PTE Made Easy·SMWlistening Total time for all listening tasks: 31–39 minutes
    Made Easy

    Select Missing Word

    Select Missing Word tests your ability to listen carefully to a short recording in which the LAST word (or group of words) has been replaced by a BEEP. From four options, pick the ONE word/phrase that best completes what the speaker was saying. There is NO negative marking — but only one option is right. 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 (one video, one audio).

    Chapter

    Overview

    • Length of recording:

      20–70 seconds

    • Number of options to choose from:

      3–5

    • Number of these tasks in each test:

      1–2

    • Type of recording:

      audio only or video, part of a lecture or conversation

    • Time limit for all listening tasks:

      31–39 minutes

    In Select Missing Word tasks, you can use clues from a recording to predict the last word or group of words. This requires an understanding of the overall meaning of the recording.

    • You will see instructions, an audio status box and three to five answer options.
    • Listen to the audio or watch the video, which has the last word or last few words replaced with a beep.
    • Then choose the option that best replaces the beep.
    • This task tests your Listening skills.
    Scored by AI

    How Select Missing Word contributes to your score

    AI
    scoring
    0%

    Listening

    0%

    Overall

    Your voice → analysed by AI → contributes 2% to Listening and 1% to Overall.

    Watch — How To Answer Select Missing Word

    Official PTE School walkthrough — how to answer Select Missing Word.

    How the test screen works

    The screen below is annotated with green markers (1–5). Press Start: a 7-second countdown plays on a white screen, then the recording begins automatically. You CANNOT pause or replay it — only volume can be adjusted. The recording ends with a BEEP that replaces the last word(s). The 'Next' button only becomes active after playback ends. Note: the option indicator is a radio button (not a checkbox) — you can only select ONE option.

    Select Missing Word — Exam Interface

    Annotated walkthrough of the actual Pearson screen. 7-second countdown → recording plays once (no pause/replay) → pick the missing word → press Next.

    PPTE Academic — Listening · Select Missing Word
    Time Remaining 00:29:59 1 of 2
    1Listening-section timer — counts down for ALL listening tasks. Don't spend more than ~1.5 minutes on this question.

    You will hear a recording about a topic. At the end of the recording the last word or group of words has been replaced by a beep. Select the correct option to complete the recording.2Read the instruction. The recording ends with a BEEP — the last word(s) have been replaced. Pick the option that best completes the recording.

    Press Start

    Press Start to begin

    3Media player. Plays automatically after a 7-second countdown. Only the volume can be adjusted — no pause, no replay.

    You will hear a recording. At the end of the recording the last word or group of words has been replaced by a beep. Select the correct option to complete the recording.

    4Click ONE option to select it (radio button). Click another to change your choice. Selected option highlights yellow. click any one option to select the missing word
    5'Next' becomes active ONLY after the audio/video finishes. Press it once you've made your choice.

    Hover the green markers to see what each part of the screen does.

    SMW 1

    What this task tests

    Skill assessed

    Listening

    Score weight

    up to1point

    The AI scorer checks

    Criterion

    Predicting a word or short phrase from the surrounding context.

    Criterion

    Following the speaker's main idea and the flow of supporting points.

    Fluency

    Recognising collocations and natural word combinations.

    Tone

    Inferring meaning from tone, signal words and the speaker's purpose.

    Chapter

    Top Strategies for Success in Select Missing Word

    Note-taking or just listening?

    Decide whether you want to take notes in this task. Try listening to short audio extracts (30–60 seconds long) with and without note-taking or pausing and then predicting the next few words. Which way was easier?

    Two approaches to try — pick whichever works better for you.

    Note-taking

    Note-taking allows you to list all the main points of the recording without overlooking any ideas. After the recording ends, you might spot things in your notes that you hadn't realised while listening.

    If note-taking:
    • only note down key words. You don't need to write down specific details.
    • skim the options before and while listening. Then compare the options with your notes after listening.

    Listening and visualising

    Alternatively, just listening might allow you to focus more on how the recording flows towards the missing words.

    If just listening:
    • try to produce a mental map of what you hear. Visualise the subject and the flow of ideas.
    • think about the options while listening, comparing them to what you have visualised.

    Practice tips

    Build the habit
    1. 1

      Find some examples of podcasts or lectures (you may find some online) on academic topics. Avoid news sources, as these are usually not similar to what you will hear in the test. Try to find ones with transcripts.

      • Look at the transcript and highlight any linking words that introduce examples, evidence or contrasting arguments.
      • Listen to the audio and listen for the words you highlighted. Notice how the linking words signal a change in the direction of the talk.
    2. 2

      Practise brainstorming vocabulary quickly. First, look for a piece of audio online and read the title. In 30 seconds, brainstorm all the vocabulary you can think of which you might hear in the recording. Then listen and check if any of the words are used.

    3. 3

      Generally, it's a good idea to practise predicting the ideas and vocabulary you will hear in a piece of audio or in a video. You can also play a short extract of audio, stop it and then predict what you might hear next. Continue playing to check your ideas.

    Quick tips — Do this, not that

    • Tip 01

      You read all four options BEFORE the recording starts.

      You don't wait passively for the audio — preview the options first.

    • Tip 02

      You focus on the final seconds before the beep.

      You don't lose concentration just because the speaker is wrapping up.

    • Tip 03

      You pick the option that fits the speaker's meaning AND collocates naturally.

      You don't pick an option just because its words appear earlier in the recording.

    • Tip 04

      You always select an option (no negative marking).

      You don't leave the answer blank — guess if you must.

    Chapter

    Practice now with your trainer

    Practice — Audio item

    Practise here without strict markers. Press Start: 7-second countdown → audio plays once (no pause / no replay) → pick the ONE option that best completes what the speaker was saying before the beep. Press Show Answer to see the correct option and the explanation.

    Practice question — Select Missing Word (audio)

    Same Pearson-style screen as the real test. Listen, take notes, then pick the single correct option.

    PPTE Academic — Listening · Select Missing Word
    Time Remaining 00:29:59 2 of 2

    You will hear a recording about a topic. At the end of the recording the last word or group of words has been replaced by a beep. Select the correct option to complete the recording.

    Audio Player

    Press Start to begin

    You will hear a recording. At the end of the recording the last word or group of words has been replaced by a beep. Select the correct option to complete the recording.

    SMW 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 answer in the panel above (Model Answer). Was 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.

    0/7

    Want a trainer to mark your listening practice?

    Send a screenshot of your selection on WhatsApp and our trainers will explain why the correct option fits — and why each wrong option doesn't.

    💬 Get evaluated on WhatsApp

    Common Mistakes in Select Missing Word

    Watch the most frequent mistakes test takers make in Select Missing Word — and how to avoid each one.

    Points to remember

    Listening tasks
    • 1

      Get familiar with each listening task type

      Taking the time to get familiar with each listening task type is important. You only get to hear the recording once, so make sure you are always ready to listen with a clear goal in mind.

    • 2

      Manage your time across the whole 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.

    Quick Tips for a Better Score

    Predict the missing word from context

    The most reliable way to score on Select Missing Word is to follow the speaker's argument, not their words. Ask yourself: what is the speaker concluding? What signal words have they used (therefore, in summary, as a result)? The missing word almost always completes that conclusion.

    Know what to do if you change your mind about the answer

    For each item in this task, there are three to five response options but only ONE option is correct. At the end of the recording, click on the option you think is correct.

    The next recording does not begin playing until you click 'Next'. So you have a little time to think about your answer. If you want to change your answer, click on it again to 'de-select' it. Then click on the option you think is correct.

    Sample radio-button option list with five choices — 'popular' is selected and highlighted yellow
    How this question is scored

    Your response is judged on your ability to follow the speaker's meaning and predict the missing word or group of words at the end of the recording. This is a correct/incorrect item with NO negative marking: you score 1 point if the correct option is selected, otherwise 0. Always pick something — there is no penalty for guessing. This question type contributes to your Listening score only.

    These tasks are 1 or 0. No partial credit, no penalties. Always answer.

    What raises your score
    • Take 2–3 keyword notes during the audio — choose by your notes, not memory.
    • For Highlight Correct Summary, scan summaries during playback for keywords.
    What lowers it
    • Picking the summary with the most matching words instead of the right meaning.
    Click a band to exploreMax 1
    1
    • Correct response.
    • ◾Binary scoring: 1 point for the correct option, 0 otherwise. No partial credit.
    • ◾No negative marking — never leave the answer blank, even if you are unsure.
    • ◾Only ONE option is correct. Pick the option that best completes the speaker's meaning at the beep.
    • ◾Contributes to the Listening score only — it does not affect Reading, Speaking or Writing.
    • ◾See the full Scoring Guide for how single-answer listening scoring works across PTE.

    Keep going with Select Missing Word

    Select Missing Word questionsRead real exam-style Select Missing Word questions.PTE coaching onlineGet feedback on your Select Missing Word answers from a mentor.PTE courses 1-on-1 and group classes.