PTE Core Respond to a Situation Practice

An everyday situation is described to you. Speak your response as if you were really there. Practise with real-format questions and see your score after each answer.

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Respond to a Situation at a glance

Section: Part 1 — Speaking & Writing
Counts toward: Speaking

Try one question

Question

Audio task: you hear this in the test

You booked a table at a restaurant for Saturday evening, but now you can’t go. Call the restaurant and explain the situation.

Sample answer

Hi, this is Alex Chen. I have a reservation for four people this Saturday at 7 p.m., but unfortunately something has come up and we can’t make it. I’m sorry for the short notice. Could you please cancel the booking? If possible, I’d like to rebook for the following Saturday at the same time. Thank you.

Says who is calling and why straight away, apologises, and ends with a clear request.

What the score looks at

Speaking · appropriacy, pronunciation, oral fluency

Appropriacy

A response that suits the situation, the listener and the purpose.

Pronunciation

Words a listener can understand easily, with natural stress.

Oral fluency

A smooth, even pace without long pauses or restarts.

Common mistakes

Describing the situation instead of speaking to the person in it.
A tone that doesn’t fit: too casual with a manager, too formal with a friend.
Forgetting to say what you want to happen next.

Learn more

PTE Core Speaking (free course)