Prepare for the PTE Speaking Exam: Test Structure, Sample Tests, and Advice

Many students find the Speaking test to be difficult because it calls for quick reflexes in order to assimilate information and react fluently.

You could feel overwhelmed by the variety of question types in the PTE Speaking part if you are used to the cue cards and interviews in the IELTS Speaking test.

To succeed in this section, you must practice a lot and use smart study techniques.

If you’re not sure where to begin, remain cool!

You will have everything you need from this manual to succeed to the fullest in the PTE Speaking portion.

Key Points –

• What is the speaking test component of the PTE?
• Speaking format for PTE
• Principal components of the PTE speaking test
• Tips for improving your PTE speaking scores

What is the speaking test component of the PTE?

The PTE test’s first section is called Speaking & Writing. Speaking exercises test your communication abilities in a classroom setting.

With speaking tasks, you must answer by speaking into a microphone.

A brief tone signals the start of the recording. You must logically and smoothly present your thoughts and respond to questions. You move on to the following question after the recording is finished.

The following competencies will be used by AI to evaluate your Speaking scores:

• Speaking clearly and with an intended goal (to repeat, inform, or clarify).
• Giving evidence to support an argument by giving details, illustrations, and explanations that are correctly pronounced, stressed, and intonated.
• Speaking naturally, using the right words and phrases, and reading aloud from a text.
• Making an organized oral presentation and speaking for a set amount of time.
• expressing oneself fluently, using suitable syntax, and developing complex concepts within a verbal discussion.

PTE Academic acknowledges regional and national variances in English pronunciation as long as they are simple enough for the majority of native speakers to understand.

The five variables listed below must be taken into consideration for effective speaking in both everyday and exam situations:

• Organization
• The needs of the listener
• Cohesion and fluency
• Control of language
• Appropriate stress patterns and intonation

Speaking format for PTE

The speaking portion of the PTE Speaking & Writing test might last between 24 and 37 minutes.

There are five main types of questions in this section:

Question types	Number of items	Prompt length	Skills assessed	Time to answer	Score
Personal Introduction	1	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not score
Read Aloud	6 – 7	Text up to 60 words	Reading and speaking	Varies by item, depending on the text length.	Partial Credit
Repeat Sentence	10 –12	3–9 seconds	Listening and speaking	15 seconds	Partial Credit
Describe Image	3 – 4	Not applicable	Speaking	40 seconds	Partial Credit
Re-tell Lecture	1 – 2	Up to 90 seconds	Listening and speaking	40 seconds	Partial Credit
Answer Short Question	6 – 6	3–9 seconds	Listening and speaking	10 seconds	Correct/ Incorrect/

Principal components of the PTE speaking test

The tasks, skills evaluated, test procedures, and test suggestions for each question type in the PTE Speaking part are listed below. The tasks, skills evaluated, test procedures, and test suggestions for each question type in the PTE Speaking part are listed below.

Time frame:

• You have 25 seconds to read the question and formulate an answer.
• You have 30 seconds to provide an answer. You should start talking about yourself as soon as you hear a beep.

Talk clearly and slowly while performing this job. Your response can only be recorded once. Before the progress indicator reaches its terminus and the word “Recording” changes to “Completed,” you should conclude your introduction.

Along with your score report, your response will be forwarded to the colleges and universities you have selected.

Read Aloud

Skills Assessed

A long-answer speaking task is reading aloud.

Using the right pronunciation and intonation, you must read a brief paragraph aloud for this exercise to be successful. It evaluates reading and speaking abilities.

Tasks

The information on the screen must be read out loud.

How to respond

A countdown until the microphone opens can be seen in the recording status box. You have 30 to 40 seconds to read the content and formulate an answer.

When you hear a brief tone, you should start speaking right away. If you start speaking before the microphone is turned on, the system won’t be able to capture your voice.

Before the progress bar reaches the bottom, pause.

Advice for Reading Aloud

• Talk clearly and fluidly.
• To make the phrases sound natural, use a rising tone at the start and a dropping tone at the end.
• Don’t stop or repeat it if you realize you mispronounced the word.
• Continue speaking to maintain fluency.
• Record your voice, then play it back repeatedly. You can improve your oral complexity, correctness, and fluency thanks to this.
• Using a timer, read through new passages several times while keeping a close eye on your speaking rate.

Repeat sentence

Skills Assessed

A short-answer speaking task on the PTE is “repeat sentence.”

Your ability to comprehend, recall, and accurately repeat a sentence with the right pronunciation is evaluated by this exercise. Your speaking and listening abilities are assessed.

Tasks

The sentence must be repeated exactly as it is heard in the audio clip.

How to Respond

Automatic audio playback begins. The microphone opens and the recording status box reads “Recording” as soon as the audio finishes. As soon as you finish, repeat the lines aloud into the microphone.

Advice for Repetition

• Close your eyes while you listen, then repeat after me.
• As the clip concludes, there is no beeping sound. Hence, you need to start speaking right away.
• Focus on the main words and repeat them if you can’t remember the complete statement.

Describe image

Skills Assessed

Your ability to observe, gather data, and employ descriptive language will be put to the test on this PTE describe image challenge.

Tasks

An image that appears on the screen must be described. The different image types include graphs, charts, pictures, maps, and tables.

How to Respond

You have 25 seconds to consider the picture and formulate an answer. As soon as you notice the tone, start speaking.

Advice for Defining Images

• Answering using templates can increase your score. Both the primary arguments and the supporting information should be included in an effective response.
• Use phrases like “illustrate,” “describe,” “elucidate,” etc. to introduce yourself.
• Name the various image types. For instance, pie charts have “slices,” while line graphs have a “timeline.”
• When describing things that are on the left or right, next to, above, at the top, below, or in the middle, use the following positional prepositions: foreground, background, and others.
• During 30 to 35 seconds, finish speaking, and make sure all of your phrases are complete.

Assessment of Retell Lecture Skills

Skills Assessed

Long-answer speaking is the PTE retell lecture task.

Your ability to produce a speech on lecture material is evaluated by this task. Both speaking and listening abilities are assessed.

Tasks

You have to pay attention to a lecture and then summarize it in your own words.

How to Respond

The class will automatically start. For better understanding, a lecture-related graphic will be displayed.

You will have 10 seconds to compose your response after the lecture is finished.

A countdown until the microphone opens can be seen in the recording status box. As soon as you hear a brief tone, start speaking right away.

Re-rell Lecture Advice

• To understand the context of the lecture, make a note of the crucial words.
• No need to remember names in their entirety. Use phrases like “Dr. states” or “The professor says” instead.
• Try to recall the lecture’s top three to five sentences.

Answer Short Question

Skills Evaluation

Short-answer speaking tasks with a single, succinct response make up the PTE answer short question component.

This activity evaluates your capacity to listen to a question in the tape and provide a clear and accurate response. Both speaking and listening abilities are assessed.

Tasks

You must answer the question in one or two sentences. Typically, the question will be applicable to our daily lives.

How to Respond

Together with an image, the audio immediately begins asking questions.

The microphone activates and the recording status box reads “Recording” as soon as the audio stops. You should talk into the microphone right away.

Strategies for Responding to Brief Questions

• Always put articles before some words.
• If you’re unsure of how to respond, repeat the question’s wording.

Tips for improving your PTE speaking scores

It is inevitable that you will make mistakes with pronunciation, stress, and intonation because English is not your first language.

As a result, we provide advice and strategies to assist you succeed in the PTE Speaking section:

• Read up on the topics in detail. Always stray from your course requirements.
• Whenever you communicate, keep it simple.
• Attempt to imitate various accents used by native English speakers.
• Finish the sentence in its entirety. Try to avoid pausing excessively.
  Because you will need to hear other test-takers in the examination room, practice your focus by performing speaking exercises in a medium-noise situation.
• Never practice while wearing earbuds for music. Get some premium headphones with microphones.
• Before the test, double-check your microphone.

Once more, keep in mind that the PTE Speaking portion relies heavily on fluency. Practice therefore makes perfect.

Conclusion

Speaking for PTE is now simple. All you have to do is employ successful strategies and put your work into action on the proper platform so you can test your strategies. For your best preparation practice from OnePTE app on Android or iOS, or on our website.