Quick overview

The Speaking section of PTE Academic (combined with Writing) checks how naturally and clearly you speak English. After the August 7, 2025 update, two new real-life tasks were added — making the section more communicative and practical.

• Section: Speaking & Writing (combined)
• Approx. duration: 76–84 minutes (overall Speaking & Writing)
• New tasks: Summarise Group Discussion, Respond to a Situation
• Skills tested: Pronunciation, fluency, listening, vocabulary, organization, and relevance.

1. Read Aloud

Format: Short passage on screen (40–60 words). You get ~30–40 seconds to prepare, then read aloud.

What examiners look for: clear pronunciation, correct pauses (punctuation), and steady pace.

• Tip: Use punctuation to guide your pace — pause at commas, breathe at full stops.
• Tip: Don’t race — clarity beats speed.
• Practice: Read newspaper opinion paragraphs aloud daily.

2. Repeat Sentence

Format: Listen to a sentence (3–9 seconds). Repeat it exactly.

What examiners look for: accurate reproduction, stress and intonation, and smooth delivery.

• Tip: Focus on the meaning and natural rhythm, not on word-for-word memorization.
• Tip: If you miss a word, continue confidently — do not stop and hesitate.
• Practice: Shadow short podcast lines; gradually increase length.

3. Describe Image

Format: See a chart, graph, map, or picture. Speak for 40 seconds describing the main points.

What examiners look for: structure, relevant vocabulary, and fluency.

• Tip: Use a mini-template — “The image shows… The main features are… In summary…”
• Tip: Prioritize major trends/points; don’t attempt to describe everything.
• Practice: Describe 1–2 images daily and record yourself.

4. Retell Lecture

Format: Listen to a short lecture/audio; summarize it in 40 seconds.

What examiners look for: ability to capture the gist, organization, linking language.

• Tip: Take quick notes — keywords for topic, 2–3 main points, and the conclusion.
• Tip: Start with topic sentence, then 2 supporting points, then a short wrap-up.
• Practice: Listen to 3–4 minute TED clips and attempt 40-second retells.

5. Answer Short Question

Format: Listen to a short general-knowledge or object question; answer with a short word/phrase.

What examiners look for: correct and prompt response.

• Tip: Keep answers short and precise — one or two words is fine.
• Tip: If unsure, give your best guess; there’s no negative marking.
• Practice: Drill common GK lists and everyday Q&A.

6. Summarise Group Discussion (New)

Format: Listen to a discussion (up to 3 people, ~3 minutes). Then speak for 2 minutes, summarizing main ideas.

What examiners look for: ability to identify viewpoints, synthesize ideas, and present a clear, balanced summary.

• Tip: Note speakers’ names/labels and their main point; organize by speaker or by theme.
• Tip: Use signposting language: “Speaker A argued…; Speaker B disagreed and said… Overall…”
• Practice: Practice summarizing group podcasts or panel discussions.

7. Respond to a Situation (New)

Format: Read/listen to a scenario (about 60 words) and respond naturally for ~40 seconds.

What examiners look for: relevance, pragmatic language, politeness, and fluency.

• Tip: Treat it as a real-life communicative task (e.g., offering an apology, giving directions, making a short complaint).
• Tip: Keep language natural and avoid memorised templates that sound unnatural.
• Practice: Role-play everyday scenarios with a partner or record yourself reacting.

General practice tips (quick wins)

• Practice with timers: always mimic real time limits (40s, 2min, etc.).
• Record and listen back: notice filler words, long pauses, and unclear segments.
• Improve pronunciation by shadowing — copy native speakers’ audio rhythm and stress.
• Avoid memorised paragraphs — the system flags overly rehearsed language and human reviewers may check long answers.
• Focus on clarity and organization — examiners reward coherent structure as much as pronunciation.

Download checklist