PTE · Respond to a Situation

Borrowing and Lending Situations: PTE Respond to a Situation practice questions

5 original Respond to a Situation questions. Question 1 is free to record, play back and compare with a sample answer right here; log in free to practise the rest in the BandLadder app.
  • 5 questions
  • Question 1 free, no login
  • PTE Academic and PTE Core
1

Extending a Library Loan

Free to try, no login

Read and listen to the situation below. You have 10 seconds to prepare (20 in PTE Core), then 40 seconds to say what you would say. Answer as fully as you can.

You borrowed a core reference book from the university library last week, but another student has placed a hold on it. You need it for two more days to finish your term paper before Friday. What would you say to the librarian at the enquiry desk?

Which test are you taking?

Your recording stays in this browser: it is not uploaded or stored.

Questions 2–5

Read and listen to the situation below. You have 10 seconds to prepare (20 in PTE Core), then 40 seconds to say what you would say. Answer as fully as you can.

Read them here; log in to answer and check them.

2

Declining a Power Tool Request

Your neighbour asks to borrow your hedge trimmer for the weekend. However, the blade is currently blunt and you have already arranged to take it for servicing on Saturday morning. You do not want to lend a faulty tool. What would you say to your neighbour?

3

Borrowing Office Display Equipment

You are leading a client presentation on Thursday afternoon and need to borrow a portable projector from your department manager. The spare unit in your office is broken, and the main meeting room is fully booked. What would you say to your manager to request the equipment?

4

Returning a Damaged Textbook

You borrowed a textbook from a classmate, but your water bottle leaked in your bag and damaged several pages. You have ordered a brand new replacement copy, but it will not arrive until Tuesday. What would you say to your classmate to explain the situation?

5

Retrieving a Camping Tent

You lent your four-person camping tent to a friend two months ago. You need it back because you are going on a hiking trip next weekend, and you need time to check the equipment beforehand. What would you say to your friend to ask for it back?

Want to answer the other 4?

Log in to practise Respond to a Situation in the BandLadder app: the full question bank, with an AI score from BandLadder AI for content, pronunciation and oral fluency on a free account.

Ready for the whole test?

Take a full PTE mock with every question type, the real timings and a score on Pearson's 10–90 scale the moment you finish.

Try a free PTE mock →

Keep practising

More Respond to a Situation sets

Practise every PTE question type

  • ✓Full question bank for every type
  • ✓Instant scoring, marked the way Pearson does
  • ✓BandLadder AI scoring for speaking and writing
Practise in the app

Free account · no card

© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy

Log in to practise all 5