PTE speaking format: the eight tasks and their timings
Speaking sits inside Part 1 of PTE Academic, Speaking and Writing, which runs 76 to 84 minutes. The speaking tasks come first, in the order below, after an unscored Personal Introduction. The number of items of each type varies between test forms, so prepare every type. Timings are from Pearson’s current test-format page.
The three-second rule
The microphone closes after three seconds of silence, and whatever you have recorded is scored as it stands. Start speaking on the tone, keep going even if you lose the thread, and never stop to think. A fluent wrong sentence scores better than a silent correct one.
How PTE speaking is scored: content, fluency, pronunciation and the AI
Every speaking item is scored by Pearson's automated system, trained on thousands of human-rated responses, with some responses checked by a human expert before scores are finalised. There is no examiner in the room. Speaking is reported on the 10 to 90 scale, and the speaking tasks also feed the enabling skills of Oral Fluency and Pronunciation and parts of Listening and Reading. Universities usually ask for 50 to 65 in each communicative skill; Australian skilled migration points use 65 and 79.
Three consequences follow for Indian candidates. The machine cannot read your intention, so self-correction costs twice, as a hesitation and as a repeated word: say the wrong word and move on. A template helps content only if it carries data; the image shows an increasing trend with the highest value in 2010 scores more than a 40-second frame with no numbers. And pronunciation is scored on intelligibility, not accent; what loses marks is the v/w merge, th as t or d, and dropped -ed and -s endings, which the pronunciation for Hindi speakers and pronunciation for South Indian speakers courses target.
Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence: worked examples
Read Aloud: use the 30 to 40 seconds of preparation to read the text once silently, mark where you will breathe (commas and full stops) and find any word you might stumble on. Then read at a steady pace with meaning, not speed. If you misread a word, keep going; going back costs more than the error.
Repeat Sentence: you hear a sentence of roughly eight to fourteen words once, with no preparation, and have 15 seconds to repeat it. Content is scored on the words in the correct order, so a complete sentence with one word missing scores far better than half a sentence delivered perfectly. Do not take notes; hold the shape of the sentence and start speaking on the tone.
Describe Image: a 40-second structure with three worked examples
You have 25 seconds to look at the image and 40 seconds to describe it. The structure that scores: what the image shows (title, axes, units), the extremes, the main trend or comparison, one more detail if there is time, and a one-sentence conclusion. Say numbers. Five sentences without stopping, finishing at about 35 seconds.
A bar chart: smartphone ownership (percent of adults) in five countries in 2024: South Korea 98, UK 94, India 71, Nigeria 52, Pakistan 44.
This bar chart shows the percentage of adults who owned a smartphone in five countries in 2024. South Korea had the highest ownership at 98 per cent, closely followed by the UK at 94 per cent. India was in the middle at 71 per cent. Nigeria and Pakistan had the lowest figures, at 52 and 44 per cent respectively. Overall, ownership was far higher in the two high-income countries than in the three developing countries, with a gap of more than 50 percentage points between the top and the bottom.
Scored for: topic, highest, lowest, the comparison, a conclusion with a number. Never say I think or in my opinion in Describe Image.
Say this answer out loudA line graph: average monthly temperature in Delhi, from 14 degrees in January rising to a peak of 34 in June, dipping to 29 in August and falling to 15 in December.
This line graph illustrates the average monthly temperature in Delhi over one year, measured in degrees Celsius. The temperature started at 14 degrees in January and rose steadily to a peak of 34 degrees in June. It then dipped slightly to about 29 degrees in August during the monsoon before falling sharply to 15 degrees in December. In summary, Delhi has a very wide temperature range, with the summer peak around 20 degrees higher than the winter low.
Trend verbs carry content: rose steadily, peaked, dipped, fell sharply. One sentence per movement.
Say this answer out loudA process diagram: how paper is recycled, in five stages: collection, sorting, pulping with water, removing ink, and pressing and drying into new sheets.
This diagram shows the process of recycling paper in five stages. First, used paper is collected from homes and offices and sorted by type. Next, the sorted paper is mixed with water and broken down into pulp. After that, the ink is removed from the pulp in a cleaning stage. Finally, the clean pulp is pressed and dried to produce new sheets of paper. Overall, the process turns waste paper into a usable product through a sequence of mechanical and chemical steps.
For a process, sequence words are the content: first, next, after that, finally. Use the passive where the diagram has no actor.
Say this answer out loudRe-tell Lecture and Answer Short Question: worked examples
Re-tell Lecture plays up to 90 seconds of audio, sometimes with a video or slide, then gives you 10 seconds before 40 seconds of speaking. Take notes while listening: key nouns, numbers and names only. Retell in the lecture’s shape: the topic, two or three main points with the lecturer’s own key terms, then the conclusion or example. The system matches the lecturer’s words for content.
Lecture: a biologist explains that coral bleaching happens when water warms by one to two degrees, the coral expels the algae that feed it and give it colour, and that reefs can recover if temperatures fall within a few weeks but die if heat persists.
The speaker was talking about coral bleaching. She explained that when sea water warms by only one or two degrees, the coral expels the algae that live inside it, and these algae are what give the coral both its food and its colour. As a result the coral turns white, which is called bleaching. She pointed out that bleaching is not always fatal: if the temperature drops within a few weeks, the algae return and the reef recovers. However, if the heat persists, the coral starves and the reef dies.
Scored on key terms: bleaching, algae, one to two degrees, expels, recover, persists. Reported speech (she explained, she pointed out) keeps you fluent.
Say this answer out loudLecture: an economist describes the gig economy in India: food delivery and ride-hailing platforms employed around 7.7 million workers in 2020 by a NITI Aayog estimate; workers gain flexibility but lack social security; the 2020 Social Security Code first recognised them.
The lecture was about the gig economy in India. The speaker said that platform work such as food delivery and ride-hailing had grown rapidly, with a government estimate of around 7.7 million gig workers in 2020. He described a trade-off: workers gain flexibility over their hours, but they lack social security such as insurance and pensions. He then mentioned that the Social Security Code of 2020 was the first Indian law to formally recognise gig workers, although he suggested its implementation was still incomplete.
Numbers and named laws are high-value content. Note them as digits while listening.
Say this answer out loudLecture: a psychologist outlines the spacing effect, that studying in several short sessions spread over days produces better long-term memory than one long session, with an experiment where students who reviewed vocabulary over four days recalled 30 per cent more after a month.
The speaker discussed the spacing effect in learning. He explained that studying material in several short sessions spread over days leads to better long-term memory than one long session of the same total time, which is often called cramming. To support this he described an experiment in which students who reviewed vocabulary across four days recalled about 30 per cent more words after a month than students who studied everything in one sitting. He concluded that spacing works because each review forces the brain to retrieve the information again.
Topic, mechanism, evidence with a number, conclusion: four sentences fill 35 seconds comfortably.
Say this answer out loudAnswer Short Question plays a 3 to 9 second question and gives you 10 seconds to answer with a word or short phrase. On Pearson’s current format page these items count towards Listening only, so do not over-invest here, but answer every one instantly. Examples: What do you call the person who writes the music for a film? A composer. Which instrument measures atmospheric pressure? A barometer. If you do not know, guess; a wrong answer and silence score the same.
Respond to a Situation and Summarize Group Discussion: the 2025 tasks
Both tasks were added to PTE Academic in 2025 and still catch candidates who prepared from older material. Respond to a Situation shows and plays a short description with three parts: the situation, who you are speaking to, and your goal. You get 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to respond as if you were speaking to that person. Content is weighted most, and it includes addressing every part of the situation in a tone that fits the listener, with varied expressions; the scoring is still on content, pronunciation and oral fluency.
Situation: You missed yesterday's lecture because you were ill. Speak to your professor after class and ask whether you can get the slides and whether the material will be in the exam.
Good afternoon, Professor Mehta. I am sorry I could not attend yesterday's lecture; I had a fever and was advised to rest. I did not want to fall behind, so I wanted to ask whether it would be possible to get the slides from that session, or whether they are already on the course portal. I would also be grateful if you could tell me whether yesterday's material will be covered in the end-of-term exam, so I can prioritise it this week. Thank you very much for your help.
Greet, explain, request one, request two, thank. Polite modals (would it be possible, I would be grateful) are the expressions the task rewards.
Say this answer out loudSituation: Your flatmate has been playing loud music late at night during your exam week. Speak to them and ask them to keep it down without damaging the friendship.
Hey Arjun, have you got a minute? I wanted to mention something before it becomes a problem. My exams start on Monday and I have been struggling to sleep because the music has been going until about one in the morning. I completely understand you want to relax after work, so I am not asking you to stop; could you maybe use headphones after eleven, or keep the volume low, just for these two weeks? I will return the favour whenever you need quiet. Thanks for understanding.
Informal register is correct here; the listener is a friend. Explain the problem, acknowledge their side, make a specific request, offer something back.
Say this answer out loudSituation: A library book you borrowed is three weeks overdue because you were travelling. Speak to the library staff and ask whether the fine can be waived.
Hello, I would like to return this book, and I am afraid it is about three weeks overdue. I was travelling for a family emergency and did not have access to my account to renew it, which I realise is not an excuse but is the reason. I wanted to ask whether there is any possibility of reducing or waiving the fine, given the circumstances. If that is not possible, I understand, and I will pay it today. Could you also tell me how to set up renewal reminders so this does not happen again?
Formal but not stiff. Admit the problem, give the reason, make the request with a fallback, and add a forward-looking question to fill the time naturally.
Say this answer out loudSummarize Group Discussion plays two and a half to three minutes of audio in which three speakers discuss a topic, played once only. After 10 seconds you have up to two minutes to summarise; you do not need to use all of it, and most strong responses take 60 to 90 seconds. Content is scored on whether you accurately cover all three speakers' views, so take notes in three columns, one per speaker, and report each position with its reason, then note where they agreed or disagreed.
Discussion: three students debate whether universities should record all lectures. Priya says recordings help students who work part-time; Tom says attendance drops and discussion suffers; Li suggests recording but releasing videos only after the live class.
The three speakers were discussing whether universities should record all lectures. Priya supported recording because many students work part-time and cannot attend every class, and recordings let them catch up without falling behind. Tom disagreed; he argued that when lectures are recorded, attendance drops and the live discussion suffers, because students assume they can watch later. Li proposed a compromise: lectures should be recorded, but the videos should be released only after the live session, so students still have a reason to attend. Overall, Priya and Li favoured recording in some form, while Tom was opposed.
Name each speaker, give position plus reason, then the agreement pattern. Keep the compromise speaker's exact condition.
Say this answer out loudDiscussion: three colleagues discuss a four-day working week. Sarah says productivity rose in trials; Ahmed worries customer service would suffer on the fifth day; Maria says it only works if the company hires more staff rather than compressing hours.
The discussion was about introducing a four-day working week. Sarah was in favour, pointing out that trials in several companies showed productivity actually rose when staff worked four days. Ahmed was more cautious; his concern was that customers would still expect service on the fifth day, so some teams would have to cover it. Maria agreed the idea could work but only if the company hired additional staff, because simply compressing forty hours into four days would exhaust people. In summary, all three saw benefits, but Ahmed and Maria attached conditions about customer coverage and staffing.
Positions are rarely plain yes or no; the content score comes from capturing each person's condition or concern.
Say this answer out loudDiscussion: three students talk about group projects. Daniel says they teach teamwork; Ananya says marks are unfair because one person does most of the work; Chen suggests peer assessment so each member's contribution affects the grade.
The speakers were discussing group projects at university. Daniel defended them, saying they teach teamwork and communication, which employers value. Ananya objected that the marking is unfair because in most groups one or two people end up doing most of the work while everyone receives the same grade. Chen suggested a solution: peer assessment, where each member rates the others' contributions and this affects the individual grade. Daniel and Chen were broadly positive about group work, while Ananya's support depended on fixing the marking problem that Chen's proposal addresses.
Link the speakers to each other at the end; the summary should show you understood the discussion, not just three monologues.
Say this answer out loudA 14-day PTE speaking practice plan
This plan assumes 45 to 60 minutes a day and a test in about two weeks. Every session ends with a timed set recorded on a headset, because the test is on a headset and your voice sounds different on one.
PTE speaking vs IELTS speaking: which suits you
Both tests are accepted for Australian, UK, Canadian and New Zealand study and migration, though specific visas and regulators differ, so check the body you are applying to. If you lean towards IELTS, the IELTS speaking topics guide, the Part 1 questions guide and the cue cards guide cover that test the same way; for TOEFL, Duolingo or CELPIP, see the PTE and TOEFL speaking mock page.
Run a PTE speaking mock test with an AI examiner
The PTE Academic speaking mock on ExamPilot compresses the speaking section into twelve timed minutes: a microphone check, three or four items of the task type you choose with the real preparation and recording windows, then two or three mixed prompts. The examiner scores each response the way the automated system does, on content, oral fluency and pronunciation, then adds what a machine does not tell you: the word you dropped in Repeat Sentence, where the pause over one second happened, which lecture terms you missed, and which sounds reduced intelligibility. The PTE speaking tasks course drills each task type in order.
- Starts on the tone and closes the microphone after three seconds of silence, so you learn the real discipline.
- Reports speech rate in words per minute, counts hesitations and restarts, and flags pronunciation issues by sound with the word where they occurred.
- For Describe Image and Re-tell Lecture, lists the content points you covered and the ones you missed. New accounts get free practice minutes without a card.
If everyday fluency is the real limit, do a month of the english speaking practice with AI routine first, or the Hindi guide english bolna sikhe; PTE rewards continuous speech, which is built in daily conversation.
Practise out loud
Run a timed PTE speaking mock with an AI examiner
Real preparation and recording windows for each task, machine-style scoring on content, fluency and pronunciation, and the words, pauses and sounds that cost you.
PTE / TOEFL Speaking · PTE Academic — Speaking
Frequently asked questions
- What are the speaking tasks in PTE Academic in 2026?
- After an unscored Personal Introduction, the scored speaking tasks are Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Re-tell Lecture, Answer Short Question, Respond to a Situation and Summarize Group Discussion. The last two were added in 2025. They sit inside Part 1, Speaking and Writing, which runs 76 to 84 minutes. Each item has fixed preparation and recording times, and item counts vary between test forms, so prepare all of them.
- How is PTE speaking scored?
- By Pearson's automated scoring system, with some responses checked by a human expert. Each item is scored on content (how much of the prompt you covered), oral fluency (pace, pauses, hesitations, restarts) and pronunciation (whether the words are clearly identifiable). Scores are reported on the 10 to 90 scale for Speaking, and speaking items also feed the Oral Fluency and Pronunciation enabling scores and parts of Listening and Reading. Accent is not penalised; unclear sounds and silences are.
- What is a good PTE speaking score?
- It depends on the purpose. Most universities ask for an overall 50 to 65 with a similar minimum in each communicative skill, including Speaking. Australian skilled migration awards points at 65 (Proficient) and 79 (Superior) in every skill, and some nursing and medical regulators ask for 65 or above in Speaking. Check the exact requirement of the institution or body you are applying to.
- What are common PTE speaking topics?
- The tasks use academic and campus material rather than personal topics. Read Aloud and Re-tell Lecture texts come from science, environment, economics, history, technology and social science. Describe Image uses bar and line charts, pie charts, maps, process diagrams and photographs. Respond to a Situation uses campus scenarios: a professor, a classmate, library or admin staff. Summarize Group Discussion covers study and work topics such as recorded lectures, group projects or the four-day week.
- How can I improve fluency in PTE speaking?
- Remove silences and self-corrections, which the system counts directly. Practise every task with the real timer and a headset, start speaking on the tone, and say the wrong word rather than stopping to fix it. Use fixed structures for Describe Image and Re-tell Lecture so you never search for what to say next, only for the content. Record yourself and count pauses over one second; most candidates halve them within a week.