PTE Retell Lecture Format, Proven Templates And Tips

The PTE Retell Lecture tests the English listening and speaking skills of candidates.

The academic context requires you to have a wide vocabulary and understand and convey messages clearly and concisely.

LUME Test will explain how to manage time during the task and provide other tips on how to overcome this challenge.

Scroll down for details!

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Key Takeaways

• The PTE Retell Lecture task in the PTE Speaking section contains 3-4 lectures of 30-90 seconds in length.
• Candidates will be scored based on content, oral fluency, and pronunciation.
• Practicing under time pressure is one of the 9 tips mentioned in the article to build your confidence and be successful at the task.

Related:

• PTE free mock tests that can improve your real scores!
• PTE Academic full-form: Always keep these things
• How to prepare for PTE: A complete guide
• PTE Answer Short Question tips
• How to score 79 in PTE Retell Lecture

What Is The PTE Retell Lecture Format? 

In this part, there are 3-4 lectures that candidates need to listen to and retell. The average length of each lecture is from 30 to 90 seconds.  

Each audio will be played after 3 seconds. Once the speaker stops talking, you’ll have 10 seconds to arrange your answer.

After that, the microphone will open and start recording for 40 seconds. Use this time to transfer your preparation into a proper response.

Pictures and videos often appear together with the audio in current PTE tests. Candidates should also pay attention to these visuals as they will be helpful. 

PTE Retell Lecture Scoring Criteria

The PTE Retell Lecture scoring is based on content, fluency, and pronunciation.

Content

To get a score for this criterion, you need to include the lecturer’s main idea and keywords in your answer. No important details should be missing, and they should be presented in a logical order.

Fluency

Maintaining a smooth and consistent speech can raise your score. You’d better write down necessary phrases to ensure your content’s flow and rhythm. Avoid hesitation, as it can also affect your fluency.

Pronunciation

Your every word pronunciation counts. So, remember to pronounce the words correctly and stress the correct syllables. Therefore, listeners can easily understand your speech, and your score can be higher.

How To Approach PTE Retell Lecture With Time Management 

Mastering time management can help you ace the PTE Retell Lecture questions. Here’s a step-by-step procedure to approach the task:

• Before the audio: Candidates will have 3 seconds before the audio plays to calm down and analyze the displayed picture on the screen. Try to guess the related topic if possible.
• During the audio: While listening to the audio, you need to write down the main words and phrases. There’s not enough time to note everything, so only select the appropriate keywords.
• After the audio: Now, use these 10 seconds to arrange your answer in a hierarchy. It will help you speak smoothly later on.
• Retelling: Speak based on the note you’ve prepared. Stay confident and deliver your speech at a normal speed. And remember to avoid hesitation.  

A Proven PTE Retell Lecture Template With An Example

Using a template can shorten your thinking time and avoid missing important information. 

In general, your answer should contain an introduction (the topic of the lecture), main points, and a conclusion.

Introduction

Your speech must include the main topic at the beginning. You’d better spend 2-3 seconds speaking a sentence about it. The information is usually mentioned right after the audio starts, so prepare yourself well for that.

Main points

Use your next 30-35 seconds to present the main details that you’ve taken note of before. Usually, there will be 2-3 main points to mention (sometimes, 4 key points if possible). Remember to speak in a logical order.

Conclusion

Lastly, you conclude your speech with the main topic and key takeaways. Use your last 1-2 seconds to do it.

There are many PTE Retell Lecture examples, and here’s the most simple one to remember:

The main topic of the lecture is <main topic>. Firstly, the lecturer talked about <keyword 1>. Then he discussed <keyword 2> and <keyword 3>. Then, he concluded that <conclusion>. 

10 Effective Tips & Strategies To Excel PTE Retell Lecture 

Observe The Image As The Audio Plays

There will be three seconds before the audio plays. This little time can make a huge difference in preparing your response. Use this short period to look at the image that comes with the prompt.

The picture tells you what the lecture will center around. Knowing the topic of the audio enables you to predict what might be included in the lecture. Additionally, candidates can prepare the vocabulary related to the topic.

Learn How To Take Notes

A proven PTE Retell Lecture strategy is to take notes while listening. The prompt can be up to 90 seconds long, so it’s nearly impossible to remember all the details. Therefore, you should jot down the main points of the lecture.

Keywords, phrases, abbreviations, and even symbols should be used when taking notes. This will save time and allow you to keep track of the audio.

A big mistake many test-takers make is trying to memorize and write down all the sentences. However, doing so is a waste of time, and you might miss other important details. The key is to understand what the lecture says, not to memorize it.

Make Use Of The 10 Seconds To Prepare

After the audio stops, you will have 10 seconds for preparation. Now, scan through the notes you’ve taken and highlight all the points you must include in your speech. 

You can number the key points to determine which one should be mentioned first. This trick helps you map out an overview of your presentation logically.

Speak Clearly & Keep A Calm Pace

Once the microphone opens, which will be signaled by a short tone, start speaking immediately. Remember that you should complete your answer within 40 seconds, so don’t waste time.

However, it doesn’t mean you need to rush! Speaking too fast will do more harm than good because the computer might not recognize your response. Instead, maintain a calm pace and pronounce clearly throughout the speech.

Don’t Pause For Too Long

It’s worth mentioning that pausing for over 3 seconds will make the computer stop recording. It signals to the system that you’ve finished your answer.

In addition, pausing indicates your lack of preparation and poor vocabulary. Even when the computer continues recording, this will negatively impact your fluency score. 

Link Your Sentences

The key to delivering the topic and message of the lecture is to link your sentences logically. Don’t just pick a random point from your notes and speak about it. It’s best to structure your presentation in chronological order, spatial order, or order of importance.

Use link words like “first,” “second,” “next”, “in addition,” “most importantly,” “finally,” etc. These transition words create a smooth and logical flow between ideas, increasing your content score.

Follow The Prepared Template

We don’t recommend you follow suit with the same template for all Retell Lecture questions. However, your answer should be based on a common structure. This ensures the coherence of your response, and you will not miss out on any important points. 

Here’s a template you can apply:

• In the beginning/first/initially…, the lecturer/speaker…discussed about… (the theme of the lecture)
• After that/next/then…, the lecturer/he/she…talked about/mentioned that/suggested that…
• In addition/additionally/moreover…, she/he said that…
• In conclusion/to sum up/to wrap up…, the lecture tells us about… (summarize the message of the lecture)

Ignore Your Mistakes And Keep Going

Don’t stress out when you slip up! If you panic and try to correct it, time will pass, and you might not have enough time to finish your answer. Not to mention, this will confuse the computer, and it can reduce your point.

So, when you make a mistake or are stuck with words, just ignore it! Move on with the next points in your notes, and keep talking clearly to the microphone. Don’t add filler words, like “ah” or “um”!

Move To The Next Question Once Finished

There will be 2 to 3 Retell Lecture items in this task. Once you complete one question, continue with the next one immediately. Some candidates try to fill in more sentences during the remaining time. However, it doesn’t help with your performance.

In the worst case, the AI system might consider them as mistakes or hesitance in your answer. This is the last thing you want to happen!

Listen To Different Topics And Accents

We all know that practice makes perfect. Still, how you practice significantly impacts your performance on the test day. We recommend exposing yourself to various topics and accents. This allows you to familiarize yourself with different themes and broaden your vocabulary.

The themes in the PTE Retell Lecture section can be anything, including education, technology, social science, and more. You can search for repeated questions in the Retell Lecture for more sources.

Conclusion

The PTE Retell Lecture requires candidates to present a clear and concise summary of what they have listened to. The task is not easy, but it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible.

Remember to follow our guide on time management and other helpful tips above, which will help you improve and bring you closer to success.

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