PTE Core Respond to a Situation: Practice, Audio and Tips
Practise PTE Core Respond to a Situation here with 3 original audio prompts and model answers; Core gives 20 seconds to prepare after the prompt and 40 seconds to speak.
Core timing and scoring
| Core stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Preparation after the prompt audio | 20 seconds |
| Spoken response | 40 seconds |
| Trait | Raw score range | What it checks |
|---|---|---|
| Appropriacy | 0–3 | Purpose, register and relevant detail |
| Pronunciation | 0–5 | Intelligible sounds and appropriate stress |
| Fluency | 0–5 | Rhythm and connected phrases |
Respond to a Situation also appears in Academic, with different preparation time and content criteria. This page uses Core Appropriacy: perform the requested function, choose a register suited to the listener and give enough relevant detail. The comments below are study guidance, not assigned scores.
Request · workplace
Original situation
Transcript
You share a workbench with another employee. A delivery of fragile parts is due tomorrow, but the bench is covered with old packaging. Ask your colleague to help clear the bench before the delivery. Explain why you need the space and suggest where to put the packaging.
Play the prompt first, then start the practice clock. This clock does not record you.
Prepare 20 s · respond 40 s
Original model answer
Hi Morgan, could you help me clear our workbench before the fragile parts arrive tomorrow? We need a flat, empty surface so the boxes can be opened safely without anything falling off. I can move the tools into the cupboard while you flatten the old packaging. There is a recycling trolley beside the loading door where we can put it. Would the end of this afternoon work for you? If you are busy then, let me know and we can choose another time.
Transcript
Hi Morgan, could you help me clear our workbench before the fragile parts arrive tomorrow? We need a flat, empty surface so the boxes can be opened safely without anything falling off. I can move the tools into the cupboard while you flatten the old packaging. There is a recycling trolley beside the loading door where we can put it. Would the end of this afternoon work for you? If you are busy then, let me know and we can choose another time.
| Criterion | What to listen for |
|---|---|
| Appropriacy | Addresses a colleague politely, explains the safety reason, divides the work and proposes a time without giving an order. |
| Pronunciation | Stress “fragile parts” and “flat, empty surface” so the reason is clear. Keep the final consonants in “parts” and “tools” audible. |
| Fluency | Pause after the request and before the suggested arrangement. Keep each proposal together instead of restarting it. |
Complaint or problem · service
Original situation
Transcript
You ordered a replacement shelf for a cupboard. The parcel has arrived, but the shelf has holes in the wrong places and cannot be fitted. Speak to the shop assistant. Explain the problem, ask for a suitable replacement, and say that you can bring the shelf back.
Play the prompt first, then start the practice clock. This clock does not record you.
Prepare 20 s · respond 40 s
Original model answer
Hello, I ordered this replacement shelf for my cupboard, but the holes do not line up with the supports. I checked the cupboard model before ordering, so could you please help me find a shelf that fits it? I have the order confirmation and can show you a photograph of the supports. I can bring this shelf back to the shop if you need to inspect it. Please let me know whether a suitable replacement is available and how we should arrange the exchange.
| Criterion | What to listen for |
|---|---|
| Appropriacy | Describes the fault without accusing the assistant, makes a specific replacement request and offers useful evidence and a return. |
| Pronunciation | Make “holes”, “supports” and “replacement” distinct. Give the request a clear, audible ending. |
| Fluency | Group the problem, evidence and exchange request into separate phrases. Avoid repeating the complaint to fill time. |
Advice and invitation · friend
Original situation
Transcript
A friend has moved nearby and wants to meet people but does not enjoy noisy events. You attend a small gardening group that welcomes beginners. Suggest the group, explain why it might suit your friend, and invite your friend to come with you to the next meeting.
Play the prompt first, then start the practice clock. This clock does not record you.
Prepare 20 s · respond 40 s
Original model answer
You mentioned wanting to meet people somewhere quieter. You might enjoy the gardening group I go to. It is a small group, and we usually chat while working on the plants, so there is no pressure to speak in front of everyone. You do not need gardening experience because the members explain what to do. Would you like to come along with me to the next meeting? We could try it together, and if it does not feel right, we can think of another activity.
| Criterion | What to listen for |
|---|---|
| Appropriacy | Gives a friend a low-pressure suggestion, connects it to the preference for quiet activities and extends a clear invitation. |
| Pronunciation | Use natural stress on “quieter” and “no pressure”. Keep “gardening experience” intelligible rather than rushing it. |
| Fluency | Link the reason to the invitation smoothly. Leave a brief pause at the question rather than adding a memorised closing. |
A response you can adapt
Speak to the person in the prompt. State what you need, explain the relevant reason, then offer or ask for a workable next step. Do not describe what a hypothetical person should say. A polite complaint can still be specific; an invitation should leave the friend room to decline.
Sources and dates
Source: Pearson Core Speaking & Writing. Checked 2026-10-23.
Source: Pearson Core Score Guide: Appropriacy. Checked 2026-10-23.
Source: Pearson Core Score Guide: Pronunciation and Fluency. Checked 2026-10-23.
Questions students ask
How long do I get for PTE Core Respond to a Situation?
Practise PTE Core Respond to a Situation here with 3 original audio prompts and model answers; Core gives 20 seconds to prepare after the prompt and 40 seconds to speak.
What does Appropriacy mean in Core?
It has a raw maximum of 3. Answer the situation’s social purpose with the right tone and enough relevant detail, rather than giving an unrelated memorised speech.
Can I use the Academic Respond to a Situation template?
The task name is shared, but preparation time and scoring differ. Practise with the Core instructions and match each response to the listener and purpose.
Are the model answers scored?
No. They are RealPTE originals with editorial comments. Feedback in the practice product is a practice estimate, not a Pearson result.
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