A Complete Guide on PTE Retell Lecture and How to Answer it Fluently

You listen to a minute-long university lecture on a complex topic. Then, a timer appears. You have just 40 seconds to summarize everything you just heard. This is the challenge of PTE Retell Lecture, a task that tests your listening, memory, and speaking skills all at once.

It’s one of the most demanding questions in the Speaking section. However, it’s also a huge opportunity to score points. A good performance here adds points to both your Listening score (for understanding the lecture) and your Speaking score (for delivering the summary).

Many students try to memorize complicated templates or try to repeat the lecturer’s exact words, which often leads to hesitation and a low score. This guide offers a different, simpler approach. You will learn a flexible structure and a smart note-taking method that allows you to speak fluently and confidently, even if the lecture topic is difficult.

The Mission: What is PTE Retell Lecture & How is it Scored?

First, let’s define your objective.

• What you will do: You will listen to an audio or video lecture, typically 60 to 90 seconds long. After the lecture, you will have 10 seconds to prepare and then 40 seconds to give a spoken summary of the lecture’s main points.
• How it is scored: Your summary is judged on three things:
  • Content (5 points): Did you accurately describe the main topic and key supporting points of the lecture?
  • Oral Fluency (5 points): Did you speak smoothly, at a natural pace, and without major hesitations?
  • Pronunciation (5 points): Was your speech clear and easy to understand?

The most important insight here is that your fluency and pronunciation are worth a combined 10 points, while the content is worth 5. A fluent, clear summary with a few key points is much better than a hesitant, broken summary that tries to include every detail.

The Blueprint for a High-Scoring Retell Lecture

Forget about memorizing long, complicated templates. Instead, use this simple, flexible 4-part structure for your 40-second response.

1. The Opening (approx. 5 seconds): Start by introducing the main topic of the lecture.
   • Example phrase: “The speaker was discussing…”
2. Key Point 1 (approx. 10 seconds): Present the first important detail or idea you captured.
   • Example phrase: “He/she mentioned that…”
3. Key Point 2 (approx. 10 seconds): Present the second important detail you captured.
   • Example phrase: “Furthermore, the speaker explained that…”
4. The Conclusion (approx. 5 seconds): End with a simple concluding statement.
   • Example phrase: “Overall, the lecture was about…”

This structure is simple, logical, and ensures your summary is well-organized, which is exactly what the scoring algorithm looks for.

Intelligence Gathering: A Smart Note-Taking System

Your summary is only as good as your notes. Don’t just scribble random words. Use a system.

As you listen to the lecture, your goal is to capture 5 to 7 key phrases or “chunks” of information. These are usually nouns and verbs that carry the main meaning.

Let’s see an example in action:

• Audio (Summary): A lecture about the impact of automation on the job market. It mentions that technology is replacing routine jobs, which forces workers to learn new, more creative skills. It also states that this transition can be difficult and requires government support for retraining programs.
• Your Notes on the Noteboard might look like this:
  • Automation -> job market
  • Replacing routine jobs
  • Workers learn new skills
  • Creative skills important
  • Transition is difficult
  • Govt support needed
  • Retraining programs

These 7 short phrases contain everything you need for a high-scoring summary.

From Notes to Speech: Executing Your 40-Second Summary

Now, let’s use our blueprint and our notes to create the final response. You have 10 seconds to prepare. Use this time to look at your notes and mentally rehearse your first sentence.

• The Opening: “The speaker was discussing the impact of automation on the job market.”
• Key Point 1: “He mentioned that new technology is replacing many routine jobs, and this means workers need to learn new and more creative skills.”
• Key Point 2: “Furthermore, the speaker explained that this transition can be difficult for workers, and therefore government support is needed for retraining programs.”
• The Conclusion: “Overall, the lecture was about how society must adapt to job changes caused by automation.”

This response is fluent, covers all the key points from our notes, follows a clear structure, and would receive a very high score. But, hey, if you still find Retell Lecture hard, check out some more templates here.

The Safety Net: What to Do When You Don’t Understand the Lecture

Sometimes, you will get a lecture on a topic you find very difficult. You might only understand a few words. Do not panic.

In this situation, your goal is to protect your Fluency and Pronunciation scores.

1. Capture What You Can: Write down the 3-4 keywords you did understand.
2. Use the Blueprint: Deliver those few keywords within the simple 4-part structure.
3. Speak Fluently: Even if your summary is very simple, deliver it with a smooth, confident, and steady pace.

• Example: Imagine you only understood the words “automation,” “jobs,” and “new skills” from the lecture.
• Your Safety Net Response: “The speaker was discussing automation and jobs. He mentioned something about new skills. Overall, the lecture was about jobs and automation.”

This response won’t get a high score for Content, but because you spoke fluently and clearly, you can still get excellent marks for Fluency and Pronunciation, saving your overall score. A fluent but simple summary is always better than a long silence or a hesitant, broken response.

How to Practice for Retell Lecture

You can build the skills for this task in a structured way.

• Start with Note-Taking: Put on a short YouTube video or a podcast on an academic topic. Practice just listening and capturing 5-7 key phrases. Do this until it feels natural.
• Practice with the Blueprint: Once your note-taking is good, start using our practice questions on the PTE Retell Lecture page. For each one, take your notes and then deliver your summary using the 4-part structure. Record yourself and listen back. Is your speech smooth?
• Build Your Stamina: To prepare for the real exam, you need to practice this task alongside the others. Work through the full PTE Speaking practice section to get used to the flow.
• Simulate Exam Day: A PTE Speaking Sectional Mock Test is the ultimate test. It will show you if you can take good notes and deliver a fluent summary under the pressure of the clock.

Frequently Asked Questions About Retell Lecture

Q1. How long should my summary be?

You have 40 seconds to speak. You should aim to speak for about 30 to 35 seconds. This gives you enough time to cover your points without rushing and leaves a small buffer in case you hesitate. Stop speaking before the timer runs out.

Q2. Should I try to copy the lecturer’s accent?

No. Do not try to copy the accent. Speak clearly and naturally in your own accent. However, you should pay attention to the lecturer’s intonation (the rise and fall of their voice) as it can give you clues about what is important.

Q3. What if the lecture is a video? Should I look at the image?

Yes. If there is a video or an image, it is there to help you understand the context of the lecture. A graph or a picture can give you valuable keywords and help you grasp the main topic more quickly.

By using this simple structure and a smart note-taking system, you can transform this difficult task into a manageable and high-scoring part of your PTE exam. Ready to see how you perform under real exam conditions? Take a free, full-length PTE mock test with a complete score report.