PTE Respond to a Situation – Template

PTE Respond to a Situation – Template

Structure (4 steps)

1.      Greeting / Acknowledgment

“Hello…” / “Hi…” / “Good morning…” / “Thank you for letting me know…”

2.      Restate the Issue

“I understand that __________ (describe the situation or problem briefly).”

3.      Response / Action / Suggestion

“In this case, I would __________ (apologize, give advice, offer help, or explain a solution).”
“It would be better to __________ (suggest a polite action).”

4.      Closing Sentence

“I hope this helps.” / “Please let me know if you need anything else.” / “Thanks for your understanding.”

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Tip Box

• Match tone:
• Formal → workplace, customer, teacher
• Informal → friend, classmate, neighbor

6 Sample Situational Prompts & Model Answers

1. Apology (Formal)

Prompt: You forgot to send an email to your boss.

Good morning. I’m really sorry for not sending the email as promised. I understand it was important for the meeting. I’ll send it immediately and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

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2. Advice (Informal)

Prompt: Your friend is feeling stressed about exams.

Hey, I understand you’re feeling really stressed about your exams. I think you should take short breaks, sleep well, and revise key points instead of studying nonstop. Don’t worry, you’ve worked hard and you’ll do great. Stay positive!

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3. Complaint (Formal)

Prompt: You received a damaged product from an online store.

Hello, I recently received a product that was damaged upon arrival. I understand such things can happen, but I’d like to request a replacement or refund as soon as possible. Please let me know the next steps. Thank you.

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4. Workplace (Formal)

Prompt: Your colleague missed an important meeting.

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that you missed the meeting this morning. The manager discussed new project deadlines. Don’t worry, I’ll share my notes with you so you can catch up quickly. Let’s talk later if you need more details.

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5. Appreciation (Formal)

Prompt: You want to thank your teacher for extra support.

Good afternoon. I just wanted to say thank you for your extra help and guidance before the test. Your feedback really improved my confidence and performance. I truly appreciate your time and support.

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6. Complaint/Service (Informal)

Prompt: Your food order arrived very late.

Hi, I ordered food about an hour ago, but it arrived really late. I understand you might have been busy, but I’d appreciate it if deliveries could be on time next time. Thank you for your service.

PTE Respond to a Situation – Fill-in-the-Blank Template

Greeting / Acknowledgment: “” (Hello / Hi / Good morning / Thank you for letting me know)
Restate Issue: “I understand that ****” (briefly describe the situation/problem)
Response / Action / Suggestion: “In this case, I would __________” (apologize, give advice, offer help, explain solution).
“It would be better to __________” (suggest a polite action, improvement, or next step)
Closing Sentence: “__________” (I hope this helps / Please let me know if you need anything else / Thanks for your understanding)