Speaking and Writing - PTE Academic / UKVI
Retell Lecture
Re-tell Lecture practice builds listening notes, summary structure, and fluent spoken reconstruction of a lecture.
Task facts at a glance
| Appears in | PTE Academic / UKVI only — Speaking & Writing part |
|---|---|
| Items per test | 2–3 |
| Audio length | Up to 90 seconds, plays once |
| Preparation time | 10 seconds |
| Time to speak | 40 seconds |
| Scoring | Partial credit — Content, Oral fluency, Pronunciation |
| Negative marking | None |
| Skills credited | Speaking and Listening |
Worked example
You hear a lecture on cloud formation: “Clouds are a familiar part of our sky, but how exactly do they form? The process requires three key ingredients…” (Real bank question, ~90-second lecture — shown in the player below. 10 seconds to prepare, 40 to speak.)
The lecture explains how clouds form. It states that three ingredients are needed: water vapor, cooling, and condensation nuclei. When warm, moist air rises, it expands and cools. As the air cools, water vapor condenses around tiny particles called condensation nuclei, such as dust, salt, or pollution. These nuclei provide a surface for the water to condense upon, forming tiny droplets that group together to create clouds. Without condensation nuclei, clouds would not form easily.
Why this scores well: It reproduces the lecture’s structure — the three ingredients, the process, and the closing point — in a fluent 40-second retelling.
Scoring traits to watch
ContentOral fluencyPronunciation
Templates that score full marks
Every template below is taught inside EdKnot and verified against the same AI scoring engine that marks your practice — out of 16 for this task.
Template 1 — connected retelling
The lecture discusses [TOPIC]. The speaker explains [POINT 1], mentioning [DETAIL OR FIGURE]. They also cover [POINT 2], emphasising [DETAIL]. In conclusion, [THE SPEAKER'S TAKEAWAY].
Template 2 — sequential retelling
The speaker introduced [TOPIC]. First, they talked about [POINT 1], mentioning [DETAIL]. They went on to discuss [POINT 2 WITH ITS FIGURE OR EXAMPLE]. As the lecture closed, they emphasised [CONCLUSION].
Key takeaways
Capture the topic, main points, and supporting details while listening.
Use notes to speak in a clear summary order.
Review whether the response covers the lecture’s main message.
How to practise Retell Lecture
Re-tell Lecture improves when notes are useful for speaking. Practise capturing structure, not a transcript.
- Note the topic and two or three main points.
- Group details under each point.
- Speak from notes without reading every word.
Practice framework
- Note the topic and two or three main points.
- Group details under each point.
- Speak from notes without reading every word.
- Review coverage, fluency, and pronunciation.
Common mistakes
- Writing too many notes and missing the lecture flow.
- Retelling isolated details without a main idea.
- Pausing heavily while reading notes aloud.
Frequently asked questions
Is Re-tell Lecture in PTE Core?
No — Re-tell Lecture appears in PTE Academic only, with 2–3 items per test.
How long is the lecture in PTE Re-tell Lecture?
The audio lasts up to 90 seconds. You then get 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to speak.
What skills does Re-tell Lecture contribute to?
It contributes to both your Speaking and Listening scores.
This task inside EdKnot
