PTE Speaking section evaluates candidate's ability to communicate effectively in spoken English, focusing on pronunciation, fluency, and verbal expression. The duration of this section is approximately 54 to 67 minutes, during which candidates are given a variety of questions that mimic real-life scenarios. These include Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe image, Re-tell lecture, and Answer short question. Each task is designed to evaluate how well the test taker can clearly and accurately convey information in English.
Speaking module is the first section of PTE Academic test and consists of various tasks designed to evaluate different aspects of your spoken English. Here is a quick overview of the tasks:
| Task Type | Time Duration | Skill Assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Read Aloud | 35–40 seconds per item | You need to read the text on the screen as clearly as possible. |
| Repeat Sentence | 15 seconds per item | You need to repeat the sentence as exactly as you hear it in the audio. |
| Describe Image | 40 seconds per item | You will need to speak into the microphone to explain in detail what the image is showing. |
| Re-tell Lecture | 40 seconds per item | You need to speak clearly into microphone whatever you heard in lecture. |
| Answer Short Question | 10 seconds per item | You will hear a question and you will need to answer it simply and briefly. |
PTE Speaking score distribution is important for prioritizing your efforts. Speaking module contributes significantly to your overall score, and specific tasks within this module are weighted differently.
Read aloud: This task not only contributes to your Speaking score, but also affects your Reading score.
Repeat sentence: This task plays a significant role in both Speaking and Listening scores.
Describe image and Re-tell lecture: These tasks focus specifically on your Speaking skills.
Answer short question: This task contributes to both Speaking and Listening scores, but is weighted relatively less.
Knowing how each task contributes to your overall score can help you allocate your practice time effectively.
Now that you understand the format and score distribution, let's look at some practical PTE Speaking tips to improve your performance.
Objective: You have to read a short text aloud. This task assesses your pronunciation, fluency and intonation.
Tips and tricks:
Practice regularly: Familiarise yourself with different types of texts to improve your pronunciation and fluency. Read aloud daily from newspapers, articles or books.
Pay attention to punctuation: Punctuation marks such as commas, full stops and question marks are important in guiding your intonation. Take a short pause at a comma and a slightly longer pause at a full stop.
Clarity over speed: While fluency is important, clarity is important. Do not read the text as quickly as possible. Speak at a natural pace to ensure clear pronunciation of each word.
Avoid monotony: Use different intonations to make your speech sound natural. Emphasize important words to convey the correct meaning.
Objective: You will hear a sentence and have to repeat it exactly as you heard it. This task tests your listening, remembering and speaking skills.
Tips and Tricks:
Active listening: Pay close attention to sentence structure, pronunciation and intonation while listening. Focus on catching the whole sentence rather than just individual words.
Chunking technique: Break the sentence into small, manageable segments or phrases. This method makes it easier to remember and repeat accurately.
Mimic intonation and stress: Try to repeat the exact intonation and stress patterns of the speaker. This not only helps in accurate repetition but also improves your score in verbal fluency.
Practice with audio tools: Use tools and apps that allow you to listen to sentences and practice repeating them. This will help you get used to the speed and complexity of the sentences on the test.
Objective: You will be shown an image (such as a graph, chart, map or picture) and you must describe it in detail. This task evaluates your ability to analyze information and present it clearly and coherently.
Tips and tricks:
Structure your response: Start with an introduction, such as “The image shows…” followed by a description of the key features. Conclude with a summary of the main points.
Focus on key details: Identify and discuss the most important aspects of the image. Avoid going into unnecessary detail about small elements.
Use relevant vocabulary: Practice using appropriate vocabulary for different types of images. For example, use words such as “increase,” “decrease,” “fluctuate,” and “steady” for graphs.
Stay within the time limit: Keep your description concise and within the given time. Aim to speak for about 35-40 seconds to cover all the important points without rushing.
Objective: You will listen to a lecture and then have to retell it in your own words. This task assesses your listening comprehension, note-taking ability, and speaking skills.
Tips and tricks:
Effective note-taking: While listening, note down keywords, phrases, and main ideas. Focus on catching the structure of the lecture rather than every single detail.
Use structured responses: Start with an introduction like "The lecture was about...", followed by the main points. End with a summary to show a clear understanding of the lecture.
Paraphrase effectively: Use your own words to Re-tell lecture. Avoid copying the speaker's words verbatim, as paraphrasing demonstrates better comprehension and language skills.
Practice listening skills: Listen to academic lectures or podcasts regularly to improve your ability to understand and summarize spoken English.
Objective: You will hear a question and need to give a short, precise answer. This task tests your general knowledge and ability to give quick and accurate answers.
Tips and tricks:
Keep it simple: Give direct answers, usually one or two words. Overcomplicating your answer can lead to mistakes.
Stay calm and focused: Listen to the question carefully before answering. If you're unsure, it's better to guess confidently rather than hesitate.
Expand your knowledge base: Familiarize yourself with common topics such as geography, science, and everyday knowledge. This preparation can make it easier to answer confidently.
One of the best ways to prepare is to take PTE Speaking mock tests. These mock tests simulate the actual exam environment and help you get familiar with the format and timing of each task. Regular practice with mock tests allows you to identify your weaknesses and work on them systematically. It also helps to build your confidence, which is important to perform well under exam conditions.
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