Skim the text first
Skim the transcript in the few seconds before the recording starts. Get a general idea of the topic — this helps you focus on the words you might hear.
Made Easy
Listening — Fill in the Blanks (Type In)
Fill in the Blanks (Type In) tests your ability to listen carefully to a short audio recording and type the missing words into a transcript shown on screen. Each correctly spelled word scores 1 point — there is NO negative marking, so always fill every blank. On this page: an overview, the exam interface, top strategies (Before / During the test), common mistakes, points to remember and a full simulator with two practice items.
Chapter
Overview
Length of recording:
30–60 seconds
Number of missing words:
4–6 blanks
Type of recording:
audio only (not video)
Number of these tasks in each test:
2–3
Total time for all listening tasks:
31–39 minutes
Fill in the Blanks (Type In) tests your ability to type the missing words in a transcript while listening to a short academic recording. After a 7-second countdown the audio plays once — you cannot pause or replay it. Type each missing word into the blank as you listen, or take notes on your erasable booklet and fill the blanks after.
- You will see a transcript of the audio with 4–6 blank boxes — type a single word into each one.
- Read the prompt, listen to the recording once, then check that every blank is filled before pressing Next.
- Each correctly spelled word = 1 point. There is NO negative marking — always fill every blank.
- This task tests your Listening skills (and indirectly your Writing via spelling).
Scored by AI
How Listening — Fill in the Blanks (Type In) contributes to your score
Task
Listening — Fill in the Blanks (Type In)
AI
scoring
scoring
0%
Listening
0%
Overall
Your voice → analysed by AI → contributes 8% to Listening and 3% to Overall.
Watch — How To Answer Fill in the Blanks: Listening (Type In)
Official PTE School walkthrough — how to answer Listening Fill in the Blanks (Type In).
How the test screen works
The screen below is annotated with green markers (1–5). Press Start: a 7-second countdown plays, then the audio begins automatically. You CANNOT pause or replay the recording — only volume can be adjusted. Click any blank and type the missing word. The 'Next' button only becomes active after the audio ends.
Fill in the Blanks (Type In) — Exam Interface
Annotated walkthrough of the actual Pearson screen. 7-second countdown → audio plays once (no pause / no replay) → fill the blanks → press Next.
PPTE Academic — Listening · Fill in the Blanks (Type In)
Time Remaining 00:14:50 3 of 14
1Listening-section timer — counts down for ALL listening tasks. Don't spend more than ~1.5 minutes on this item.You will hear a recording. Type the missing words in each blank.2Read the prompt. You'll see a transcript with blanks — type the word you hear in each blank.
Audio Player
Press Start to begin
We've known for a while that those with in playing a musical instrument exhibit superior brain . That is, their brain can change and adapt as a result of experience. However, we recently investigated the specifically between drummers and non-musical people, and found that their motor skills are far superior too. In observations made through brain scans, we were able to determine that the frontal part of the brain, responsible for motor planning, is at processing information than in non-musicians, and that drummers are more at certain things like using both hands simultaneously.4Click any blank and type the missing word. Use Tab/Shift+Tab to move between blanks.
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5'Next' becomes active ONLY after the audio finishes. Press it once you've filled every blank.
Hover the green markers to see what each part of the screen does.
FIB 1
What this task tests
Skill assessed
Listening
Score weight
up to8points
The AI scorer checks
Criterion
Identifying words and phrases appropriate to the context.
Pronunciation
Recognising the pronunciation of academic vocabulary.
Criterion
Using context to help identify words you only partially heard.
Criterion
Spelling the words you typed correctly (British or American).
Criterion
Identifying the main ideas and supporting points.
Criterion
Identifying details, opinions, definitions or sequences.
Purpose
Making inferences from the information heard.
Comprehension
Inferring the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Purpose
Listening for organisation and connections between information.
Chapter
Top Strategies for Success in Fill in the Blanks (Type In)
Practise these skills
Build the five habits below into your daily practice so they feel automatic on test day.
Five habits to build before test day so they feel automatic in the exam.
Quick note-taking
You might find it easier to type as you listen, but taking notes and completing the blanks at the end is also a good strategy. Use abbreviations (e.g. write disc if you hear discount).
Pay attention to spelling
Spelling words correctly could be the difference between getting an answer right or wrong in this task. Each correctly spelled word = 1 point.
Read while listening
Practise reading at the same time as listening. You need to follow the script on screen so you don't get lost or miss any blanks.
Check at the end
Quickly review your work before pressing Next. Use grammar clues to check the correct form of the word (verb tense, noun, adverb, adjective, etc.).
Practice tips
Build the habit- 1
Use online listening gap-fill activities to practise choosing grammatically correct words for blanks in texts.
- 2
Find some academic podcasts or lectures online and practise like this:
- Listen and pause every 20 seconds. While paused, type the last word you heard, with the spell-checker switched off.
- Play each part again to check that the word you wrote makes sense in the sentence.
- When you have finished, check your spelling in a dictionary.
- 3
Practise both strategies: taking notes while listening AND typing into blanks as you listen. Decide which you're better at, then use your preferred approach in the test. You will need to type quickly, so practise this in English as much as you can.
Quick tips — Do this, not that
- Tip 01
You should check your spelling after listening.
You shouldn't worry about spelling while listening — focus on hearing the word first.
- Tip 02
You should listen very carefully and use only what you hear.
You shouldn't type a word based just on your own knowledge or what you think makes sense — everything you need is in the audio.
- Tip 03
You should add something to every blank.
You shouldn't leave any blanks empty — guessing is better than leaving a blank, because there is NO negative marking.
- Tip 04
You should keep an eye on the listening-section timer.
You shouldn't spend too much time on one task — listening items are not timed individually.
- Tip 05
You should check that your answers are grammatically correct.
You shouldn't forget to check that every word makes sense in the sentence.
Chapter
Practice now with your trainer
Practice — Fill in the Blanks (Type In) 2
Practise here without strict markers. Press Start: 7-second countdown → audio plays once (no pause / no replay) → type the missing word in each blank. Press Show Answers to see the correct words and check your spelling.
Practice question — Fill in the Blanks (Type In)
Same Pearson-style screen as the real test. Listen, take notes, fill every blank.
PPTE Academic — Listening · Fill in the Blanks (Type In)
Time Remaining 00:14:50 4 of 14
You will hear a recording. Type the missing words in each blank.
Audio Player
Press Start to begin
We use skeletal muscles to move. They're attached to our bones and when they together, they pull our bones in different directions, which allows us to make all sorts of movements like walking, jumping, , smiling, and even blinking. If you don't use a group of muscles for a period of time, they can become weaker. So to this, you should exercise regularly. By exercising at a level that you find , you strengthen your muscles. When you work hard like this, muscles are slightly damaged and then they and rebuild, becoming stronger.
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FIB 2
Reflecting on your practice
1
Use the checklist below to decide what you did well and what you need to practise more. Set aside time to work on each area you want to improve.
2
Check the correct answers in the panel above. Were yours correct? Think about how you could improve.
1. Reflection checklist
Private to you — tick each item you actually did. Saved on this device only.
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Want a trainer to mark your FIB Listening practice?
Send a screenshot of your filled blanks on WhatsApp and our trainers will check your spelling and word choice — and explain why each correct answer fits.
💬 Get evaluated on WhatsApp
Common Mistakes in Fill in the Blanks (Type In)
Watch the most frequent mistakes test takers make in FIB-L — and how to avoid each one.
Points to remember
Listening tasks- 1
Read at the same speed as the speaker is talking
During Fill in the Blanks (Type In) and Highlight Incorrect Words, you need to read a transcript while listening to the recording. Read the text at the same speed as the speaker is talking. If you get behind, it can make it difficult to complete these tasks successfully.
- 2
Manage your time across the whole listening section
Listening items (apart from Summarize Spoken Text) are not timed individually. You will have between 31 to 39 minutes for all the listening items. Make sure you practise managing your time effectively across all the tasks.
Quick Tips for a Better Score
Take notes of the main points and supporting details
In the seven seconds before the recording begins, you only have time to skim the text. As you do this, ignore the gaps and try to get an overall idea of what the text is about. This will help you recognize the words that fit the gaps, as you hear them.
Some of the things you can look for:
• Proper nouns (that begin with a capital letter). They can give you information about people and what they do (e.g. 'Mike Griffiths … conservationist'), places (e.g. 'Indonesian island of Sumatra') and organizations (e.g. 'conservation group The Leuser International Foundation'). Don't worry if you don't know where or who they are.
• Nouns that are repeated in the text. They may help you decide on the topic.
As you listen, write the words you hear for the blanks on your 'erasable note-board booklet'
The recording is at normal speed and is only played once. When you are listening, you do not have time to think about how to spell the missing words. Use your erasable note-board booklet to write down what you think you hear.
After the recording has finished, you can read through the text, and use your notes to decide on the words that are missing and how they are spelled. Then type them into the gaps.
Remember, the next item does not start until you click Next (N) at the bottom of the screen, so you have a little time to think about your answers.
How this question is scored
Your response is judged on your ability to listen for missing words and type them into the transcription. Each correct word with correct spelling scores 1 point. If all blanks are filled correctly, you get the maximum score. If some are wrong, partial credit applies. There is NO negative marking — always fill every blank, even if you have to guess. This task contributes to your Listening score (and indirectly to Writing via spelling).
Listening Fill in the Blanks and Write from Dictation give you a point for each word typed and spelled correctly. WFD is the highest-yield Listening task because every word you nail counts.
What raises your score
- Type every word you’re sure of, then fill the gaps with grammatical guesses.
- Use shorthand notes during the audio (first letter + length).
- Practise dictation with British, American AND Australian voices.
What lowers it
- Spelling errors on common words (their/there, its/it’s).
- Adding a word that wasn’t in the audio.
Click a band to exploreMax 1
1
- Each correct word spelled correctly.
Coach tip · Every word counts — never leave a blank empty. There's no negative marking, so a grammatical guess is always better than nothing.
- ◾Each correct word with correct spelling = 1 point. Wrong/empty word = 0.
- ◾No negative marking — never leave a blank empty.
- ◾Both British and American spellings are accepted.
- ◾See the full Scoring Guide for how partial credit works across PTE.