Answer), there is only one correct option and no negative marking. In the Multiple Answer version, there are multiple correct options and you lose points for incorrect selections, which requires a much more cautious approach.

This task is a test of your ability to focus your listening. By using the question to guide your attention, you can filter out the noise and zero in on the information you need to secure your point. Ready to test your skills in a full exam simulation? Take a free, full-length PTE mock test with a complete score report.