PTE Speaking guide
PTE Repeat Sentence: Format, Scoring and Tips
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PTE Academic & PTE Core
In Repeat Sentence you hear a short sentence (about 3–9 seconds) once, then repeat it exactly. It counts towards both Speaking and Listening, and there are several of them in the test, so it is worth practising often.
How the task works
- Audio
- One sentence of about 3–9 seconds, played once
- Response
- Up to 15 seconds of recording, starting after a short tone
- Scored on
- Content (words in the right order), pronunciation and oral fluency
- Counts for
- Speaking and Listening
Strategies that help
- Listen for meaning, not single words — a sentence you understand is far easier to remember.
- Group the sentence into two or three chunks in your head while you listen.
- Copy the speaker’s rhythm and stress; it helps memory and fluency at the same time.
- Start speaking as soon as the tone sounds, while the sentence is still fresh.
- If you forget a part, keep going with the rest smoothly rather than stopping.
Common mistakes
- Waiting too long before speaking and losing the sentence.
- Saying only the first half, then going silent.
- Speaking very fast to get every word out, which hurts pronunciation and fluency.
Example
The library will close early / on Friday / because of the maintenance work.
Three chunks are easier to hold than eleven separate words: when — what — why.
Related guides
More on this skill: PTE Speaking practice · All question type guides
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