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When it comes to the PTE Academic test, the microphone check is a crucial step that can significantly impact your overall score. If your mic isn’t working properly, it won’t record your responses accurately, which can affect not only your Speaking scores but also your Reading and Listening scores. To ensure you perform your best, here are some essential microphone tips to keep in mind:

1) Microphone Position

The position of your microphone can make a huge difference in the quality of your recording. Placing the mic directly in front of your mouth or nose can result in capturing unwanted breathing noises, which can affect the clarity of your speech and result in the AI not being able to understand you well.

Tip:

Place the microphone slightly to the side, between your mouth and chin. This position helps reduce breathing noise and ensures that your voice is captured clearly and consistently.

2) Mic Check Sentence for your PTE Academic

During the mic check, the instructions typically ask you to say ‘123 testing.’ However, this standard phrase might not give you a true sense of how your microphone will perform during the actual test.

Tip:

Instead of ‘123 testing,’ read a sentence from the screen as if you were answering a Read Aloud question. This method serves two purposes: it tests the microphone under conditions similar to the actual test, and it provides you with a quick warm-up, helping you get comfortable and confident for the speaking section.

But why follow these tips? 

Ensuring your microphone is correctly positioned and tested properly can make a significant difference in your performance. Clear audio recordings mean that the AI assessing your responses can accurately evaluate your pronunciation, fluency, and intonation. Poor audio quality, on the other hand, can lead to misunderstandings and lower scores.

Additionally, by using a sentence from the test during the mic check, you align your practice conditions with the actual test conditions, reducing anxiety and improving performance.

If you need extra tips:

• Stay Calm and Speak Naturally: Nervousness can affect your speaking pace and clarity. Take a deep breath, stay calm, and speak at a steady pace.

• Monitor Your Volume: Speaking too loudly or too softly can impact how well the microphone captures your voice. Aim for a moderate volume.

• Avoid Background Noise: Ensure you’re in a quiet environment to minimize distractions and background noise.

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