PTE Speaking: Repeat Sentence Tips and How to Answer Short Questions

The PTE test comprises four integral sections: Writing, Speaking, listening, and Reading. These four sections, in their own way, provide students with a platform to showcase their language abilities.

Quick facts
Test name
PTE (Pearson Test of English)
Mode of delivery
Online
Modules
Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking
Duration
2 hours 15 minutes

Out of the four modules of the PTE exam, the Speaking section is by far the most simple and scoring. It evaluates one’s ability to communicate effectively in English, be it in a professional, academic, or casual setting. This section lasts from any time between 54 and 67 minutes and broadly covers two question types: Repeat Sentence Questions and Answering short Questions.

Repeat Sentence Questions:
The PTE Repeat Sentence question type is smartly designed to judge the test-taker’s ability to listen, memorise, and speak simultaneously. In these questions, a student is supposed to listen to a sentence carefully and repeat it back exactly as it was said.

On average, every individual is given around 10 to 12 prompts, each being approximately 3 to 9 seconds in length. The candidate is given 3 seconds to prepare before the delivery of the prompt and 15 seconds to answer it. Below mentioned are some tips that can help you answer repeat sentence type questions in a PTE exam.

Memorising skills
A person who can memorise well will always have an added advantage in answering repeat-style questions. So, begin sharpening your ability to retain material. As soon as the sentence is said, try rephrasing it in your mind to help you remember it better. Moreover, it will also help reinforce your understanding of the sentence. This mental exercise can prove to be extremely fruitful in the test.
Active hearing
Being attentive while the sentence is being delivered is the way to go; otherwise, it can get really hard to understand, retain, and repeat. Pay close attention to keywords, catchy phrases or idioms, intonation, and stress patterns. Remember, active hearing is the key!
Fluency and tonality
A crucial element of speaking English is fluency. Be sure to deliver your answers fluently to score more points. Also, maintain an appropriate tone. While delivering your answer, remain confident and focus on a clear pronunciation and diction of words. Have strong body posture for added confidence.
Take down notes
In the speaking test, a notepad is provided at the student’s disposal, so make full use of it. When the audio is being played, jot down the important keywords or phrases. In this way, one can avoid missing out on essential information and follow a structure.

Additionally, other factors to always keep in mind about the read-aloud, repeat-style questions are:

• Always look out for the countdown before starting the sentence. As soon as the question is delivered, a countdown starts on the recording status box. A short tone is then played, after which one should start speaking. Secondly, make sure that the microphone is turned on. If not, anything that the test-taker says won’t be recorded.
• One can only record their answer once, so be prompt.
Answering short questions:
In this section, a short general knowledge question is asked, based on which the correct answer needs to be provided. The answer is usually only a single word or a short phrase. The questions are rather easy and relate to day-to-day life.
First, the question is asked, and then 10 seconds are provided to respond to it and record it. Normally, 10 to 12 prompts or questions are asked, but it may vary.

Following are the tips that can help you answer short questions

Comprehension skills
In this question type, one’s comprehension skills come to the test; therefore, work on them to get the best results. Many times, the answer lies in the question itself, so understand the context of the question carefully before answering. Identify what the examiner is asking for in the answer.

General Knowledge
Having good general knowledge also becomes important while sitting for the PTE examination, as this question type may specifically focus on that. Having said that, the questions are made to judge an individual’s street smarts and the ability to not fluster and act efficiently under pressure.

Brief responses
As the name of the section suggests, these questions are supposed to be answered shortly and concisely. There are no extra points for long answers, so keep them crisp, short, and to the point. Respond in a way that directly addresses the question asked without diverting from it.

Apart from this, do not forget the following:

Always keep an eye on the monitor screen. The audio clip will play automatically, following which the recording will start. No short tune or beep is played after the question in this task, so be alert.