# PTE Repeat Sentence: scoring, examples and practice

PTE Repeat Sentence plays a 3-9 second sentence once and gives you 15 seconds to repeat it. Scored on how many words you get back in the right order, plus fluency and pronunciation.

## The short answer

Repeat Sentence plays a short sentence, 3 to 9 seconds long, once. You have 15 seconds to say it back. There are 10 to 12 in a test, and they count towards both Listening and Speaking, which makes this the highest-value speaking task in PTE Academic. The content score is blunt: all the words in the right order scores 3, at least half scores 2, fewer than half scores 1, almost nothing scores 0.

## Key facts

- **Items per test:** 10-12
- **Prompt length:** 3-9 seconds, played once
- **Response time:** 15 seconds
- **Skills scored:** Listening and speaking
- **Traits:** Content, oral fluency, pronunciation

*Repeat Sentence timing: the audio plays once for 3 to 9 seconds, then you have 15 seconds to record your repetition.*

| Stage | Time |
| --- | --- |
| Audio plays once | 3-9 sec |
| You record | 15 sec |

*There is no preparation time: the recording opens as soon as the audio ends.*

Timings and scoring rules come from Pearson's task pages and the July 2025 Score Guide, checked 28 September 2026.

## How it's scored

Content is counted in words recovered in the correct sequence, on a scale of 0 to 3. Getting every word in order scores 3. At least half the words in the correct sequence scores 2. Fewer than half scores 1, and a response with almost nothing from the prompt scores 0.

That scale is why a partial answer is always worth saying. A candidate who repeats two thirds of a sentence fluently scores far better than one who says nothing because they missed the first few words.

> Because Repeat Sentence counts for both Listening and Speaking, points here move two communicative scores at once. It is usually the fastest task to improve.

## Repeat Sentence examples

Worked examples written for this page. Answer each one before you open the model response: memorizing a response is scored as an irrelevant answer in the real test.

**Example 1 -- a full recovery**

Recording (played once), transcript:

> The seminar has been moved to the lecture theater on the second floor.

Prompt: Play it once, then repeat it exactly.

0 seconds to prepare, then 15 seconds to speak.

Model response: "The seminar has been moved to the lecture theater on the second floor."

Why it scores: Every word in the right order scores the full 3 for content. Say it at a normal pace: a flat, robotic repeat still costs fluency marks.

**Example 2 -- a partial recovery**

Recording (played once), transcript:

> Students who registered late will need to collect their timetables from the faculty office.

Prompt: Play it once, then say back as much as you have, in order.

0 seconds to prepare, then 15 seconds to speak.

Model response: "Students who registered late will need to collect their timetables from the office."

Why it scores: One missing word still leaves well over half the sentence in the right sequence, so content stays high. Saying this smoothly beats stopping halfway to search for "faculty".

**Example 3 -- when you only catch the ending**

Recording (played once), transcript:

> Most of the funding for the project came from private donors.

Prompt: Play it once, then say whatever you caught, in order.

0 seconds to prepare, then 15 seconds to speak.

Model response: "...the funding for the project came from private donors."

Why it scores: Say the part you have, in order, at a steady pace. Fewer than half the words scores 1, which still beats silence, and fluency and pronunciation are still scored on what you do say.

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## Common mistakes

| What costs marks | Do this instead |
| --- | --- |
| Trying to write the sentence down while it plays. | Listen to the whole thing. Notes cost you the end of the sentence, which is the part most people already lose. |
| Staying silent when you only caught part of it. | Say what you have. Half the words in order is worth 2 out of 3 on content; silence is 0. |
| Repeating word by word with gaps. | Say it as one phrase. Oral fluency is scored on the rhythm of what you produce, not on how carefully you space the words. |
| Correcting yourself mid-answer. | Keep going to the end. There is no credit for a second attempt, and the restart damages fluency. |

**Know the score you are aiming at** Put a target into the PTE score calculator to see the visa band it reaches, the points it is worth, and how far off you are. [Open the PTE score calculator](/pte/score-calculator)

## How to practice

1. Practice with sentences of 8 to 12 words first, then work up: the task tops out around 9 seconds of audio.
2. Repeat the meaning as a chunk, not as single words. Most people can hold a whole clause but not ten separate items.
3. Record yourself and check whether you are finishing: trailing off in the last three words is the most common leak.
4. Do sets of ten in a row, the same number as a real test, so your listening does not fade at the end.

## Common questions

### How many Repeat Sentence questions are in PTE?

10 to 12 in a test, which is why it carries so much of the Speaking and Listening score.

### Is the audio played twice in Repeat Sentence?

No. The sentence plays once, and you have 15 seconds to respond.

### Should I answer if I only remember half the sentence?

Yes. At least half the words in the correct sequence scores 2 out of 3 for content. Silence scores 0 and also loses the fluency and pronunciation marks.

### Does Repeat Sentence count for listening?

Yes. It is scored for both listening and speaking.

**Sources**
- [Pearson: PTE Academic Speaking & Writing task types (checked 28 September 2026)](https://www.pearsonpte.com/pte-academic/test-format/speaking-writing)
- [Pearson: PTE Academic Test Taker Score Guide, July 2025 (PDF)](https://www.pearsonpte.com/ctf-assets/yqwtwibiobs4/WUcBAMkYCC9Dj5vs2HfVA/941d88d07ba7c2a5007f7ce1b18eedbf/Score_Guide__Test_Taker__-_PTE_Academic_-_July_2025__web_.pdf)

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