PTE Core · Speaking
PTE Core Speaking Practice
PTE Core speaking has five task types, all in Part 1 (Speaking & Writing): Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Respond to a Situation and Answer Short Question. You speak into a microphone, the recording stops after 3 seconds of silence, and your responses feed the Speaking score on the 10–90 scale.
- Task types
- 5
- Where
- Part 1: Speaking & Writing (50–65 minutes with writing)
- Items
- RA 6–7, RS 10–12, DI 3–4, RTS 2–4, ASQ 5–6
- Silence rule
- Microphone closes after 3 seconds of silence
- Score
- Speaking score, 10–90
How PTE Core Speaking works
Speaking is not a separate section in PTE Core. Its five task types sit inside Part 1 alongside two writing tasks, in this order: Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Respond to a Situation, Answer Short Question, then Summarize Written Text and Write Email.
Each task has its own preparation and response timers. Read Aloud gives 30–40 seconds to prepare; Describe Image gives 25 seconds to prepare and 40 to speak; Respond to a Situation gives 20 seconds after the audio and 40 to speak; Answer Short Question allows 10 seconds for a one- or two-word answer.
Because the microphone closes after 3 seconds of silence, fluency matters as much as accuracy. Several tasks, such as Repeat Sentence and Answer Short Question, also rely on listening, so they draw on more than one skill.
PTE Core Speaking tasks
Tips that work
- Practise speaking without long pauses; a steady pace protects you from the silence cut-off.
- Repeat Sentence has the most items, so short daily drills there pay off quickly.
- Record yourself and listen back for dropped word endings and flat intonation.
- Use everyday and workplace topics for practice, since PTE Core uses that register.
Questions candidates ask
How long is the PTE Core speaking part?
Speaking and writing run together in Part 1, which takes about 50–65 minutes in total.
Does PTE Core include Re-tell Lecture?
No. That is a PTE Academic task. PTE Core's speaking tasks are the five listed on this page.
Can I get feedback on my speaking?
Yes. EnglishHub gives AI feedback on each recorded response in practice and mock tests.
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