Strategies to deal with P1: Repeat Sentence

Repeat Sentence asks PTE takers to listen to a sentence and repeat it right after that. Sounds easy, right? Yes, it’s easy if we can play the sentence at least twice; unfortunately, it’s not the case. We can only listen to the sentence once, and we cannot record ourselves again under any circumstances because each question gives us just 15 seconds to record. Besides, if students speak twice about the sentence in those 15 seconds, they will lose scores. Accordingly, make sure that you have strategies to deal with this item type. 

In this article, we will be sharing some simple tips that help you get the highest score when facing this question type in both PTE Academic and PTE Core. Let’s get into business!

Fundamental information

The PTE Academic and PTE Core have the same Repeat Sentence question format, which is awesome that we can apply the same strategy to both.

• Task: After listening to a recording of a sentence, repeat it
• Prompt Length: 3-9 seconds
• Timer: 15 seconds
• Frequency: 10-12 questions
• Skills assessed: Listening, Speaking  

A unique step-by-step strategy

All the strategies that you see or have read from our blog are developed based on the grading aspects that Pearson uses to evaluate PTE takers’ skills in order to achieve the highest score one can. Thus, have you comprehended how Part 1: Repeat Sentence is scored? 

Repeat Sentence answers are evaluated based on three grading aspects, including Content, Pronunciation and Oral Fluency. The details are as follows:

• Content: Errors = Replacements, omissions and insertions only. Hesitations, filled or unfilled pauses, and leading or trailing material are ignored in the scoring of content;

• 3 – All words spoken in the response from the prompt in the correct order;
• 2 – At least 50% of words in the response from the prompt in the correct order;
• 1 – Less than 50% of words in the response from the prompt in the correct order;
• 0 – Almost nothing from the prompt in the response.

• Pronunciation: How good your pronunciation is compared to native speakers. Scores from 0 (non-English) to 5 (native-like);
• Oral fluency: How smooth your speech is, including rhythm and phrasing, compared to native speakers. Scores from 0 (Disfluent) to 5 (native-like).

It’s easy to notice that the Content grading aspect has a very clear grading methodology so that we can set the right strategy to deal with lengthy sentences. However, Pronunciation and Oral fluency are quite abstract as we just know the scale from 0 to 5 considering how alike our speech compares to native speakers. Based on this information, let’s explore the following strategy to help you get the highest score in your ability. 

If you want to explore how other question types are scored, visit this article: “Grading elements and how questions are scored”.

Step 1: Listen carefully and take notes

Certainly, the system plays the sentence first that the Pearson Test of English takers need to pay 100% attention to in order to understand and remember as many words as they can. This step also requires PTE takers to take notes in their minds on the following aspects:

• Remember phrases, not single words: This ensures that we are able to repeat at least 50% of words to get 2/3 points in the Content grading elements. The best way is to remember phrases, not single words as any sentence has a subject, verbs, objects and maybe some other word functions in lengthy sentences. As a result, paying attention to phrases is easier and more effective. 
• Copy the stress and intonation patterns: If PTE takers demonstrate a smooth, effortless and natural rate of speech, they surely get a maximum of 5 points in the Oral fluency aspect. Oral fluency is assessed by determining students’ rhythm, phrasing and stress. The more likely your speech compares to natives, the higher the score you get. Therefore, we need to copy the stress and intonation of the speaker for the best result, which is NOT a hard task as we only need to practice every day to get familiar with stress and intonation. Moreover, hesitations, false starts or repetitions will negatively impact our scores. 

Step 2: Recall the sentence

After listening to the sentence, we have fifteen (15) seconds to repeat the sentence, and it’s way more than enough because the maximum length of a sentence is just nine (09) seconds. Thus, it’s genuinely crucial to utilise the rest of the six seconds to recall the sentence quickly for repeating later. 

In this recalling step, we do just one task – repeating the sentence in your head before reading it aloud. Furthermore, we also need to eliminate the words that we don’t know (or don’t remember how they sound even after listening to the sentence) how to pronounce. Do you remember that you need at least 50% of the content to get 2/3 points, if you try to pronounce 70% or even 90% of the words but there are some words missing, we still get 2/3 points. Hence, we should concentrate on our Oral Fluency and Pronunciation to make it smoother and eliminate all words that we can possibly make pronunciation mistakes. 

This step requires regular practice to master, so PTE takers are able to apply it to their test effortlessly on the test day. And remember that we have a maximum of six seconds to recall the sentence. 

Note: DO NOT read aloud in this step, otherwise, your voice will be recorded, and it will negatively impact your overall score. 

Step 3: Speak it out! 

There is nothing else to say! In this step, we speak it out! 

Step 1 and Step 2 are the most important parts to get ourselves ready for all types of sentences, even lengthy ones. Accordingly, make sure that you commit to everyday practice for the best result. 

Things to bear in mind

Here are some things that you need to bear in mind to win this Part 1: Repeat Sentence. 

• Don’t rush, we just need to speak at a normal pace and clearly;
• Manage your time to finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end;
• Utilise at least six seconds to practice repeating in your mind first, it’s the key element for success;
• Don’t try to cover all the words even if you don’t know how to pronounce them;
• Always imitate the speakers’ stress and intonation.

Practice makes perfect!

The Live-PTE Practice Platform and instant feedback

We are proud to support thousands of students across the world preparing for the PTE Academic and Duolingo English Test with the live interactive practice platforms that offer instantly detailed feedback for all question types. 

For example, if students practice Part 1: Repeat Sentence on the PTE Practice Platform – TADE Hub, they get feedback based on Content. Regarding Oral fluency and Pronunciation, test-takers should listen to our sample answer to learn on how to speak live native speakers.  

For all other Writing and Speaking questions, we have detailed feedback based on the same grading elements as what Pearson uses to grade your skills. Let’s review this video sample feedback here for a better understanding. 

Whether you want to prepare for the Pearson Test of English Academic or Core, the PTE Practice Website has everything you need to help test-takers successfully secure their desired scores with a list of benefits for Premium members. 

• Thousands of practice questions similar to the real test;
• 2-hour mock tests provide estimated scores;
• Instantly detailed feedback for all question types;
• Three supportive vocab lists;
• An integrated dictionary;
• And other supporting self-study features.

With a FREE account, PTE takers can experience all the main features and instant feedback. So let’s go visit the PTE Practice Website and start your preparation today.