PTE inspiration and advice

The Summarize Group Discussion task is one of the most comprehensive speaking challenges in PTE Academic. It tests your ability to listen actively, take effective notes, and deliver a coherent summary that captures multiple perspectives.

Understanding how to approach this task strategically can significantly boost your speaking score.

The "Respond to a Situation" task in the Speaking section of PTE Academic tests your ability to handle real-world university scenarios using appropriate language. This task simulates everyday campus interactions, requiring you to respond naturally and effectively to common situations you might encounter as a student.

When your schedule is packed and deadlines are approaching, choosing an English test that works around your life can make all the difference. You need a test that fits your timeline without creating extra admin, travel, or waiting around.

A convenient English test isn’t just “short.” It’s a test you can book quickly, take in a way that suits your life, and get results fast while still meeting the requirements of your university, employer, or visa pathway. PTE is designed around that real-world need: fast, fair, and simple.

Five practical questions to guide your choice

Before you book, ask yourself:

1. Will my score be accepted where I want to apply?

2. How easy is it to book a test date that works for me?

3. Can I take the test in a location that fits my life?

4. Is the test design simple and intuitive?

5. How long will I wait for results?

Use these questions to compare your options and choose a test that fits your timeline, not one that forces you to change it.

Whether you’re looking to create a new life down under or make your own American dream a reality, one of the first hurdles is proving you’ve got the right English language skills.  

English proficiency exams cover listening, reading, writing, and speaking, and it will come as no surprise that it’s the speaking part of the test that people worry the most about.  

With PTE there is no face-to-face speaking test to stress about, taking away the concerns around what to wear and whether you will get on with your examiner. Also remember that PTE’s automated scoring technology is trained to understand over 120 different accents so that is one less thing to worry about.  

However, it is still daunting, which is why we’ve put together some tried and tested top tips to help you feel confident for the speaking section of PTE.  

What to expect in the PTE speaking section

Learning what to expect from each section of the test can help ease anxieties and allow you to prepare properly. PTE is made up of three sections:

1. Speaking & Writing (54-67 minutes) 

2. Reading (30 minutes) 

3. Listening (30 minutes) 

 The Speaking & Writing section is then split into 8 tasks: 

1. Personal introduction  

2. Read aloud 

3. Repeat sentence 

4. Describe image  

5. Re-tell lecture 

6. Answer short question  

7. Summarise written text 

8. Essay  

For more information on specific instructions for each task, you can review the test format and scoring criteria.

Building your English-speaking confidence

Feeling confident speaking English takes time and patience. Here are four ways to help you feel prepared for the PTE speaking section.

1. Complete short practice activities every day 

When something feels new and unfamiliar it can be stressful. Build your familiarity and comfort levels by setting aside time each day to complete short practice activities. It’ll help you learn what to expect from each task, keeping you calm and giving you more time to focus on providing a clear answer on test day.  

2. Immerse yourself in English  

Surrounding yourself with English-speaking TV shows, audiobooks, and podcasts is a fantastic way to build your vocabulary and practice your listening skills on a daily basis. The more you listen to English, the more you familiarize yourself with the language. You may also find yourself picking up new vocab and phrases that come in handy on test day. To take your speaking and listening skills to the next level, find a range of shows with different accents — American, British, Australian — to really tune into the English language.  

3. Find a language exchange partner  

Having conversations in English is one of the best ways to hone your language skills and build your speaking confidence. Look online to find a language tandem or see if there are partnership opportunities in your local area to help you get that real-life “I did it” confidence of being understood and connecting in another language. 

4. Use speech recognition technology 

If you’re struggling to find a language partner, look for language-learning apps like Mondly by Pearson that use technology to practise speaking and pronunciation. Some people actually find it easier talking to a computer rather than having the pressure of a real human, so it can be a great way to build confidence if you’re feeling nervous about speaking up.

There’s no need to pick just one of these ways — try out several to see which works best for you or combine multiple ways of practicing to make sure you’re at your confident best on test day.  

Tips for during the speaking section   

You’ve done all your preparation, you’re feeling confident, now you’re in the test center ready to show everyone what you can do.

Here’s how to make sure that practise shines through during the speaking exam:  

• Utilize spare time  

During the test, make use of the few seconds before each recording begins to properly read the material and mentally prepare your answer.

• Pay attention to punctuation

Punctuation helps you decide where to pause and change your intonation. Good pausing techniques can help you read more fluently and give more meaning to the text.  

• Stress the important words 

Add more emphasis to the words you think are important. Try to copy the tone and intonation of recordings to replicate the patterns of the sentences you hear.   

• Listen to the phrasing  

Pinpoint the most meaningful parts of the sentence and remember those phrases. You’ll be scored on correct word sequences, so remembering words as phrases will help you.  

• Don’t rush 

Remember to stay calm, speak clearly and try not to rush to make sure that your recording showcases the very best of your speaking ability.

Take advantage of our preparation resources 

We want PTE to be the worry-free way to start your new chapter. That’s why we offer a range of preparation preparation packages, which include a mixture of Scored Practice Tests, our Question Bank and our Official Guide to PTE Academic.

You can also make the most of our free resources, including our Taster Test, which offers five questions in five minutes with instant feedback. For those who are juggling priorities, our free Practice App is perfect for preparing on the go.  

Looking for more PTE tips? Take a look at our guides on what to expect on test day and how to prepare for PTE Academic.

With the right approach, you can answer the “Retell Lecture” question type in PTE Academic with confidence. Here are some essential tips to help you prepare: 

Dos 

1. Take effective notes 

• As you listen, jot down key words and phrases. Use punctuation like ‘-, =, &, +, arrows’ and bullet points to show connections between ideas. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure you cover all important points. 

2. Highlight key points and relationships 

• Discuss the main points, but also include characters, actions, aspects, and relationships between the information. This will make your response more comprehensive.

3. Speak for up to 40 seconds 

• Aim to speak for up to 40 seconds. The longer you speak, the more likely you are to cover the content requirements for this question. Ensure your response is detailed and covers all necessary aspects. 

4. Use linking words and relative clauses 

• Incorporate linking words (so, then) and relative clauses (which, who, that) to connect your ideas and show relationships between them. This will make your response more fluid. 

Don'ts 

1. Avoid memorized responses 

• Do not use memorized responses or templated sentences. If there is a significant amount of pre-memorized content, a score of 0 will be given, and fluency and pronunciation will not be scored. 

2. Don't just mention key words

• Avoid mentioning key words from the lecture (e.g., recipe, food, cook) in a disconnected way. You need to describe characters, aspects, actions, and their relationships to provide a coherent response. 

3. Don't try to mention everything 

• It won’t be possible to mention everything the lecture covered in 40 seconds. Focus on the most important points to provide a concise and relevant summary. 

4. Avoid filler words 

• Do not add filler words that do not connect to the lecture. Stick to the content of the lecture to ensure your response is relevant and focused. 

Need more advice? We have lots of official resources to help you prepare, including the chance to take a mock test with our scored practice tests. Visit our PTE Academic Preparation page to find out more. 

Are you preparing for the Pearson Test of English (PTE) and looking for an effective way to practice? Look no further! Smart Prep’s Guided Practice Tests are your ticket to a more confident test day. These free mock tests are designed to give you a realistic experience of the PTE, helping you understand the test format and identify areas for improvement.  

What Are Guided Practice Tests?

Smart Prep offers Guided Practice Tests for both PTE Academic and PTE Core. Each category includes five tests: one short test that provides a condensed version of the exam, and four other tests focused on individual skills — speaking, writing, listening, and reading. These tests are available for free through Smart Prep as long as you create a myPTE account. Each skill-specific test contains the same number of questions as the actual exam, guiding you through the process with sample answers and feedback. 

How to use Guided Practice Tests effectively

For Speaking and Writing questions:

1. Create an exam-like environment: 

• Remove any distractions from your workspace. 

• Ensure your microphone is working properly. 

• Start the test in a quiet setting.

2. Read the introductory page: 

• Understand how many questions are in each section. 

3. Follow instructions carefully: 

• Pay attention to any preparation time allowed for each question. 

• Record yourself during the preparation time if applicable. 

4. Record your answers: 

•  Stick to the time limits (e.g., 30-40 seconds for Read Aloud). 

5. Self-review: 

• Listen to your recorded answer. 

• Note what you did well and areas for improvement. 

6. Compare with sample answers: 

• Click on the sample answer button to listen to and read the sample response. 

• Compare your answer with the sample, focusing on aspects like fluency and content.   

7. Iterate and improve: 

• Move on to the next question and repeat the steps. 

• Give yourself ample time to review and understand the sample answers. 

For Reading and Listening questions:

1. Read instructions carefully: 

• Understand what each question is asking for. 

2. Attempt the question: 

• Submit your answers after completing each question.   

3. Review feedback: 

• Check which answers were correct and which were incorrect. 

4. Revise incorrect answers: 

• Try to understand why your initial answer was wrong. 

• Re-attempt the question until you get it right.  

5. Analyze your performance:

• Note any patterns in the types of questions you find difficult. 

• Focus your study time on these areas. 

The Benefits of Guided Practice Tests 

Practicing with Smart Prep’s Guided Practice Tests will help you: 

• Identify weak areas: Understand which types of questions you find challenging. 

• Improve skills: Focus your preparation time on areas that need the most work. 

• Build confidence: Familiarize yourself with the test format and question types. 

• Enhance performance: Use sample answers to learn what a good response looks like and how to achieve it. 

Why Smart Prep? 

Smart Prep offers a structured, comprehensive, and user-friendly approach to PTE preparation. By using Guided Practice Tests, you’ll gain valuable insights into your performance and know exactly where to focus your efforts. Whether you find reading difficult or struggle with speaking fluently, these practice tests will guide you on your preparation journey.

So, what are you waiting for? Start using Smart Prep’s Guided Practice Tests today and take the first step towards acing your PTE!

Happy studying, and good luck on your PTE journey!

Are you gearing up to take an English language test, and feeling a bit overwhelmed? You’re not alone – many test takers share the same initial anxieties. But don’t worry, we are here to help!

We’ve now launched Smart Prep, so that you can be test ready with one less worry. Smart Prep is a one-stop preparation portal to get you test ready for PTE Academic, PTE Core and PTE Home tests.

It’s based on feedback from real test takers — we recently conducted a survey of 243 students preparing for PTE and learned:

• 82% wanted to prepare skill-by-skill. For example, they might want to focus on speaking first, then writing, reading, and listening

• Many expressed a need for free preparation resources, especially at the beginning of their journey

• 82% preferred having all preparation materials in one place, organized logically in a step-by-step manner

Why Smart Prep?

• Smart Prep combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track

• It’s a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

• It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

• Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips. Note: the available resources depend on your chosen PTE test, please check Smart Prep in myPTE or visit the test preparation page for more details.

Ready to get started?

Create or sign in to your myPTE account

We have all been there; it’s normal to be full of nerves before a test, with uncertainty of what to expect, and doubts about how you’re going to perform. 

However, whilst nerves and anticipation are an unavoidable part of the testing experience, there are ways to reduce this when preparing for your PTE test, so you can grow in confidence before test day and achieve your desired score.

At PTE, we are all about doing it worry-free!  

And to do it worry-free, you need to know what’s coming up and familiarise yourself with the PTE test.

Here are 4 ways you can start your PTE preparation and get the practice in, so you are confident for when test day comes. 

1. Familiarize yourself with the test and what’s expected:

A great way to prepare is to know all about what you can expect on test day. We have lots of resources available on our Preparation page. We'd recommend that you explore this section of our site and gather any top tips that you can from our range of free resources, also known as our A-Z of PTE. This includes a run-through of each question type as well as a video of what to expect on test day, which you can also watch below on this page!

Part 1 of PTE Academic will take 77-93 minutes and will test your speaking and writing skills.

To test speaking skills, you will be assessed on your ability to produce spoken English in an academic environment.

Your writing skills will be assessed by giving written responses in academic English using correct grammar, spelling, and structure.

Personal Introduction

First, you will be asked to give a personal introduction to give some information about yourself.

You will have 25 seconds to read the prompt and prepare your response. You will only have 30 seconds to record a response and can only record this once.

Don’t worry, your personal introduction is not scored but will be sent together with your score report to the institutions selected by you.

For the speaking and writing test, there are seven types of questions that you will be scored on. Below, we will break down each part of this section of the test.

Read Aloud

The first question type to test your reading and speaking skills will be the Read Aloud assessment. In this test there are 6-7 questions.

You will be shown a text prompt that will be up to 60 words. You will have 30-40 seconds to prepare by reading the passage. You will also have a set time to read aloud, which will vary by item, depending on the length of the text.

To complete the question, speak clearly and straight away after you hear a tone. You must finish speaking before the progress bar on the screen reaches the end.

You can receive a maximum of 3 points for the content spoken, a maximum of 5 points for oral fluency, and a maximum of 5 points for pronunciation.

Repeat Sentence

The second question type is Repeat Sentence, which will test listening and speaking skills.

You will listen to a recording between 3-9 seconds and are given 15 seconds to answer.

Once the microphone shows as recording, you will need to speak straight away and say all the words that the speaker uses, in the same order.

For this question, you can receive a maximum score of 3 for content, a maximum 5 for oral fluency, and a maximum of 5 points for pronunciation.

Describe Image

The third question type will test speaking skills by describing an image. There are 6-7 questions.

You will be shown an image and have 25 seconds to study the image and prepare your response. For this task, use the Erasable Noteboard Booklet to take short notes.

After a short tone is heard, start speaking straight away. You will have 40 seconds to answer and must finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end.

In this question type, you can receive a maximum of 5 points for content, a maximum of 5 points for oral fluency, and a maximum of 5 points for pronunciation.

Re-tell Lecture

The fourth question type, Re-tell Lecture, will test your listening and speaking skills. There are 3-4 questions in this test.

You will be given a prompt of up to 90 seconds and will have 40 seconds to answer.

Audio will be played straight away and you may also see an image related to the audio. While you are listening use the Erasable Noteboard Booklet to take short notes.

Once the audio finishes you have 10 seconds to prepare. To complete the task, in detail, you will need to cover the situation, characters, aspects, actions, and developments given in the recording.

You can receive a maximum score of 5 points on content, a maximum of 5 points on your oral fluency, and a maximum of 5 points for pronunciation.

Answer Short Question

The fifth question type, Answer Short Question, will assess listening and speaking skills. There are 10-12 questions in this test.

Here, you will be given a prompt of 3-9 seconds and will have 10 seconds to answer the question.

You will be required to answer a short question with a clear, simple, single word or a few words. This will not test general knowledge, it will simply test your vocabulary.

You will receive 1 point per correct word. No points are given for no response or incorrect response.

Summarize Written Text

In the first question type in the writing section, you will be required to Summarize Written Text, which will test reading and writing skills.

You will read a text of up to 300 words and have 10 minutes to write your summary. You will do 2-3 of these questions depending on the combination of tasks in the given test.

In this assessment, you must write just one sentence. Try using the Erasable Noteboard Booklet to take notes of the main points.

Make sure to include the main points of the text in a full, single sentence of no more than 75 words.

You can receive a maximum score of 2 points for content, maximum 1 point for the formal requirements, a maximum of 2 points for grammar and a maximum of 2 points for vocabulary.

Essay

The last question type of the Speaking and Writing Test will test writing skills.

In this question type, you will be provided with 2-3 sentences of text prompt and have 20 minutes to answer, by writing a 200-300 word argumentative essay on a given topic.

Time management is important for this task as you will need to plan, write and proofread your essay.

In this question, there are many parts where you can receive points. You can receive a maximum of 3 points for the content, maximum of 2 points for the formal requirements and maximum 2 points for development, structure and coherence.

You can also receive a maximum score of 2 points for grammar, maximum 2 points for general linguistic range, maximum 2 points for vocabulary range and a maximum of 2 points for no spelling errors.

There is a total of 15 points that you can pick up in this question type.

What's next?

Read more about Part 2: Reading Test Introduction.

Want more prep ideas?

Plus, explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.

• Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

• It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

• Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.

Ready to get started?