Re-tell Lecture – Speaking Section
Re-tell Lecture
You are required to listen to a lecture or talk up to 90 seconds long, and then, after a short preparation time of 10 seconds, you have to retell the content of the lecture in your own words within 40 seconds.
- This task primarily tests your listening comprehension and speaking skills, focusing on your ability to understand, remember, and articulate key points and details from the lecture.
- In this section test takers complete between 1-2 items in total.
The Re-tell Lecture task in the PTE Speaking section is designed to assess your ability to understand, remember and retell a lecture or talk. This task tests your listening and speaking skills.
Here’s how it works:
- You’ll listen to a lecture or talk that lasts up to 90 seconds. (YOU NEED TO TAKE NOTES)
- You should try to understand and remember as much information as you can from the lecture.
- After the lecture, you’ll have 10 seconds to prepare.
- Then, you’ll have 40 seconds to retell the lecture in your own words.
Scoring is based on three factors:
- Content: Did you include the main ideas, supporting details and any conclusions or implications from the lecture?
- Oral Fluency: Was your rhythm, phrasing, and stress smooth and natural?
- Pronunciation: Was your speech easily understandable to most regular speakers of the English language?
Here are some strategies that might help you perform better in this task:
- Note-Taking: While listening to the lecture, try to take quick notes on the main points and any supporting details. This will help you remember the content when you need to retell the lecture.
- Structure: When retelling the lecture, start with a brief introduction, then describe the main points, and finally, if time allows, mention any supporting details or conclusions.
- Don’t Rush: Speak clearly and at a natural pace. Remember, it’s better to clearly explain a few points than to rush through many points without clarity.
- Practice: Regular practice will help improve your listening and speaking skills, as well as your ability to quickly understand and remember information.
While Speaking:
- Speak for a purpose (to repeat, to inform, to explain)
- Support your opinion with details, examples and explanations
- Organize your ideas in a logical way
- Develop complex ideas
- Use words and phrases appropriate to the context
- Use correct grammar
- Speak at a natural rate
- Produce fluent speech
- Use correct intonation
- Use correct pronunciation
- Use correct word and sentence stress
- Speak under timed conditions
Example:
Here’s how you might retell it:
“The lecture discussed the negative impact of climate change on coral reefs. These reefs are important ecosystems that provide shelter for marine life, but they are being affected by coral bleaching due to rising temperatures. Coral bleaching weakens corals and makes them more vulnerable to disease. The lecture attributed coral bleaching to warming ocean waters caused by climate change. Additionally, increased carbon dioxide levels are leading to ocean acidification, adding stress to coral reefs. The lecture emphasized the need for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect these ecosystems and preserve their biodiversity.”
Remember to use your own words, focus on the main points, and speak clearly and naturally.
Linking words or connectors
Are essential in ensuring coherence in your writing and speaking. Here’s a table that classifies different types of linking words you might need for your PTE exam:
| Purpose | Linking Words/Connectors |
|---|---|
| Adding Information | and, furthermore, also, moreover, in addition, plus |
| Contrast/Concession | but, however, although, even though, on the other hand, conversely, yet, while, notwithstanding |
| Cause/Reason | because, since, as, so that, due to, owing to |
| Effect/Result | therefore, hence, thus, as a result, so, consequently |
| Purpose | in order to, so that, to that end, for the purpose of |
| Comparison | similarly, likewise, just as, in the same way, as…as |
| Example | for example, for instance, such as, like, notably |
| Clarification | in other words, that is, i.e., to clarify |
| Conclusion/Summary | in conclusion, to sum up, in summary, finally, all in all, overall |
| Sequence/Order | first, second, third, then, next, after, before, initially, finally |
| Condition | if, unless, provided that, in case, whether…or |
| Concession | while, although, even if, even though |
| Emphasis | indeed, in fact, especially, particularly, importantly |
| Time | meanwhile, during, after, before, now, while, when, until |
| Place/Position | where, above, below, beside, nearby, opposite |
| Similarity | similarly, likewise, in the same vein |
Examine the table carefully. Write and practice each linking word in sentences to familiarize yourself with their usage.
After watching the video on the “Re-tell lecture“ section of the PTE, the student will learn:
- Listen carefully: During the audio, focus entirely on understanding the content and structure of the lecture.
- Note-taking: Use the erasable note board provided to jot down key points, ideas, or structures that you hear.
- Structure your response: Ideally, your response should include an introduction to the topic of the lecture, the main points made by the speaker, and a conclusion or summary.
- Language and fluency: Ensure your language is academic and your speech is fluent and clear. Avoid unnecessary pauses, repetitions, or self-corrections.
- Practice: Listen to a variety of lectures or talks on different topics to improve your listening and note-taking skills. Practice retelling these lectures or talks.
Remember, practice is the key to acing this task. You can start practicing by retelling a news article, a book chapter, or a short lecture you heard.
In conclusion, the “Retell Lecture” task in the PTE Academic test is a challenging but essential part of assessing your listening and speaking skills. It involves comprehending a complex academic scenario and expressing the key points in your own words. Success in this task requires a good understanding of the lecture content, the ability to identify and extract the most relevant information, and then to relay it in a coherent and fluent manner. It’s important to practice this task with a variety of lectures to develop the skills necessary to retell them effectively and improve your overall score.