Practice every PTE Academic Speaking task
Answer each task out loud on the test's own timings, from Read Aloud to Respond to a Situation. See estimated scores on the scales Pearson publishes, with clear feedback on content, pronunciation and fluency.
PTE Academic Speaking at a glance
As of September 2026, the Speaking part of PTE Academic has seven scored task types and an unscored Personal Introduction: Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Answer Short Question, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation. Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation were added on 7 August 2025.
Speaking and Writing share Part 1 of the test, which takes about 76–84 minutes. You record each answer once and hear each audio prompt once. On Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Lecture and Answer Short Question, recording stops if you are silent for three seconds. PTE Academic UKVI uses the same tasks.
Sources: Pearson: PTE Academic test format, Speaking & Writing · Pearson: PTE changes 2025
The speaking tasks and their timings
Official timings as of September 2026. The number of items is the range Pearson publishes for one test; each version of the test is balanced for total length.
| Task | Items per test | What you do | Preparation | Answer time | Scored on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Introduction | 1 | Introduce yourself. | 25 s to read the prompt | 30 s | Not scored |
| Read Aloud | 6–7 | Read a text of up to 60 words aloud. | 30–40 s | Varies with the length of the text | Content (words read correctly), Pronunciation 0–5, Oral fluency 0–5 |
| Repeat Sentence | 10–12 | Hear a 3–9 second sentence once and repeat it exactly. | None: recording starts when the audio ends | 15 s | Content 0–3, Pronunciation 0–5, Oral fluency 0–5 |
| Describe Image | 5–6 | Describe a graph, chart, table, map, process or picture in detail. | 25 s | 40 s | Content 0–6, Pronunciation 0–5, Oral fluency 0–5 |
| Retell Lecture | 2–3 | Hear a lecture of up to 90 seconds and retell it in your own words. | 10 s after the lecture | 40 s | Content 0–6, Pronunciation 0–5, Oral fluency 0–5 |
| Answer Short Question | 5–6 | Hear a 3–9 second question and answer in one word or a few words. | None, and no tone before recording | 10 s | Correct or incorrect |
| Summarize Group DiscussionNew in 2025 | 2–3 | Hear three people discuss a topic for up to 3 minutes, then summarize the discussion and each speaker's view. | 10 s after the discussion | 2 min | Content 0–6, Pronunciation 0–5, Oral fluency 0–5 |
| Respond to a SituationNew in 2025 | 2–3 | Read and hear a situation of up to 60 words, then respond as if you were in it. | 10 s after the audio | 40 s | Content 0–6, Pronunciation 0–5, Oral fluency 0–5 |
- Read Aloud, Describe Image and Respond to a Situation count toward your Speaking score. Repeat Sentence, Retell Lecture and Summarize Group Discussion count toward both Listening and Speaking. Answer Short Question counts toward Listening only.
- On most tasks a short tone plays just before the microphone opens. Answer Short Question has no tone.
Sources: Pearson: PTE Academic test format, Speaking & Writing · Pearson: Understand your PTE Academic score (Score Guide)
How practice works
The practice area follows the real task flow: one recording per answer, a clock on every step, and feedback built from what you actually said.
Every task, on the test's timings
All eight tasks, including the Personal Introduction, with the official preparation and answer times. Read Aloud answer time is set from the length of each text, and every prompt plays once.
The 3-second rule
Recording stops after three seconds of silence, as it does on test day for Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Lecture and Answer Short Question. The two newer tasks use the same rule, so you build the habit everywhere.
Practice sets and mock tests
Practice one task at a time with feedback after every answer. Take a full speaking mock with as many items as the shortest real test, or a quick mock with one to three items of each scored task, and see your results at the end.
Estimated scores on Pearson's scales
Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation answers get estimated trait scores for Content, Pronunciation (0–5) and Oral fluency (0–5). Answer Short Question is marked correct or incorrect, and the Personal Introduction gets feedback without a score. Your results add a Speaking estimate on the 10–90 scale, shown as a range next to the Home Affairs visa minimums.
Word-level feedback
See which words you missed, changed or added in Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence, and a pronunciation score for the words that need the most work.
Feedback on your content
For Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation, see the key points you covered and missed, what to improve, and a stronger version of your answer. Memorized template phrases are flagged.
PTE Academic speaking question bank
Realistic practice questions written to the official format.
Every question is original, written for Lingo Copilot to the task formats Pearson publishes. Real test content is confidential and is never used.
- Browse the questions for every speaking task, and filter by difficulty, topic or what you have already practiced.
- Study a question before you answer it: a strategy for that question is always visible, and on-screen prompts such as Read Aloud texts and Describe Image pictures can be studied too.
- Transcripts, answer keys and model answers unlock once you have recorded the question, or when you choose Reveal answers.
- Model answers for the open tasks come at two levels, with notes on why they work and the vocabulary and expressions the question needs.
- Keep private notes on each question: ideas and key facts, not a script.
- Describe Image covers charts, tables, processes, maps and picture sequences, drawn as clear illustrations. In the real test an image may be a photograph.
- Mock tests draw only from this bank and pick questions you have not studied first. If you studied a question before a mock, your results say so.
Use model answers to see how a good answer is built, then answer in your own words. Pearson classifies pre-prepared or memorized material as irrelevant.
How PTE Speaking is scored
What Pearson publishes
- Most speaking tasks are scored on three traits: Content, Pronunciation (0–5) and Oral fluency (0–5). Answer Short Question is scored as correct or incorrect.
- Content is scored first. No response, an irrelevant response, or a response built on pre-prepared or memorized material scores 0 for Content, and then earns no points for pronunciation or fluency.
- Content on Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation is checked by AI and by a human expert. Pronunciation and oral fluency are scored by AI only.
- Scores are reported on a 10–90 scale. Pearson does not publish how item scores are weighted into the Speaking score.
What our estimates are
- Trait scores are AI estimates on the same scales, from speech analysis of your recording and a language model that reads your transcript.
- The Speaking estimate averages your trait scores on an attempt and maps them onto 10–90. It is shown as a range of ±5 because Pearson's weighting is not public.
- Use the estimates to track progress between sessions. For a score from Pearson's official scoring engine, take one of Pearson's Scored Practice Tests before test day.
AI estimate for practice. Not an official score.
Sources: Pearson: Understand your PTE Academic score (Score Guide) · Pearson: PTE Academic Scored Practice Tests
PTE Academic scores for Australian visas
The Department of Home Affairs sets a minimum PTE Academic score for each of the four skills. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Speaking has the highest minimum at the Competent, Proficient and Superior levels.
| English level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational | 33 | 36 | 29 | 24 |
| Competent | 47 | 48 | 51 | 54 |
| Proficient | 58 | 59 | 69 | 76 |
| Superior | 69 | 70 | 85 | 88 |
- Results from PTE Academic tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 are assessed against the previous minimums (for example 50, 65 and 79 in each skill for Competent, Proficient and Superior English) and can be used until 6 August 2028.
- Home Affairs sets and updates these requirements. Confirm the current minimums for your visa on the Home Affairs site before you book. Last checked 22 September 2026.
Sources: Home Affairs: Vocational English · Home Affairs: Competent English · Home Affairs: Proficient English · Home Affairs: Superior English
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Free vs Premium
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Full PTE speaking mock test (Academic or Core) with score estimate | 1 test | Unlimited |
| Your results and attempt history | Included | Included |
| Practice by task with instant scoring | Not included | Unlimited |
| Quick mock tests | Not included | Included |
| Question bank with answers and model answers | Not included | Included |
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PTE Speaking questions
What are the PTE Academic Speaking tasks in 2026?
As of September 2026 there are seven scored speaking tasks: Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Answer Short Question, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation. An unscored Personal Introduction comes first. Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation were added on 7 August 2025.
How is PTE Speaking scored?
Most tasks are scored on Content, Pronunciation (0–5) and Oral fluency (0–5), and Answer Short Question is correct or incorrect. Content is scored first: a response with 0 for Content earns no further points. Content on Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation is also reviewed by a human expert. Scores are reported on a 10–90 scale.
Can I use templates in PTE Speaking?
Pearson classifies responses with pre-prepared or memorized material as irrelevant, which scores 0 for Content and no further points. Answers built from what is actually in the prompt, in your own words, are what score well. Practice here flags template phrases and shows which key points of the prompt you covered.
What PTE Speaking score do I need for an Australian visa?
For PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs asks for at least 54 in Speaking for Competent English, 76 for Proficient and 88 for Superior, together with minimums for Listening, Reading and Writing. Check the Home Affairs site for your visa before you book.
What is the 3-second rule?
On Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Lecture and Answer Short Question, recording stops if you do not start speaking within three seconds, or if you stop for three seconds while speaking, and you cannot continue that answer. Practice here uses the same rule so it feels normal on test day.
Is my Lingo Copilot score an official PTE score?
No. It is an AI estimate for practice, on the scales Pearson publishes. Pearson's Scored Practice Tests are the only practice tests marked by the official PTE scoring engine.
Do you use real PTE exam questions?
No. Every question is original, written for Lingo Copilot to the task formats Pearson publishes. Real test content is confidential and is never used.
Does this cover PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Core?
Practice here follows PTE Academic, and PTE Academic UKVI uses the same speaking tasks. PTE Core has a different speaking section, with its own version of Respond to a Situation and without Retell Lecture or Summarize Group Discussion, so PTE Core practice is separate, with its own questions in everyday English.
Try a full PTE Academic speaking mock test
Your first full mock is free: every speaking task on the test's timings, with an estimated score and feedback on every answer.