Understanding the Retell Lecture Task

In the Retell Lecture task of the PTE Academic and UKVI test, you are required to retell a lecture in your own words after listening to or watching it. This question type assesses your ability to process academic information and present it clearly.

• Skills Assessed: Listening and speaking
• Prompt Length: Up to 90 seconds
• Preparation Time: 10 seconds (after the audio finishes)
• Time to Answer: 40 seconds

How to Answer This Question

For this item type, you need to retell exactly what you heard in the prompt. Here is the step-by-step process you will experience during the test:

1. Audio and Image Setup: The audio begins to play automatically. You may also see an image related to the audio on the screen.
2. Take Notes: While the audio is playing, you can take notes on the erasable noteboard provided. This is crucial for capturing the main concepts and details.
3. Prepare Your Response: After the audio finishes, you have a strict 10 seconds to prepare and organize your thoughts.
4. Watch the Countdown: The recording status box displays a countdown until the microphone opens.
5. Start Speaking Promptly: You will hear a short tone. After the tone, start speaking immediately. Do not start speaking before the microphone opens because your voice will not be recorded.
6. Delivery Style: You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush your words.
7. Finish Within the Limit: Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end and the word "Recording" changes to "Completed".
8. Single Attempt: You are only able to record your response once, so make it count.

Essential Test Tips

1. Make Good Use of the Image to Predict the Topic

You have 3 seconds before you listen to the recording to quickly look at the image on the screen. Use this time to think about the vocabulary you might hear. This context will give you an idea of the topic of the lecture and help you predict what you will hear when the recording begins.

2. Make Good Use of the 40 Seconds Speaking Time

You only have 40 seconds to speak and make sure that you include all the main points of the lecture. If you repeat ideas, correct yourself, or hesitate, you will use up valuable time and lose score points. So, keep talking and ignore any mistakes that you make to maintain your fluency.

How This Question is Scored

Your response for Retell Lecture is judged based on your ability to give a presentation on information from a lecture on an academic subject. Your score is evaluated on three main factors:

Content

Does your response accurately and thoroughly retell the information in the lecture? Content is scored by determining how accurately and thoroughly you convey the situation, characters, aspects, actions, and developments presented in the lecture. Your description of relationships, possible developments, and conclusions or implications is also scored. The best responses retell all the main points of the lecture and include possible developments, conclusions, or implications. Mentioning a few disjointed ideas will negatively affect your score.

Pronunciation

Does your response demonstrate your ability to produce speech sounds in a similar way to most regular speakers of the language? Pronunciation is scored by determining if your speech is easily understandable to most regular speakers of the language. The best responses contain vowels and consonants pronounced in a native-like way, and stress words and phrases correctly. Responses should also be immediately understandable to a regular speaker of the language. Note: PTE Academic recognizes regional and national varieties of English pronunciation to the degree that they are understandable to most regular speakers.

Oral Fluency

Does your response demonstrate a smooth, effortless, and natural rate of speech? Oral fluency is scored by determining if your rhythm, phrasing, and stress are smooth. The best responses are spoken at a constant and natural rate of speech with appropriate phrasing. Hesitations, repetitions, and false starts will negatively affect your score.

Important Scoring Notes:

• Partial Credit: This question type uses partial credit scoring. No credit is given for no response, an irrelevant response, or an unoriginal response. You must use your own words.
• Skills Evaluated: The task assesses listening, speaking, pronunciation, and oral fluency. Your reading skills are only used to understand the instructions. Your writing skills are not assessed.
• AI and Human Evaluation: Content, Pronunciation, and Oral Fluency are all AI-scored traits. A human expert will also review content before your final score for the task is confirmed.