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 realise that your compulsory linguistics seminar clashes with an optional phonetics class on Thursday afternoons. You need both modules to complete your degree requirements this term. You go to see your academic adviser to explain the scheduling conflict and ask for possible alternatives. What would you say to your adviser?
Your recording stays in this browser: it is not uploaded or stored.
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.
You are taking an evening accounting course after work, but your office manager has asked you to cover late shifts every Tuesday. This conflicts with your weekly lecture. You need to speak to the course administrator to request a transfer to the Wednesday evening stream. What would you say to the administrator?
Your biology laboratory session has been scheduled for Friday at five o'clock, which prevents you from catching the train home for a family gathering. Your classmate Liam is assigned to the Wednesday morning session and mentioned wanting a later slot. What would you say to persuade Liam to swap groups?
You work part-time at a local cafe and your newly published university timetable requires you to attend seminars on Monday and Wednesday mornings. You need to ask your shift supervisor to adjust your roster so that you only work weekend mornings and weekday afternoons. What would you say to your supervisor?
You missed the online enrolment deadline for an art history elective because you were unwell with the flu last week. You want to ask the department admissions officer if they can grant you late permission to add the course to your timetable before term starts on Monday. What would you say to the admissions officer?
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
Practise every PTE question type
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