PTE Competent plan, week 2: Repeat Sentence and speaking templates

This week's sessions

Tick each session when you finish it. Your ticks are saved only in this browser.

1. Day 1 · 🗣️ Speaking · about 25 minRepeat Sentence in chunksRead this week's lesson, then do the practice set below. Listen for two or three chunks of meaning in each sentence.
2. Day 2 · 🗣️ Speaking · about 20 minMore Repeat SentenceDo the Repeat Sentence practice. Copy the speaker's rhythm, and start speaking within two seconds.
3. Day 3 · 🗣️ Speaking · about 25 minDescribe Image templateListen to three sample answers, then describe two images yourself with the 4-step template: what it is, main feature, two details, conclusion.
4. Day 4 · 🗣️ Speaking · about 25 minRetell LectureRead the tips and do one or two lectures. Write key words only while you listen, then use the three-step pattern.
5. Day 5 · 🗣️ Speaking · about 25 minRespond to a SituationListen to the sample answers, then answer three situations out loud: greet, explain, ask or offer, finish politely.

This week's lesson: Repeat Sentence, and simple templates for longer answers

This week is the second speaking week. You'll practise Repeat Sentence, which counts towards Speaking and Listening, and learn simple patterns for Describe Image, Retell Lecture and Respond to a Situation.

Repeat Sentence: listen in chunks

You hear a sentence of about 3 to 9 seconds, once. Then you say it back exactly.

Don't try to remember single words. Listen for chunks of meaning:

The bus to the main campus / leaves every fifteen minutes.

That's two chunks, not ten words. Picture the meaning (a bus, the campus, every fifteen minutes) and the words come back more easily.

Tips:

• Copy the speaker's rhythm. Say it at the same speed, with the same stress.
• Start straight away. Begin within about two seconds.
• Can't remember it all? Say what you can, smoothly. Two clear chunks are better than a long silence.
• Don't add words like "um" or "the sentence was".

Answer Short Question: one word is enough

You hear a simple question. Say the answer in one word or a few words, quickly:

Which month comes after March? → April.

A full sentence isn't needed, and a long answer wastes time.

Describe Image: a 4-step template

You have 25 seconds to look and 40 seconds to speak. Don't describe everything. Use this pattern:

1. What it is: The bar chart shows the number of visitors to three museums in 2025.
2. The main feature: The highest number was at the science museum, with about 50,000 visitors.
3. Two details: The art museum had around 30,000, and the history museum had the fewest, about 20,000.
4. A conclusion: Overall, the science museum was clearly the most popular.

Keep talking for about 35 seconds, in a steady voice. Fluency and clear pronunciation count, so simple English spoken smoothly is better than difficult words with long pauses.

Retell Lecture: the same idea

Take notes of key words only while you listen (names, numbers, nouns). Then:

1. The lecture was about...
2. The speaker said that... and also that...
3. Finally, the speaker concluded that...

Respond to a Situation: answer like a real person

You read and hear a short situation, then you have 40 seconds to say what you would say. Use this order:

1. Greet the person in the right way for who they are: a friend, a manager, a shop assistant.
2. Explain the situation using the details in the prompt.
3. Ask for something or offer a solution.
4. Finish politely.

Hi Sam. I'm really sorry, but I spilled some coffee on the textbook you lent me. I'm happy to buy you a new copy. Just let me know what works for you.

This week

Practise Repeat Sentence every day, and try one template a day. Record yourself each time. Listen for long pauses, and check that you used every step of the template.

Practice for this week

Repeat Sentence in chunks

Weekly check: Mock test 1, Speaking & Writing

☕ Found this useful? Buy us a coffee on Ko-fi to help keep English Coaching free.