Respond to a Situation PTE: Template and Answers

As one of the test’s most practically-oriented speaking tasks, Respond to a Situation PTE requires you to react to a spoken and written scenario. Your task is to listen and read a situation and analyze it for 40 seconds, giving a clear, natural and contextually appropriate oral response.

respond to a situation pte speaking task candidate practising exam response 

As of August 2025, the task was added to PTE, and hence prepared for all PTE test takers whether they do PTE Core or PTE Academic. If you’ll be sitting your PTE Academic after August 7, 2025, you’ll be taking a new Respond to a Situation task as part of your test. 

You get the exact TEMPLATES, SCENARIOS and MODEL ANSWERS to every scenario you’re likely to encounter in the PTE Respond to a Situation task so you can practise with it from the first day.

Key Takeaways

• The Respond to a Situation PTE task requires you to read the scenario and listen to the scenario, then respond in January for 20 seconds, and 40 seconds to speak your response.
• As of 7th August 2025, the task will be present across both PTE Academic and PTE Core modules.
• Scoring will be made on the basis of three measures: Appropriacy, Fluency and Pronunciation. AI score along with Human reviewers checks content quality.
• There are 4 types of scenarios: Workplace, Academic, Social, and Service.
• Aim for a response of 50 to 65 words. This would take about 30-38 seconds at a conversational speaking speed.
• Your voice should be appropriate for the circumstances. Use formal (workplace; academic) and informal (social; personal) forms.

PTE Respond to a Situation Template by Scenario Type

When students use a structural template in the PTE Respond to a Situation task, it isn’t a copy and paste of a sentence. It has to do with a dependable process that will help you start your answer, guide you to the essentials, and end it all within 40 seconds. Writing sentences by heart has the potential of being marked as scripted.

communication scenario sample for pte respond to a situation 

Formal Template (Workplace and Academic)

Follow this structure in the workplace and academic Respond to a Situation PTE scenarios.

Opening (5 to 8 seconds): Give the sponsor your name and describe your message. Write the name or title of the recipient on the first words.

Core response (20 to 25 seconds): Respond to the specific question/ instruction given in the scenario. State your position or action clearly, state in one word the reason, and add any conditions and requests you want.

Close (5 to 8 seconds): Signal the end of your response and keep it professional. “Please feel free to get in touch if you need anything further.” or “I look forward to hearing from you.”

Informal Template (Social and Personal)

For social and service scenarios, you should use this structure when preparing to respond to a situation, in your answer.

Opening (3 to 5 seconds): Address the person naturally. “Hey [name], it’s [your name]. Just wanted to get back to you about…” or “Hi, I got your message and wanted to respond…”

Core response (25 to 30 seconds): directly respond to the situation at hand. Be natural. Informal register uses shorter sentences, contractions and the conversational paraphrase of words.

Close (3 to 5 seconds): Keep it light and natural. “Let me know what you think!” or “Hope that works for you. Talk soon.”

How to Decide Formal vs Informal in 20 Seconds

In Respond to a Situation PTE you will only need to make a formal/informal decision during the 20 second preparation time for the task.

Ask yourself one question: Who am I talking to?

If the answer is a manager, professor, academic staff member, landlord or customer service, use the Formal Template.

If the answer is a friend, flatmate, classmate, or family member then the informal template is to be used.

When using “formal” don’t go with the flow in every case. It is an ‘appropriate error’ if you use formal language when you should use informal language with a friend/classmate as a criticism reduces your score in the PTE Respond to a Situation section as badly as one would would in a formal situation.

PTE Respond to a Situation Sample Questions and Model Answers

Here are 8 Respond to a Situation sample questions for PTE with model answers that you can practise immediately to every type of situation.

pte respond to a situation model answer speaking practice 

Workplace Scenario: Taking on Extra Work at Short Notice

Scenario: You work in a marketing team. As one of your colleagues is ill this week, your manager has asked you to go on an additional project. You are ready to assist with the project, but you don’t yet know the expected project completion timeline or opportunities to make connections. Record a voicemail message to tell your manager.

Model answer:

Hi Sarah, it’s [name] here. Thanks for the reminder to keep up extra projects this week, I can get my hands dirty and help out. I need just a couple of things before I begin. Can you please tell me when the project is due and all the people involved? I’m able to get cracking right after I have that information. You can just message or email as it is most convenient for you. Thank you and I wish [colleague’s name] good health.

Word count: 88. Time target: 38 seconds. Register: Semi-formal.

Workplace Scenario: Explaining an Absence to a Manager

Scenario: You work in an office. Today you are sick and unable to attend school. Your manager expects you to write a report which is due this afternoon. Leave a voice mail for your boss to let them know what went on and how it will/will not be dealt with.

Model answer:

It’s [name] calling, James. Just a reminder that I am feeling unwell today so will not be coming in. I know it’s time to write the report this afternoon. I’ve already gone through about 80% of it. I can send you what I have done before midday, Dan, and if it doesn’t work, then I’ll ask [colleague’s name] to add the rest of it for me. Notify me if you do not want that methodology and I will do what I can to set up something different. I would like to apologize to you for the inconvenience.

Word count: 95. Time target: 40 seconds. Register: Formal.

Academic Scenario: Asking a Professor for Clarification

Scenario: You are in a course in research methods. You received comments on a draft of your assignment but there is one comment that is unclear. In order for the assignment to be rewritten, it is necessary to first know what the feedback was. Send a note to your Professor.

Model answer:

Hello Professor Chen, I am [name] of your research methods class. I would like to write you a letter about your comments on my draft of the homework. Thanks in part to all your feedback, I did appreciate most of your comments, but I am a little confused about the note in my methodology section. Before submitting, I’d like to get it just the way I want. Can it be set up to meet for a short period or a call on an opportune time? I can be found most afternoons this week. Thanks for your time.

Word count: 84. Time target: 35 seconds. Register: Formal.

Academic Scenario: Requesting a Deadline Extension

Scenario: You are a university student. Your week of sickness has meant that you have been unable to finish your work on time. You would like to request a short extension of 3-5 days. Write something for the teacher to read.

Model answer:

This is [name] from Dr. Nguyen’s class that met on Tuesday morning. I’m writing to you because I believe I should have a bit more time on my next assignment. I have been under the weather this past week and haven’t made the progress that I would normally get. I’m pretty sure that I would only take an additional 3-5 more days to complete it to the level I want to send it to. I do have a medical certificate that I can present, if necessary. I fully appreciate it if that is not an option and I will do my utmost anyway. Many thanks for your consideration.

Word count: 101. Time target: 40 seconds. Register: Formal.

Social Scenario: Declining an Invitation Politely

Scenario: You are asked to go to a party with him on Saturday evening. You have a previously scheduled evening activity that you can’t attend. Whilst giving your friend a note that tells him what has happened.

Model answer:

Hello [name] it’s [your name]! Just got a note about birthday dinner on Saturday; not able due to being too heart broken. But I have a date for the evening and I can’t cancel! I didn’t want to miss it at all. So we come back to them, saying this week or next or the end of this month, whatever, so I can celebrate with you as I deserve? I’ll make myself known and get figures/done. For your birthday, fingers crossed that that dinner looks great!

Word count: 85. Time target: 36 seconds. Register: Informal.

Social Scenario: Accepting an Invitation With a Condition

Scenario: Put yourself in the situation where your friend has invited you to go for a hike with them this weekend on Saturday. You would like to attend but would like to find out if transportation is available from your area. Discuss your message with your friend.

Model answer:

My reply to you [name] to your message about the hike was received and it seems like a great option for a hike, I would be at the hike. I only have one question for you. Any pick up on the east side, or must I arrange for that myself? I do not have any transport at the moment, simply want to be able to get there. If it happens to be with transport certainly count me in. Tell me when you have the opportunity. I am looking forward to it!

Word count: 92. Time target: 38 seconds. Register: Informal.

Service Scenario: Complaining to a Landlord About a Problem

Scenario: When you rent an apartment. There has been a leak in the bathroom for 2 weeks now. You have sent out one email and haven’t received a response to it. This issue needs to be addressed immediately. Log a voice mail with your landlord.

Model answer:

Hello everyone, here’s [Name] of 4B [address] calling. Following up on my last E-mail regarding the bathroom leak I sent 2 weeks ago. There’s been no response so far and the problem is getting bigger. Water seepage has started to show up on the wall close to the shower area. Any assistance to come and check and remedy that may be obtained I would appreciate as soon as possible. I am able to see most weekdays after 4pm. Please call back anytime on [number] to let me know what time it is; I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

Word count: 96. Time target: 40 seconds. Register: Formal.

Service Scenario: Responding to a Neighbour’s Request

Scenario: Your neighbour has in a note that you’re able to keep the noise down on a weekday evening since they have young children who go to sleep early. You want them to know you’ll take responsibility and be more aware. Record a message for your neighbour.

Model answer:

Here’s to you, my neighbor, [name]! I read your note and thank you, I really appreciate you letting me know. When we heard it coming through the walls I didn’t know how loud it was going to be, sorry for the “disturbance” I’ll be sure to be a bit more conscious about it going forward after 7 pm in the evening. If it does occur again, please do knock on the door or leave another note on the door and I will try to deal with it as soon as possible. Thank you for the good form in your raising of it.

Word count: 88. Time target: 37 seconds. Register: Semi-formal.

Mistakes That Lower Your Score in PTE Respond to a Situation

Incorrect use of register. It is the most frequent and worst error in the Respond to a Situation PTE task. Using formal phrases such as ‘I’m writing you to inform you’ in a response to a friend, or casual phrases, in a response to a professor, will make you look worse on the Appropriacy score. You first need to register during the first 20 seconds.

Failure to follow the instructions. All the scenarios within the PTE Respond to a Situation will be clear on what to do and have a definite direction. Voice mail / send a text message / talk to your manager. If the test takers answer one content question with a general answer and/or one action question with a general answer, it will result in a lower score for the content and appropriateness sections..

Excessively short video length prior to 40 seconds. The AI scorer will not have enough information to evaluate and score fluency and pronunciation within 20 seconds. After you complete the body of the central answer, end with a courteous conclusion sentence or a quick sentence to show what you will do next. Avoid a longer than 5-second pause in speech.

Building with “fillers. You end with “Um, well, I think that…” At the beginning of the Respond to a Situation PTE response the flow engine will know that you are not very fluent. To get to the action of talking to the person involved and justification of your message as quickly as possible.

Memorising scripted sentences. In the PTE Respond to a Situation scoring process, it is the human scores who are looking for memorised or template responses. The format of this guide is a planning instrument rather than a script. The specific words, reasons, details in your answer need to be original and relevant to the above scenario.

Not addressing the person. When talking in real life, you address the person you are talking to. If a person doesn’t address you, the naturalness of the response will also be impacted and will influence your fluency and appropriacy scores as well in the Respond to a Situation PTE task.

Daily Practice Drill for PTE Respond to a Situation

Daily 10-minute routine:

Minutes 1-2: May now pick one Respond to a Situation PTE from the scenarios above. Read it once. In the 20 seconds, you will be asked to make three decisions: formal or informal; which specific instruction you will give; which line to use to start the sequence.

Minutes 2-3: Write down your entire 40 sec. response without halting. Avoid thinking during responses.

Minutes 3-5: Play back and listen. Make three notes about this: What register (voice) did you use throughout the job? What kind of instructions did you perform exactly? Did your response last no fewer than 35 seconds and also contained no filler content?

Minutes 5-10: Re-record the same scenario again applying what has been noticed. Compare both recordings.

Weekly rotation for PTE Respond to a Situation practice:

• Day one: Simulations also focus only on work-related scenarios.
• Day two: Academic scenarios to go over only
• Day three: Only social scenarios
• Day four: Assume scenarios with only service
• Day five: Your mixed set made up of one of each timed in sequence
• Day six: 20 seconds preparation, full simulation 4 scenarios back to back
• Day seven: Check and re-record the poorest recording of the week.

FAQ about PTE Respond to a Situation

How important is listening skill in the respond to a situation task?

In the Respond to a Situation PTE task, the Speaking task is actually presented as a written question with an audio prompting. 

Critically, the task requires students to listen, since they cannot hear the actual question. The prompt will be announced orally as well as displayed online, so you need to read and comprehend the prompt simultaneously. 

If both scenarios are spoken by the same persons and the written version was not read, then the test-taker who listens but doesn’t look might miss out on tone and emphasis that can impact interpretation. 

Practice audio versions of scenarios regularly as well because you will be able to “read” along with the scripted dialogue during your 20 second preparation time.

What are the tips to improve quick thinking in this task?

To get better at the speed of making your decisions in equipment to test at the Respond to a Situation PTE task, you want to first minimize the number of decisions you’re supposed to make realtime. 

Prior to trying to come up with a response, deliberately divide each scenario into type (workplace, academic, social, service) and register (formal or informal) with the aim of identifying a drop in one or both, and adjusting your response accordingly. 

Once it is automatic, your preparation time will focus on materials and the content of your presentation rather than on the structure of your presentation. Time constraints lead to more scenarios run per day (2-3) vs time constraints to 10 scenarios per week.

How do I structure my answer effectively for this task?

The most effective structure for a PTE Respond to a Situation response has three parts in order: 

One or two lines at the start to begin the writing task and state the purpose (5-8 seconds); The core parts of the response, which uses the specific requirements stated in the scenario instruction (20-25 seconds); The end of the writing but the first line that refuses to translate the topic into English. This is a structure that can be used in all four scenario types, with the addition of register adjustments. 

Most importantly, try to remove yourself as far as possible from the situation and give a response to the specific instruction behind the scenario rather than giving a general response. If you’re asked to leave a message to pass along information, your voice message should include the information, it should not just be an acknowledgment.

How to keep my answer relevant in the PTE respond to a situation?

Re-reading the last sentence of the scenario is the one single item that can help you be relevant in the Respond to a Situation PTE task in your prep window” (10s Core / 20s Academic)

The specific instruction is always a part of that sentence. Follow that instruction straight-away. Each sentence in your response (four minutes) should answer the questions, give background for the response, or close the call graciously. 

When you are putting additional information in that doesn’t relate to the instruction, you are losing relevance. In the PTE Respond to a Situation format, your answer will be assessed by a human examiner on how well it answers the question.

Does respond to a situation appear in PTE Academic or only PTE Core?

Yes, both the PTE Academic and PTE Core will have a new task called Respond to a situation. It was first introduced as a PTE Core only task, and has been introduced as a PTE Academic speaking task with two new types from August 7, 2025. 

The PTE Respond to a Situation task is a question that you will see on your test, if sitting PTE Academic on or after August 7, 2025. The format and scoring system is the same for both versions and preparation material used for either version can be fully applied to the other.

Can I use the same template for every scenario type?

The same structural structure can be used in every scenario type and the language and register should be adapted to the situation. A Situation PTE uses guided language responses that are relevant to the relationship and context of the prompt. 

A friend sounding response to a professor or professor-sounding response to a friend is both substandard on Appropriacy. Use the template (opening, core, close) and change the variables (register & vocabulary) according to the scenario that one is provided.