PTE 79+ Strategy: What High Scorers Do Differently
Scoring 79+ in PTE is not about learning more English. Most candidates stuck at 65–73 already have enough language ability. The difference between 65 and 79+ comes down to strategy, control, and consistency.
From my experience working with high-scoring PTE candidates, those who reach 79+ follow a very different approach compared to average test takers.
79+ is a strategy game, not a knowledge test
At the 79+ level, PTE does not reward:
Fancy vocabulary
Long answers
Complex sentence structures
Instead, it rewards:
Accuracy
Fluency control
Task awareness
Error minimisation
High scorers aim to lose as few marks as possible, not to sound impressive.
Why most students get stuck below 79
Most students stuck in the 65–73 range make the same mistakes:
Overwriting in writing tasks
Overthinking reading questions
Panicking when they miss information in listening
Trying to “fix” mistakes while speaking
These habits silently reduce scores across multiple sections.
How 79+ candidates approach each skill
Speaking
79+ scorers focus on:
Smooth delivery
Consistent pace
Avoiding long pauses
They prioritise fluency over perfect wording.
Writing
Instead of long answers, high scorers:
Control word count
Use simple, clean grammar
Avoid unnecessary sentences
Fewer mistakes = higher score.
Reading
79+ candidates:
Rely on grammar and logic
Eliminate incorrect options quickly
Do not guess blindly
They trust structure more than vocabulary.
Listening
High scorers:
Focus on main ideas
Write concise answers
Avoid overloading responses with details
Accuracy matters more than completeness.
The real difference: control under pressure
One key difference I see in 79+ scorers is emotional control. They do not panic if they miss something. They adjust, continue, and protect their overall score.
PTE rewards calm, controlled performance.
My advice as a PTE trainer
As a PTE trainer, I always tell students aiming for 79+:
Your goal is not to get everything right — your goal is to avoid big mistakes.
Once students shift their mindset from “trying harder” to “controlling better”, their scores improve.
Who this strategy is for
This approach is best for students who:
Are already around 65–73
Need a specific score for migration or registration
Have taken PTE before but feel stuck
Want targeted improvement, not general English