PTE Academic, Speaking and writing
PTE Summarize Group Discussion
You listen to several people discuss a topic, then summarise the discussion aloud, including each speaker's view.
Format and scoring
| Skill | Speaking |
|---|---|
| Preparation | 10 seconds |
| Response time | Up to 120 seconds |
| How it's scored | Scored on content, oral fluency and pronunciation. |
| Weight (estimate) | About 8% of your speaking score |
How to answer Summarize Group Discussion
- 1Note each speaker's position in a word or two as they speak.
- 2Open with the topic of the discussion.
- 3Summarise each view and where the speakers agree or disagree.
- 4Finish with the overall outcome or the main point of difference.
Common mistakes
- Retelling only one speaker's view.
- Giving your own opinion instead of summarising theirs.
Sample question
Recorded lectures vs live lectures
This is a listening question: open it in the app to hear the recording.
Show a model answer (90 / 90)
The professor asked whether large live lectures should be replaced by recorded videos. Maya supported the idea, arguing that students can pause, rewind and watch recordings at convenient times, which particularly helps part-time workers and second-language learners. Daniel, however, was concerned about attendance, noting that when lectures were recorded in his first year, many classmates stopped attending and fell behind. The professor added that research suggests students overestimate how much they learn from passive viewing. Finally, Maya proposed a blended approach, recording content-heavy material and using live sessions for problem-solving and discussion, and Daniel agreed, provided the live sessions are genuinely interactive.