How is Respond to a Situation scored in PTE Academic and PTE Core?
You read and hear a short description of an everyday situation, then say what you would say to the person in it. The task is in both tests, but the two guides score it differently, and register matters in both.
Respond to a Situation: Academic vs Core
| Feature | PTE Academic | PTE Core |
|---|---|---|
| Items in a test | 2–3 | 2–4 |
| Skill scored | Speaking | Speaking |
| Traits | Content (0–6), Pronunciation, Oral Fluency | Appropriacy (0–3), Pronunciation, Fluency |
| Prompt | Text up to 60 words, also read aloud | Text up to 60 words, also read aloud |
| Preparation after the audio | 10 seconds | 20 seconds |
| Time to speak | 40 seconds | 40 seconds |
Sources: PTE Academic Score Guide (July 2025) pp. 29–31; PTE Core Score Guide (January 2026) pp. 29–30; Pearson's PTE Academic and PTE Core format pages.
So "formal or informal?" is not an optional extra. In Core it is the Appropriacy trait itself; in Academic it sits inside Content, and Pearson's format page asks for "appropriate formal or informal language" for the situation and the listener.
Formal or informal? Read the person, not the topic
The topic does not set your register. A broken projector could go to your manager or to a colleague you have lunch with every day. The person does: how well you know them, whether they have power over you, and whether you are asking a favour.
BandLadder advice: treat register as a dial with three settings, not a two-way switch. Formal for people above you or in an official role (a manager, a lecturer, a landlord, a receptionist). Polite-neutral for people you know a little (a neighbour, a colleague). Informal for people you are close to (a friend, a flatmate). Informal still means polite: Core's top band asks for "clearly and politely" in either register.
The register dial: the same moves at three settings
| Move | Formal: manager, lecturer, landlord | Polite-neutral: neighbour, colleague | Informal: friend, flatmate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Good morning, Ms Reyes. / Excuse me, Dr Hale. | Hi Dan, have you got a minute? | Hey Jonah! How's it going? |
| The request | Would it be possible to…? / Could I possibly…? | Would you mind …ing…? | Any chance I could…? / Could you…? |
| Softener | I realise it's short notice, but… | If it's not convenient, just say so. | No worries if not. |
| Closing | Thank you, I really appreciate it. | Thanks so much, I owe you one. | Let me know. Cheers! |
BandLadder teaching material. These are options to mix and adapt, not lines to recite: the next sections show why.
Respond to a situation examples: one request, three listeners
Three prompts from BandLadder's own Respond to a Situation sets, all asking for a favour, so only the person changes. The answers are written fresh for this sheet (they are not the sets' model answers) and fill most of the 40 seconds at a calm pace.
Good morning, Ms Reyes.greeting Sorry to catch you between meetings.softener It's about Thursday afternoon: I'm leading the presentation for our client, and I've hit a snag with equipment. Our own spare projector has stopped working, and I've checked the main meeting room, but every slot is taken that day. Would it be possible to borrowrequest the portable projector your department keeps? I'll pick it up at lunchtime and bring it straight back once the client leaves.offer Thank you, I really appreciate it.close
- → Formal: title and surname, an indirect request and a promise that protects her time.
- → Every prompt detail is there in new words: "every slot is taken" instead of "fully booked".
Hi Dan, have you got a minute?greeting First, thanks again for bringing Amira back from choirthanks first every Thursday; it's a huge help. They've put on an extra rehearsal this Friday, and it doesn't finish till five. I'm tied up at work that afternoon, so I can't get to the school by then. Would you mind collecting herrequest on Friday too? If it's not convenient, just say sosoftener and I'll find another way. And next week, the school run's on meoffer. Thanks, Dan, I owe you one.
- → Polite-neutral: first name and a friendly tone, but the request is softened, because a neighbour owes you nothing.
- → The way out ("just say so") and the offer back make the favour sound considerate, not demanding.
Hey Jonah! How's it going?greeting Quick one: remember my big tent, the one that sleeps four?topic You've had it for about two months now, and I'm off hiking next weekend, so I'll need it back. I'd like to set it up once before the trip, just to make sure nothing's missing or torn. Any chance I could swing byrequest and pick it up on Tuesday or Wednesday evening? Just text me whichever's easier.softener Cheers!close
- → Informal: contractions, everyday phrasal verbs (swing by, pick it up) and a direct but friendly request.
- → Still complete: the reason (the hike), the check before the trip and a concrete time to collect it.
Only the wording changed: each answer greets, says why, gives the prompt details, asks once, makes yes easy and closes. Try these prompts in Respond to a Situation practice.
Why a respond to a situation template backfires
A Respond to a Situation template promises one opening and one closing for every prompt. But a fixed script cannot change register, and register is what this task scores: lines that suit a manager sound odd to a friend.
Six moves to plan in your preparation time (BandLadder advice)
- 1
Who?. Find the person and set the dial.
- 2
Greet. Title and surname, first name, or a casual hello.
- 3
Why you are talking. Your purpose in the first two sentences.
- 4
Details, reworded. Every fact from the prompt (days, times, reasons) in your own words.
- 5
Request or answer. Ask, refuse, apologise or advise once, with the softener your listener needs.
- 6
Offer and close. Make yes easy or offer something back, then thank them at the same register.
✗ To your manager: "Hey, can I grab your projector on Thursday? Ours is dead."
✓ "Good morning. Would it be possible to borrow your portable projector on Thursday afternoon? Ours has stopped working."
Slang (grab, dead) and a bare request sound careless upwards. A manager gets an indirect request.
✗ To your friend: "Dear Jonah, I am writing to formally request the return of my tent."
✓ "Hey Jonah, any chance I could pick up my tent this week?"
Too stiff for a friend, and it is a letter formula, not speech. Mismatch works in both directions.
✗ To your neighbour: "You need to collect Amira on Friday as well."
✓ "Would you mind collecting Amira on Friday as well? If it's not convenient, just say so."
An order to someone doing you a favour is impolite at any register. Ask, and leave a way out.
✗ "The spare unit in your office is broken, and the main meeting room is fully booked."
✓ "Our own spare projector has stopped working, and every slot in the main meeting room is taken that day."
Same facts, your own words. Reading the prompt back is what Academic Content 3 calls repetition without reformulation.
Pearson's format pages also say to try to speak for the whole 40 seconds and keep going past small mistakes, because hesitations and self-corrections cost time and score points. For smooth delivery, see PTE Read Aloud fluency and PTE Speaking 79. When you practise with BandLadder AI scoring, you get a score and what to fix for each response.
Your turn: formal or informal check
Choose the best answer, then reveal it. Use the register dial and the scoring rules above.
- You call the manager of your student accommodation to report that the heater in your room has stopped working. Which opening fits best?
- A. Hey, what's up? My heater's dead.
- B. Good morning. I'm calling to report a problem with the heater in my room.
- C. Dear Sir or Madam, I hereby wish to inform you of a fault.
- D. Heater broken. Please fix it today.
Show answer
Good morning. I'm calling to report a problem with the heater in my room.
Formal and spoken. The first is too casual for a manager, the third is a written-letter formula, and the fourth is an order.
- You want to borrow your close friend's bike on Saturday. Which request fits?
- A. Would it be at all possible for you to consider lending me your bicycle?
- B. Any chance I could borrow your bike on Saturday?
- C. Give me your bike on Saturday.
- D. I require your bicycle on Saturday.
Show answer
Any chance I could borrow your bike on Saturday?
Informal but polite, and it keeps the detail (Saturday). The first is far too stiff for a friend; the last two are demands.
- A prompt says: "The library has closed the quiet study room for repairs until next month." Which sentence reformulates it instead of repeating it?
- A. The library has closed the quiet study room for repairs until next month.
- B. The quiet study room is shut for repair work, and it won't be open again until next month.
- C. Library closed study room repairs next month.
- D. The library is closed.
Show answer
The quiet study room is shut for repair work, and it won't be open again until next month.
It keeps every fact in new words. The first reads the prompt back, the third is fragments, and the fourth changes the facts.
- In PTE Core, which trait scores whether your register suits the person in the prompt?
- A. Content
- B. Appropriacy
- C. Fluency
- D. Pronunciation
Show answer
Appropriacy
Core scores Respond to a Situation on Appropriacy, Pronunciation and Fluency, and Appropriacy 3 names register directly (Core guide p. 30).
- How much preparation time do you get after the audio ends?
- A. 10 seconds in both tests
- B. 10 seconds in Academic, 20 seconds in Core
- C. 20 seconds in Academic, 10 seconds in Core
- D. 25 seconds in both tests
Show answer
10 seconds in Academic, 20 seconds in Core
Pearson's format pages give 10 seconds for PTE Academic and 20 for PTE Core; both then give 40 seconds to speak.
BandLadder questions
Practise it now
Use the method on original BandLadder questions. Attempt them free and see your score.
Questions
FAQ
Should Respond to a Situation be formal or informal?+
It depends on the person in the prompt. Use formal language for a manager, lecturer, landlord or official, polite-neutral language for a neighbour or colleague, and informal language for a friend or flatmate. Stay polite in every case.
Is Respond to a Situation part of PTE Academic?+
Yes. PTE Academic has 2–3 Respond to a Situation items, scored on Content, Pronunciation and Oral Fluency (PTE Academic Score Guide, July 2025, pp. 29–31). PTE Core has 2–4, scored on Appropriacy, Pronunciation and Fluency (PTE Core Score Guide, January 2026, pp. 29–30).
Should I use a template for Respond to a Situation?+
No. A fixed script cannot change register for different listeners, memorised material is classified as irrelevant in PTE Academic, and PTE Core's lowest Appropriacy band describes mainly pre-packaged forms. Plan the moves instead: greet, purpose, details, request, offer, close.
How do you answer Respond to a Situation in PTE Core?+
Use the 20 seconds of preparation to find who you are speaking to and what you need, then speak for up to 40 seconds: greet, explain why you are talking, give every detail from the prompt in your own words, make one clear request or response, and close politely.
How long should my Respond to a Situation answer be?+
You have 40 seconds, and Pearson's tip is to try to speak for the whole time if you can. Around six to eight natural sentences usually fills it without rushing (BandLadder advice).
Sources
- PTE Academic Score Guide for Test Takers (July 2025): p. 8 (memorised material); pp. 29–31 (Respond to a Situation: items, skill, Content scale)
- PTE Core Score Guide for Test Takers (January 2026): pp. 12–15 (Appropriacy scale and sample comments); pp. 29–30 (Respond to a Situation: items, skill, Appropriacy)
- Pearson PTE Academic and PTE Core test format pages: Speaking and Writing: Respond to a Situation: prompt length, preparation and response time, test tips, scoring
- Pearson: Mastering PTE Academic, a guide to the Respond to a Situation task (February 2026): The situation, the person and the goal in the prompt
- BandLadder's PTE timing reference: Respond to a Situation: 10 s preparation (Academic), 20 s (Core), 40 s response
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