12 FAQs of every student about PTE Speaking and Writing Examination

The PTE Speaking and Writing section is the longest part of the test, and it counts toward your overall score. However, many students still prepare for it with old notes, old videos, and templates they found years ago.

Pearson updated this section for every test taken after 7 August 2025, so old material can cost you marks. Maybe you need a set score for your visa, your university offer, or your professional registration. In that case, a score below your target can mean more preparation and another test date.

On top of that, every retake means another fee, another booking, and another round of stress.

At Learn with Hafiz, students ask us the same questions in class almost every single week. So we collected the most common PTE speaking and writing FAQs.

By the end, you will understand the new format, the scoring rules, and the habits that actually lift scores. As a result, you can stop guessing and start practising in a way that matches the real exam.

What Changed in the PTE Speaking and Writing Exam Format?

Pearson added two new speaking tasks to PTE Academic for tests taken after 7 August 2025. The new tasks are Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation, and both test real life communication. Because of these additions, Pearson now lists Part 1 at roughly 76 to 84 minutes.

Here is the current exam structure for Part 1 at a glance.

• Nine scored question types, plus one Personal Introduction that does not count toward your score
• Seven speaking task types followed by two writing task types
• Section timing of roughly 76 to 84 minutes in total
• An AI scoring system, with a human expert also reviewing content on several tasks

If your notes still say 54 to 67 minutes, they come from the old format. So check every book, video and question bank before you spend another week studying from it.

For example, a 2024 practice book will not include either of the two new tasks. You can confirm every format detail on the official Pearson Speaking and Writing page.

1. What Questions are Included in the PTE Writing Module?

The PTE writing section inside Part 1 contains just two task types. These are Summarize Written Text and Write Essay, and they come after your speaking tasks.

• Summarize Written Text. You read a passage of up to 300 words. Then you write a single sentence of 5 to 75 words in 10 minutes.
• Write Essay. You read a prompt of two or three sentences. Then you write a 200 to 300-word argumentative essay in 20 minutes.

Summarize Written Text is scored on Content, Form, Grammar, and Vocabulary, which rewards grammar accuracy. Write Essay is scored on seven traits and adds to your writing, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse scores.

Two listening tasks also add to your writing score, namely Summarize Spoken Text and Write from Dictation. However, those tasks appear in Part 3, so this section only asks you to summarize and write an essay.

For example, aiming for a tidy 250-word essay gives you more time to check than racing toward 295.

2. What Question Types are Included in the PTE Speaking Test?

The PTE speaking section has grown, and after the Personal Introduction, you now face seven scored task types.

1. Read Aloud. A text of up to 60 words appears on screen. You get 30 to 40 seconds to prepare, and your reading time depends on the text length.
2. Repeat Sentence. You hear a sentence lasting 3 to 9 seconds. Then you repeat it exactly within 15 seconds.
3. Describe Image. You study a graph, map or picture for 25 seconds. After that, you describe it for 40 seconds.
4. Retell Lecture. You listen to a lecture of up to 90 seconds. After 10 seconds to prepare, you retell it in 40 seconds.
5. Answer Short Question. You hear a short question and reply with one word or a few words.
6. Summarize Group Discussion (new). Three people talk for up to 3 minutes. You then get 10 seconds to prepare and 2 minutes to summarize.
7. Respond to a Situation (new). You read and hear a short everyday situation. After 10 seconds of preparation, you speak for 40 seconds.

The Personal Introduction does not count, since Pearson uses it to help you get familiar with the test technology. However, every task after it counts, so give each one your full attention from the first tone.

For task 7, imagine politely telling your tutor you are too sick to finish Friday’s slides, then offering a fix.

What Is Open Response Speaking and Writing in PTE?

Many students ask what is open response speaking and writing in PTE is after they see the term on their results. Pearson lists it as one of eight language skill areas in your Skills Profile.

Pearson defines it as giving your own spoken or written response in your own words. In plain words, open response speaking and writing in PTE means open response tasks, where you build the answer yourself.

For instance, Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Respond to a Situation, and Write Essay all ask for your own words. Pearson also warns that answers built on memorized material, which miss the prompt, can score zero for content.

In seven tasks, both AI and a human expert score your Content. The speaking ones are Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Respond to a Situation and Summarize Group Discussion. The writing ones are Summarize Written Text, Write Essay, and Summarize Spoken Text. If the AI and the human disagree, a second human makes the final call. However, humans never score your pronunciation or fluency.

That is why long memorized templates carry more risk now than they did a few years ago. Imagine you repeat the same 40 second template for every image you see on test day. In that case, the reviewer could treat parts of your answer as unoriginal, and your content marks may drop.

If you are not sure whether your answers sound original, our trainers can check them with you in class.

Top 12 Frequently Asked Questions by Students and Their Answers:

These PTE speaking and writing questions reflect the most common student concerns we hear from learners in class. Each answer gives you the fact first, then an example, so you can act on it straight away.

Question 1: What is the format of the PTE Speaking section?

Your speaking tasks open Part 1, starting with the Personal Introduction and then moving through seven scored task types. For example, read aloud checks speaking, while repeat sentence checks listening and speaking at the same time.

Question 2: How long is the PTE Speaking section?

Pearson does not give speaking its own time limit. Instead, it gives one range for all of Part 1, which is about 76 to 84 minutes.

Older guides said 54 to 67 minutes, but that figure belongs to the format before August 2025. Therefore, practise one complete Part 1 in a single sitting to build the stamina you will need.

Question 3: What types of images are used in the Describe Image task?

Describe Image can show almost any visual, so you should practise with many types rather than just one. You may see a bar graph, line graph, pie chart, table, map, process diagram or a photograph.

For instance, Pearson’s own example uses a map of Africa that shows where different gorilla groups live. When you speak, first state the main idea, then add two or three key details. Use figures or comparisons when the image shows data. Finally, close with a conclusion or implication if the image supports one.

Question 4: How is the Speaking section scored?

Pearson assesses most scored speaking tasks on three traits, which are Content, Pronunciation and Oral Fluency.

• Content checks whether your answer matches the task, but the exact criteria vary by question type. For example, read aloud counts correct words, while repeat sentence counts correct word sequences.
• Pronunciation scoring checks whether regular English speakers can understand you easily.
• Oral fluency checks whether your speech moves at a smooth, steady and natural pace.

Answer short question works differently, because Pearson only marks it right or wrong. Also, it counts toward your listening score, not your speaking score. Knowing these Pearson scoring criteria helps you decide where your daily practice time should go.

Question 5: What strategies can help with the Retell Lecture task?

Retell lecture rewards smart notes rather than perfect notes, because you only get 10 seconds to prepare.

• Glance at the image before the audio starts and guess the topic.
• Write only key nouns, names and numbers while you listen.
• Start with the main idea, then add two or three supporting points.
• Finish with a short conclusion or implication.

For a lecture on coral reefs, notes like “reefs, warm water, bleaching, fish loss” can carry a full answer.

Question 6: Can I take notes during the Speaking section?

Yes, you can, and the test center provides an erasable noteboard booklet you can use for notes. Pearson mentions note taking for Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation.

However, full sentences waste precious seconds, so stick to short words/phrases, symbols and arrows instead.

Question 7: What if I make a mistake while speaking?

Keep going, because stopping to fix a small slip usually costs you more than the slip itself. Pearson says hesitations, repetitions and false starts all lower your oral fluency score.

Suppose you say “the graph show” instead of “shows” in the middle of a describe image answer. If you carry on smoothly, that small slip usually hurts less than hesitating or restarting.

Question 8: Is accent a factor in the PTE Speaking test?

No, having a particular accent does not automatically mean you will lose marks. Pearson recognizes regional and national varieties of English pronunciation to the degree that most regular English speakers understand them.

For example, stressing the right syllable in “development” helps far more than copying an American accent. In fact, Pearson’s own advice is to copy the speaker’s intonation but not change your accent.

Question 9: What is the format of the PTE Writing section?

The writing tasks come at the end of Part 1, with summarize written text first and essay writing second.

Your summary must be one complete sentence of 5 to 75 words, or Pearson gives it zero. It should begin with a capital letter and end with one full stop. Writing it all in capital letters also scores zero.

Similarly, your essay should stay between 200 and 300 words to earn full marks for form. And if you write fewer than 120 or more than 380 words, the whole essay scores zero.

Question 10: How long is the PTE Writing section?

The writing part has no single clock, because each writing task runs on its own timer.

• Summarize Written Text gives you 10 minutes for each item.
• Write Essay gives you 20 minutes for each item.

Pearson’s Score Guide lists two summary items and one essay in Part 1, giving 40 minutes in total. In the essay, for example, try 3 minutes of planning, 14 minutes of writing and 3 minutes of checking.

Question 11: What are common topics for the essay in the PTE Writing test?

Essay prompts cover academic and general interest issues, and you generally don’t need specialist subject knowledge. You will often see themes like education, technology, health, the environment, work and government.

For instance, one of Pearson’s sample prompts asks whether education makes a nation more successful. So build an idea bank for each theme, like jobs, privacy and online learning for technology.

Question 12: How is the Writing section scored?

Your essay is scored on seven traits. These are Content, Form, Development, Structure and Coherence, General Linguistic Range, Grammar, Vocabulary Range and Spelling.

• An essay that ignores the topic scores zero on every trait.
• Pick one spelling style, such as British or Australian, and keep it all the way through.
• Link your paragraphs clearly, because flow affects your written discourse score.
• Use synonyms for vocabulary enhancement, but only words you can use correctly.

A human expert also reviews three of these traits. Those are Content, Development, Structure and Coherence, and General Linguistic Range.

Knowing the rules is useful, but using them under pressure is what actually moves your score. So here are the PTE writing and speaking strategies our trainers at Learn with Hafiz use every week.

• Practise read aloud and repeat sentence daily, since both put your fluency and pronunciation to work.
• Record yourself on your phone, then listen back for long pauses and unclear sounds.
• Speak in your own words during open response tasks instead of reciting a fixed template.
• Write one essay every two days and check your word count every single time.
• Read one news article a day to sharpen grammar accuracy and pick up useful vocabulary.
• Fix the weakest skill on your Skills Profile first.

These PTE speaking and writing tips work best inside a clear preparation roadmap, not random videos. Therefore, choose one plan, follow it for four weeks, and then measure your progress honestly.

How to Use a PTE Speaking and Writing Practice Test the Right Way

A PTE speaking and writing practice test shows you exactly where you stand right now. However, many students waste their mock tests by taking them too early or far too often. Instead, try this simple four step cycle.

1. Take one PTE speaking and writing sample test first, so you learn the screens and timers.
2. Next, spend two weeks on focused PTE speaking and writing practice for your weakest tasks.
3. Then sit a full timed mock in a quiet room and use real exam strategies throughout.
4. Finally, study your report carefully and start the cycle again.

Pearson says its three official Scored Practice Tests now include both new speaking tasks. Whatever mock practice resources you choose, check that they do the same.

Now imagine a student whose speaking score stays low even though her ideas are good. Her report points to weak oral fluency, so she drops new templates and drills read aloud daily. Small score improvement methods like this, done consistently, are what real score maximization looks like.

Recommendation for PTE Success

The PTE Speaking and Writing section rewards students who prepare with current facts and steady habits. Because the format has changed and human experts now review content, old shortcuts are less reliable.

Here is what you can do today to get moving.

• Join the PTE course at Learn with Hafiz and train on the current format.
• Send your latest result for a scorecard analysis and find your weakest skill quickly.
• Message Master Trainer Hafiz on WhatsApp at +61 404 897 857, or use our contact page.

The sooner you start, the more practice weeks you get before your test date.

Don’t let one weak section delay your visa, your admission or your career plans. So book your seat now, and start your new preparation roadmap this week.