PTE Speaking: Commonly Repeated Questions and How to Master Them

The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is a widely recognized English language proficiency exam designed for non-native speakers seeking to study, migrate, or work in English-speaking countries. Among the four skills assessed—Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening—the Speaking section often poses significant challenges to test-takers due to its fast-paced nature and the need for fluency, clarity, and accuracy.

One effective strategy for excelling in this section is to familiarize yourself with commonly repeated PTE Speaking questions. In this guide, we explore the structure of the Speaking section, discuss frequently asked question types, and offer examples and tips to help you boost your performance.

What is the PTE Speaking Section?

The Speaking module of the PTE Academic assesses a candidate's ability to communicate effectively in English in an academic environment. It is integrated with the Writing section and is conducted during the first part of the test, lasting approximately 30–35 minutes.

The Speaking section includes the following five task types:

• Read Aloud
  
• Repeat Sentence
  
• Describe Image
  
• Re-tell Lecture
  
• Answer Short Question
  
  

Each of these tasks measures various communicative and enabling skills such as pronunciation, oral fluency, grammar, vocabulary, and content relevance.According to the official PTE scoring guide by Pearson, enabling skills like pronunciation and fluency can significantly influence the overall score, even if a candidate has strong grammar and vocabulary.Let’s take a deeper look at the common questions for each task type.

1. Read Aloud: Practice Makes Perfect
   
   

Task Overview:
 You will be shown a short paragraph on the screen and asked to read it aloud clearly and fluently.Skills Tested:
 Reading and Speaking Commonly Repeated Themes:

• Academic subjects (biology, psychology, economics)
  
• News and media
  
• Social issues (education, public health)
  
• Environmental topics
  
  

Examples of Common Read Aloud Prompts:

• "The human brain is a complex organ responsible for regulating bodily functions and interpreting sensory information."
  
• "Economic globalization refers to the increasing interdependence of world economies through trade, investment, and technology transfer."
  
  

Tips:

• Focus on chunking and intonation.
  
• Don’t rush—maintain a natural pace.
  
• Practice with academic texts from sources like Britannica or Wikipedia (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_disciplines).
  
  

2. Repeat Sentence: Sharpen Your Memory and Pronunciation
   
   

Task Overview:
 You hear a sentence and must repeat it exactly as spoken.Skills Tested:
 Listening and SpeakingCommonly Repeated Patterns:

• Academic announcements (lecture times, assignments)
  
• General instructions (library rules, computer usage)
  
• Class-related dialogues
  
  

Examples:

• "The deadline for the final assignment has been extended by two weeks."
  
• "Students are required to submit their reports before the end of the semester."
  
  

Tips:

• Practice active listening daily.
  
• Use shadowing techniques (repeating after a speaker with minimal delay).
  
• Don’t pause or hesitate; keep the flow.
  
  

Fun Fact: This task contributes significantly to both the speaking and listening scores due to its dual-skill nature.

3. Describe Image: Visual Interpretation Skills
   
   

Task Overview:
 An image appears on screen, such as a graph, chart, map, or diagram. You must describe it in 40 seconds.Skills Tested:
 Speaking (oral fluency, pronunciation, and content)Commonly Repeated Image Types:

• Bar charts
  
• Pie charts
  
• Line graphs
  
• Process diagrams (like the water cycle or carbon footprint process)
  
  

Example:
 "A pie chart illustrating the global energy consumption by source, showing fossil fuels as the dominant contributor at 78%, followed by renewables and nuclear energy."Tips:

• Follow a structure: Introduction, Description, Conclusion.
  
• Use comparative phrases: “more than,” “less than,” “approximately,” etc.
  
• Avoid silence; keep talking for 35–40 seconds.
  
  

Helpful Resource: Learn more about interpreting graphs here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graph_(discrete_mathematics)

4. Re-tell Lecture: Summarize Like a Pro
   
   

Task Overview:
 You listen to a lecture (with or without visuals) and then summarize it in 40 seconds.Skills Tested:
 Listening and SpeakingCommonly Covered Topics:

• History and culture
  
• Science and technology
  
• Environment and ecology
  
• Global issues (climate change, migration)
  
  

Examples:

• A lecture explaining how solar energy is harnessed and stored for residential use.
  
• A summary of Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
  
  

Tips:

• Take smart notes—focus on keywords, data, and transitions.
  
• Start with a general introduction: “The lecture discusses…”
  
• Use linking words: “Additionally,” “Moreover,” “In conclusion…”
  
  

Explore more academic topics for practice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_discourse

5. Answer Short Question: Quick Reflex Thinking
   
   

Task Overview:
 You hear a question and need to respond with one or a few words.Skills Tested:
 Listening and Speaking

Commonly Repeated Question Types:

• General knowledge
  
• Vocabulary-based questions
  
• Everyday context
  
  

Examples:

• "What do we call a doctor who performs operations?" → "Surgeon"
  
• "How many days are there in a leap year?" → "366"
  
  

Tips:

• Practice high-frequency vocabulary.
  
• Focus on listening clarity rather than speed.
  
• Don’t overthink—respond quickly.
  
  

Bonus: This is the easiest section to score well if you're familiar with general facts and vocabulary.

Why Familiarity Helps: The Role of Repetition in PTE Pearson frequently rotates a pool of hundreds of questions. Therefore, test-takers who regularly practice with commonly repeated questions gain a clear advantage. Several test-takers report encountering questions in the actual exam that they had seen during practice sessions on platforms like YouTube, Reddit, or mock test sites.

Top Benefits of Practicing Repeated Questions:

✔ Builds confidence
 ✔ Improves timing and fluency
 ✔ Reinforces vocabulary
 ✔ Boosts familiarity with test patterns

Academic Tip: According to cognitive psychology, the “spacing effect” suggests that regular, spaced repetition of material enhances memory retention. This supports the idea of reviewing repeated questions often.How to Access and Practice Realistic PTE QuestionsThere are many online resources, but it’s essential to rely on those that offer high-quality and up-to-date practice content. One such platform is Gurully.com.Gurully.com provides:

• Free and premium PTE mock tests
  
• Real exam-based questions
  
• AI-powered scoring and feedback
  
• Sectional practice for all modules
  
  

You can explore their comprehensive practice tools at https://www.gurully.com/pteConclusionSuccess in the PTE Speaking section depends not just on your English proficiency but also on your familiarity with the question formats and the types of content that frequently appear. By mastering commonly repeated questions in tasks like Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, and Describe Image, you can maximize your chances of achieving a high score.

Practice consistently, analyze your performance, and use platforms like Gurully.com to simulate real test conditions. 

The more you expose yourself to PTE’s recurring themes, the more fluent, confident, and accurate you’ll become on test day.

Now, it's time to take your PTE Speaking skills to the next level—start with a mock test and aim for your best score yet!