PTE model answers · Band 79
Sample answers for every PTE task, grouped by section.
Each sample is a worked example: the prompt, the response verbatim, the trait-level scores against Pearson's official rubric, and a side-by-side of what separates the Band 79 answer from a weaker one at the same task. All four sections are now covered with at least one sample each.
Last verified 16 July 2026 · Written for PTE Academic post-August 2025 format · Cross-linked with the reusable answer templates and free practice drills.
Speaking section
Speaking tasks
6 of 6 live
Read Aloud
Deliver a printed passage at natural academic pace with correct chunking and stress.
Read the sample →Repeat Sentence
Hear a sentence once, repeat it back verbatim. Content + fluency + pronunciation.
Read the sample →Describe Image
40-second spoken description of a chart, map or diagram using the 5-part frame.
Read the sample →Retell Lecture
Listen to a 90-second lecture, retell the main points in 40 seconds.
Read the sample →Summarize Group Discussion
New in 2025. Listen to 3 speakers debate, summarize the discussion in 2 minutes.
Read the sample →Respond to a Situation
Roleplay a real-world scenario — respond as a person would. Appears in PTE Academic and PTE Core.
Read the sample →Writing section
Writing tasks
3 of 3 live
Summarize Written Text
One-sentence summary of a passage in 5–75 words. Form is a zero-gate.
Read the sample →Write Essay
200–300 word essay on a given prompt. 7 traits scored, both AI and human review.
Read the sample →Write Email
PTE Core only. Write a workplace email in 9 minutes, 80–120 words.
Read the sample →Reading section
Reading tasks
5 of 5 live
Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks
Choose the right word from a dropdown for each blank in a passage.
Read the sample →Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers (Reading)
Pick more than one correct answer. Negative marking for wrong picks.
Read the sample →Re-order Paragraphs
Restore the logical order of shuffled paragraphs.
Read the sample →Reading: Fill in the Blanks
Drag words from a word bank into blanks in a passage.
Read the sample →Multiple Choice, Single Answer (Reading)
One correct answer from four options.
Read the sample →Listening section
Listening tasks
9 of 9 live
Answer Short Question
Hear a short question, give a one- or few-word answer. Asked in Part 1, scored as Listening.
Read the sample →Summarize Spoken Text
Hear a 60–90 second lecture, write a 50–70 word summary in 10 minutes.
Read the sample →Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers (Listening)
Pick multiple correct answers after listening. Negative marking applies.
Read the sample →Listening: Fill in the Blanks
Type the missing word as you listen — one-shot, no replay.
Read the sample →Highlight Correct Summary
Pick the summary that best captures a spoken recording.
Read the sample →Multiple Choice, Single Answer (Listening)
One correct answer after listening to a short recording.
Read the sample →Select Missing Word
Choose the word that completes a spoken recording.
Read the sample →Highlight Incorrect Words
Click on words in a transcript that differ from what you hear.
Read the sample →Write from Dictation
Type a spoken sentence exactly. Highest-value task in the exam — feeds both Listening and Writing.
Read the sample →Templates + samples + practice – how they fit together
One pattern, three depths.
| Resource | What it gives you | Use it when… |
|---|---|---|
| Template | The reusable framework for any prompt of this type – structure, sentence starters, timing plan. | You're learning the task for the first time or forgot the moves. |
| Sample answer | A Band 79 worked example for one specific prompt, with trait scoring and a Band 65 comparison. | You know the template but want to see what execution actually reads like at your target band. |
| Practice drill | Real exam-style items, one at a time, untimed, with model answers and instant scoring. | You've read the template + sample and want to build the reflex under conditions. |
Rule of thumb: template → sample → drill. Read the framework, see it applied, then do the reps yourself.
FAQ
Sample answers, answered.
What is a PTE sample answer?
A PTE sample answer is a worked example of a task response labeled with the band it earned and broken down against the exact scoring traits Pearson uses. Each sample on this page shows the prompt, the response verbatim, the trait-level scores and what separates it from a weaker attempt at the same task.
How is a sample answer different from a template?
A template is the reusable framework (4-paragraph essay structure, sentence starters, timing marks) that works for any prompt of that type. A sample answer is a specific worked example showing the template applied to one prompt, scored against Pearson's rubric. Templates teach the pattern; samples show the pattern in action. Both are useful – the template gives you the moves, the sample shows you what Band 79 execution actually reads like.
Which task should I study first?
Study the task type that has the biggest gap between your current score and your target. For most PTE candidates aiming for 65 to 79, that is Write Essay (7 traits, lots of surface area) or Describe Image (Content is human-double-marked). For 79 to 90 candidates, Write from Dictation and Retell Lecture matter most. Every sample links to the relevant template + practice drill so you can move from theory to execution in one click.
Are these samples for PTE Academic or PTE Core?
The samples on this page are written for PTE Academic (post 7 August 2025 format), which has 22 task types since Pearson added Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation on 7 August 2025. Write Email is the only Core-only task in this catalogue; PTE Core samples for it will be covered separately as the collection grows.
Do sample answers help me actually score higher?
Yes, if you study them structurally rather than memorising them. Pearson does not deduct a set number of points for a memorised response. It classifies it as irrelevant, which scores Content 0 and zeroes the whole item. The value of a sample answer is the reusable structure it demonstrates. Study the moves, then write your own content into them using the linked template and practice drill.
See how you would score.
Take a free full-length PTE mock and get an AI-scored report with per-skill predictions plus the exact tasks costing you points.