Listen to the conversation
Press ▶ Play conversation, or 🔊 on any line. Then try 🎭 Practise as "You": the other person speaks, and you say your lines out loud.
Key words and phrases
| Phrase | What it means |
|---|---|
| a tradie | A tradesperson: a plumber, electrician, carpenter, painter and so on. |
| a quote | The price the tradie agrees to before starting work. Ask for it in writing. |
| a call-out fee | A fee just for coming to your home, before any work is done. |
| a leak / it's leaking | Water escaping from a pipe, tap or roof. |
| blocked | When water can't drain: the sink is blocked. |
| licensed | Plumbers and electricians must hold a licence in Australia. It's fine to ask for their licence number. |
Tips
- Describe where the problem is and what you can see: under the sink, a steady drip, the power keeps tripping.
- Always ask about the call-out fee and a quote before work starts.
- If you rent, contact your property manager first. Urgent repairs are often their responsibility.
- Too easy and no worries both mean no problem. You'll hear them a lot.
Aussie words in this conversation: tradie, no worries, too easy, gday.
More everyday situations
- Seeing a GP (doctor)
- Inspecting a rental
- Opening a bank account
- Small talk at work
- Ordering coffee and food
Unofficial practice. We wrote these questions to match the official PTE Academic task types and timings. They are not real exam questions, and points shown are practice feedback, not a PTE score. For an official estimate, use Pearson's scored practice tests.
Frequently asked questions
What English phrases do I need for calling a tradie in Australia?
This page lists the key phrases with audio, then shows them in a real conversation you can role-play.
How can I practise calling a tradie in English?
Listen to the dialogue, then press the role-play button to take one part yourself. Say the phrases out loud.
Is this for beginners?
It suits learners at about A2 to B1. Beginners can start with the free Everyday English course.