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How I Scored 79+ in PTE: Tips, Resources, and Templates for Success
- Medium
- Jul 16, 2020
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
🧲 Title (short, outcome-focused, clickable)
PTE Success at 79: A practical prep path that fits busy lives
⚡ Hook (2–3 lines)
I scored 79 overall on the PTE after five months of study, juggling work, life, and a pandemic-influenced schedule. Here’s how I used structured resources, templates, and focused practice to get there—and what I’d tweak next time.
📌 PTE Snapshot (People-like-me)
🎯 Goal:
Achieve a competitive PTE score (overall 79+), with a clear plan that fits a busy schedule and pandemic-era constraints.
🌍 Context:
Previously did IELTS for university admission; moved to Melbourne a few years back; chose PTE because it was pitched as more approachable.
🗓️ Timeline:
About 5 months of prep leading up to the July 13, 2020 exam.
⛓️ Constraints:
Work and personal commitments caused occasional procrastination; COVID-19 reduced test center capacity (Melbourne Polytechnic’s center ran with only a handful of candidates).
Outcome:
Overall 79 with Listening 82, Reading 79, Speaking 90, Writing 73.
🧾 Evidence:
Official Pearson Scored Practice Test (Version 3): 73 overall to guide weak areas
E2Language Express+ package: 6 months of materials, live classes, and mini-mock tests
SonnyEnglish YouTube tips: high-impact task templates and task-targeting strategies
Result delivered within 24 hours of testing
🧭 The Journey (What happened)
Five months before the exam, I set out to build a plan that balanced a demanding schedule with a clear path to a high PTE score. I started with a mix of paid courses and free content, leaning on E2Language’s Express+ for structured study, and SonnyEnglish for actionable task templates. I also ran a formal diagnostic through the official Pearson practice test to identify where I needed extra focus.
The choice to pursue PTE came after IELTS, but the pitch around PTE being easier was convincing enough to try. The plan had to adapt to a busy life, so procrastination was a constant battle early on. Still, I kept at it, using the resources to carve out consistent practice blocks, even if they were just an hour or two on weekdays.
When COVID-19 reshaped testing logistics, I faced a quieter exam day with Melbourne Polytechnic limiting centers to a few candidates. That constraint actually helped me stay calm: fewer people, more time to focus on setup, and careful attention to audio quality and transitions during the Speaking tasks. I tweaked my test-day routine—checking headset/mic levels and avoiding breaths during speaking by clicking Next promptly after speaking tasks.
On test day, I felt the preparations hit the mark. The Speaking section was intense, but the high score (90) showed the template-driven writing and targeted practice paid off in real-time; Reading and Listening clicked with the practice tests; Writing lagged a bit behind, a reason the official practice test score of 73 had flagged as a target area.
The writing templates helped structure essays, but I learned to adapt them rather than copy blindly. The takeaway: templates save time, but you still need your own voice and concrete examples to push scores higher.
Overall, the journey underlined a few truths: small, high-impact tasks done consistently beat scattered, unfocused effort; practice under exam-like conditions matters a lot; and a disciplined review of official practice materials is indispensable for targeting weaknesses.
💡 What Worked (Xperify Insights)
✅ Insight #1 (Focus on high-impact tasks first)
Why it worked: Prioritizing tasks that move the needle (Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks, Write from Dictation) produced the biggest gains in real test conditions.
Do this next 👇
Schedule 2–3 sessions weekly focused solely on high-impact tasks
Time each task to mirror real test pace
Track which tasks still trip you up and drill those weekly
Use quick, verbal feedback to correct pronunciation and rhythm
Record yourself to notice breathing, pacing, and intonation
Re-test the same task after targeted practice
Might not work when: You focus only on easy tasks and ignore the high-impact ones.
Evidence note: Present – The plan explicitly emphasized Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks, and Write from Dictation.
✅ Insight #2 (Templates + personalization)
Why it worked: Templates provided a reliable scaffolding for structure, while personalized content kept the writing authentic and persuasive.
Do this next 👇
Use templates as a baseline, not a script
Add your own examples and recent, relevant points
Paraphrase prompts to demonstrate your language range
Limit template repetition in a single piece
Practice writing under time constraints
Review and revise for coherence and flow
Might not work when: You copy templates verbatim without adding personal insight.
Evidence note: Present – Templates for the Agree/Disagree essay were used and documented.
✅ Insight #3 (Official practice tests to target weaknesses)
Why it worked: The Version 3 official practice test highlighted weak areas and guided targeted practice before the real exam.
Do this next 👇
Schedule a practice test 7–10 days before the actual test
Review the scoring report line-by-line to pinpoint gaps
Create short drills focused on identified weaknesses
Re-take similar tasks in mock tests to measure progress
Use results to fine-tune pacing and accuracy
Might not work when: You skip a formal diagnostic; you only rely on generic practice.
Evidence note: Present – Official Pearson Scored Practice Test (Version 3) score of 73 was used to identify weak areas.
✅ Insight #4 (Consistency beats bursts)
Why it worked: Even modest daily practice built up proficiency over months, helping to manage fatigue and test-day nerves.
Do this next 👇
Block 60–90 minutes on most days; small, steady sessions beat long, irregular bursts
Schedule a weekly longer practice block that mimics test conditions
Set a fixed study window to reduce procrastination
Pair study with a simple accountability habit (notes, reminders)
Might not work when: You rely on marathon cram sessions right before the exam.
Evidence note: Present – 5 months of preparation with a note on procrastination and consistent practice as a takeaway.
✅ Insight #5 (Mock tests to simulate exam conditions)
Why it worked: Mock tests helped recreate the pressure and pacing of the real exam, revealing timing and endurance issues.
Do this next 👇
Include at least one full-length mock test per month
Practice under timed conditions with full test sections
Review results immediately and adjust practice focus
Might not work when: You skip the mock tests or don’t review the outcomes.
Evidence note: Present – The plan included mini mock tests and a full official practice test experience; results used to guide study.
🗓️ 7-Day Mini Plan (simple + realistic)
Day 1: Take a light diagnostic review of the high-impact tasks; identify top 2-3 weak areas
Day 2: Focus 60 minutes on Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence; record and analyze
Day 3: Practice Write from Dictation + Writing templates with personal examples
Day 4: Take a short timed mock of Reading & Listening tasks; review errors
Day 5: Deep-dive into weak areas from Day 4; targeted drills (2–3 tasks)
Day 6: Full timed mini-mock (short version) plus review
Day 7: Rest or light review; prepare tools for test day (headset, mic, environment)
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Overloading on theory and under-practicing actual task types
Relying too heavily on templates without adding personal examples
Ignoring the low-impact tasks and focusing only on favorites
Skipping mock tests or failing to review results thoroughly
Not simulating exam conditions (timing, fatigue, transitions)
Letting procrastination hijack the study plan
Expecting rapid, dramatic jumps without consistent effort
Forgetting to adjust practice for pandemic-era testing realities
🧠 If You're Like Me…
You’ll be juggling a full schedule, but you can still aim high with a steady, practical plan. Trust the process: high-impact tasks, smart templates, and regular practice will compound into real gains. Stay patient, stay focused, and stay flexible to adapt to changing test conditions.
🔎 Provenance
Source platform: Medium
Posted date: 2020-07-17
Author: Martin
Transformation note: This is a rewritten, structured summary for learning; original credit remains with the author.
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