Speaking is the most crucial module of PTE Academic exam. It is a bit challenging but if prepared under proper guidance, it can also be very scoring. Speaking not only plays a crucial role in the Speaking section but also in Reading and Listening skills. It requires practice and consistent performance. Your focus and dedication can help you score 90 out of 90 in Speaking. The main strategy for the task is to read and listen as much as topics you can to build up the concentration and confidence.
Introduction to Speaking Module:
Part 1 of the test comprises Speaking and Writing. Speaking tasks assess Speaking, Reading and Listening skills academically.
There are five types of questions provided in speaking which are assessed based on Content, Pronunciation and Fluency.
Speaking Task Format
Time Duration: Speaking & Writing: 54–67 minutes, and the Speaking module 24-37 minutes lengthy.
This part includes five different question types.
| Question types | Number of items | Prompt length | Skills assessed | Time to answer | Score |
| Personal Introduction | 1 | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not score |
| Read Aloud | 6 – 7 | Text up to 60 words | Reading and speaking | Varies by item, depending on the text length. | Partial Credit |
| Repeat Sentence | 10 – 12 | 3–9 seconds | Listening and speaking | 15 seconds | Partial Credit |
| Describe Image | 3 – 4 | Not applicable | Speaking | 40 seconds | Partial Credit |
| Re-tell Lecture | 1 – 2 | Up to 90 seconds | Listening and speaking | 40 seconds | Partial Credit |
| Answer Short Question | 5 – 6 | 3–9 seconds | Listening and speaking | 10 seconds | Correct/ Incorrect |
It is unscored task, in which a brief introduction has to be provided. It prepares you for the speaking module.
Time to Answer:
- 25 seconds: Prepare the response.
- 30 seconds: Record the response after the short tone.
Speak clearly in a normal volume and speed, don’t be too loud and too fast. The clear introduction has to be provided as it will be shared to the institutions and universities whom you send the score report.
Skills Assessed: Speaking and Reading
Time to Answer:
- 35-40 seconds: Prepare the response.
- 35-40 seconds: Record the response after the short tone.
Prompt Length is up to 60 words.
The given paragraph has to be read loudly in a flow to score high. You get enough time to practice the difficult words twice or thrice. Once the mic opens, a short tone plays automatically and the answer has to be recorded. You must read aloud the content displayed on the screen.
Tips for Read Aloud
- Speak loud and clear.
- Rising and falling tone at the starting and ending respectively helps in boosting the performance.
- Keep speaking continuously to get good score in pronunciation, if any word is mispronounced there is no need to go back and correct it.
- Practice reading newspaper or any magazine at least 10 minutes a day to maintain the accuracy in your performance.
- Record yourself using a timer, as self-assessment will help to improve the pronunciation and fluency.
Skills Assessed: Speaking and Listening
Time to Answer:
- Upto 15 seconds: Record the response
- Prompt Length is 3-9 seconds (depends on the length of the sentence).
After 3 seconds the audio starts automatically. Once the audio finishes, the mic opens automatically. The recording status bar is highlighted as there is no short tone. So once the recording status bar appears, speak exactly what you heard. The audio is played once only.
Tips for Repeat Sentences:
· Speak loud and clear.
· Try to remember the sentences in phrases as the phrases are easy to recall.
· Practice listening the short sentences online
· Listening to the podcast for 5 to 10 minutes daily. This will help you to memorize and recall the things exactly what you heard.
Skills Assessed: Speaking
Describe image tests the ability of the student to present the information given in the image. The usage of the language in terms of vocabulary and connectors, helps in the continuity of the description for 40 seconds.
Time to Answer:
- 25 seconds: Prepare the response.
- 35-40 seconds: Record the response after the short tone.
Tasks
There are different type of images appearing on the screen, like bar graph, pie chart, line graph, process chart and flowchart.
You will have 25 seconds to go through the given image and be ready with give the response. After 25 seconds, a short tone will play and the mic will open. Start speaking immediately after the short tone.
Tips for Describe Image
- Try to start with the introduction to the image then overall and then speak main figures of the image like highest and lowest values. Talk about the upward, downward and fluctuating trends.
- Start your sentence with the introduction in which the type of image and the title are included.
- Use the directions and speak the values on the x-axis and y-axis. Usage of connectors will give the flow to the image spoken by you.
- Try to complete the description within 35 seconds, and ensure all sentences are complete.
- Practice 4-5 different images every day.
Skills Assessed: Speaking and Listening
Time to Answer:
- 40 seconds: Record the response
Prompt Length is 60-90 seconds (depends on the length of the topic).
After 3 seconds the audio starts automatically. Once the audio finishes, after 10 seconds the mic opens automatically. The recording status bar is highlighted after a short tone. So once the recording status bar appears, speak the summary of the topic you heard. The audio is played once only.
Task Format
Prompt Length: up to 90 seconds.
Preparation Time: You will have 10 seconds to prepare before speaking.
Speaking Time: 40 seconds to record your answer.
Tips & Tricks for Retell Lecture
Test tips
· Try to write the main and supporting ideas of the topic.
· Always try to take notes of the keywords in the form of abbreviations, symbols and arrow to capture the most important ideas.
· Keep your notes in front you and include the examples as well as any implications and conclusions.
· Listen to the various topics in the form of podcast and lectures and practice note-taking and speaking the summary of those topics using timer. For instance, BBC Poscasts, Tedtalks.
· Speak clearly and at natural pace in the microphone.
· Try to maintain the same stress and intonation patterns as in the lecture.
Answer Short Question:
Skills Assessed: Speaking and Listening
Time to Answer:
- Upto 10 seconds: Record the response
Prompt Length is 3-9 seconds (depends on the length of the question).
After 3 seconds the audio starts automatically. Once the question audio finishes, the mic opens automatically. The recording status bar is highlighted as there is no short tone. So once the recording status bar appears, give the answer in single or few words for the given question. The audio is played once only.
Tips for Answer Short Questions
- Remember to include articles before some words for instance a plumber, a car, a public transport.
- If not sure of about the answer, try to choose the option if given in the question.
- These are general awareness question based on the daily activities of the life.
- Do not panic as it carries least weightage if missed any answer it will hardly affect your total score in speaking or listening.
Tips to improve Speaking Skills
- Practice Reading Newspaper or any article on a regular basis.
- Don’t be very loud, as loud voice bursts and don’t give the clarity.
- Maintain your speed, be natural, don’t rush.
- Don’t try to copy the accent of the speaker that may lead to mistakes in your pronunciation and you may lose the score.
- In the empty room the sound waves can bounce off so have medium-noise environment and even in examination centre you will have other students also taking the exam, so a disturbance will make you habitual to the sound coming from the surroundings.
- Use voice cancellation and high-quality headphones to get a better score in practice.
- Check your microphone twice or thrice before the test. Speak whatever is on the screen.
- Finally, stay calm and be confident about your performance.
IMPORTANT: If you remain silent for longer than 3 seconds, the recording will stop.
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