Highlight Incorrect Words (HIW) is the sixth task type in Section 3 (Listening) of the PTE Academic, appearing 2 to 3 times per exam.
In this task, an academic transcript appears on screen while an audio recording of that transcript plays simultaneously for 15 to 50 seconds. However, the speaker deliberately alters several words (usually 4 to 7 errors per passage).
As you follow the recording, you must left-click directly on the words in the on-screen text that differ from what the speaker actually says. Selected words turn yellow. Clicking a selected word again deselects it.
HIW is a Tier-1 high-yield integrated scoring engine:
However, HIW enforces negative marking. Misclicking correct words immediately deducts points from your total.
| Specification Parameter | System Rule & Operational Guideline |
|---|---|
| Item Frequency | 2 to 3 questions per exam |
| Errors Per Passage | Typically 4 to 7 altered words |
| Audio Duration | 15 to 50 seconds (plays ONCE automatically) |
| Preparation Buffer | Exactly 10 seconds before audio begins |
| Selection Control | Single left-click to highlight (turns yellow); click again to unhighlight / deselect |
| Scoring Model | Partial credit WITH negative marking (+1 for correct / -1 for incorrect; item score floor is 0) |
| Exit Protocol | Click [Next] immediately when audio ceases (0 seconds review time) |
Pearson’s automated scoring engine calculates each HIW item using a bounded differential equation:
Item Score = max(0, Σ Correct Highlights − Σ Incorrect Highlights)
| Scenario | Candidate Action & Behavior | Score Calculation & Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Scenario A: Sharp Precision | You catch 4 errors, skip 1 doubtful word, make 0 misclicks. | 4 − 0 = +4 points |
| Scenario B: Trigger-Happy Speculation | You catch 4 errors, but casually click 3 extra words you were unsure about. | 4 − 3 = +1 point (Lost 3 points to reckless clicking!) |
| Scenario C: Panic Multi-Clicking | You catch 2 errors, but accidentally highlight 4 correct words. | max(0, 2 − 4) = 0 points |
The Tactical Golden Rule of HIW:
“When in doubt, leave it out.”
Never guess or click speculatively in HIW. An unclicked error costs you nothing (you simply don’t gain the +1 mark). A wrong click active-penalizes you by subtracting 1 mark from an error you already caught correctly.
Pearson test designers use three predictable linguistic patterns to create incorrect words:
| Alteration Type | Description & Mechanism | Example Pair (Text → Spoken Audio) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Acoustic Homophones / Near-Homophones | Similar phonetic profile; completely different spelling and meaning. | affect → effect course → cause |
| 2. Morphological / Part-of-Speech Swaps | Root word matches, but prefix/suffix or tense is altered. | unlikely → likely historic → historical |
| 3. Semantic Opposites / Pseudo-Synonyms | Plausible in context, but completely different lexical item spoken. | decrease → collapse ancient → modern |
Because the audio plays at natural native speeds (140 to 180 words per minute), candidate failure is almost always caused by getting visually lost in the paragraph.
| Tracking Rule | Operational Action |
|---|---|
| The 10-Second Prep | DO NOT read the entire passage! Skim only the first 2 lines to anchor your eyes. Place your mouse cursor directly on Word 1. |
| The 1-Word Lead Rule | Keep your physical cursor hover position 1 to 2 words AHEAD of the spoken sound stream. Never trail behind! |
| The “Drive-By” Click | Click the target word without stopping your forward eye motion. Keep moving immediately with the speaker. |
| The Re-Sync Anchor | If you sneeze, blink, or get lost: jump eyes to the start of the next sentence, scan for a capitalized noun or date, wait for the audio to reach it, and re-engage tracking. |
Scientific investigations into cognitive aging indicate that regular physical exercise confers substantial neuroprotective benefits. When individuals engage in sustained cardiovascular activities, the brain releases elevated concentrations of specialized proteins that promote neuronal resilience. Moreover, clinical trials demonstrate that sedentary participants who adopted moderate walking regimens showed noticeable reductions in memory retention tests compared to their active counterparts.
Environmental factors also play a minor role in modulating these outcomes. Researchers observed that exercising in natural outdoor settings produced a more intense restorative effect on psychological well-being than exercising in enclosed indoor facilities. Consequently, public health agencies are now revising municipal guidelines to prioritize accessible urban green spaces for aging communities.
“Scientific investigations into cognitive aging indicate that regular physical exercise confers substantial neuroprotective benefits. When individuals engage in sustained cardiovascular activities, the brain releases elevated concentrations of specialized proteins that promote elasticity. Moreover, clinical trials demonstrate that sedentary participants who adopted moderate walking regimens showed noticeable improvements in memory retention tests compared to their active counterparts.”
“Environmental factors also play a crucial role in modulating these outcomes. Researchers observed that exercising in natural outdoor settings produced a more profound restorative effect on psychological well-being than exercising in enclosed indoor facilities. Consequently, public health agencies are now revising municipal guidelines to prioritize accessible urban green spaces for aging populations.”
| Error # | On-Screen Text | Spoken Audio | Action & Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | resilience | elasticity | CLICK resilience (+1 Point) |
| 2 | reductions | improvements | CLICK reductions (+1 Point) |
| 3 | minor | crucial | CLICK minor (+1 Point) |
| 4 | intense | profound | CLICK intense (+1 Point) |
| 5 | communities | populations | CLICK communities (+1 Point) |
Total Task Score: 5 out of 5 Points (Contributed equally to both Listening and Reading).
Because Highlight Incorrect Words occurs in the shared timer pool: