Part 3 · Listening · SMW
Select Missing Word: Listening PTE question type
A recording plays with a short beep marking where a word is missing. You choose the word that completes it from four options.
The options are built as near-homophones, so they are distinguished by stress pattern and by what the grammar around the gap allows, not by meaning alone. Each word plays only within its own recording.
Scoring
How Select Missing Word is scored
Correct or incorrect, one point, with no partial credit.
- Skills scored
- Listening — contributes to your Listening score
- Questions per test
- 1–2 in Listening
Watch out
Common Select Missing Word mistakes
- 1Choosing on meaning when the distractors are all grammatical, leaving nothing to separate them.
- 2Missing the stress pattern difference that is the actual discriminator.
- 3Rushing to answer before the word before the gap has finished, which cues the ending.
Strategy
Questions
Select Missing Word questions, answered
How many Select Missing Word questions are on the PTE Academic?
A PTE Academic has 1–2 Select Missing Word items in the Listening section. Each one counts towards your Listening score.
How is Select Missing Word scored?
Correct or incorrect, one point, with no partial credit.
What goes wrong most often on Select Missing Word?
Choosing on meaning when the distractors are all grammatical, leaving nothing to separate them.
Keep going
Related listening question types
- Summarize Spoken Text
1 per test · Listening + Writing
- Fill in the Blanks
2–3 per test · Listening
- Highlight Correct Summary
2–3 per test · Listening + Reading
- Multiple Choice (Single Answer)
2–3 per test · Listening
All Listening question types · tips for all 22 types · full test format · how PTE scores work.
Scoring figures on this page follow the current PTE Academic official guide. This is an independent practice site and is not affiliated with Pearson.