PTE Retell Lecture Template

The Retell Lecture in PTE is a crucial section of the PTE academic listening and speaking test, assessing your ability to listen, comprehend, and communicate effectively. Follow this comprehensive guide to master this task and boost your speaking test performance.

Retell Lecture PTE Structure

Understanding the format is the first step toward success. This task typically involves listening to an academic lecture and then summarizing it in your own words. Ensure you grasp the structure and key elements of this task for an effective response.

In just 3 seconds, the audio will start, so gear up to jot down your notes on the provided paper. The recording won’t stretch beyond 90 seconds, though occasionally it might surpass that limit. Post-lecture, you get a brief 10-second prep window before diving into a 40-second response period. And hey, make sure those notes are readable when writing them back! There will be 1-2 retell lecture questions in the PTE exam.

Retell Lecture Task Summary
PTE Task	4th PTE Speaking Task
Skills assessed:	Listening & Speaking
Audio/ Video Length:	Up to 90 seconds
No of Questions:	1 to 2 tasks in the test
Time:	3 seconds before you listen to the recording, 10 seconds to prepare after the audio finishes, 40 seconds to answer
Scoring:	Content, Oral Fluency & Pronunciation

Scoring Criteria

The computer evaluates your response based on specific criteria, including content, oral fluency, pronunciation, and more.

Note: As of November 4, 2024, in addition to automated scoring, a human reviewer will evaluate each response’s “content” part to provide a more comprehensive and nuanced assessment.

PTE Retell Lecture Template for 2024

Crafting a well-organized response is crucial. Utilize our provided template to structure your retell lecture response coherently. Learn how to introduce the main idea, present supporting details, and conclude with a strong summary.

Template – 1 (for one answer)

Template – 2 (for another answer)

Do(s) and Don’t(s)

• Practice repeatedly with different audio to improve your speed.
• While listening to the audio, write down as many phrases as you can.
• Aim for about 35 seconds in your response
• Avoid using just single keywords unless they’re really important or proper nouns
• Be sure to link your sentences with connectors to keep the flow smooth
• Don’t take pauses unless absolutely necessary. Only pause between sentences
• During the ‘10 second’ preparation time, practice the template sentences with your written phrases
• Start speaking immediately after the recording begins, and press ‘Done’ as soon as you finish your answer. Otherwise, the computer will record extra silence before and after your speech, which can hurt your score.

Using Template For PTE Retell Lecture Practice

From the beginning of the audio, start to write down as many phrases (more than one word) as possible.

PTE Retell Lecture Real Question-1

Question: Good Place (From OnePTE‘s ‘Re-tell Lecture’ section)

Here is an audio transcript with potential phrases:

“I believe a good place to learn should encourage us to not fear failure, even if it means taking risks. Our minds are powerful, and bravery should guide our thoughts. We should be willing to step outside our comfort zones and explore unfamiliar territory with others. It's about creating a safe space where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas, even if they're not perfect. This is where new and bold ideas emerge, leading to solutions we might not discover otherwise. Therefore, creating an environment where people can be brave and where ideas can develop freely is very important, I think."

We can list down phrases this way-

• a good place to learn
• taking risks
• explore unfamiliar territory
• creating a safe space
• comfortable sharing ideas
• new and bold ideas
• creating an environment

** N.B. We don’t have to use all the phrases. We will only use the easier ones. We can shuffle them also.

You may answer like this (using ‘template-1’):

• The speaker introduced “taking risks“ at the beginning.
• In the first portion of the lecture, he/she talked about “a good place to learn“.
• He further discussed about “creating a safe space“.
• Furthermore, he/she offered key insights into “unfamiliar territory“.
• As the lecture came to a close, he/she covered “comfortably sharing ideas” in more detail. (slightly modified the phrase)
• In conclusion, the speaker focused on “finding new and bold ideas”. (added extra word)

Also Read: Best PTE Essay Writing Template For Full Score

PTE Retell Lecture Real Question-2

Question: Modern Messaging (From OnePTE‘s ‘Re-tell Lecture’ section)

Here is an audio transcript with potential phrases:

“Today, we have more ways to communicate than ever before. We still use our voices, but emails are now the most common method. Every year, 74 trillion emails are sent. That's 202 billion emails a day, 2 million per second, and they all end up in our mailboxes. Besides email, we use WhatsApp, with 36 trillion messages sent yearly. There are also 14 trillion WeChat messages, 7 trillion texts, 200 billion tweets, 109 billion Zoom calls, about 5 Yahoo Messenger calls, and surprisingly, 17 million telegrams. Yes, telegrams are still being sent every year.
This raises some questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. We can easily answer four of them: telegrams, the world, now. But "who" and "why" are more complex. To understand why such an old technology like telegrams still exists, while others like pagers and dial-up modems have vanished, we need to look at the history of the telegraph system. When telegrams first became available, they were a huge deal. Their influence and widespread use explain why they have lasted so long, even in our modern world.”

We can list down phrases this way-

• the most common method
• we use WhatsApp
• 109 billion Zoom calls
• 17 million telegrams
• raises some questions
• history of the telegram
• they have lasted so long

** N.B. We don’t have to use all the phrases. We will only use the easier ones. We can shuffle them also.

You may answer like this (using ‘template-2’):

• So, the audio was all about ”the most common method of communication”.
• First, the speaker talked about ”109 billion Zoom calls”.
• Then, he/she explained ”how we use WhatsApp”. (added extra word)
• He/she also touched on ”17 million telegrams”.
• Near the conclusion, he/she brought up ”a topic about raising some questions”. (added extra words + slightly modified)
• And, to finish up, he/she gave some final thoughts on ”why telegram has lasted so long”. (added extra words + slightly modified)

Also Read: PTE Summarize Spoken Text Templates and Strategies

PTE Retell Lecture Real Question-3

Question: Skill Improvement (From OnePTE‘s ‘Re-tell Lecture’ section)

Here is an audio transcript with potential phrases:

“So, how can we improve our listening skills? Basically, when you’re having a one-on-one chat, it's about showing genuine interest in the other person and making them feel like you get them. While there's no exact definition of top-notch listening, key aspects include being attentive, showing you understand, and having a positive attitude towards the speaker. It's not just about going through the motions, though. Research suggests that simply smiling and nodding at regular intervals doesn't cut it. Listening is a bit like a performance in that you need to show you're engaged. Good listeners not only pay attention to what’s being said but also use questions and body language to show they're tuned in and keen to understand. It might feel a bit strange at first, and the best approach might vary depending on your relationship with the person you're talking to. But with practice, these habits can become second nature.”

We can list down phrases this way-

• improve our listening skills
• being attentive
• having a positive attitude
• smiling and nodding
• use questions and body language
• might feel a bit strange at first
• habits can become a second nature

** N.B. We don’t have to use all the phrases. We will only use the easier ones. We can shuffle them also.

You may answer like this (using ‘template-1’):

• The speaker introduced “how to improve our listening skills“ at the beginning. (added extra words)
• In the first portion of the lecture, he/she talked about “being attentive“.
• He further discussed about “having a positive attitude“.
• Furthermore, he/she offered key insights into “smiling and nodding“.
• As the lecture came to a close, he/she covered “using questions and body language” in more detail. (slightly modified)
• In conclusion, the speaker focused on “how habits can become a second nature”. (added extra words)

Also Read: PTE Summarize Spoken Text Templates and Strategies For High Scores

Retell Lecture PTE TIPS for 2024

Developing a strategy is key to success. Explore effective strategies for managing your time, staying focused, and delivering a confident ‘retell lecture answer’. Here is what you should do in different stages:

Before the Audio Begins

Preparation is half the battle. Ensure that you are in the right mindset to absorb the information effectively.

While the Audio is Played

Active listening is a skill that can be mastered. While you are listening the audio, write down as many phrases as possible.

Before the ‘answer time’

In the ‘10 second preparation period’, try to use the written phrases with template sentences. Sometimes, you may ‘add or subtract’ one or two words.

When Recording Starts and stops

Start speaking immediately after the recording begins, and press ‘Done’ as soon as you finish your answer. Otherwise, the computer will record extra silence before and after your speech, which may hurt your score.

Conclusion

Summing up the insights provided in this guide, remember that practice and preparation are your allies in acing the retell lecture pte task. Confidence, structure, and effective communication are the pillars of success in the PTE speaking test.