Let me be clear, scoring 65+ in PTE Academic is fairly easy in a week but improving your oral fluency and esp. pronunciation is not. However, you can practice, and improve your score. Since PTE is computer based and you are a human, you will always have an edge upon it.
A glance at your score tells me that you know the exam pattern however I am writing a general answer who are new to PTE Academic. For more detailed information, please click here.
Speaking section is divided into 5 sections. I will explain scoring and tricks for each of them. Also, in the end, I will provide some more tips which are at individual discretion to follow.
Throughout the speaking section, you are judged based upon oral fluency and pronunciation with a score of
5 - Native-like
4 - Advanced
3 - Good
2 - Intermediate
1 - Intrusive
0 - Non English
To achieve desired oral fluency, please do a youtube search on ‘schwa sound’,’word linking like consonant to vowel, V2V, C2C’ and try to mimic native english speakers of British, American or Australia origin. Word linking is easy to learn but require practice to master. Schwa sound is easy to learn as well as easy to master. Just practice it with lots of examples.
For better pronunciation, please refer to IPA and phonemes. Again search videos on youtube and practice. As non-native, we are not aware about position of tongue and lips, however this is very important when it comes to native-like speaking. Here is a link to start up. Also, focus on intonation as in English each word has ups and downs of voice for each alphabet in it.
Now, I will explain each speaking section and tips to score more:
- Read Aloud:
- Subskills tested: Identifying a writer’s purpose (to repeat, to inform, to explain, opinion or a question), style, tone or attitude; understanding academic vocabulary; reading a text under timed conditions; using correct intonation
- Scoring: Each replacement, omission or insertion of a word counts as one error.
- Tips:
- Rising your tone on contrast words and falling tone at the end of the sentence can give you good score
- Keep speaking, you realized a mistake, don’t stop just keep speaking.
- Pay attention to the articles and plurals in the sentence.
- Practice speaking at least 100 tongue-twisters every day until the exam day.
- Repeat Sentence:
- Subskills tested: Speaking for a purpose (to repeat, to inform, to explain); speaking at a natural rate; producing fluent speech; using correct intonation; using correct pronunciation; using correct stress; speaking under timed conditions; Understanding academic vocabulary; inferring the meaning of unfamiliar words;
- Scoring: Only replacements, omissions and insertions are considered as errors. Hesitations, filled or unfilled pauses, leading or trailing material are ignored in the scoring of content
- 3 - All words in the response from the prompt in the correct sequence
- 2 - At least 50% of words in the response from the prompt in the correct sequence
- 1 - Less than 50% of words in the response from the prompt in the correct sequence
- 0 - Almost nothing from the prompt in the response
- Tips:
- As you can see the scoring mechanism now, nothing more can be told; just hear with close eyes for full concentration, memorize and speak as much as you can.
- There is no beep, so don’t wait - just start speaking after the computer ends.
- Some people prefer taking Caffeine(Coffee) just before the exam to raise concentration levels of brain.
- If you can’t remember, at-least give importance to keywords.
- Describe Image:
- Subskills tested: Speaking for a purpose (to repeat, inform, explain); supporting an opinion with details, examples and explanations; organizing an oral presentation in a logical way; developing complex ideas within a spoken discourse; using words and phrases appropriate to the context; using correct grammar; speaking at a natural rate; producing fluent speech; using correct intonation; using correct pronunciation; using correct pronunciation; using correct stress; speaking under timed conditions
- Scoring:
- 5 - Describes all elements of the image and their relationships, possible development and conclusion or implications
- 4 - Describes all the key elements of the image and their relations, referring to their implications or conclusions
- 3 - Deals with most key elements of the image and refers to their implications or conclusions
- 2 - Deals with only one key element in the image and refers to an implication or conclusion. Shows basic understanding of several core elements of the image
- 1 - Describes some basic elements of the image, but does not make clear their interrelations or implications
- 0 - Mentions some disjointed elements of the presentation
- Tips:
- Use this format (Tell what chart/graph is about, then axes and units and highest/lowest points). That’s it nothing more or less.
- Introduce with words like illustrate, depicts, elucidates etc. Build your own vocabulary of not-so-common words. Try avoid using show every-time.
- Understand the kind of image whether it’s bar-chart, line-graph or pie-chart. Line graph is always with a timeline, pie chart with slices and bar chart compares.
- In describing image use the words – on the left hand side, on the right hand side, next to, above, below or bottom, at the top, foreground, background. Just keep on practicing with these words.
- Again the same tip, don’t keep silent, speak something about the image you see.
- Try to finish in 30–35 secs. Incomplete recorded sentences lose you marks.
- Retell Lecture:
- Sub-skills tested: Identifying the topic, theme or main ideas; identifying supporting points or examples; identifying a speaker’s purpose, style, tone or attitude; understanding academic vocabulary; inferring the meaning of unfamiliar words; comprehending explicit and implicit information; comprehending concrete and abstract information; classifying and categorizing information; following an oral sequencing of information; comprehending variations in tone, speed and accent
- Scoring:
- 5 - Re-tells all points of the presentation and describes characters, aspects and actions, their relationships, the underlying development, implications and conclusions
- 4 - Describes all key points of the presentation and their relations, referring to their implications and conclusions
- 3 - Deals with most points in the presentation and refers to their implications and conclusions
- 2 - Deals with only one key point and refers to an implication or conclusion. Shows basic understanding of several core elements of the presentation
- 1 - Describes some basic elements of the presentation but does not make clear their interrelations or implications
- 0 - Mentions some disjointed elements of the presentation
- Tips:
- Use phrases like ‘The lecture provides brief information about….’ or ‘According to the speaker, he said…..’ etc… to elaborate the given lecture.
- Note the keyword by understanding the context of the topic, so you can give your best.
- For name you can use titles. ex: Dr. James Alexandra says…. so you can say just ‘ dr says…’.
- If possible try to catch 3-5 sentences it’s enough to re-tell the lecture.
- While taking notes just omit vowel and note keywords it saves the time. (practice it)
- Answer short question :
- Sub-skills tested: Identifying the topic, theme or main ideas; understanding academic vocabulary; inferring the meaning of unfamiliar words
- Scoring:
- 1 - Appropriate word choice in response
- 0 - Inappropriate word choice in response
- Tips:
- If you don’t know the answer, just repeat the words in the question.
- Don’t forget the articles a, an, the before some words.
General Tips for PTE Academic:
- This exam like IELTS is also focused on academic vocabulary. Hence, please learn academic vocabulary as much as you can.
- Taking Disprin/Aspirin 3 hours before exam, together with coffee 45 minutes before exam has helped many students in achieving superior level of concentration and memory. This is at your discretion and not a recommendation from me. Please consult some physician, there is no medical proof associated with it. Generally, it is a non-harmful formula, hence I shared with you.
- Go to washroom and relax your body. I mean it you should not feel the urge to urinate during exam. Especially, if you have taken coffee 45 mins before.
- Erasable notepad and pen, you will read a lot about it on forums. It is basically, laminated notebook with marker pen. So, you get a good speed while writing unlike paper and pen.
- Rest it’s practice, practice and practice with a bit of over-confidence.
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