The PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic) is one of the most widely accepted English proficiency tests, designed for students, professionals, and immigration applicants. It is recognized by thousands of universities, governments, and employers worldwide, including in countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA. Unlike traditional English exams such as IELTS and TOEFL, PTE Academic is fully computer-based, with AI-driven scoring to ensure an objective, unbiased, and efficient evaluation of a test-taker’s English skills.

Among the four tested skills—Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening—the Speaking and Writing sections are often considered the most challenging. These sections require test-takers to speak clearly, write effectively, and demonstrate proper grammar, fluency, coherence, pronunciation, and vocabulary under strict time constraints. Many candidates struggle with these aspects due to nervousness, lack of preparation, or unfamiliarity with the test format.

In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the PTE Academic Speaking and Writing sections, explaining their format, scoring criteria, question types, common mistakes to avoid, and expert strategies to help you achieve a high score. Whether you are preparing for university admissions, professional certification, or immigration requirements, mastering these sections is crucial to improving your overall PTE Academic score and securing your desired outcome.

Understanding the PTE Academic Speaking Section

The Speaking section of PTE Academic evaluates your ability to communicate effectively in English by assessing your pronunciation, fluency, and coherence. This section lasts for approximately 30–35 minutes and includes a variety of question types that measure how well you can speak clearly, organize your thoughts, and respond accurately under time pressure.

Since the Speaking section is AI-scored, your clarity, pronunciation, fluency, and content accuracy all contribute to your final score. Many test-takers struggle with this section due to nervousness, mispronunciations, or hesitation, but with the right strategies, you can maximize your score. Below is a breakdown of each task in this section, along with effective tips to help you improve.

1. Read Aloud

• A short passage appears on the screen, and you must read it aloud into the microphone.
• You get 30–40 seconds to prepare before you start speaking.

How to Score High:

• Pronounce words clearly: Avoid mumbling, rushing, or skipping words, as mispronunciations can lower your score. Speak confidently and enunciate each word.
• Maintain a steady pace: Speaking too fast can cause errors, while speaking too slowly may affect your fluency score. Aim for a natural, moderate speed.
• Use correct intonation and stress: Emphasize important words naturally to sound more fluent and expressive.
• Pay attention to punctuation: Pause at commas, full stops, and question marks to reflect proper sentence structure.
• Avoid long pauses: Hesitations or gaps while reading can lower your fluency score. Practice reading smoothly from start to finish.

2. Repeat Sentence

• You will hear a sentence and must repeat it exactly as spoken into the microphone.
• This task evaluates your listening skills, memory, pronunciation, and fluency.

How to Score High:

• Listen carefully: Focus on intonation, stress, and rhythm as you hear the sentence. Try to imitate the speaker’s tone and flow.
• Use chunking: Break the sentence into small meaningful parts in your mind to make it easier to remember.
• Prioritize key words: If the sentence is too long, try to recall and repeat the most important words while keeping the meaning intact.
• Avoid unnecessary pauses: Speak smoothly and avoid long hesitations as they reduce your fluency score.
• Practice with audio clips: Listen to short sentences or news reports and repeat them out loud to improve your memory and pronunciation.

3. Describe Image

• You will see a graph, chart, diagram, map, or picture, and you must describe it in 40 seconds.
• This task tests your ability to organize and express ideas based on visual information.

How to Score High:

• Follow a structured response: Use a clear format: Introduction → Key Details → Conclusion. This will help you stay organized and logical.
• Use descriptive phrases: Start with “The image illustrates…”, “The graph shows…”, or “The trend indicates…”.
• Identify trends, patterns, or comparisons: Don’t just describe the image—explain the trends, differences, or key takeaways.
• Speak in full sentences: Avoid fragmented speech. Ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct and coherent.
• Practice with different image types: Familiarize yourself with bar graphs, pie charts, process diagrams, and tables to gain confidence in describing visuals.

4. Retell Lecture

• You will hear a short lecture and must summarize its key points in your own words.
• This task assesses your listening, note-taking, summarization, and speaking skills.

How to Score High:

• Take quick notes: Write down key facts, names, numbers, and main ideas while listening. Avoid trying to remember everything word-for-word.
• Use a structured response: Follow this format: Introduction → Key Points → Conclusion to ensure a well-organized summary.
• Paraphrase instead of memorizing: Avoid repeating the lecture exactly. Instead, express the key points using your own words.
• Use linking phrases: Say “According to the lecture…”, “The speaker mentioned that…”, or “One of the main points discussed was…”.
• Practice summarizing short audio clips: Listen to TED Talks, podcasts, or news reports, take notes, and summarize them in 40 seconds.

5. Answer Short Question

• You will hear a short general knowledge question and must respond with a one-word or short-phrase answer.
• This task tests your vocabulary, listening skills, and ability to respond quickly.

How to Score High:

• Give direct answers: Avoid long explanations. If the question is “What do we use to cut paper?”, simply say “Scissors” instead of “We use scissors to cut paper.”
• Expand your general knowledge: Many questions are based on common facts, so learning about different topics can help.
• Respond quickly: Speak immediately after hearing the question. Long pauses may reduce your fluency score.
• Improve your vocabulary: Read news articles, watch documentaries, and practice with word association games to enhance your word recall speed.
• Practice with sample questions: Use PTE practice apps or online resources to train your brain to respond instantly.

Final Thoughts on PTE Academic Speaking Section

The Speaking section of PTE Academic requires strong pronunciation, fluency, coherence, and listening skills. Since AI scoring plays a major role, test-takers must speak clearly, avoid hesitations, and use correct grammar to achieve a high score. By practicing each task type, improving vocabulary and sentence structure, and becoming familiar with timed responses, you can significantly improve your performance.

With dedicated practice, active listening, and structured responses, you can excel in the Speaking section and boost your overall PTE Academic score.

Understanding the PTE Academic Writing Section

The Writing section of PTE Academic evaluates your ability to express ideas clearly, use correct grammar, organize thoughts logically, and write in a structured manner. This section lasts for approximately 40–50 minutes and consists of two main tasks that assess different writing skills.

Strong vocabulary, sentence structure, and coherence are essential to scoring high in this section. Since the test is AI-scored, every small mistake, such as incorrect punctuation, lack of clarity, or grammatical errors, can impact your final score. Below is a detailed breakdown of each writing task, along with tips to help you maximize your performance.

1. Summarize Written Text

• You will read a passage up to 300 words long and must summarize it in a single sentence containing 5 to 75 words.
• This task assesses your reading comprehension, ability to extract key points, and summarization skills.

How to Score High:

• Identify the main idea: Focus on the core message of the passage rather than trying to include every detail. Read carefully and determine the most important information.
• Write a single complex sentence: You must write only one sentence that includes a main clause and dependent clauses. Avoid breaking it into multiple sentences.
• Use connectors and conjunctions: Words like which explains why, therefore, because, as a result, and consequently help link ideas and create a coherent summary.
• Avoid unnecessary details: Stick to the main idea and omit minor examples or explanations that do not contribute to the summary.
• Use correct punctuation: Ensure that you use commas, semicolons, and conjunctions properly to maintain a smooth flow.
• Practice summarizing articles: Read short news reports or essays and summarize them in one sentence to develop summarization skills.

2. Write Essay

• You must write a 200–300 word essay on a given topic.
• The essay should have a clear structure, logical arguments, and proper grammar.
• This task evaluates your ability to develop arguments, support ideas with examples, and use correct academic writing style.

How to Score High:

• Follow a structured format: A well-organized essay makes it easier to read and score. Use the following structure:

1. Introduction – Introduce the topic and clearly state your opinion or argument.
2. Body Paragraph 1 – Present your first supporting argument along with an example.
3. Body Paragraph 2 – Provide your second supporting argument with another relevant example.
4. Conclusion – Summarize your key points and restate your position in a concise manner.

• Use a diverse range of vocabulary: Avoid repeating the same words. Instead of saying important multiple times, use crucial, significant, essential, or vital.
• Use a mix of simple and complex sentences: Balance your writing with both short and long sentences to enhance readability and fluency.
• Avoid spelling and grammar mistakes: Use proper verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation. Proofread your essay before submitting.
• Use linking words for coherence: Transition smoothly between ideas using words like: Furthermore, In contrast, On the other hand, Consequently, In conclusion, As a result.
• Stay within the word limit: Writing less than 200 words may reduce your score, while exceeding 300 words may lead to unnecessary mistakes.
• Practice timed essays: Write essays on various topics within 20 minutes to improve time management skills.

Final Thoughts on PTE Academic Writing Section

The Writing section of PTE Academic requires clarity, structure, grammar accuracy, and strong vocabulary. To score high, focus on writing logically, avoiding mistakes, and practicing frequently. Since the test is AI-scored, even small errors in punctuation, sentence structure, or word choice can lower your overall score.

By practicing summaries, writing structured essays, and improving grammar, you can perform well in this section and boost your overall PTE Academic score.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in PTE Academic Speaking & Writing

Achieving a high score in the PTE Academic Speaking and Writing sections requires more than just basic language proficiency. Many test-takers lose valuable points due to avoidable mistakes. Below are some of the most common errors and how to avoid them.

Speaking Mistakes to Avoid:

These are some simple speaking mistakes that can affect your grades badly and will ultimately influence your PTE academic test.

• Speaking too fast or too slow: Maintaining a steady, natural pace is crucial. Speaking too fast can lead to unclear pronunciation, while speaking too slow can reduce fluency. Practice reading aloud at a moderate speed.
• Using too many filler words: Avoid saying “um,” “uh,” “like,” “you know” while speaking. These reduce fluency and affect pronunciation scores. Instead, pause naturally and organize thoughts before speaking.
• Mispronouncing words: Incorrect pronunciation reduces clarity. Listen to native English speakers through podcasts, audiobooks, and news broadcasts. Use pronunciation tools like Forvo or Google Pronunciation for improvement.
• Pausing too often: Long, unnatural pauses affect fluency. Try speaking in complete sentences without hesitating. Practicing with speech-to-text software can help improve fluency.

Writing Mistakes to Avoid:

By avoiding these below simple writing mistakes you can pass your test with flying colors:

• Writing too many short sentences: While short sentences improve clarity, overusing them makes writing choppy. Instead, use a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences.
• Ignoring grammar and punctuation: Spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes reduce scores. Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to check your writing.
• Repetitive vocabulary: Avoid using the same words multiple times. Instead, use synonyms to improve quality. For example, replace important with crucial, significant, or essential.
• Not managing time properly: Many test-takers run out of time while writing. Plan your essay structure in the first 1-2 minutes before starting to write.

Best Preparation Strategies for PTE Academic Speaking and Writing

A high score in PTE Academic requires consistent practice and strategic preparation. Below are some effective strategies to help you improve your Speaking and Writing performance.

Speaking Strategies:

The below speaking strategies will help you to practice more efficiently for your PTE academic test.

• Practice Daily: Speak in English every day with friends, family, or online language partners. The more you practice, the more fluent you become.
• Listen to Native Speakers: Watch English TV shows, listen to news podcasts, and observe pronunciation and intonation. Try mimicking native speakers for better pronunciation and fluency.
• Record Yourself Speaking: Listening to your own recordings helps identify mistakes in pronunciation, clarity, and fluency. Apps like Eloquence or Voice Recorder can help.
• Use Online Mock Tests: Take full-length mock tests to get used to timing and pressure. Websites like PTE Tutorials or Pearson’s official practice tests are great resources.

Writing Strategies:

Here are some writing strategies that can help to boost your PTE score

• Expand Your Vocabulary: Learn at least 5-10 new words daily and practice using them in sentences. This helps in both Summarizing Written Text and Essay Writing.
• Follow a Writing Structure: Always plan before writing. Use a clear format with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
• Proofread Your Writing; Before submitting, review your essay to check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Even small mistakes can affect your score.
• Seek Feedback; Ask a teacher, tutor, or English-speaking friend to review your writing and provide feedback.

In Conclusion

Achieving a high score in PTE Academic Speaking and Writing requires strategic preparation, practice, and familiarity with the test format. By understanding the test structure, improving fluency, refining grammar, and avoiding common mistakes, you can significantly improve your performance.

Whether you are applying for higher education, a job, or immigration, scoring well in PTE Academic will open doors to new opportunities. Start practicing today and get closer to your desired PTE Academic score!