Glossary term
Negative Marking
The deduction of marks for wrong answers, which in PTE applies to exactly three task types: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers in Reading; Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers in Listening; and Highlight Incorrect Words. In each, every incorrect selection removes one mark from the marks earned by correct selections, but the item's score cannot fall below zero — you cannot lose marks you have not earned, and a bad item never damages the rest of your test. Every other PTE task type is free of negative marking, with most scored by partial credit.
In plain language
On the three multi-answer tasks, only pick options you're confident about — guessing extra answers actively subtracts marks. Everywhere else, always attempt.
Related terms
More PTE terms
CEFRCLB (Canadian Language Benchmark)Communicative SkillsContentFluencyFormGrammarGSE (Global Scale of English)Integrated TaskMock TestmyPTEOne Skill RetakePronunciationPTE CorePTE HomeRescoreScore BandScore Report CodeSELT (Secure English Language Test)Skills ProfileSpellingUKVIURN (Unique Reference Number)Vocabulary