PTE Speaking Official Structure & Timing

 PTE Speaking Official Structure & Timing

• The Speaking & Writing section takes 54–67 minutes.
• As of August 2025, two new speaking task types are being introduced: Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation. Before August 2025, there were 7 different speaking / integrated speaking types. After August 7, 2025, there will be 8 speaking-type tasks in that section.

---

Approximate Number of Questions (Speaking Tasks) in 2025

Based on test prep guides and recent updates, here’s a breakdown of how many speaking-type tasks you might see (after the 2025 update) along with rough counts:

Task Type	Approximate Number	Notes / Time Info
Personal Introduction	1	Unscored (sent to institutions)
Read Aloud	~ 6-7	30–40s prep + speaking time
Repeat Sentence	~ 10-12	Listen then repeat
Describe Image	~ 5-6	25s prep, ~ 40s to speak
Re-tell Lecture	~ 2-3	Listen to a lecture, then retell in your own words
Answer Short Question	~ 5-6	Very short prompt + short answer
Summarize Group Discussion (new)	~ 2-3	Listen to a group discussion then summarize
Respond to a Situation (new)	~ 2-3	You are given a scenario and must respond appropriately in spoken form

So in total for the speaking tasks (excluding the writing tasks in that section), you might see around 30–36 items (counting each of the tasks above). Some sources list the overall Speaking & Writing section as having 28–36 questions in 2025.

---

Important Caveats & Tips

• The numbers above are approximate and come from test prep sources and announcements. The official body (Pearson) does not always publish exact counts for every task type per test. If your test date is before August 7, 2025, the two new tasks will not be included. Because PTE uses multiple test versions, some test-forms may have slight variations in counts, but the types are stable.

 

PTE Speaking Module — Overview (2025)

Section	Timing	Number of Questions (Approx.)
Speaking & Writing Combined	54–67 minutes	28–36 total
Speaking-only Tasks	25–30 minutes	30–36 speaking questions

---

1. Read Aloud

Task Type: Read the text aloud after 30–40 seconds of preparation.
Time to Speak: 40 seconds

Sample Question:

“Climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing humanity today. It affects every aspect of life, from agriculture to global health.”

Sample Answer (Band 79+):

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing humanity today. It affects every aspect of life, from agriculture to global health.

Tip: Focus on clear pronunciation, natural rhythm, and stress on key words like significant, humanity, and agriculture.

---

2. Repeat Sentence

Task Type: Listen to a sentence and repeat it exactly.
Number of Items: 10–12

Sample Question (Audio):

“Many students find it difficult to manage time effectively during exams.”

Sample Answer:

Many students find it difficult to manage time effectively during exams.

Tip: Pay attention to rhythm and intonation rather than word-for-word perfection. Speak immediately after the tone.

---

3. Describe Image

Task Type: Describe an image (graph, chart, map, or picture) in 40 seconds.
Preparation Time: 25 seconds

Sample Question: (A bar chart showing the number of tourists visiting Nepal from 2018 to 2022.)

Sample Answer:

The bar chart illustrates the number of tourists visiting Nepal between 2018 and 2022. The figure rose steadily from about 700,000 in 2018 to over 1.2 million in 2022. This upward trend shows Nepal’s growing popularity as a tourist destination, possibly due to better infrastructure and promotional campaigns.

Tip: Use structure — introduction + key trend + comparison + conclusion.

---

4. Re-tell Lecture

Task Type: Listen to a short lecture (60–90 seconds) and then summarize it in 40 seconds.

Sample Question (Audio Summary):
A lecture talks about renewable energy, explaining how solar and wind power reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Sample Answer:

The lecture discussed renewable energy, focusing on solar and wind power. The speaker mentioned that these sources are sustainable, cost-effective, and reduce carbon emissions. He concluded that investing in renewables is crucial for a cleaner environment and future energy security.

Tip: Use note-taking for keywords (e.g., solar, wind, reduce emissions, energy security).

---

5. Answer Short Question

Task Type: Listen to a question and answer in one or a few words.
Response Time: 1–3 seconds

Sample Questions & Answers:

Question	Answer
What do you call a person who teaches students?	Teacher
What is the opposite of “north”?	South
What do you use to measure temperature?	Thermometer
What is the main language spoken in France?	French
Which organ pumps blood through the body?	Heart

Tip: Keep answers short, accurate, and immediate.

---

(After August 2025 Update)

Two new speaking tasks will appear:

6. Respond to a Situation

·         Task: You’ll hear a short scenario (e.g., customer complaint or workplace situation) and respond appropriately.
Sample Question:

You’re a customer service agent. A customer complains that their order is delayed. Respond politely.
Sample Answer:
I’m really sorry for the delay in your order. I completely understand your concern. I’ll check the status right away and make sure it reaches you as soon as possible.

---

7. Summarize Group Discussion

·         Task: Listen to a 90-second group discussion, then summarize it in 40 seconds.
Sample Question:

A group of people discuss whether online learning is better than classroom learning.
Sample Answer:
The group discussed online versus classroom learning. Some speakers supported online education for its flexibility and accessibility, while others preferred classroom learning for better interaction and discipline. Overall, the discussion showed that both methods have unique benefits depending on learners’ needs.