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PTE Academic · Speaking · S7

PTE Academic Speaking: Respond to a Situation

Respond to a Situation gives you a short everyday scenario of up to 60 words, shown as text and played once as audio. After 10 seconds of preparation you speak for up to 40 seconds as if replying to the person in it. PTE Academic includes 2 to 3 of these items.

Items per test
2–3
Prompt
Up to 60 words, on screen and as one-play audio
Preparation
10 seconds after the audio
Speaking time
40 seconds
Added
7 August 2025

How it works

  1. 1The situation appears on screen and is read out once.
  2. 2When the audio finishes, a 10-second preparation countdown runs.
  3. 3You respond aloud, speaking directly to the person described.
  4. 4Recording ends at 40 seconds or after a short silence.

Sample task

Original sample · not from an official test

Your lecturer has emailed the class to say tomorrow's tutorial is cancelled. You had arranged to show her a draft of your assignment during that tutorial, and it is due next week. You meet her in the corridor. What do you say?

Show a strong response

Outline: "Hello, Dr Evans. I saw tomorrow's tutorial is cancelled. I was hoping to show you my assignment draft then, because it's due next week. Would you have ten minutes another day this week, or could I email it for quick comments? Whatever suits you is fine. Thank you."

The reply greets the person, states the problem, makes a specific polite request, offers an alternative and closes. The tone suits speaking to a lecturer.

Tips that work

  • Identify three things in the prompt: who you are talking to, what the problem is, and what you want to happen.
  • Match the register to the listener; a manager, lecturer or neighbour needs a different tone from a close friend.
  • Speak in the first person to the listener ('Could you…'), not about the situation ('I would tell her that…').
  • Close with a clear next step or thanks so the response sounds finished before 40 seconds.

Common mistakes

  • Reading the prompt back aloud instead of responding to it.
  • Using a casual tone with someone in authority.
  • Leaving out the request or solution the situation calls for.

Questions candidates ask

Do I need a special template?

No. A simple order works: greeting, the issue, your request or suggestion, and a polite close.

Is the situation always academic?

No. Scenarios can involve study, work or everyday life, so practise a mix of formal and informal contexts.

Can I practise with feedback?

EnglishHub offers exam-style practice for this task with AI feedback on your recording. The feedback is a practice guide, not a Pearson score.

Other PTE Academic Speaking tasks

PTE Academic overviewPTE Academic Speaking: all partsPTE Academic full mock testsPTE Academic articles on the blog