PTE Respond to a Situation sample questions with answers

Sample answer

Good morning, Dr Evans. I am really sorry to trouble you, but I have come down with severe flu and my doctor has advised me to rest until Monday. Our history essay is due this Friday, so I would like to request an extension. I have already completed my initial research and outlined the main arguments. Would it be possible to submit the paper next Wednesday instead? I have the medical certificate here if you need to see it. Thank you for understanding.

• Request a coursework extension due to illness.
• Formal spoken register appropriate for addressing a university tutor.
• Must mention severe flu, the original Friday deadline, doctor advice until Monday, and provide a medical note or proposed new date.

Sample answer

Hi everyone, I am really sorry, but we need to rearrange this week's book club meeting. The seminar room has been booked for departmental exams this Thursday, so we cannot hold our historical fiction discussion there. Instead, could we meet on Friday at three in the library cafe? It is usually quite quiet around that time, and we can still have a proper chat over coffee. Please let me know in the chat if Friday works for you.

• Communication goal: Apologise, explain the room clash, and propose a new meeting time and venue.
• Register: Friendly and informal, appropriate for fellow university students in a society chat.
• Required details: Thursday's cancellation due to exams, historical fiction topic, and moving to Friday afternoon at the library cafe.

Sample answer

Good morning. I would like to report a couple of maintenance issues with the sports centre facilities. Yesterday afternoon, the main swimming pool was far too cold for regular use, and several of the shower cubicles had no hot water at all. Our university water polo squad has an important training session scheduled for this Thursday evening, so we really need these problems resolved beforehand. Could you please arrange for the heating system to be inspected today? Thanks for looking into this.

• Complain politely and request timely repairs.
• Formal and courteous spoken register appropriate for speaking to a facility manager.
• Mention cold pool water, shower hot water failure, and the upcoming Thursday evening training.

Sample answer

Hi Mark, I'm really sorry, but I need to reschedule our project meeting from Thursday afternoon. An urgent client call has just come up that I have to take. Would you be free to meet on Friday morning around ten instead? That way, we'll still have plenty of time to review the slides before next week's presentation. Let me know if that time works for you, and I'll update the calendar invite.

• Goal: Apologise and rearrange the meeting from Thursday afternoon to Friday morning.
• Register: Professional yet informal, suited for a daily work colleague.
• Key details: Client conflict on Thursday afternoon, proposed Friday morning slot, offer to update the calendar.

Sample answer

Hello, I am calling regarding my latest broadband bill. I noticed an unexpected charge of twenty pounds for premium channels, but I never subscribed to this service. Could you please look into this discrepancy and remove the incorrect fee from my account? I would also appreciate it if you could issue an updated statement showing the corrected total. I want to settle the correct balance before the due date next Friday. Thank you for your assistance.

• Complain politely and request a billing correction and updated statement
• Polite and professional register suitable for an external customer support representative
• Mentions the unexpected charge for unordered premium channels, requests fee removal, and asks for a revised invoice

Sample answer

Hello, I am hoping you can help me with my sports centre pass. Unfortunately, I badly sprained my ankle during a football match yesterday, and the doctor advised me to rest for six weeks. Since I have already paid for the full term, I would like to request a temporary freeze on my membership rather than lose that time. I brought along a note from the clinic confirming my injury. Could you let me know if this can be arranged?

• Request a membership freeze due to an injury
• Polite and formal register suitable for university administrative staff
• Sprained ankle yesterday, six-week recovery period, and termly prepaid pass

Sample answer

Excuse me, I am really sorry, but I just dropped a glass beaker near bench four and it smashed on the floor. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but there are sharp fragments scattered around. I have warned the students nearby to stay clear of the area. Could you please bring the dustpan and the dedicated glass disposal bin? I would be glad to help you sweep it up safely right away.

• Goal: report an accident and request appropriate cleanup equipment.
• Register: polite and urgent spoken register suited to a laboratory technician.
• Details: shattered beaker on the floor, no injuries, needs disposal equipment and immediate cleanup.

Sample answer

Hello Dr Evans, I am really sorry to bother you, but I have a timetable clash next week. I have a mandatory chemistry lab on Tuesday afternoon at three o'clock, so I will not be able to make our scheduled violin tutorial. Would it be possible to move our session to Thursday morning instead? I am free any time between nine and eleven, and I have already prepared the Bach piece you assigned. Thanks so much for your understanding, and let me know if that suits you.

• Communication goal: request to reschedule a music lesson due to an academic clash.
• Register: polite and formal because you are addressing a university tutor.
• Must include: Tuesday three o'clock clash, mandatory lab session, and Thursday morning proposal.

Sample answer

Hi Sarah, do you have a quick moment? I'm finalising the dinner arrangements, but two colleagues haven't sent over their dietary needs yet, and the caterer needs our final order by five today. I was thinking of ordering a couple of extra vegetarian options just in case, but I wanted to check if you'd prefer me to call them directly first. Please let me know what you think is best so we don't miss the deadline.

• Communication goal: Ask manager for advice on handling missing dietary requirements.
• Register: Professional and polite workplace register suitable for speaking to a manager.
• Details to include: Catering deadline is today, two committee members haven't submitted needs, and asking for guidance.

Sample answer

Good morning. I'm calling regarding my tuition fees, which are due this Friday. Unfortunately, my student loan processing has been delayed by a couple of weeks, so I can't pay the full amount right now. Would it be possible to arrange an instalment plan so I can pay in three parts instead? I have already submitted all my loan paperwork, and I can pay the first instalment immediately if that helps. Thank you for your assistance.

• Request an instalment payment plan for tuition fees.
• Formal and polite register suitable for university administrative staff.
• Mention the Friday deadline, the delayed student loan, and the request for three instalments.