Speaking and Writing - PTE Academic / UKVI, PTE Core
Repeat Sentence
Repeat Sentence practice strengthens listening memory, spoken accuracy, and fluent reproduction after one audio play.
Task facts at a glance
| Appears in | PTE Academic / UKVI and PTE Core — Speaking & Writing part |
|---|---|
| Items per test | 10–12 — the most frequent speaking task |
| Audio length | 3–9 seconds, plays once |
| Time to answer | 15 seconds |
| Scoring | Word-level partial credit — words repeated in the correct sequence |
| Negative marking | None |
| Skills credited | Speaking and Listening |
Worked example
You hear (3–9 seconds, once): “He has been awarded a research grant because of his excellent work.” You have 15 seconds to repeat it. (Real bank question — shown in the player below.)
He has been awarded a research grant because of his excellent work.
Why this scores well: Content scores on words repeated in the correct sequence with word-level partial credit — an exact, fluent repetition takes the maximum.
Scoring traits to watch
ContentOral fluencyPronunciation
Key takeaways
Listen for meaning groups instead of isolated words.
Keep the sentence rhythm even if one word is uncertain.
Review missing words, word order, and fluency after recording.
How to practise Repeat Sentence
Repeat Sentence is a memory and delivery task. Practise chunking the sentence and speaking smoothly rather than stopping to reconstruct every word.
- Listen once and hold the sentence in chunks.
- Repeat immediately with steady rhythm.
- Compare missing or changed words.
Practice framework
- Listen once and hold the sentence in chunks.
- Repeat immediately with steady rhythm.
- Compare missing or changed words.
- Repeat similar sentence lengths until retention improves.
Common mistakes
- Trying to remember every word without grouping meaning.
- Dropping small grammar words that affect content.
- Repeating with broken rhythm after a hesitation.
Frequently asked questions
How is Repeat Sentence scored in PTE?
Content is scored on the words you repeat in the correct sequence, with word-level partial credit — so a partly correct answer still earns marks. The task contributes to both your Speaking and Listening scores.
How many Repeat Sentence questions are in PTE?
There are 10–12 items, making it the most frequent speaking task in the test. It appears in both PTE Academic and PTE Core.
How long is the audio in PTE Repeat Sentence?
Each sentence lasts 3–9 seconds, and you then have 15 seconds to repeat it.
This task inside EdKnot
