Sample answers · Listening Fill in the Blanks
PTE Listening: Fill in the Blanks · Listening section
PTE Listening Fill in the Blanks sample – Band 79.
A worked LFIB item: the 45-second audio rendered as text, the on-screen transcript with 4 type-in blanks, and per-blank analysis with the context clue, the exact spoken word, and the spelling trap for each. LFIB became Listening-only in August 2025, so spelling and grammar no longer feed into your Writing score, but they still zero the blank if wrong.
Last verified 17 July 2026 · Written for PTE Academic post-August 2025 format · Verified against Pearson's July 2025 Score Guide.
The audio stimulus (as text)
Mycorrhizal fungi and forest nutrient exchange
45 seconds audio · plays once, no replay control · on-screen text with blanks is visible during playback.
Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with the roots of most terrestrial plants. In a healthy forest, more than ninety percent of tree species rely on these fungi to extend their access to soil nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen. In return, the plants supply the fungi with carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis. Recent research suggests that mycorrhizal networks also enable chemical communication between neighbouring trees, allowing them to share warnings about pest attacks.
The full transcript is shown here for study. On the real exam you hear the audio once and see only the version below (with blanks). Type each blank as you hear it.
What the candidate sees on screen
Type the missing words as the audio plays.
The blank boxes are live type-in fields on the exam. Tab or click between them. No dropdown, no options list, no autocomplete: you produce the word from memory of what the speaker said.
Per-blank analysis
Each blank, its context clue, and the exact spoken word.
symbioticadjective
Context clue: The blank describes the type of relationship two organisms have with each other. Grammatically it takes an adjective before "relationships". Semantically, the sentence goes on to describe mutual exchange (nutrients for carbohydrates), which is the textbook definition of the technical biology term.
Common wrong guesses: "mutual" and "cooperative" are semantic near-matches but neither is what the speaker said. The AI marks each blank against the exact spoken word.
Spelling trap: Two vowels in a row ("io"), silent letter risk after "symb". Practise the spelling.
nutrientsplural noun
Context clue: The sentence names two examples immediately after the blank: phosphorus and nitrogen. Both are nutrients. The blank must be the category noun that groups them. Plural because "particularly" implies a broader set than the two named examples.
Common wrong guesses: "minerals" is a close semantic neighbour but the speaker chose the broader term. "chemicals" and "compounds" are technically true but too generic; the speaker said "nutrients".
Spelling trap: Do not write "nutrion" or "nutrience". Watch the "-ients" ending.
carbohydratesplural noun
Context clue: The sentence says the plants supply the fungi with something produced by photosynthesis. Photosynthesis converts sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. Plural because photosynthesis produces the class rather than a single molecule.
Common wrong guesses: "sugars" fits the meaning but is not what the speaker said. Under LFIB scoring, near-synonyms score 0. Only the exact word counts.
Spelling trap: Long word, easy to mis-order the middle letters. Write "carbo-hy-drates" mentally as three chunks before typing.
communicationnoun
Context clue: The sentence continues "between neighbouring trees, allowing them to share warnings". Sharing warnings is a form of communication. The blank must be the noun that names that sharing.
Common wrong guesses: "signalling" or "signals" also fit but are not what the speaker said. "connection" is thematically close but wrong here.
Spelling trap: Double "m" in the middle. Common misspelling: "comunication" (missing the second m) scores 0.
Band 79 answer
All 4 blanks filled with the exact spoken words.
4 correct, 0 incorrect, all spelled correctly. Raw score: 4/4 – full marks.
How LFIB is scored
The five marking rules that shape the strategy.
| Rule | What it means for the answer |
|---|---|
| Partial credit per blank | +1 for each blank filled with the correct spelling of the exact word the speaker used. Total per item = number of blanks (usually 3 to 5). |
| No negative marking | A blank left empty or filled with a wrong word scores 0 for that blank. It does not deduct from your other blanks. |
| Spelling counts | The AI matches against the exact target word. A misspelled correct answer scores 0 (not 0.5). Auto-correct is disabled on the exam. |
| Synonyms score 0 | The task is testing which word the speaker used, not which word makes semantic sense. "sugars" for "carbohydrates" scores 0 even though it fits the meaning. |
| AI-only marking | LFIB is scored entirely by AI (no human reviewer). This is one of the 15 non-hybrid task types on the exam. |
The Band 79 timing plan
Four beats across a 45-second window.
Before audio starts (10 to 15 seconds of "Get ready")
Read the on-screen text once quickly. Identify what part of speech each blank likely takes (noun, verb, adjective). This primes your ear to catch the right word class.
During the audio (30 to 60 seconds)
Type each blank the moment you hear it. Do not wait until the end. If you miss one, leave it blank and keep listening, do not rewind mentally and lose the next blank.
Immediately after audio ends
Fill any blanks you missed using context clues from the on-screen text. A missed blank is 0; a guess that fits the meaning is at least a chance at credit.
Before clicking Next
Scan every blank for spelling. This is the highest-leverage 15 seconds you spend on LFIB. A single letter fixes 1 mark, and Next is irreversible on the real exam.
6 common Listening FIB mistakes
The failure modes that drag a Band 79 to a Band 60.
| Mistake | What it costs you |
|---|---|
| Waiting until the audio ends to type | You will forget the exact word by the time you go to type it, especially for the third and fourth blanks. Type in real time and use the on-screen text as your visual anchor. |
| Typing a synonym instead of the exact word | "sugars" for "carbohydrates" scores 0. The AI is looking for the word the speaker used, not the word that fits the meaning. |
| Misspelling a word you heard correctly | A single wrong letter zeros the blank. Common casualties: "communication" (double m), "phosphorus" ("-orus" not "-orous"), "symbiotic" ("io" not "eo"). |
| Leaving a blank empty because you did not catch the word | Empty is 0 for sure. A best guess drawn from the on-screen context has a non-zero chance of being right, and no downside. |
| Panicking after missing one blank and losing the next | The audio plays once. If you dwell on blank 2, you miss blank 3. Discipline: mark blank 2 with a mental question mark, keep listening, come back after audio. |
| Ignoring capitalisation on proper nouns | If the blank is a proper noun (place name, person, brand), lowercase can sometimes be marked wrong. Type as you would in normal writing. |
FAQ
Listening Fill in the Blanks, answered.
How is PTE Listening Fill in the Blanks scored?
Partial credit per blank per Pearson's July 2025 Score Guide. +1 for each blank filled with the exact word the speaker used, spelled correctly. Missed or wrong blanks score 0 for that blank. There is no negative marking. Scoring is AI-only (no human reviewer).
How many blanks are there per Listening Fill in the Blanks question?
Typically 3 to 5 blanks in an audio clip of 30 to 60 seconds. The exact count varies by item. The on-screen text shows every blank position before the audio starts, so you can count them during the "Get ready" countdown.
How many Listening Fill in the Blanks items are on the PTE Academic test?
2 to 3 items per test per Pearson's July 2025 Score Guide. This task sits in Part 3 (Listening) alongside Summarize Spoken Text, Listening MCMA, Highlight Correct Summary, Listening MCSA, Select Missing Word, Highlight Incorrect Words, and Write from Dictation.
Does spelling matter in Listening Fill in the Blanks?
Yes. The AI matches your typed word against the exact target word letter by letter. "communciation" (transposed letters) scores 0 even though the pronunciation is close. Auto-correct is disabled at the test centre. Practise the spelling of common academic vocabulary.
Do synonyms count in Listening Fill in the Blanks?
No. Only the exact word the speaker used scores +1. A synonym that fits the meaning perfectly scores 0. This is unlike Summarize Spoken Text (where paraphrase is rewarded). LFIB is a precision-listening task, not a comprehension task.
Can I go back and change my answers in Listening Fill in the Blanks?
Only within the item. While the item is on screen you can click into any blank and edit. Once you click Next, the item is submitted and you cannot return, per Pearson's navigation rules. Proofread every blank for spelling before clicking Next.
Is Listening Fill in the Blanks the same task as Reading Fill in the Blanks?
No. Reading Fill in the Blanks (drag-and-drop) and Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks (dropdown) both give you the answer options to choose from. Listening Fill in the Blanks does not, you must produce the word from memory of what the speaker said and type it in from scratch.
Keep going with Listening: Fill in the Blanks
One pattern, three depths.
You've just read the band 79 worked example. Here's the rest of the loop for this task.
Reusable framework
Listening: Fill in the Blanks template
The reusable answer framework — structure, sentence starters, timing marks — that fits any Listening: Fill in the Blanks prompt.
Read the template →Interactive drill
Practise Listening: Fill in the Blanks
Free interactive drills — do the reps yourself with the model answer revealed after each attempt.
Start the drill →Further reading
Related tools.
- → Write from Dictation sample – sibling type-in Listening task with per-word scoring.
- → Summarize Spoken Text sample – sibling Listening task with a 50-70 word written response.
- → Listening section overview – all 8 Listening task types.
- → Take a free scored mock – real Listening FIB items with AI scoring.