Part 1 of the PTE test is the Speaking & Writing Section which is the longest section of the PTE test. The section presents 7 different question types which need to be attempted within 54-67 minutes. Read this article to get your hands on the most effective PTE Prep Tips for Speaking & Writing Section.
The Speaking & Writing section is the first and the longest section in the PTE exam. Since this is the longest section of the PTE exam with the maximum number of questions to attempt (28-36), it becomes important to attempt this section of the test rightfully. Hence, in this article, we have covered some important PTE prep tips for the speaking and writing section.
PTE Part 1: Speaking and Writing | Overview
In PTE Academic, Part 1 of the test will assess your writing and speaking skills. The time allotted for this section of the PTE test is 54-67 minutes. So let's have an overview of this section of the test to get a better picture.
|
Type of question |
Task |
Number of Questions Per Question Type |
Time to answer |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Personal Introduction |
A brief opportunity to get familiar with the testing equipment. Also, the scores on this section do not contribute to your overall score. However, the recorded personal introduction is shared with the universities that you select to share your scores with. |
1 |
1 minute |
|
Read aloud |
Read the provided text aloud Skills assessed: Reading and Speaking |
6-7 |
Varies; depends on the length of text |
|
Repeat sentence |
After listening to a recording, repeat the sentence Skills assessed: Listening and Speaking |
10-12 |
15 seconds
|
|
Describe image |
Describe the image provided in detail Skills assessed: Speaking |
3-4 |
40 seconds
|
|
Re-tell lecture |
After listening to a lecture, re-tell it in your own words Skills assessed: Listening and Speaking |
1-2 |
40 seconds
|
|
Answer short question |
After listening to a question, answer with a single word Skills assessed: Listening and Speaking |
5-6 |
10 seconds |
|
Summarise written text |
After reading a text, write a one-sentence summary Skills assessed: Reading and Writing |
1-2 |
10 minutes |
|
Essay |
Write a 200–300-word essay on the given topic Skills assessed: Writing |
1-2 |
20 minutes |
Prep Tips for PTE Speaking & Writing
Here are some tips to ace the PTE Speaking and Writing section.
- If you remain silent for more than 3 seconds, the recording will stop automatically and you'll not be able to re-record. So, start speaking within 3 seconds after you hear the beep sound form the microphone.
- Expand your vocabulary and practice using it in context through writing and speaking exercises.
- In the speaking tasks, prioritise clear pronunciation, natural intonation, and a steady pace. Avoid excessive pauses or hesitations.
- Each task has a specific time limit, so it's important to practice managing your time effectively. Use a timer to simulate exam conditions.
Also Read: How to Ace in the Bar Graph PTE Describe Image Task?
Speaking: Personal Introduction
This item is not scored but provides you with an opportunity to tell the institution about yourself. You get 25 seconds to prepare till you can record. After the tone, start speaking. You should speak clearly and don't rush. You get 30 seconds to record your introduction. You should finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. You will be able to record your introduction only once.
Your response will be sent along with your score report to the colleges and universities selected by you.
This was all about the PTE Prep Tips for Speaking & Writing section. Follow PTE Exam page for more details on the exam.
The 3 second rule is a crucial aspect of the Speaking section in the PTE exam. As per the 3-second rule in the PTE exam, you must start speaking into the microphone within 3 seconds when it starts recording. Failure to do so will lead the microphone to stop recording and your question will be automatically skipped. The 3 seconds rule in PTE applies to tasks like:
Read Aloud
Repeat Sentence
Describe Image
Re-tell Lecture
Answer Short Question
Therefore, start speaking within 3 seconds when the icon of the microphone turns to "recording". If you remain silent for more than 3 seconds, the recorder stops recording.
No. Candidates should note that the exam has been designed to test the candidates’ English proficiency levels. Hence, a candidate who is well prepared would qualify for the PTE Academic exam with flying colours.
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