Are you thinking of skipping the coaching center in favor of doing PTE exam preparation at home? It may seem like a good idea but expect to face some issues. Students who study at home often complain of a lack of motivation or poor time management. In addition, some have difficulty concentrating, as it’s easy to get distracted by chores or delivery at the door. Thus, somehow the day has passed and you are not even halfway through your study plan. Moreover, it requires continuous effort systemically. Further, it can be done in multiple ways. But the first thing you need to do is to familiarise yourself with the PTE exam syllabus, and pattern.
Along with self-study, the best way to prepare for PTE at home is to join professional classes online, provided by a credible institute. Due to the pandemic, most of the coaching classes and tutorials have shut down, and have arranged PTE online classes. Moreover, in the article, you will get to know about some tips that you must apply while doing your practice at home.
4 Proven Tips for Effective PTE Home Studies
Below are some PTE preparation tips that you should apply while doing your studies at home:
Create a Good Study Plan
Give a lot of thought to your study plan, as it’s crucial in obtaining a good PTE score. Whether you favor online coaching classes or self-study, a proper plan helps you make the most of your resources.
Make sure that your plan incorporates all the PTE exam syllabus elements: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Identify which ability would need more practice time. While making your plan, ask yourself:
- How many hours can you dedicate each day?
- Is your home noisy or crowded at certain times?
- Which days provide better options for focused study?
Pro tip: Commit to spending at least 1-2 hours daily for exam preparation.
Further, take a look at the one-week sample below:
| Days | Week-1 |
| Monday | Go through the pattern of the PTE. |
| Tuesday | Familiarize yourself with the question types. |
| Wednesday | Listen to the podcast for 30 minutes. |
| Thursday | Read books, novels, or magazines for PTE reading practice. |
| Friday | Practice read-aloud questions. Use a timer to keep count. Give yourself 40 seconds to prepare. |
| Saturday | Solve MCQ question type from reading. |
| Sunday | Rest |
Understand the PTE Test Format
Take enough time to familiarize yourself with the PTE exam syllabus and pattern. An understanding of the format of the test and the types of questions is crucial to get a better result. However, do not forget to ask yourself the following questions:
- Understand how many parts and questions are included in each part of the test.
- Read the guidelines properly. How much time do you need to complete the entire exam for each question type? How are answers recorded?
- What tasks need to be completed first? What and how are skills evaluated? How were responses scored?
- Keep track of the length and timing of the PTE exam. How long does each part of the Academic test last? How much time is consumed for each question?
Understanding The Marking Scheme
All the questions in the PTE Academic are 100% machine-calculated, which means that every test is marked accurately, constantly, and fairly without any discrepancy. The PTE band score chart is between 10 and 90, which shows your level of English ability. Scores for questions are based on:
- Correctness refers to how accurately you are responding to the question asked in the PTE.
- Formal aspects refer to the form of your responses, for example, whether your answer is significantly over or under the word limit for a particular item type.
- The quality of your answer includes your skills in areas like oral fluency, pronunciation, and comprehension. It’s called the set of capabilities in your “Sill Profile”.
Take Mock Tests Regularly
A genuine mock test helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses. Thanks to the internet, you can choose from a range of PTE exam sample papers.
Note that the score you gain in a practice test is not indicative of what you will obtain in the real one. However, you will have a rough idea of what to expect and how to manage your time. Since it gives you insights into how the exam is administered, your confidence will also get a welcome blast.
Get to know about some professional tips you should use while doing your studies at home. Now read below to learn a few exam day tips.
Bonus Tips for PTE Exam Day
The most common thing is to stay calm and composed. Make those extra minutes preparing your skills for the exam day.
1. Before the test:
- Make sure to carry the correct documentation and identity card to the exam center on the day of the PTE exam. Without proper and correct papers and ID, you will not be allowed to appear on the test.
- Reach the test center on or before the reporting time. Keep plenty of time in hand in case of an emergency.
2. During the exam:
- Read all PTE test guidelines carefully before beginning the exam.
- Try and use the correct punctuation for writing tasks: full stops, capital letters, commas, etc.
- Response to the question appropriately. For example, the question asks you to write or speak about music, not “maths”.
- Strictly stick to the word limit you are given for writing tasks.
- Answer as quickly as possible and keep speaking during the test. The microphone will automatically off after three seconds of silence and will stop recording.
- Try to not spend too much time on a single question. Keep track of the duration.
- Spend any remaining time available to cross-check your responses.
Conclusion
Summing up, studying at home doesn’t doing so alone. If you need outside help, you can pay for an online coach or live practice. This way, you get both worlds. Moreover, ideally, students should begin preparation two months before the scheduled exam date. But, you can still excel in the test with a shorter study period, by knowing about the PTE band score chart and best study plan.