PTE Summarize Spoken Text Practice Online 2026
Summarize Spoken Text plays a lecture of 60–90 seconds. You then have 10 minutes to write a 50–70 word summary.
It counts toward Listening and Writing. PTEAce scores your summary against the official Pearson traits: content, form, grammar, vocabulary and spelling.
A free account is needed to see and answer the practice questions.
Summarize Spoken Text at a glance
- Questions in the exam
- 1–2
- Timing
- 60–90s audio, 10 min write
- Skills scored
- Listening, Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling
- Marking on PTEAce
- Scored by AI on the PTE 10–90 scale
- Share of PTE Academic score
- About 4%
Tips
- Take notes on the topic, the main points and the conclusion while the audio plays.
- Stay between 50 and 70 words — outside that range costs form marks.
- Use simple linking words to connect the speaker's main points.
- Check spelling carefully; it is scored separately.
FAQs
How many words should a PTE SST answer be?
Between 50 and 70 words.
Can I write more than one sentence in SST?
Yes. Unlike Summarize Written Text, SST lets you write several sentences.
More Listening practice
- Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers) — Pick all correct answers from the listening clip.; 1–2 in the exam; 40–90s audio; tests Listening; about 1% of the Academic score; marked instantly. Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers) study guide
- Listening: Fill in the Blanks — Type the missing words while audio plays.; 2–3 in the exam; 30–60s audio; tests Listening, Spelling; about 3% of the Academic score; marked instantly. Listening: Fill in the Blanks study guide
- Highlight Correct Summary (PTE Academic) — Pick the option that best summarises the recording.; 1–2 in the exam; 30–90s audio; tests Listening, Reading; about <1% of the Academic score; marked instantly. Highlight Correct Summary study guide
- Multiple Choice (Single Answer) — Pick the single best answer about the audio.; 1–2 in the exam; 30–60s audio; tests Listening; about <1% of the Academic score; marked instantly. Multiple Choice (Single Answer) study guide
- Select Missing Word — Pick the word that completes the final beep.; 1–2 in the exam; 20–70s audio; tests Listening; about 1% of the Academic score; marked instantly. Select Missing Word study guide
- Highlight Incorrect Words — Click each word in the transcript that doesn't match audio.; 2–3 in the exam; 15–50s audio; tests Listening, Reading; about 4% of the Academic score; marked instantly. Highlight Incorrect Words study guide
- Write from Dictation — Type the sentence you hear, word-for-word.; 3–4 in the exam; 3–5s audio; tests Listening, Spelling, Vocabulary; about 5% of the Academic score; marked instantly. Write from Dictation study guide
- Summarize Spoken Text (PTE Core) — Listen to a short clip and write a 20–30 word summary (PTE Core).; 1 in the exam; 60s audio, 8 min write; tests Listening, Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling; AI marked.