Master “Respond to a Situation” | PTE 2025

PTE Speaking

If you’re aiming for a perfect 90 in PTE Speaking, mastering the newly introduced “Respond to a Situation” task is a must. This new question type is now part of the PTE Speaking section and contributes around 10 points. The good news? It’s one of the easiest speaking tasks—if you follow the right strategy and use a proven template.

In this blog, we’ll explain what this task is about, how it's marked, and how you can easily crack it using a reliable structure tested in multiple mock tests.

What is “Respond to a Situation” in PTE?

“Respond to a Situation” is now the 7th task in your PTE Speaking section.

Here’s how it works:

  • You’ll hear an audio describing a real-life situation.
  • The same content will be shown on your screen as a transcript.
  • Once the audio finishes, you’ll get 10 seconds to prepare.
  • Then, you’ll have 40 seconds to respond to the situation.

You’ll get 2-3 of these questions in your PTE exam, and they contribute only to the Speaking score.

How is it scored?

Just like other PTE Speaking tasks, “Respond to a Situation” is scored based on:

  1. Fluency – Speak at a natural pace. It’s not about speaking fast; it’s about smooth flow with natural pauses.
  2. Pronunciation – Speak clearly and understandably. You don’t need a foreign accent. Be calm and precise.
  3. Content – This is key. You need to talk relevantly about the given situation and include the keywords from the screen.

There’s no right or wrong answer. Even if 100 people answer the same question, all will have different responses—but those who include the right keywords will score better.

Key Tips to Remember

  • Don’t focus on grammar or big vocabulary. They are not scored in this task.
  • Be relevant to the situation shown on screen.
  • Don’t memorize answers—use a template, but mold it according to the situation.
  • Try to speak for 30–35 seconds at least. If you don’t have many ideas, repeat key phrases using different words.
  • Avoid long pauses or hesitations. The AI will pick them up.

Proven Template for “Respond to a Situation”

This template is tested across 17 official PSN mock tests, and it works!

Start with:

“The situation presented here is about [first sentence from the screen].”

Then say:

“While considering this situation, we should also focus on [second sentence].”

Next:

“In addition, it is important to take into account [third sentence].”

Then mention key points:

“Therefore, we need to address the key factors including [2–3 important keywords from the prompt].”

Finally:

“This situation should be handled with a focus on [first sentence again or summary keyword].”

Example Answer Using the Template

Prompt on screen:
“You saw a sign in your apartment building that a neighbor Fred is selling his car. The car is perfect for you. So you call Fred to ask about seeing the car in person but he doesn’t answer. Leave a message.”

Answer:

“The situation presented here is about a sign in the apartment building that Fred is selling his car.
While considering this situation, we should also focus on the fact that the car is perfect for me.
In addition, it is important to take into account that I called Fred to ask about the car but he didn’t answer.
Therefore, we need to address the key factors including car, message, and neighbor.
This situation should be handled with a focus on contacting Fred about his car.”

Simple, fluent, and relevant. That’s all you need.

Practice Tips

  • Practice 3–4 situations daily.
  • Use our PTE Mock Tests at www.visionlanguageexperts.in to get real-time feedback.
  • Our platform has an AI template detector—just like the real PTE test. If your answer is off-topic or fully template, you’ll score zero. So, always stay relevant!

Get the Help You Need

At Vision Language Experts, we’ve helped over 50,000 students achieve their dream scores. Whether you’re preparing for PTE Academic or PTE Core, we’ve got you covered with:

  • Online classes
  • On-campus sessions in Australia and India
  • Full-score mock tests
  • Live feedback and error analysis

Final Words

“Respond to a Situation” is easy and score-boosting, if done right. Focus on fluency, pronunciation, and content. Use the template smartly, stay calm, and practice regularly.

 

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