A good speaking template is not a script. It is an order of ideas that stops you pausing. This page explains how to use structures in every PTE speaking task, including the two tasks added in August 2025: which need one, which do not, and how long to speak. You can also download our class template for data images in Describe Image as a free PDF.
Speaking tasks at a glance
| Task | Prep | Speak | Counts towards | Main focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read Aloud | 30 to 40 s | Up to 40 s | Speaking only (9%) | Fluency, pronunciation |
| Repeat Sentence | None | 15 s | Speaking 16%, Listening 17% | Memory, rhythm |
| Describe Image | 25 s | 40 s (about 25 s is enough) | Speaking only (31%) | Clear order, keep talking |
| Retell Lecture | 10 s | 40 s (about 25 s is enough) | Speaking 13%, Listening 13% | Notes into speech |
| Answer Short Question | None | 10 s | Listening only (4%) | Vocabulary |
| Summarize Group Discussion | Short | Up to 2 min (about 60 s is enough) | Speaking 19%, Listening 20% | Three speakers + outcome |
| Respond to a Situation | 10 s | 40 s | Speaking only (13%) | Polite, natural response |
Percentages are Pearson's question weightings: each task's share of that skill score.
Three rules for any speaking structure
- Grammar is not marked in Describe Image, Retell Lecture or Summarize Group Discussion. They are marked on content, fluency and pronunciation, so a small slip costs little while a long pause or a restart costs a lot.
- The time limit is not the target. In Describe Image and Retell Lecture, about 25 seconds is enough for a full answer. In Summarize Group Discussion, about 60 seconds is enough.
- Own words, real content. Put every structure into your own words and fill it with the real content of the question, so you do not sound like you are reciting a template.
Read Aloud
No template. Chunk the text into 3 to 5 phrases during preparation, start within one second, keep an even pace, and never go back. It scores Speaking only. Full routine: Read Aloud tips.
Repeat Sentence
No template. Listen in meaning chunks, copy the rhythm, and keep going if you miss a word. See Repeat Sentence tips.
Describe Image
This is the biggest task in the test: 31% of Speaking. The structure has four parts: an introduction (the type of image and its topic), the key content (for graphs, the axes, the highest and lowest values and any similar values), a flexible line to cover more elements or fill time, and a short conclusion. Aim for about 25 seconds and never go below 18. The free PDF above gives the full data-image template. Full guide: Describe Image template.
Retell Lecture
There is no fixed template. Open with the topic, then build each sentence from a sentence starter plus two of your notes, joined with "and". Take notes as key phrases of 4 to 5 words, not single keywords, so each note is already half a sentence. About 25 seconds is enough. Full guide: Retell Lecture template.
Summarize Group Discussion (new)
This works exactly like Retell Lecture, with three speakers. Take notes in three vertical columns, one per speaker. Open with the topic, cover each speaker's points, and close with whether the group agreed or disagreed. About 60 seconds is enough, and mixing up which speaker said what costs little. Full guide: Summarize Group Discussion.
Respond to a Situation (new)
Four simple steps. Greet the person named in the question. Explain the situation in the first person, using "I" and "my": this is the most important step, and it comes almost word for word from the question. Add one reason why it matters to you. Make a polite request. Full guide with sample answers: Respond to a Situation.
Answer Short Question
No template. Answer in one to three words, within 3 seconds, and guess if unsure. It appears in the speaking part but scores Listening only, and it is one of the least important tasks. See Answer Short Question tips.
Make structures sound natural
- Fill every structure with real content from the question.
- Change your wording from question to question. Keep the order, not the exact sentences.
- Speak at a steady, conversational pace.
- Stress the content words. See pronunciation tips for Nepali speakers.
- Record yourself and listen back once a day.
Our students get the full playbook for each task, including the process and picture templates for Describe Image and the sentence starters for Retell Lecture and Summarize Group Discussion. See courses.
Frequently asked questions
Are PTE speaking templates allowed?
Using a structure is fine. Reciting memorised sentences that do not match the question is not. Put the structure into your own words and fill it with the real content of the question, so you do not sound like you are reciting a template.
Which speaking task matters most?
Describe Image. By Pearson's question weightings it is 31% of your Speaking score and 15% of your overall score, the biggest task in the whole test. Summarize Group Discussion (19%) and Repeat Sentence (16%) come next.
Do templates work for the new 2025 tasks?
Yes, as structures: Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation both reward clear organisation with real content from the question.
Want a tutor to check how your answers sound? See our courses or send us a recording on WhatsApp.