Respond to a Situation · #RTS1-049
Printer Credit Refund
Question #RTS1-049
The situation
You tried to print your assignment at the university library, but the printer jammed and took your credit without printing anything. The assignment is due this evening and you have no credit left. Speak to the library assistant: explain what happened, ask for your credit to be refunded and request help printing now.
How to answer: structure and key points
How to answer
- Decide who you are speaking to, and choose a tone to match (friendly for friends, polite and more formal for staff or a teacher).
- Greet them and say why you are speaking.
- Cover each part of the situation in turn: the problem, what you need, and a suggestion.
- Close politely, for example with thanks or by agreeing a next step.
- Speak as you would in real life; there is no single correct answer.
Points to cover here
You are speaking to: a university library assistant. Tone: courteous and urgent.
- Describe the jammed printer deducting credit without producing your assignment.
- Explain that the submission is due tonight and your balance is exhausted.
- Request restoration of the lost credit and assistance completing the print job.
These are key points and a structure written by RealPTE, not a script to memorise: say or write it in your own words.
Questions about this question
How do I answer PTE Respond to a Situation #RTS1-049?
Decide who you are speaking to, and choose a tone to match (friendly for friends, polite and more formal for staff or a teacher). Greet them and say why you are speaking. The key points above cover 3 ideas from this question.
How do I get full marks on this Respond to a Situation question?
Answer every part of the situation in a tone that suits the listener, and speak naturally for the time you have.
Can I practise #RTS1-049 with scoring?
Yes. The practice button on this page opens question #RTS1-049 in the RealPTE practice screen, where your answer is scored when you finish.
Model answer
Hi, excuse me, sorry to bother you just before closing. I've just tried to print my assignment on the printer near the entrance, but it jammed halfway through and nothing came out. The problem is that it still deducted the credit from my account, and that was the last of it. The assignment is due tonight, so I'm a bit stuck. Would it be possible to refund that credit, and could you help me print it on a different machine before you close? Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.