Part 1 · Speaking & Writing · RTS
Respond to a Situation: Speaking & Writing PTE question type
A short everyday scenario is described and a prompt appears. You respond aloud as if you were in that situation.
The scenarios are ordinary rather than academic — a phone call, an email, a conversation with a neighbour. You get preparation time, and you may write notes, but the response itself is spoken.
Scoring
How Respond to a Situation is scored
Content runs 0 to 6 on whether the response actually addresses the situation, with pronunciation and oral fluency scored alongside. Content of zero means zero for the item, however well delivered.
- Skills scored
- Speaking — contributes to your Speaking score
- Questions per test
- 2–3 in Speaking & Writing
- Traits Pearson rates
- Content · Pronunciation · Oral Fluency
Watch out
Common Respond to a Situation mistakes
- 1Answering the underlying topic instead of the situation you were put in.
- 2Giving an opinion where the prompt asked for a specific piece of information.
- 3Producing one sentence, which caps content well below full marks.
Strategy
Questions
Respond to a Situation questions, answered
How many Respond to a Situation questions are on the PTE Academic?
A PTE Academic has 2–3 Respond to a Situation items in the Speaking & Writing section. Each one counts towards your Speaking score.
How is Respond to a Situation scored?
Content runs 0 to 6 on whether the response actually addresses the situation, with pronunciation and oral fluency scored alongside. Content of zero means zero for the item, however well delivered.
What goes wrong most often on Respond to a Situation?
Answering the underlying topic instead of the situation you were put in.
Keep going
Related speaking & writing question types
- Read Aloud
6–7 per test · Speaking
- Repeat Sentence
10–12 per test · Listening + Speaking
- Describe Image
5–6 per test · Speaking
- Re-tell Lecture
2–3 per test · Listening + Speaking
All Speaking & Writing question types · tips for all 22 types · full test format · how PTE scores work.
Scoring figures on this page follow the current PTE Academic official guide. This is an independent practice site and is not affiliated with Pearson.