Last Updated on August 28, 2024
The first section of the PTE Academic test is PTE speaking. This section combines speaking and writing questions. Seven different question types are to be answered in 54–67 minutes. This is done to evaluate the candidate’s speaking and writing ability. To practice PTE speaking, candidates can enrol in coaching or organisations such as Admissify to seek professional guidance or appear for mock tests. The types of questions in PTE Speaking include reading aloud, repeating sentences, describing images, summarising, and writing an essay. You will have 25 seconds to read the question on your screen and prepare your response. You will then have 30 seconds to record your response. You are allowed to record your answer only once.
You can score 3 points for the content spoken, 5 points for pronunciation, and 5 points for oral fluency. PTE is an entirely computer-based exam that requires candidates to communicate using a microphone. The examiners will record and judge the voice according to the PTE Exam pattern. The personal introduction does not affect your score and is for familiarisation purposes only.
You must comprehend the PTE speaking scoring criteria to score well in this section. You will be evaluated on various factors, including pronunciation, fluency, and grammatical accuracy. The exam is evaluated on a PTE band score of 10-90. The higher the PTE scores, the better the English-speaking skills.
PTE Speaking Practice
In the PTE academic exam, the speaking round includes reading aloud, repeating sentences, describing images, retelling lectures, and answering short questions. To practice PTE at home for the speaking section, candidates can take mock tests and access e-books and other study materials online.
To improve their speaking abilities in PTE, candidates should review the test format and take multiple practice tests. Pitch matters in PTE Speaking, as it contributes to overall pronunciation and intonation, influencing the clarity and naturalness of their spoken English.
PTE Speaking Test Question Types
The types of questions asked in PTE speaking are Repeat Sentences, Re-tell Lecture, Repeat Sentences, Read Aloud, Describe Images, and Answer Short Questions. The question pattern is different for the PTE General exam pattern. You will be allotted 30-35 minutes to complete the PTE speaking exam. The remaining two types of questions, written text and Essay examine the candidate’s reading and writing skills. The 3-second rule in PTE for speaking means that if a candidate remains silent for more than 3 seconds, the recording will stop automatically, and they’ll not be able to re-record.
| PTE Speaking | Skill Assessed | Duration |
| Read aloud | Read the provided text aloud(Reading and Speaking) | Varies; depends on the length of the text |
| Repeat sentence | After listening to a recording, repeat the sentence(Listening and Speaking) | 15 seconds |
| Describe image | Describe the image provided in detail(Speaking) | 40 seconds |
| Re-tell lecture | listening to a lecture, re-tell it in your own words(Listening and Speaking) | 40 seconds |
| Answer short question | listening to a question, answer with a single word(Listening and Speaking) | 10 seconds |
| Summarise written text | Reading a text, write a one-sentence summary(Reading and Writing) | 10 minutes |
| Essay | Write a 200–300-word essay on the given topic(Writing) | 20 minutes |
Practice Read Aloud in PTE
In order to score 90 in PTE Speaking, focus on practising clear pronunciation, fluency, and accurate content delivery. Also, practise various question types to enhance your speaking skills. For PTE Academic practice of read-aloud, candidates must follow the below tips:
- You must try to speak clearly, as there is no need to rush.
- Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end.
- Speak till the word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.
- Aspirants are allowed to record their responses only once.
Repeat Sentence PTE
In this part of the PTE speaking test, audio is played, which students must hear clearly. When the audio finishes, a microphone appears, displaying “recording.” Candidates need to ensure that they start speaking immediately when the sign of recording is displayed, as no short tone will be played, unlike in the PTE speaking read-aloud item. To help you improve your PTE score, 10-12 repeat sentences are available.
How can I Improve My Repeat Sentence in PTE?
To score good marks in PTE speaking, consistently practice speaking tasks, pay attention to pronunciation and intonation and ensure that your responses are well-structured and relevant. Multiple PTE preparation apps can help you prepare for PTE.
To improve repeat sentences in PTE speaking, candidates should follow the below strategies:
- Repeat sentence PTE can score based on the word sequences
- Make mental notes of stress and intonation patterns
- No credit for irrelevant or no response
- Partial credit is applicable for repeat sentence
Describe Image PTE
Describe image PTE is the item in the speaking module that includes a PTE speaking question based on an image displayed for the student. The PTE Score for this described image is based on regional and national varieties of pronouncing English and will be marked based on content, oral fluency, and pronunciation. You can join PTE online coaching classes to improve your scores.
How do You Describe an Image in the PTE Test?
To improve speaking in PTE, candidates should review the test format and take multiple Practice tests. To describe an image in the PTE test, candidates should follow the below tips:
- Describe the image. PTE requires focus on the image
- Use the erasable note board booklet to point down key ideas and phrases
- Organise the main aspects of the image for answering the PTE speaking
- Undertake speaking practice test for PTE preparation.
Retell Lecture PTE
For the retelling lecture PTE, the speaking question is based on playing audio with an image relevant to the audio. You have 10 seconds to prepare your answer for the PTE speaking when the audio ends.
How to Retell a Lecture in PTE?
Candidates must learn time management to retell a lecture in PTE. The PTE speaking question generally includes an image with the audio; candidates need to analyse the picture clearly and think about the relevant vocabulary they would hear aligned with the image. This would allow them to predict the topic of the retelling lecture PTE for the PTE speaking test.
Check the points to be noted section before answering to retell a lecture in the PTE section:
- Students need 40 seconds to answer and retell the lecture
- The PTE score for this is also calculated based on content, oral fluency, and pronunciation.
Answer Short Question PTE
The short answer questions in PTE Speaking consist of audio and images. The candidates need to listen to the audio properly. After when the audio stops and the microphone appears, the student must answer with a single word or a few words. Answer Short question PTE is for short answers within 10 seconds and uses a few words and sentences to respond. There is no negative marking for answering brief questions in PTE.
How to Answer Short Question PTE Questions?
The score for PTE speaking answer short questions is based on the student’s ability to provide an accurate response in a brief time. PTE listening measures the candidates’ integrated listening and speaking skills, such as speaking.
- Scores can be better with better use of vocabulary
- Take as many PTE mock tests as possible as a guide for preparing
- If the answer is unknown, just repeat the words in the question.
PTE Speaking Score Distribution
PTE speaking score is calculated based on grammar and vocabulary.
Follow the formula below to score better marks in PTE Speaking.
Grammar + Oral Fluency + Pronunciation + Spelling + Vocabulary + Written Discourse ÷ 6 = Average of Enabling Skills. Individuals’ perceptions of PTE as easier than IELTS vary based on personal preferences and strengths in different language skills.
The low score for PTE speaking is due to its algorithm, which assumes that the candidate must speak fluently if they speak slowly. Although the PTE is marked by computer, the speaking section, like other sections, is marked by automated scoring algorithms. The PTE Coaching in India will help you improve your scores.
| Sections | Marking Criteria |
| Read Aloud | Content: the length of the item would be judged for the marking of content Pronunciation: the marking varies as : 5: Native like 4: Advanced 3: Good: 2: Intermediate 1: Intrusive 0: Non-English Oral fluency is marked as : 5: Native like 4: Advanced 3: Good: 2: Intermediate 1: Limited 0: Disfluent |
| Repeat Sentence | Content: Errors= replacements, omissions and insertions, hesitations, filled or unfilled pauses3: All words in response to the prompt are in the correct sequence2: 50% of responses are in the correct sequence1: less than 50% response in correct sequence0: almost nothing from the prompt has been usedPronunciation:5: Native like4: Advanced3: Good:2: Intermediate1: Intrusive0: Non-EnglishOral fluency is marked as :5: Native like4: Advanced3: Good:2: Intermediate1: Limited0: Disfluent |
| Describe Image | Content: 5: Describe all elements in the image and relationships along with conclusions and impact 4: Describe all critical elements in the image and their relations 3: deals with most of the elements in the image and refers to their conclusions 2: identifies only one key element from the image 1: describes some of the elements from the image and does not make conclusions 0: mentions disjointed elements from the image 5: Native like 4: Advanced 3: Good: 2: Intermediate 1: Intrusive 0: Non-English Oral fluency is marked as : 5: Native like 4: Advanced 3: Good: 2: Intermediate 1: Limited 0: Disfluent |
| Retell Lecture | Content: 5: retells all the points from the presentation 4: describes the key points from the presentation and conclusions 3: deals with most of the relevant points 2: deals with only one point of the presentation 1: Describe essential elements from the presentation 0: Mentions disjointed points Pronunciation 5: Native like 4: Advanced 3: Good: 2: Intermediate 1: Intrusive 0: Non-English Oral fluency is marked as : 5: Native like 4: Advanced 3: Good: 2: Intermediate 1: Limited 0: Disfluent |
| Answer short Question | Vocabulary1: response includes appropriate word choice0: inappropriate choice of words in response |
Conclusion
The speaking section of the PTE exam has five sections, each containing different tasks. The number of items, scores, timings, and marking criteria for each section are distinct. Students taking the PTE Speaking test must know about the PTE Speaking Module and should also consider doing PTE Speaking test practice as part of their preparation for this exam. The PTE Speaking module is 55-69 minutes long.
Click on the link below to learn all about the PTE 2024 exam.
PTE Registration 2024: Registration Process, Docs, and Fees
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FAQs
How can I practice PTE speaking at home?
You can practice PTE speaking at home by taking multiple mock tests from online resources.
Is PTE speaking a face-to-face examination?
No, PTE speaking is a computer-based exam.
Is it essential to speak fast in PTE Speaking?
It is optional to speak fast in the PTE. You must focus on speaking clearly while focusing on pronunciation rather than talking fast.
Can I record my response more than once?
No, you cannot record your response more than once
How long do I have to speak for each task?
You must speak for 30 seconds to 2 minutes for each task.
Aakriti Kumari is a passionate content writer who finds solace in the world of books. An avid reader from a young age, she has cultivated a deep love for the written word. When she’s not crafting compelling content, you can find her lost in the pages of a captivating novel. Aakriti shares her literary adventures and book recommendations on her Instagram account, @aakthereader, dedicated to her love of reading. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, she brings words to life, inviting readers on a journey through her writing.
