PTE Academic: Crappy Speaking Scores Explained

The PTE Speaking section can be tricky for a few reasons but mostly because you’re being marked by a computer! The harsh reality is that Pearson uses AI software to mark your speaking and NO ONE is listening in. There isn’t some nice gentleman or lady on the other side listening and trying to understand you. This isn’t IELTS. This is the money-making machine that is PTE Academic.  

AI doesn't care about your feelings

Nevertheless, by avoiding some common mistakes, you can significantly boost your score. Whether it's pronunciation, fluency, or content, this guide will walk you through the 10 most frequent errors made by test-takers and offer actionable tips on how to overcome them.

Text

Speaking too fast will cause you to waste money

1st mistake: Lousy SPEED or speech "rate"

Many candidates rush through their responses or speak too slowly, affecting clarity.

Solution: Maintain a natural pace—practice using timed speaking exercises to find your optimal rhythm.

2nd mistake: Too much "filler"

What fillers? These ones! "um," "uh". Using too many filler words breaks fluency and makes speech less confident.

Solution: Focus on continuous, consistent speech. Practice with structured responses to minimize hesitation. If you ask me, NO, I AM NOT A FAN OF TEMPLATES but I know many of you feel more comfortable when you use them so go ahead and use templates if it'll help reduce the number of pauses and filler words.

3rd mistake: Mispronunciation of Words

Incorrect pronunciation of common words impacts your score in both fluency and pronunciation. Solution: Record yourself speaking and use tools like AlfaPTE or ApeUni to compare your pronunciation with native speakers.

4th mistake: Speaking in Fragments

Giving incomplete sentences or fragmented thoughts. Solution: Structure your answers into full sentences and always aim to complete your thoughts. Again, for Describe Image and Retell Lecture question types, I understand that a template might help you provide full sentences. Please note: this does NOT apply to Short Answer question types (for those questions, I recommend just answering as briefly as possible)

5th mistake: Not Taking a Breath Before Starting

Jumping straight into speaking without pausing to catch your breath can cause you to stumble. Solution: Take a brief pause to inhale and exhale as you speak (especially for Read Aloud) and take short breaths during natural pauses like at commas and periods.

6th mistake: Ignoring Intonation

You are not a robot, stop trying to act like on

This one is controversial as many tutors recommend you speak without intonation or speech inflection. I personally believe in NOT being a a robot. Speaking in a flat, monotone voice can reduce the clarity and impact of your response. My solution: Use natural intonation to emphasize key points and make your speech sound as human as possible. The whole monotonous, single speed speech pattern sounds robotic and is hard to maintain. Combined with an accent, the lack of differentiation between words and sentences may lead to a lower score. The AI software needs to hear when you're pausing or when you're done. Monotonous speech does not let the AI know that a point has been made, a sentence has ended or there are multiple items to be discussed.

7th mistake: Too many breaks and pauses

Long pauses between words or sentences can break fluency. My solution: Practice speaking in smooth, connected phrases to improve coherence but again, YOU ARE NOT A ROBOT. Your speech consistency and rate need to be HUMAN.

8th mistake Lack of exam-condition practice

Other test takers next to you are going to be talking too

Not simulating real test conditions during practice can leave you unprepared. Don't forget that you will be surrounded by other test takers (up to 15 people in a room!) and there will be lots of background noise that can disrupt your focus and even disrupt the Speaking part of your test. My solution: Use mock tests from Pearson and practice on platforms like AlfaPTE or ApeUni to simulate test conditions and improve your confidence, but do it in a NOISY room with other people talking around you.

Okay, folks, so now you know what's stopping you from acing the Speaking part of PTE Academic. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can improve your score and feel more confident during the exam. Remember, practice makes perfect! Use these tips to fine-tune your speaking skills and get closer to achieving your desired score.

Good luck!

Reena