Top 200 Vocabulary Word List for PTE Core | Must Know Words for Common Examination Instructions

The 200-word examination instruction list

PTE Core instructions tell you whether to repeat, describe, select, summarise, transcribe or write an email. Its written and spoken summaries use different word ranges. Respond to a Situation asks you to speak to the person named in the prompt and handle the issue in context.

The numbered bank combines question directions, response formats and supporting terms. Check the official instructions for the exact item and version you are taking.

Exam requirements · Worked examples · Fencing Method

PTE Core task names and written response ranges

No.	Instruction or term	What it asks you to do
1	PTE Core	Use the test format for everyday English and the instructions on your booking.
2	Speaking and Writing	Check the individual output for each task in the combined part.
3	Read Aloud	Read the displayed passage into the microphone when prompted.
4	Repeat Sentence	Repeat the spoken sentence using its wording and order.
5	Describe Image	Describe the main features of the image in a spoken response.
6	Respond to a Situation	Speak to the relevant person and address the situation and goal described.
7	Answer Short Question	Give the short answer the spoken question calls for.
8	Summarize Written Text	Summarise the important points of the written passage within the task’s form requirements.
9	Write Email	Write to the named reader and address the situation and points in the prompt.
10	Re-order Paragraph	Arrange the supplied text boxes in a coherent sequence.
11	Fill in the Blanks	Select, move or type missing words according to the individual task.
12	Summarize Spoken Text	Write a summary of the main point and relevant details from the recording.
13	Highlight Correct Summary	Choose the text that best represents the recording.
14	Select Missing Word	Choose the option that completes the spoken material.
15	Highlight Incorrect Words	Select the printed words that differ from the recording.
16	Write from Dictation	Type the sentence you hear, preserving the wording and order.
17	Multiple Choice, Single Answer	Choose one answer supported by the source.
18	Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers	Select the supported options as directed and check the scoring rules.
19	25–50 words	Use Pearson’s stated range for Summarize Written Text.
20	50–120 words	Use Pearson’s published full-credit Form range for Write Email and follow the displayed prompt.
21	20–30 words	Use Pearson’s stated target for Summarize Spoken Text.
22	Word counter	Check the displayed count against the task’s specific instruction.
23	Form criterion	Check how length and response structure affect the task’s score.

Interface, email and speaking instructions

No.	Instruction or term	What it asks you to do
24	Everyday context	Use the relationship, place and goal described in the task.
25	Read the scenario	Identify whom you are addressing and what needs to happen.
26	Address the recipient	Make the spoken or written response suitable for the person named.
27	Requested points	Cover each action or detail the prompt asks you to include.
28	Email conventions	Use an appropriate opening, body and closing for the named reader.
29	Request a change	State the change and explain enough for the listener to respond.
30	Offer an alternative	Suggest a feasible option within the stated circumstances.
31	Type the sentence	Record the spoken words in the requested written form.
32	Select the incorrect word	Mark the particular printed word that does not match what you heard.
33	Completion menu	Use the available choices to complete the relevant gap.
34	Drag a text box	Move the supplied text into its intended position when the interface requires it.
35	Reading and Writing gap	Use the context to find the word that makes the sentence and text work.
36	Start after the cue	Wait for the task’s signal before recording the response.
37	Recording progress	Check the status or timer while using the speaking task’s controls.
38	Content coverage	Keep the main points and important supporting detail required by the task.
39	Pronunciation clarity	Make the words understandable during the recording.
40	Oral fluency	Maintain a natural flow that helps the listener follow the response.
41	Retain key details	Keep the details essential to the purpose or outcome when summarising.
42	Source wording	Use the exact words when the task asks for transcription or selection.
43	Paraphrase the main idea	Restate the meaning when the task requires a summary.
44	Integrated skills	Recognise that a single task may assess more than one language skill.
45	80–120 words	Use the Write Email task’s stated target and check the displayed instructions.

Listening, reading and response language

No.	Instruction or term	What it asks you to do
46	Form score	Check the rules for length or structure in the task’s scoring guide.
47	Speaking & Writing	Check the first part’s spoken and written task instructions individually.
48	Text boxes	Move or order the supplied portions of text as the task requires.
49	Drop-down choice	Select the suitable option from the list attached to a gap.
50	Mic opens	Start your answer when the recording cue or status tells you the microphone is active.
51	Recording status	Check that the interface is ready to capture the response.
52	Speaker contribution	Attribute a main point or viewpoint to the relevant speaker where helpful.
53	Overall discussion	Capture what the speakers were discussing and the important points they made.
54	Appropriate response	Address the person, purpose and practical circumstances stated in the prompt.
55	Social situation	Match the spoken wording and formality to the relationship described.
56	Correct transcription	Match the spoken words and order in your written response.
57	Listen for a mismatch	Compare what you hear with the displayed transcript word by word.
58	Select from the text	Use the interface to pick the exact visible item requested.
59	Relevant supporting point	Include a detail that helps explain the main message.
60	Written summary of audio	Write the important meaning from the recording using the stated word range.
61	Word ending	Check which form or ending fits the surrounding grammar.
62	Word family	Use related forms to decide whether the sentence needs a noun, verb, adjective or adverb.
63	Collocation	Choose words that naturally occur together in the context.
64	Cohesive reference	Work out what a linking expression or pronoun refers to.
65	Suitable reply	Choose a response that answers both the words and the practical purpose.
66	Example in the recording	Identify the point illustrated by the example and keep it only if needed.
67	Speaker attitude	Use the speaker’s wording and tone to infer their stance where asked.
68	Sentence stress	Give appropriate prominence to important words in spoken language.
69	Word order	Arrange the pieces so the sentence works grammatically.
70	Polite register	Use courteous wording suitable for the situation.
71	Recorded turn	Use the available recording window for your complete spoken response.
72	Everyday register	Use wording suited to the relationship and purpose in the scenario.
73	Support with an example	Add an example that demonstrates the reason you gave.
74	Response time	Use the timer and task directions provided by the test interface.
75	Main purpose	Identify what the text as a whole is trying to accomplish.
76	Most directly supports	Pick the evidence with the clearest connection to the named claim.
77	Function of a detail	Decide how a detail supports or develops a larger point in the material.
78	Words in context	Choose the sense or expression that fits the local wording and purpose.
79	Reference within the text	Resolve a reference by locating the word or idea it points back to.
80	Author’s claim	Find what the named author argues or asserts.
81	Illustrative example	Choose a particular case that demonstrates a broader point.
82	Sentence conventions	Choose grammar and punctuation that make the constructed sentence clear.
83	Clause boundary	Identify where one clause ends and the next begins before arranging the sentence.
84	Sentence structure	Use word order and grammatical roles to make a complete sentence.
85	Independent clause	Identify words with a subject and verb that can stand as a sentence.
86	Dependent clause	Identify a clause that needs a main clause to complete its function.
87	Sentence fragment	Recognise words punctuated as a sentence without a complete main clause.
88	Pronoun reference	Match the pronoun to the person or thing it represents.
89	Rhetorical purpose	Identify the job a detail does in the author’s argument.
90	Nonessential clause	Identify a clause that can be removed without changing the intended reference.
91	Parenthetical detail	Identify supplementary information set off from the main sentence.
92	Signpost	Notice a word or phrase that marks a shift in direction or topic.
93	Main idea	Find the central point that explains why the paragraph was included.
94	Detail	Find the particular fact needed to answer the question.
95	Writer’s view	Identify the opinion the writer expresses.
96	Interpret	Say what a statement, result or display means in context.
97	Discuss	Develop a structured response that considers the relevant issues.
98	Support	Supply evidence that helps establish the claim.
99	In context	Use the meaning that fits this passage or situation.
100	Best supported	Prefer the conclusion backed most directly by the evidence.
101	Claim	An assertion that can be tested against evidence or reasoning.
102	Example	A particular case used to make a general idea clear.
103	Context	The surrounding information that helps determine meaning.
104	Option	One of the choices the question offers.
105	Retain the wording	Keep the words in the spoken model when practising the repeat task.
106	One word only	Enter exactly one word in the answer space.
107	Take notes	Record keywords and relationships during the recording where the test permits.
108	Hyphenated word	Check the official counting rule for words joined with a hyphen.
109	Coherence	Make ideas easy to follow in a sensible order.
110	Cohesion	Link sentences and paragraphs so their relationships are clear.
111	Grammatical range and accuracy	Use suitable sentence forms with control and clarity.
112	Distinguish the speakers	Identify how speakers agree, disagree or add to one another’s points.
113	Relevant example	Use an example that genuinely supports the paragraph’s point.
114	Topic sentence	Open a paragraph with a sentence that identifies its main point.
115	Fluency and coherence	Keep speaking at a workable pace while organising ideas clearly.
116	Pronunciation	Make speech intelligible through clear sounds, stress and phrasing.
117	Keep the original sequence	Preserve word order when the instruction asks you to repeat or transcribe.
118	Avoid unsupported selections	Check the evidence for each choice before selecting it in a multiple-answer item.
119	Words and phrases	Identify the language that carries the meaning needed for the answer.
120	Gap	Check what kind of word or value can fit the blank.
121	Transcript	Use the written recording script to check a listening answer during practice.
122	Complete sentences	Use connected sentences where the writing task requires a full response.
123	Reason	The basis for a statement, choice or result.
124	Response	The answer you produce or select.
125	Best fit for the gap	Choose the expression that matches meaning and grammar.
126	Precise wording	Use the word that expresses the detail accurately in the response.
127	Central idea	Choose the option that captures the main point at the right scope.
128	Best describes	Choose the description that most accurately fits the stated target.
129	Best illustrates	Choose the example or quotation that most directly shows the idea.
130	Identify the strongest match	Choose the answer that best fits the meaning of the recording or text.

Core instructions and answer checks

No.	Instruction or term	What it asks you to do
131	Recognise	Find a familiar feature in a new example.
132	Identify	Name or pick out the item the question specifies.
133	Select	Choose only the number of options requested.
134	Choose	Commit to the option that fits the stated criteria.
135	Match	Pair each item with the option that corresponds to it.
136	Locate	Find the specified detail, point or region.
137	Indicate	Make the chosen feature or answer clear.
138	Answer	Respond directly to the question being asked.
139	Give	Supply the requested fact, example or result.
140	Define	Give the precise meaning used in the subject or question.
141	Summarise	Select the central points and leave out minor details.
142	Explain	Connect the result to its cause, mechanism or reasoning.
143	Analyse	Break down the evidence and explain how its parts relate.
144	Infer	Use clues to reach a conclusion the material implies.
145	Predict	Use available evidence to say what is likely to happen.
146	Suggest	Offer a plausible answer suited to the information given.
147	Justify	Give evidence or reasoning that supports your answer.
148	Evaluate	Weigh relevant evidence or criteria before reaching a judgment.
149	Assess	Judge the extent, value or strength of something using evidence.
150	Distinguish	Give the feature that lets the reader tell two things apart.
151	Illustrate	Make an idea clear with a relevant example or diagram.
152	Determine	Work from the given information to establish an answer.
153	Check	Test the answer against the original instruction or condition.
154	Correct	Repair the specific error while preserving the intended meaning or result.
155	Revise	Change a response so it better meets the task.
156	Arrange	Put items into the order or grouping requested.
157	Sequence	Put stages into a meaningful order.
158	Omit	Leave out the indicated item or detail.
159	Include	Make sure the requested part appears in the response.
160	Exclude	Keep the named item or category outside your answer.
161	Refer to	Use the specified passage, figure or notes when responding.
162	Based on	Ground the answer in the material named in the question.
163	Most likely	Choose the conclusion with the strongest support among the options.
164	Relevant	Connected to the specific question or criterion.
165	Specific	Precise enough to identify a particular fact or example.
166	Evidence	A fact, detail or observation that supports a claim.
167	Conclusion	The result reached after considering the reasoning or evidence.
168	Assumption	A premise taken as given for the purpose of the question.
169	Constraint	A restriction that shapes the possible answers.
170	Criterion	A standard used to choose or judge an answer.
171	Sequence of events	Follow the order in which the relevant things happened.
172	Record	Write the result in the space and form provided.
173	Wait for the cue	Use the task interface to tell when to begin the spoken response.
174	Function of the underlined portion	Explain what the marked part does within the larger text.
175	Overall structure	Track how the text’s main parts are organised.
176	Cross-text connections	Compare how two texts address the same point.
177	First text box	Look for the opening unit that introduces the topic or reference.
178	Following text box	Choose the unit whose pronouns and ideas connect to the preceding box.
179	Point of agreement	Find what both sources would endorse based on the evidence.
180	Synthesise the discussion	Combine related speaker points while retaining important differences.
181	Speaker’s intention	Identify what the speaker wants to happen in the situation.
182	Introduce	Choose wording that supplies the context needed for the stated audience.
183	Emphasise	Choose wording that gives the requested idea or contrast prominence.
184	Generalise	State a broader point only to the extent that the examples support it.
185	Continuation	Choose a link that adds a point in the same direction.
186	Concession	Acknowledge a point before shifting to the principal claim.
187	Cause and effect	Choose a link that shows one event producing or explaining the other.
188	Standard English conventions	Apply grammar, usage and punctuation to the sentence in context.
189	Boundaries	Check how independent clauses, dependent clauses and phrases are separated.
190	Form, structure and sense	Check the grammatical form and meaning of the whole sentence.
191	Modifier	Identify words describing another part and check what they attach to.
192	Subject–verb agreement	Make the verb agree with the true subject.
193	Verb tense	Place the action in the time sequence established by the text.
194	Possessive	Choose a form that indicates the correct owner or relationship.
195	Plural noun	Identify the form for more than one item.
196	Punctuation	Choose the marks that correctly show the sentence’s structure.
197	Comma splice	Spot two independent clauses joined by a comma alone.
198	Supplementary information	Identify an added detail that can be set off from the main sentence.
199	Expressing Opinions	State a position and develop it with relevant support.
200	Describing an Unusual Situation	Help the listener understand what is unusual through specific details.

What the examination requires

Three parts assess four language skills

Pearson lists Speaking & Writing, Reading and Listening as the three parts of PTE Core. The test uses everyday English contexts. Check the version on your booking and the test that your receiving organisation accepts. PTE Core and PTE Academic have different task specifications.

Use the exact summary and email instructions

Pearson gives 25–50 words for Summarize Written Text and 20–30 for Summarize Spoken Text. Its Write Email task guidance asks for 80–120 words, while the scoring notes give 50–120 words for full credit on Form. Follow the displayed task instruction. Use a greeting, connected body and closing suited to the named recipient.

Read the interface before responding

A task may require choosing, typing, moving text or recording a spoken response. For a multiple-answer item, select the options supported by the material and review the applicable scoring guidance. Use the current directions for the recording cue and time on each Speaking item.

Separate selection, summary and transcription

Highlight Incorrect Words asks you to identify mismatches between audio and the printed words. Write from Dictation asks you to type what you hear. Summarize Spoken Text asks for the important meaning in a short written response. Apply the task rule before deciding how closely to preserve the wording.

• Identify the action before deciding on an answer.
• Check the source, situation or condition the instruction refers to.
• Use the requested form and respect any limits.

Worked examples of common examination instructions

These original examples show how a change in the instruction changes what belongs in the answer.

Choose the essential details for a spoken-text summary

An original recording says the town moved an evening class from the library to a community hall because the library is being repaired. The time stays the same. A possible 23-word summary is ‘The evening class will meet at the community hall while the library is being repaired, and the class will keep its original time.’

Respond to a person rather than retelling the prompt

Imagine you need to tell a neighbour that you cannot accept a parcel on Friday. A useful response could explain that you will be out and suggest another day or a practical alternative. Address the neighbour directly and include the specific arrangement the task calls for.

Keep the request easy to find in an email

An invented task asks you to tell a course administrator you will miss a workshop and ask whether another session is available. A complete email explains the absence briefly, names the workshop and requests another session. Check the length and details against the actual prompt.

Find the missing paragraph by its references

Suppose one text box introduces a new collection point, another explains how to register to use it, and a third starts ‘Once registered, users can collect items on Saturdays.’ The third box follows the registration explanation. Look for the reference and the action order before moving the boxes.

Use the Fencing Method to practise instructions

Start with an accurate short answer. Add one specific detail and then the relationship, evidence or explanation the task asks for. Use the same instruction in a fresh example.

1. The class moved.
2. The class moved from the library to the community hall.
3. The class moved to the community hall during library repairs, and its time stayed the same.
4. Use another notice. Include the change, its reason and one relevant detail that remains unchanged.

Read the eduKate Fencing Method for Vocabulary.

Practise and check your answers

Practise with two different summary lengths

Use a short written passage and a short recording on related topics. Identify the main idea and an essential supporting point in each. Then use the relevant word range and task directions for each summary. Check whether your cuts removed a detail the reader needs.

Make the email and speaking task sound different

For an email, check the greeting, message and closing. In a spoken situation response, address the other person naturally and explain what needs to happen. Practise once for meaning and again with the official timing and controls.

Practice 1. You are writing a summary of a recording. Which range should you check?

For PTE Core Summarize Spoken Text, Pearson specifies 20–30 words.

Practice 2. The prompt asks you to respond to a supervisor about a shift. What should you include?

Address the supervisor, identify the scheduling issue and explain or propose the next step as directed.

Practice 3. When typing dictation, should you substitute a synonym?

Preserve the spoken wording and order where the task asks you to transcribe.

Practice 4. Two text boxes share the same topic. What helps you decide their order?

Use pronoun references, time order and which box introduces the idea the other develops.

Frequently asked questions

Do PTE Core and PTE Academic use identical word limits?

Use the word range for the task in the version you booked. Pearson publishes separate task pages and score guides.

Is Write Email the same task as an essay?

The Core task asks for an email addressed to the named recipient and covering the situation. Follow the email conventions and instructions.

Should I read the timer once for the whole test?

Use the timer and instructions for the part or item on screen. Practise with official examples to learn when each response begins.

Official sources and next reading

• Pearson PTE Core test format
• Pearson PTE Core Speaking and Writing
• Pearson PTE Core Listening
• Pearson PTE Core 2026 score guide

Related guide in this series · PTE Academic examination instructions

Read eduKateSG’s 200-word vocabulary guide for more ways to group and practise vocabulary.

Back to the 200-word list · Back to contents