Many examinees think the Repeat Sentence section of the PTE Core Speaking test is just about echoing words.

However, you need more than that to perform well in this task.

This “art of repetition” tests your listening and speaking skills. It requires good memory and the ability to comprehend spoken English.

In this short guide, PTE Magic will provide you with useful tips and tricks.

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Key Takeaways

• The PTE Core Repeat Sentence task tests your listening and speaking ability to repeat what you hear.
• You need to copy the correct word stress and intonation, but not the accent.
• A good memory and the ability to recall are important.
• Taking notes is one of the useful tricks to be successful in the task.

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An Introduction To PTE Core Repeat Sentence

The PTE Core Repeat Sentence is the second question type in the speaking section. It assesses your listening and speaking skills by providing some recordings and requiring you to repeat them in the correct order.

To do the task well, you should improve your memory and the ability to replicate language quickly with good fluency and pronunciation.

Task Explanation 

In this task, examinees must listen to a 3-9-second sentence recording and repeat it within 40 seconds. 

When the recording finishes, the microphone will be on. You should immediately speak as there is no short tone to remind you. You will see the status box showing “Recording.”

Speak clearly and steadily to ensure your answer ends before the progress bar reaches “Completed.” Remember, you can only listen to the audio and record your response once. 

Skills Assessed In PTE Core Repeat Sentence 

This task evaluates your ability to listen and speak simultaneously by imitating real-life scenarios. 

Listening

In this section, you need to do more than just memorize and recall the sentence. It also requires you to understand the meaning of the speech, including academic words and complex terminology. 

Practicing in diverse academic settings (such as lectures or discussions) can help you improve faster. 

Speaking

The task is not just about repeating words without meaning and purpose. To reproduce spoken English accurately, it’s important to copy the correct word order, tone, and pace. 

You can achieve a higher score once you understand the English speech patterns and the provided context.  

What Affects The Score?

3 key elements influence your score, including:

Content

Content means repeating all words included in the recording and only these words. You will get a good score if your answer contains the correct number of words. You can’t replace, add, or omit words, as it will affect your score. 

Oral Fluency

Smooth and natural speech will help you achieve good results. Try to produce an answer with appropriate stress and phrasing and maintain a good rhythm. Remember that false starts, repetitions, and unnecessary pauses will negatively impact your oral fluency score.

Pronunciation

The exam recognizes different English accents. However, your answer should be understandable to most regular English speakers. To do so, you must have a fluent-like way of pronouncing the words with correct vowels and consonants and proper stress.

What Should You Do During The Task?

To ensure a good performance during the task, you should:

• Listen to the sentence’s phrasing as it’s said: Sentences usually come as groups of words. Identifying them will support your sentence reproduction. It’s even better if you can understand the meaning of each phase so that you can do the task more effectively.
• Repeat the stress and intonation: The word stress usually means important information. Ensure you copy the proper patterns to convey the meaning successfully. With more PTE Core Repeat Sentence practice, you’ll understand where to make word stress effortlessly. 
• Avoid copying the accent: While you need to repeat what the speaker says, there’s no need to speak with the same accent. Remember to maintain a natural flow, an appropriate pace, and volume. 

7 PTE Core Repeat Sentence Tips And Tricks

Take Notes

Taking notes is a classic but helpful method in many listening assessment exams, including the PTE Core Repeat Sentence.

You should note the keywords and important phases to help you recall the sentence later. There’s no need and no time to write down the complete sentence. Thus, avoid doing so.

Visualize The Words

Visualizing is a technique that helps listeners remember the words faster and longer. You should stay focused during the test and catch the keywords. Then, connect the important words with something you’re familiar with or easy to imagine. 

Understand The Meaning

Understanding the meaning of the content is always better. Doing so makes it easier to remember the words and produce correct pronunciation and intonation while speaking. 

Enhance Vocabulary

To be better at understanding, you should enrich your vocabulary. It’s one of the helpful tips to support your recognizing and recalling abilities. 

To enhance your knowledge, you can read or listen to various content, including daily and academic vocabulary. This way, you can easily grasp the meaning of complex words in the provided sentences.

Mind Your Speed And Tone

Your speed and tone can show how comfortable you are with the test. Remember to keep a proper pace without rushing or speaking too slowly, as these can affect your fluency. 

Maintain your natural tone with stress, raising/lowering your voice when needed, and don’t mimic the speaker’s accent. 

Speak Clearly And Confidently

Moderate volume and clear speech are highly recommended. When you speak too quietly, the computer might not record you well.

Plus, relax while speaking, as nervousness can affect your performance. Don’t stop talking when you make a mistake to keep the flow going well. 

Making a guess is better than leaving it unanswered if you are unsure about words and phrases. Your confident try might create great value.

Eliminate Distracting Factors

Lastly, ensure a quiet environment with no distractions during the test. This will help you capture every word clearly and will not affect the accuracy of your answer. 

Conclusion 

The PTE Core Repeat Sentence section evaluates the listening and speaking skills of the test takers.

The above tips and tricks will help you better prepare for the task. Remember, practice makes perfect.

We wish you the best of luck in your exam!