# PTE Highlight Incorrect Words: negative marking and strategy

A transcript differs from the 15-50 second recording in several words. Each correct click scores a point and each wrong click loses one, with a minimum of zero.

## The short answer

Highlight Incorrect Words shows a transcript while a recording of 15 to 50 seconds plays, and some words on screen differ from what is said. You click the ones that do not match. There are 2 to 3 in a test, scored for both Listening and Reading. Each correct word scores a point and each incorrect click loses one, with the item floored at zero, so this is the second of the two tasks where over-clicking costs you.

## Key facts

- **Items per test:** 2-3
- **Prompt length:** 15-50 seconds
- **Skills scored:** Listening and reading
- **Scoring:** +1 per correct word, -1 per incorrect word
- **Minimum score:** 0 for the item

Timings and scoring rules come from Pearson's task pages and the July 2025 Score Guide, checked 28 September 2026.

## How it's scored

Clicking a word you are unsure about is not free: a wrong click cancels a right one. Candidates who click six words to catch four usually score the same as those who click the three they are certain of.

The audio runs at natural pace and does not wait, so your eyes must stay slightly ahead of the voice. Falling behind is what produces the panicked clicking that the negative marking punishes.

> Replaced words are usually similar in sound or grammar, not random: "affect" for "effect", "than" for "then", "increase" for "increases".

## Highlight Incorrect Words examples

Worked examples written for this page. Answer each one before you open the model response: memorizing a response is scored as an irrelevant answer in the real test.

**Example 1 -- near-homophones**

Recording (played once), transcript:

> Researchers are still debating the affect of warmer winters on rainfall, and weather the pattern will hold.

Prompt: Click every word on screen that differs from the recording.

Words that differ from the recording: 2.

Model response: affect and weather. The recording says effect and whether.

Why it scores: Sound-alike swaps are the most common substitution in this task, and hearing the difference is easier than seeing it. Read with your ears, not your eyes.

**Example 2 -- a grammatical swap**

Recording (played once), transcript:

> The results was published last week, and the data are now available on request.

Prompt: Click the word that differs from the recording.

Words that differ from the recording: 1.

Model response: was. The recording says were.

Why it scores: Number agreement swaps are frequent. Reading the transcript grammatically as you listen catches them even when the audio is quiet.

**Example 3 -- the uncertain word**

Prompt: You think a word differed, but the audio has moved two lines on. Click it or leave it?

- A. Leave it: a wrong click cancels a correct one
- B. Click it: you probably heard something
Answer: A.

Model response: Leave it. Under negative marking, doubt is a reason not to click.

Why it scores: Scoring is +1 per correct word and -1 per wrong one, floored at zero. One speculative click can erase a word you got right.

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## Common mistakes

| What costs marks | Do this instead |
| --- | --- |
| Clicking everything that feels off. | Each wrong click cancels a right one. Click only what you heard differ. |
| Reading behind the audio. | Keep your eyes a word or two ahead of the voice so you meet each word as it is spoken. |
| Trying to fix a missed word after the audio ends. | Let it go. The recording will not replay and guessing costs points. |
| Treating it like a reading task. | The transcript is bait. The answer is in what you hear. |

**Know the score you are aiming at** Put a target into the PTE score calculator to see the visa band it reaches, the points it is worth, and how far off you are. [Open the PTE score calculator](/pte/score-calculator)

## How to practice

1. Read along with transcripts that contain deliberate errors, at natural speed.
2. Drill common swap pairs: affect/effect, than/then, accept/except, singular/plural verbs.
3. Score practice with the real +1/-1 rule to feel the cost of over-clicking.
4. Practice recovering after a missed word instead of hunting backward.

## Common questions

### Does Highlight Incorrect Words have negative marking?

Yes. Each correct word scores one point and each incorrect click deducts one, with a minimum of zero for the item.

### How many words are usually wrong?

Pearson does not publish a fixed number. Click only the words you heard differ rather than aiming for a target count.

### How long is the recording?

15 to 50 seconds, played once.

**Sources**
- [Pearson: PTE Academic Listening task types (checked 28 September 2026)](https://www.pearsonpte.com/pte-academic/test-format/listening)
- [Pearson: PTE Academic Test Taker Score Guide, July 2025 (PDF)](https://www.pearsonpte.com/ctf-assets/yqwtwibiobs4/WUcBAMkYCC9Dj5vs2HfVA/941d88d07ba7c2a5007f7ce1b18eedbf/Score_Guide__Test_Taker__-_PTE_Academic_-_July_2025__web_.pdf)

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