PTE Speaking- Format and Questions

When it comes to language abilities, speaking skills are the most frequently used. Thus, when individuals are required to prove their competency in communicating in a certain language, speaking abilities are a mandatory aspect of the evaluation which is the PTE Speaking test. This section is clubbed together with the PTE Writing test in the first segment of the Pearson Test of English, yet, this segment focuses majorly on assessing the speaking skills of a candidate. Speaking is one of the primary communicative skills of the English language used regularly in our daily lives. Therefore, the PTE exam puts substantial emphasis on comprehensively assessing this particular language skill. That being said, speaking is one of the toughest language skills to master; thus, candidates should put extra effort into excelling in this segment of the PTE exam.

The combined Speaking and Writing section is the first segment of the PTE exam and consists of seven different question types. Out of these seven question types in the PTE Speaking and Writing section, five question types assess the candidate’s speaking ability. Since PTE is an integrated language proficiency test, other fundamental language skills like reading and listening are also evaluated in this section.

Let's dive into the format and question types for this section!

Overview of the PTE Speaking

If a person wishes to travel to a major English speaking country for higher education, better employment opportunities or ways of living, they must pass an English language proficiency test to prove their level of skill in English. Language barriers may create unforeseen hindrances in the daily life of immigrants by restricting them from performing routine tasks with ease due to a lack of proper and smooth communication. There are various English language proficiency tests available today, one of the most popular of which is the PTE exam.

The PTE exam or the Pearson Test of English is an English language proficiency test that ascertains an individual’s capabilities in the English language according to the Global Scale of English. It employs a unique approach to assessing students to holistically evaluate the core communicative skills of a candidate in the English language. Due to the changed format of the PTE exam, the total duration of the Speaking and Writing section has been reduced to 54-67 minutes, which has been implemented to shorten the length of the test, since November 16, 2021.

The Speaking test has specific details which has been mentioned in the table below : 

PTE Speaking Question Types and Duration

Although the Speaking and Writing section of the PTE exam consists of seven different types of questions, the speaking assessment only involves five different question types. All these questions evaluate a candidate’s speaking ability in different contexts. The primary focus of the speaking test in the PTE exam is to ascertain whether the candidate will be able to communicate in various academic and social situations.

Given below is a detailed description of each question type that assesses the speaking skills of a candidate in PTE.

Prior knowledge of the exam pattern can immensely improve the preparation of a potential exam candidate and also help them devise their preparation strategies based on their personal requirements depending on the kind of questions asked in exams like the PTE. Hopefully, the information provided on the Speaking part of the PTE exam will be helpful to the candidates.

How is PTE Speaking Scored?

The PTE Speaking Section evaluates a candidate in three sections. Each of the questions would be assessed differently. 

PTE Speaking Tips to Ace the Exam

The Speaking section of the PTE exam can be a tough nut to crack if a candidate is not confident in their speaking capabilities. Speaking is a communicative skill that is quite tough to master and test-takers may often face problems when utilizing this skill during an exam like the PTE. However, the knowledge of certain techniques can enhance an individual’s performance and enable them to tackle questions requiring speaking knacks.

Given below are some useful tips for the PTE Speaking section.

1. One of the most important things to remember during the PTE Speaking section is to speak confidently. Therefore, practice speaking in a manner that is comfortable and easy.
2. Strictly avoid repeating yourself and taking unnecessary pauses while your answer is being recorded.
3. Listen carefully for the short tone that is played before the microphone activates to record your answer. If you speak before the microphone is activated, parts of your answer will not be recorded.
4. Make use of proper punctuation while speaking. Proper phrasing and intonations are taken into account when calculating your PTE speaking score.
5. When taking notes for questions like ‘Retell Lecture’, try to document only vital information instead of copying entire sentences. This will help in saving time and also focusing on keywords and phrases.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in PTE Speaking

As you prepare for the PTE Speaking, it is necessary to be well aware of a few common mistakes which you need to avoid. Remember to record yourself as you answer so that you can take a note of the areas to improve. The following are some of the common mistakes which you need to avoid in PTE Speaking.

• Speaking either too fast or too slow could create an unnatural rhythm. Therefore, focus on keeping a clear and steady pace.
• Extended pauses or hesitations as you speak can affect your fluency. Use fillers such as “It seems that” or “This suggests” which can help keeping a consistent tone. However, do not use too many fillers since that can affect the overall answer.
• While reading, avoid keeping a monotonous voice. Rather than that, use voice modulation and intonation to convey an expressive and engaging message.
• Utilize the preparation time rathr than ignoring it. This time frame could help you create a structure for your answer.
• Do not use a lot of template language since it might sound robotic.

The PTE Speaking Section will assess you based on your skills to demonstrate your ability to speak in a clear, confident, and fluent language. With the right strategy, you will not only improve your score in speaking but also become an efficient English speaker as you practice on a regular basis with the PTE Speaking Practice Test.

Remember to set a timer and start practicing today!

Also check : 

• PTE Exam Fee
• How to Improve PTE Speaking score
• PTE Speaking- Module and Types
• Speech to Text: the secret to unlocking the PTE Speaking Section
• PTE Score Chart – Score Calculation and Conversion