PTE Academic · Task guide 10 · 4 min read
PTE Respond to a Situation: format and tips
PTE Academic Respond to a Situation, added in 2025: read and hear a scenario, then reply aloud. Timing, scoring and a routine.
What you see and do
Respond to a Situation was added to PTE Academic in 2025. A short description of an everyday or academic situation appears on screen, and you also hear it read aloud. The situation tells you who you are talking to and what you need to do: apologise, make a request, give advice, explain a problem or suggest a solution.
After a short preparation time, you speak your reply as if you were talking directly to the person in the situation.
Because the item type is new, check pearsonpte.com for its exact current position in the test and its timings.
Timing
| Stage | About how long |
|---|---|
| Read and hear the situation | about 10–20 seconds |
| Preparation | about 20 seconds |
| Response | about 40 seconds |
The on-screen timer and status box show exactly when recording starts and how much time remains.
How it is scored
Respond to a Situation counts towards Listening and Speaking. Responses are judged on:
| Trait | What it means |
|---|---|
| Appropriacy | Your reply does what the situation asks, in a suitable tone for the listener |
| Oral fluency | Smooth, natural speech without long pauses or restarts |
| Pronunciation | Clear sounds, stress and intonation |
Appropriacy is the trait that makes this item different. A fluent reply that ignores part of the task, or uses the wrong tone (for example, too casual with a manager), loses marks.
Common mistakes
- Describing the situation instead of responding to it. Speak to the person, not about them.
- Missing part of the task. If you are asked to apologise and suggest a new date, do both.
- Wrong tone. Match formality to the listener: a lecturer or employer needs polite, formal language; a classmate can be more relaxed.
- Rambling. A clear, complete reply of four or five sentences is better than a long, wandering one.
- Inventing complicated details. Keep any extra details simple and believable.
A short routine
- Identify the listener and decide on the tone: formal or friendly.
- Identify every action the task asks for. Note them as numbered key words.
- Plan a four-part reply: greeting, main message, detail or reason, polite close.
- Speak directly to the person, using "you" and "I".
- Cover every action in the order you planned, then close politely.
Exam tip: a short opening such as "Hi Professor Lee, thank you for your email" settles your nerves and immediately shows the right tone. Prepare a handful of openings and closings for formal and friendly listeners.
Illustrative example
This situation and answer were written for Fable Tests. They are not taken from any official material.
Situation: You borrowed a classmate's lecture notes last week, but you spilled coffee on two pages. Your classmate has just asked for the notes back. Explain what happened and offer to make it right.
Plan:
- Listener: classmate (friendly but sincere)
- Actions: explain + apologise + offer to fix
A possible answer:
Hi Sam, I'm really sorry, but I have some bad news about your notes. Last night I knocked my coffee over, and two of the pages got stained. Most of the writing is still readable, but a few lines are hard to see. I've already typed up those two pages from what I could read, and I'd be happy to print a clean copy for you today. If anything is missing, I can ask our lecturer for the slides as well. Again, I'm really sorry about this.
Key points
- Respond to a Situation was added in 2025.
- You read and hear a scenario, prepare for about 20 seconds and speak for about 40 seconds.
- It counts towards Listening and Speaking.
- Appropriacy matters: do every part of the task, in the right tone.
- Speak to the person, with a clear opening and close.
For the official current format, see pearsonpte.com. More guides are on the PTE hub.