The speaking and writing abilities of the PTE test takers are measured together in one section. The question types and format are so designed that they evaluate the skills of both sections.
Due to this reason, the assessment takes much longer than the other sections. For the test taker’s convenience, we have discussed the PTE academic speaking component in this blog separately, along with their question types, format, marking system, and preparation tips. We have elaborated on the PTE writing section in another blog.
Table of Contents
PTE Academic Speaking Section: An Overview
- The PTE Academic exam consists of 53-74 questions across 20 different question types in the speaking and writing, reading, and listening sections..
- The speaking part of the PTE academic test remains the same for both home and test centre formats.
- They have similar structures and difficulty levels, too.
- The speaking section is 54-67 minutes long and includes 7 questions/types.
- Below, we have tabulated the features of the PTE academic speaking section.
| Features | PTE Academic Speaking Section |
|---|---|
| Types of Questions | 7 |
| Total Questions | Varies depending on the difficulty level and progress of the test taker |
| Time Duration | 54-67 Minutes |
| Text Sources | Academic journals University level textbooks Research papers |
Pattern of PTE Academic Speaking Section
- The PTE Academic Speaking section is the first part of the test that evaluates the ability of candidates to speak and write effectively in the English language in academic settings.
- It is the longest section of the PTE Academic test.
- It uses the English that test takers might hear in an academic environment.
- This section comprises 7 tasks of varying difficulty levels.
- The time duration allowed to complete this section is 54-67 minutes.
Formatting of Questions
- In the speaking part of the PTE Academic test, the number of questions is not specified because it depends on the candidate’s performance and difficulty level of the exam.
- However, we have presented the question formats in their original structure to help prospective test-takers better understand the exam pattern.
- It should be noted that the test takers are able to record their responses only once.
- The way of receiving prompts and answering questions/tasks varies depending on its type.
| Question/Task Type | Task | Skill Assessed | Time Duration to Take Prompts | Time Duration to Respond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Introduction | Read the prompt and prepare to respond | Speaking & Listening | 25 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Read Aloud | Text appears on the screen | Reading & Speaking | 30-40 seconds | Varies |
| Repeat Sentence | Repeat the sentence after listening to its recording | Listening & Speaking | 3-9 seconds | 15 seconds |
| Describe an Image | Describe the image that appears on the screen | Speaking | Varies | 40 seconds |
| Re-Tell Lecture | Retell the lecture after listening to and watching it | Listening & Speaking | 90 seconds | 40 seconds |
| Essay | Write an essay in about 200-300 words | Writing | - | 20 minutes |
| Answer Short Question | Answer questions in short words | Listening & Speaking | 3-9 seconds | 10 seconds |
| Summarise Written Text | Write a one-sentence summary of the passage | Reading & Writing | - | 10 minutes |
How to Answer Questions in the PTE Academic Speaking Section?
Below, we have discussed the ways in which PTE academic test takers can respond to various types of tasks in the speaking and writing section.
Read Aloud
- For the read-aloud type, test takers will read a written text aloud
- They have to speak the written text up to 30-40 seconds
- They will hear a tone after which they have to start speaking without any rush
- Finish recording before the progress bar reaches the end.
Repeat Sentences
- For this, test takers will listen to a sentence for up to 3-9 seconds
- After hearing, the microphone opens, and the recording starts.
- They have to speak into it and repeat exactly what they heard
- Finish recording before the progress bar reaches the end.
Describe an Image
- For this, test takers have 25 seconds to review the image and prepare their response.
- After hearing a tone, they have to start describing it immediately
- Finish recording before the progress bar reaches the end.
Re-tell Lecture
- After hearing and watching a lecture, test takers have 10 seconds to prepare to re-tell what they heard.
- While hearing, they can take notes on the noticeboard provided
- After hearing a tone, they have to start speaking immediately
- Finish recording before the progress bar reaches the end.
Essay
- Test takers are required to write a 200-300 word argumentative essay in response to a prompt.
- The prompt is 2-3 sentences long
- They have 20 minutes to write the essay
- Word limit- not more than 300 words
Answer Short Questions
- After hearing a prompt of 3-9 seconds long, some questions will be put up to test takers.
- They have to answer these questions in one or a few words
- They have 10 seconds to answer these questions
- Finish recording before the progress bar reaches the end.
Summarise Written Text
- After reading a text of up to 300 words, test takers are required to write a one-sentence summary of the passage.
- They have 10 minutes to write their summary, and it should include main points or ideas, no more than 75 words.
What Skills Are Evaluated in the PTE Academic Speaking Section?
The speaking part of the PTE academic test assesses the following skills in a test taker.
- Organisation & Ideas Development
- Summarisation & Fulfillment
- Vocabulary
- Pronunciation & Clarity
- Grammar & Sentence Structure
- Listening Comprehension
- Fluency & Clearance
General Strategies to Answer PTE Academic Speaking Questions
The following are the general strategies for answering the PTE Academic speaking questions.
Firstly, go through the pattern and format of the PTE academic speaking section.
- Work on your grammar and vocabulary every day.
- Work on pronunciation, intonation, and stress for better clarity
- Build up your note-taking and verbal summarisation skills
- Engage with podcasts, TED Talks, and English news channels to get used to different accents and speech patterns.
- Mimic native speakers to improve fluency and pronunciation.
- Use the official PTE academic test kit and practice with speaking prompts.
Key Takeaways by Smart Academy
The speaking and writing part of the PTE Academic test is conducted together, and test takers are required to answer 7 types of questions in a time duration of 54-67 minutes.
It evaluates the test taker’s ability to organise and summarise information, pronounce sentences clearly, and present cohesive matter. To prepare for this section, candidates can work on their grammar, vocabulary, and summarisation skills every day, which forms its basics.
FAQs
What are the question types in the PTE academic speaking and writing section?
There are 8 question types in the PTE academic speaking and writing section. These are personal introductions, read-aloud, repeat sentences, describing an image, retelling lectures, writing an essay, answering short questions, and summarising written text.
How can I strengthen my speaking skills for the PTE exam?
To strengthen your speaking skills, you need to be involved in day-to-day conversation in the English language with your family and friends, which will help you build confidence. Apart from that, listening to English news, podcasts, and video articles can help you understand intonation, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
How many questions are there in the PTE academic speaking and writing section?
There is no specified number of questions in the PTE academic listening section because it differs depending on the test taker and the format of the test. However, test takers can expect to face around 15-20 questions.
What score can be considered good in the PTE academic exam?
A PTE score of 65 or higher is generally considered good for fulfilling the English language proficiency requirements for various global universities and visa applications.
What PTE score is required by Australian universities?
Depending on the university and course, the PTE requirements for Australian universities might vary. For undergraduate programs, a score of 55-65 is considered good, while for master’s degree courses, 60+ score can be required.
