How to Improve Oral Fluency In PTE (A Simple Guide)

Many test-takers have a decent overall PTE score, but their Speaking score is not.

This blog by PTE Magic shows you how to improve oral fluency in PTE and also points out why you may have low speaking scores.

Stay tuned!

Key Takeaways

• Rushing through your sentences often confuses the AI system that’s scoring your test.
• Mindless pratise without identifying your weaknesses will lead to frustration, not progress.
• Practising with PTE Magic Mock Tests helps test-takers improve their oral fluency even more. 

Related:

• Check out PTE Magic’s proven online coaching courses here
• How to prepare for your next PTE test effectively
• These last-minute tips will maximise your PTE scores!

Reasons for Low PTE Speaking Scores

Mistaking Fluency for Speed

Fluency in PTE is not turning your speaking pace into a race. Many learners think that the faster they speak, the higher their score will be. But clarity and naturalness matter far more than speed. Rushing through your sentences often causes jumbled words and confused listeners, especially the AI system that’s scoring your test.

Speeding through a conversation might feel like you’re covering more information by speaking faster, but if the words blur together and lose meaning, your fluency score will drop. In the end, it’s not how fast you finish the answer but how well you express your ideas in it.

Anxiety

Instructors often advise us to “Speak naturally in the exam,” but most test-takers fail to perform with their casual speaking. No amount of scripted practice can mimic the authenticity of a relaxed conversation. Stress is often the culprit. 

In everyday conversations, our words flow naturally, plus there’s no time limit. But on the exam day, it’s a different story. Test-takers who are good at conversations can still stumble in the exam because they’ve unknowingly trained their brains to think, “This is different,” when it shouldn’t be.

Ineffective Practise

Practice only sometimes makes perfect. In fact, if you’re constantly practising without fixing the real issues, you’re just repeating the wrong parts. You’re indeed putting in the effort, but the problems are still there.

Many PTE students think that endless repetition will solve everything. But mindless practice without identifying your weaknesses will lead to frustration, not progress. Imagine recording your speech a few times but never noticing that your intonation is flat or your pronunciation needs to be corrected. You will end up stuck in a loop and only progress if this keeps happening.

PTE Oral Fluency Tips

Take PTE Magic Mock Tests

Practising with PTE Magic Mock Tests helps test-takers improve their oral fluency even more. Our Speaking tasks mimic the actual PTE test format to bring the closest experience to learners. We also integrate AI systems that can recognise your voice and grade your performance based on the mock questions given.

Additionally, when doing our speaking tasks, read the text silently to yourself first, then play the audio recording while you follow along. Absorb the natural pacing, the way the speaker controls the flow of words. Then, try to mimic that pacing. This method trains your brain to absorb the rhythm of fluent English, so when the test day comes, you will feel more natural.

Practise Speaking With Others

Oral fluency plays a crucial role in these PTE question types: Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, and Re-tell Lecture. Improving oral fluency means ensuring your English speaking skills are natural. 

It’s easier to improve oral fluency with regular conversations or practical situations. Therefore, PTE Magic suggests joining an English-speaking club or taking a short course. Engaging in lively discussions with people who share the same goal will enhance fluency in English. 

Listen to English Frequently

Additionally, take into account the power of listening. Oral fluency isn’t just about what you say but how well you can listen and respond as well. 

Watch English-speaking shows, podcasts, or even live streams—immerse yourself in the natural rhythm of the language. The more you surround yourself with English, the more natural your responses will be.

Record Yourself Speaking

If you need help with speaking too slowly or too fast, recording yourself will help you change it. When you hit that record button, you’re capturing your voice and even your habits as well. 

You might think you’re speaking clearly, but listening back will help you realise the rushed words or awkward pauses that you’ve unconsciously made. This is similar to looking in a mirror and realising your posture isn’t as good as you thought.

The Bottom Line

Knowing how to improve oral fluency in PTE is crucial; however, don’t stress about stumbling early on. Each attempt builds a layer of confidence, and that confidence will transform into fluency. You’ll start speaking without thinking about how you sound, and that’s when your speaking improves.

Keep at it, and your results will follow!

Last updated on 29/10/2024