How do you know you're ready? Clear the key questions in a day, for a week
Not sure you're ready to book? In 3 minutes: the readiness test I used myself, clearing every key question of the high-weight types in one day for seven days, and five steps to do it.
By PlayPTE · Published 2026-10-27
What this video covers
Near the end of your preparation, the big question is: if I sit the exam now, will I pass? Rather than guessing from one practice score, use a more solid test. This is the method I used when I took PTE.
The test
In one day, do every important and high-frequency question of the high-weight question types. If you can do that every day for a week, you can book the exam with confidence.
Why high-weight types
Some question types count towards two skills at once, so one effort earns points twice:
- Read Aloud: speaking and reading.
- Repeat Sentence: speaking and listening.
- Write From Dictation: listening and writing.
Preparation time is limited, so get these to your best first.
Why in one day
Clearing all the key questions in a day shows you know each one well enough not to stop and think, your speed keeps up, and you have the stamina to stay focused for hours. Any question that stops you is a gap to fix.
Why a whole week
One smooth day might just be a good day. Seven days in a row, question after question, shows your level is truly stable, and it gets you used to the pace of exam day.
Five steps
- Turn on the filters: in each high-weight type on PlayPTE, turn on Important and Frequent. That's your daily list.
- Do every question in full: record your speaking answers aloud; no skipping, no just reading them over.
- Note any question that stops you, and redo it that evening.
- Start again from the top the next day, and watch whether those questions get fewer.
- Finish in a day for seven days straight, with fewer and fewer stops, and you can sit the exam with peace of mind. If you're not there yet, practise a few more days; don't rush to book.
A note: this is my own experience, not a guarantee. But it's far more reliable than "I feel about ready".
Then open Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence and Write From Dictation practice, turn on Important and Frequent, and see if you can finish them all today. Previous episode: Describe Image: one template.