You have an appointment and need to leave work early…
Respond to the situation.
You have an appointment and need to leave work early to accompany a relative. How do you request permission from your employer for early departure? What key points should you address to ensure your request is understood and approved?
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: your employer. Tone: respectful.
- Explain that you need to accompany a relative.
- Request permission to finish early.
- Discuss how to manage outstanding duties.
These are key points and a structure written by RealPTE, not a script to memorise: say or write it in your own words.
RealPTE numbers
From RealPTE practice records and students’ “I sat this” reports, counted weekly (last count 2026-10-31). Reports are what students tell us; predictions are not guaranteed.
Questions about this question
How do I answer PTE Respond to a Situation #RTS7-072?
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 #RTS7-072 with scoring?
Yes. The practice button on this page opens question #RTS7-072 in the RealPTE practice screen, where your answer is scored when you finish.
Opens question #RTS7-072 in the RealPTE practice screen.
Respond to a Situation format (Pearson)
| Prompt | A situation you hear and read, up to 60 words |
|---|---|
| Preparation | 10 seconds |
| Time to answer | 40 seconds |
| Skills assessed | Speaking |
| Scored on | Content; Pronunciation; Oral fluency |
How it is scored
- Partial credit applies: a partly correct response still scores.
- Traits are scored by AI; a human expert also reviews Content before the score is final.
- You can take notes while you listen.
- The recording plays only once.
- You can record your response only once.
Source: Pearson, PTE Academic & UKVI test format, Part 1: Speaking & Writing, checked 9 October 2026. New task dates: PTE Academic updates 2025.