In the PTE exam, there are four sections that test your English language proficiency. One of these sections is PTE Listening, where you have to listen to a recording and write answers to various questions. One major part of the PTE listening section is dictation words for PTE. These dictation words play an important role as they directly test your ability to listen, process, and write down given information. To help you, we have compiled a list of 60+ common dictation words for the PTE exam.
What are the Dictation Words in PTE Listening Section?
In the PTE exam, the dictation words are a game changer as they can help you transcribe English easily and improve your overall score in the PTE listening section.
The PTE listening section is 30-45 minutes long, and an audio and a video clip will be played. During that time, you will have to learn the dictation that is going on in the media and write it down. After you are done, your answer will be compared to the dictation in the video or audio, and you will then be scored based on your accuracy.
Additionally, in this section, you will also be required to write dictated words. These dictation words for PTE will help judge your listening abilities and your English vocabulary. But this is not as easy as it sounds.
One reason behind this is that if you don’t have great PTE vocabulary and listening skills in terms of accent and pronunciation then you won’t be able to understand the words that are being dictated and this in turn can ruin your overall PTE score.
To help you improve your PTE vocabulary and ace the PTE listening section, we have compiled a 60+ dictation PTE word list in the section below.
60+ Common Dictation Words for PTE Exam
During the PTE listening section, your ability to listen and write down given information is tested. This is an important task that can significantly improve your overall score as you earn points every time you spell a word correctly.
These dictation words can be both informal and formal, as well as abstract and complex. Hence, to help you expand your vocabulary, below are some dictation words for PTE that are commonly used.
Dictation words | Meaning |
Enthusiasm | Eagerness |
Affection | Love or emotions |
Aftermath | After events |
Backhaul | Return trip of a vehicle |
Technological | A way of using technology. |
Surprisingly | Something that you didn’t expect |
Instruction | A step by step information that tells you how to do something |
Plethora | A lot of |
Aptitude | Natural talent or skill |
Cognizant | Being aware of something |
Downright | Complete or total |
Insufficient | Not enough |
Mediate | Reconcile differences between two parties |
Gaslight | To manipulate someone |
Bland | Tasteless |
Isolate | Keeping something or someone aside from others |
Prosperity | Wealth |
Gaslight | To manipulate someone |
Impulsive | Acting on impulse without thinking |
Dissertation | A detailed piece of writing about a particular research subject, submitted at a university. |
Shrink | Become small |
Condescending | Looking down on someone |
Dread | Feeling of fear |
Yield | To produce an outcome |
Ambitious | Strong desire to achieve something |
Display | To show or exhibit something explicitly |
Superfluous | Unnecessary |
Scaffolding | Outer structure |
Incorporate | Act of making something into a part of something for betterment. |
Aggregate | Total |
Hustle | To get something by forceful action |
Tangible | Can be touched |
Pester | To annoy someone |
Anxiety | Nervousness or feeling alarmed |
Demonstrate | Show |
Negligent | Someone not paying attention to their duties |
Postgraduate | A person who has completed a master’s degree from a college or university. |
Considerable | Great |
Considerable | A lot |
Legacy | Giving something to the future generation or inherited from the past |
Predominant | Powerful |
Ambiguous | Not clear |
Ample | More than enough |
Reluctance | Unwillingness |
Reconciliation | Bringing people together |
Equivalent | Equal version |
Preliminary | Initial stages |
Xerox | The process of exactly copying the content |
Paradigm | A way of thinking |
Scandalous | Morally offensive |
Affiliate | To link |
Coherent | Organized |
Convergence | Coming together |
Emulate | To copy someone as a role model |
Yield | To produce an outcome |
Maverick | Someone who shows independence |
Holistic | The complete thing |
Accumulation | Gathering something for a purpose |
Aberration | Something unusual |
Integral | Important |
Initiate | Start |
These PTE dictation words will give you a general idea of the kind of words you will get in the PTE listening section. We will talk about some common challenges students face while learning dictation words for PTE in the next section below.
Common Challenges Students Face in PTE Dictation Words and Tips to Solve Them!
One of the main challenges students face while learning PTE dictation words for the listening section is understanding different accents and getting confused between spelling and grammar. One way to get past these challenges is by taking as many online PTE mock tests as you can.
Below is a breakdown of these challenges and how you can overcome them.
1. One of the main challenges is memory retention. Many students find it difficult to remember the entire sentence, let alone type it accurately.
Solution: One way you can get over this challenge is by breaking the sentences into either smaller or meaningful phrases. Additionally, you can also try to mentally repeat the sentence while typing.
2. Another issue students face with dictation words for PTE is not understanding the accent.
Solution: You can overcome this issue by exposing yourself to various accents through different media like movies and music. Additionally, you can also try to pay attention to how words sound and are pronounced.
3. Errors in spelling and grammar are also another main issue faced by students during the PTE listening section.
Solution: To overcome this issue, you can try to build a habit of reviewing and proofreading your answers. You can also try to improve your PTE vocabulary by reading as much as you can.
4. Lastly, managing your time. Most test takers feel the pressure of writing the correct sentences which leads to mistakes.
Solution: To manage your time effectively, you can try taking mock tests that simulate real exam conditions. Additionally, you can try focusing on writing the correct answers rather than completing the task.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, learning dictation words for PTE can help you increase your overall PTE score. In our blog above, we listed 60+ dictation words that can help you ace your PTE exam. Additionally, if you are struggling to prepare for your English language proficiency test, then you can get help from Gradding.com. Their experts will not only help you provide the best resources for the PTE exam, but you will also find the IELTS mock test free during your IELTS preparation.

david Miller is an experienced English language expert with a deep passion for helping others communicate effectively and confidently. With a background in linguistics and literature, He provides clear, accessible insights on grammar, writing, and communication strategies. Through well-researched articles and practical advice, David Miller aims to make language learning both inspiring and achievable for readers of all levels.