The Ultimate Guide to PTE Write From Dictation (WFD) for a Higher Score

In the entire PTE Academic exam, no other question type holds as much power as Write From Dictation (WFD). It is the final task, and for many, it is the kingmaker. A strong performance here can significantly lift your entire score, while a poor one can be the only thing standing between you and your 79+ target.

Why is it so important? Because it’s a two-for-one deal. Every correct word you type adds points to both your Listening and Writing scores. Mastering WFD is the single most efficient way to boost your results in two major sections of the exam.

Many students struggle with this task. They forget the sentence, make small spelling mistakes, or miss those tricky plural ‘s’ endings. This guide is here to change that. We will go beyond the basic tips and give you a complete system for success, covering the hidden details of the scoring system, proven note-taking methods, and a smart way to practice.

Why Write From Dictation is the Most Important Task in the PTE

To put it simply, WFD offers the best return on investment for your study time. You will get 3 to 4 of these questions at the end of your Listening section. Each sentence is usually between 8 and 15 words long. That means you have the opportunity to score around 40-50 points that are distributed between your Listening and Writing scores.

Missing these points is not an option if you are aiming for a high score. Understanding how those points are awarded is the first step to securing them.

How Write From Dictation is Scored: The Hidden Details You Need to Know

This is the most misunderstood part of WFD. Most people know it gives “partial credit,” but the details are what matter.

The Per-Word System: One Point, Per Correct Word, in the Correct Position

You get one point for every single word you write correctly, spelled correctly, and placed in the correct position.

• Sentence: The university library is located on the north side. (10 words)
• Your Answer: The university library located on the north side. (9/10 points)
• Your Answer: The university library is located on north side. (9/10 points)
• Your Answer: The university libary is located on the north side. (9/10 points – “libary” is a spelling mistake)

The Truth About “No Negative Marking”

While you don’t lose points from your total score for wrong words, any word that is incorrect, misspelled, or in the wrong order effectively gets a score of zero for that word. You only get points for what is correct.

The Critical Word Order Rule

The words must be in the correct sequence. If you write “The library university…” you will get zero points for both “library” and “university” because they are in the wrong positions, even though they are spelled correctly.

What About Extra Words?

Adding extra words that were not in the sentence will not get you extra points, but they also won’t cause a penalty as long as the correct words are still in the correct order. However, it’s a bad habit and can mess up your sentence structure, so it’s best to avoid it.

The Core Challenge: A Battle Between Memory and Speed

WFD tests two main skills:

1. Short-Term Memory: Can you hold a 10-12 word sentence in your head for a few seconds?
2. Typing Speed & Accuracy: Can you type that sentence out quickly and without errors?

Most mistakes happen when one of these skills fails. You either forget the sentence while trying to type, or you remember the sentence but make a typing mistake. The best strategies involve a good note-taking system to support your memory.

Proven Note-Taking Methods for WFD (Find What Works for You)

There is no single “best” method. The best method is the one that you can use quickly and accurately under pressure. Try both of these and see which one feels more natural.

Method 1: The First Letter Acronym

This is the most popular method. You listen to the sentence and write down the first letter of each word on your erasable noteboard.

• Sentence: “The lecture on climate change is on Tuesday.”
• Your Notes: T L O C C I O T
• How it works: Your brain uses these letters as triggers to recall the full words. This method is fast and helps you capture every word.
• Potential Weakness: If you forget what a letter stands for (was ‘C’ for ‘climate’ or ‘culture’?), you can get stuck.

Method 2: The Phrasal Chunking

Instead of individual letters, you write down small, memorable chunks or phrases. This works well for people who have strong memories but just need a little support.

• Sentence: “The lecture on climate change is on Tuesday.”
• Your Notes: The lecture / climate change / on Tuesday
• How it works: This method captures the meaning and structure of the sentence, which can make it easier to remember the small grammar words like ‘on’, ‘is’, ‘the’.
• Potential Weakness: It’s slightly slower than the first-letter method and might not be possible for very long or fast sentences.

Our Recommendation: Start with the First Letter method. Practice it until it becomes second nature. It’s the most reliable system for most students.

A Step-by-Step Action Plan for Every WFD Sentence

Follow this exact process for every single question to build consistency.

1. Before the Audio: Place your pen on the noteboard, ready to write. Be completely silent and focused.
2. During the Audio: Do not type. Do not touch the keyboard. Focus 100% of your energy on listening and taking your notes (using your chosen method).
3. Immediately After the Audio: Type what you remember into the box as quickly as you can, using your notes as a guide. Don’t worry about spelling or capital letters yet. Just get the words down.
4. The Golden 10 Seconds: Proofread and Edit: This is where you win or lose. Go back and check your sentence against a mental checklist:
   • Plurals: Did you hear an ‘s’ on the end of any words? (e.g., “student” vs. “students”) This is the most common mistake.
   • Articles: Are the ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’ in the right place?
   • Tense: Did the verb have an ‘-ed’ at the end?
   • Spelling: Quickly scan for any obvious typos.
   • Punctuation: Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.

Your Smart Practice Plan to Master WFD

Don’t just do random questions. Practice with a purpose.

1. Build Your Foundation: Start with our dedicated PTE Write From Dictation practice questions. Your goal is not to get a high score yet. Your goal is to become comfortable with your note-taking method.
2. Focus on Weaknesses: After you’ve practiced, you’ll notice your common mistakes. Dedicate entire practice sessions to one mistake type. For one session, focus only on listening for plurals. For the next, focus only on articles. This targeted practice is much more effective.
3. Test Your Skills in Context: WFD is part of the larger Listening section. You need to be able to perform when you’re already tired. Test your skills across all listening tasks in our PTE Listening practice section.
4. Simulate Exam Pressure: Finally, you need to see how you perform under real exam conditions. A PTE Listening Sectional Mock Test will test your timing and focus.

The final step is to see how your WFD performance impacts your overall score. The only way to do that is to take a full test.

Take a free, full-length PTE mock test with a complete score report today. See how your Listening and Writing scores are affected by WFD and get the confidence you need for exam day.

You can do 30 to 50 questions every day on the OnePTE app on Android or iOS too.

H2: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. How many Write From Dictation questions are in the test?

You will get 3 or 4 Write From Dictation questions at the very end of the Listening module.

Q2. What if I completely miss a word?

Don’t panic. Just leave a gap and type out the rest of the sentence that you remember. It is much better to get 9 out of 10 words correct than to mess up the entire sentence trying to remember one word.

Q3. Does punctuation matter in Write from Dictation?

Yes. You should always start your sentence with a capital letter and end it with a full stop (.). While Pearson’s scoring focuses on the words, it is a firm rule of English writing and is considered best practice for securing all possible points.