PTE Core Speaking Test 1
PTE Core Speaking Test 1 is a free, timed set of 30 PTE Core speaking tasks, 2 of them extra PTE Academic tasks, recorded in your browser and scored for pronunciation, fluency and emphasis, with a list of the sounds and words to drill afterwards.
Start this free test30 questions · 35 minThis is one of 8 PTE Core speaking tests on PTEMock. For every speaking task type explained, with tips, see PTE speaking practice. All 40 Core tests, with the official format, are on the PTE Core practice test page, and the PTE Core score chart shows the CLB level each skill score converts to.
What's in this test
| Repeat Sentence | 11 questions | expert scored |
| Read Aloud | 6 questions | expert scored |
| Answer Short Question | 5 questions | expert scored |
| Describe Image | 4 questions | expert scored |
| Summarize Group Discussion (PTE Academic task) | 2 questions | expert scored |
| Respond to a Situation | 2 questions | expert scored |
Topics in PTE Core Speaking Test 1
What each passage, recording and prompt is about, in the order the tasks appear.
- Read Aloud: Coral reef bleaching; Industrial Revolution and urban overcrowding; Photosynthesis and chloroplasts; Artificial intelligence and algorithmic bias; Brain's neural networks; Urban green spaces and heatwave cooling
- Describe Image: Average Monthly Rainfall in Riverton; Global Renewable Energy Capacity; Student Transport Methods to University; Library Book Loans by Subject Area
- Summarize Group Discussion (PTE Academic task): Optional lecture attendance; Banning single-use plastics on campus
- Respond to a Situation: Returning a coffee-stained textbook; Illness prevents study group attendance
Sample questions from PTE Core Speaking Test 1
Three questions taken from this test, so you can see its level before you start. Nothing is scored here; in the test every response is scored with feedback.
Read the text aloud as naturally as you can.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated into everyday technologies, from voice assistants to recommendation systems. These tools analyze enormous quantities of data to identify patterns and predict user preferences. Yet researchers caution that such systems can inherit biases present in their training data, raising important ethical questions about fairness, transparency, and accountability in automated decision-making.
In the test you record this, and it is scored for pronunciation, oral fluency and content.
Average Monthly Rainfall in Riverton (mm)
| Jan | 45 |
| Mar | 72 |
| May | 110 |
| Jul | 135 |
| Sep | 88 |
| Nov | 60 |
In the test this is shown as a bar chart. You describe it aloud, and it is scored for content, pronunciation and oral fluency.
The situation
You borrowed a textbook from a classmate last week and accidentally spilled coffee on several pages. You are meeting your classmate today to return it. What would you say to them?
In the test you hear and read the situation, then record your reply. It is scored on how well the reply suits the situation, plus pronunciation and oral fluency.
How hard is PTE Core Speaking Test 1?
Compared with the other 7 PTE Core speaking tests on PTEMock, PTE Core Speaking Test 1 is harder than average. It ranks 7th of 8, where 1st is the easiest.
| Measure | This test | Average of 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Read Aloud reading level | 15.1 | 14.4 |
| Long words in Read Aloud | 27% | 26% |
| Repeat Sentence length | 10.7 words | 10.6 words |
| Describe Image charts | 2 bar, 1 line, 1 pie |
How this is measured: Measured on this test's Read Aloud passages and Repeat Sentence prompts. It compares the material itself, not how other candidates scored.
For a step up, PTE Core Speaking Test 4 is the next hardest. To warm up first, PTE Core Speaking Test 8 is the next easiest.
How PTE Core Speaking Test 1 is scored
This test's 6 Read Aloud, 11 Repeat Sentence, 4 Describe Image, 2 Summarize Group Discussion (PTE Academic task) and 2 Respond to a Situation answers are scored from your recording: an acoustic engine measures pronunciation, oral fluency and prosody (emphasis), and content is checked against the official PTE criteria. Answer Short Question is marked right or wrong. Enter your email at the end and the report, with a word-level pronunciation heatmap and a targeted practice list, is emailed to you within minutes.