Gurully’s Best Speaking & Writing Tips for PTE Exam

Brijesh Dhanani
Jul 18
4 min read

The PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English) exam is a widely accepted English proficiency test that assesses your Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening skills. Among these, Speaking and Writing sections often pose significant challenges to candidates—mainly because they demand real-time performance and accurate grammar usage.

In this blog, we at Gurully share our best expert-backed tips and mistakes to avoid for the PTE Speaking and Writing sections, along with strategies to help you boost your scores efficiently. Stick around till the end for free resources and practice tests to supercharge your preparation.

🗣️ PTE Speaking: Smart Tips & Mistakes to Avoid

The Speaking section includes tasks like Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Re-tell Lecture, and Answer Short Questions.

✅ Smart Tips for Speaking

1. Master Pronunciation and Fluency

Your fluency and pronunciation carry more weight than content accuracy in many tasks.

Use online tools like YouGlish to hear native pronunciation of words.
Speak at a moderate pace. Avoid long pauses or self-corrections.

2. Template Strategy for “Describe Image” & “Re-tell Lecture”

Create structured responses. For example:

“The image provides a visual representation of... It shows that... Overall, it can be concluded that...”

This approach ensures you speak fluently even when you're unsure of the content.

3. Daily Shadowing Practice

Shadow native speakers by mimicking TED Talks or BBC Podcasts. This technique helps you internalize rhythm and tone.

4. Repeat Sentence = Memory + Intonation

Rather than memorizing word-by-word, focus on intonation and chunking.

Example: Break “The cost of living has increased significantly in recent years” into chunks like:
- The cost of living /
- has increased significantly /
- in recent years.

5. Record Yourself

Use tools like Vocaroo or your mobile recorder to assess your fluency and spot hesitation patterns.

❌ Common Speaking Mistakes to Avoid

Adding Fillers like “uh,” “um,” “like”.
Speaking too fast or too slow.
Incorrect stress on syllables—e.g., “RE-cord” (noun) vs. “re-CORD” (verb).
Not using a clear and neutral accent.

✍️ PTE Writing: Smart Tips & Mistakes to Avoid

The writing section includes Summarize Written Text and Write Essay tasks. These test your ability to express complex ideas clearly, concisely, and grammatically.

✅ Smart Tips for Writing

1. Use the Essay Template Wisely

Structure your essay into:

Introduction
Body Paragraph 1
Body Paragraph 2
Conclusion

Example:

"This essay will discuss both views and argue why X is more significant."

2. Use Linking Words Strategically

Use transition words like:

Firstly, moreover, however, in contrast, as a result, to conclude.

This improves coherence and scoring in the Grammar and Discourse section.

3. Aim for 200–250 Words in Essays

Though the word limit is 200–300, staying in this range is ideal. Overwriting often leads to grammar mistakes.

4. Focus on One Main Idea Per Paragraph

Don’t clutter. Each paragraph should focus on one argument supported by examples.

5. Use Formal Vocabulary

Avoid informal words like “stuff,” “kids,” “a lot.” Replace with “materials,” “children,” “many.”

Use tools like Grammarly to polish your writing and fix common errors.

❌ Common Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Grammar errors—especially tenses and subject-verb agreement.
Overusing passive voice or complex words incorrectly.
Failing to answer the essay question directly.
Writing long sentences without punctuation.
Skipping the final proofreading step.

📊 Bonus Tips for Both Sections

1. Don’t Try to Impress, Aim for Clarity

Simple and accurate English always wins over trying to sound overly academic or sophisticated.

2. Practice Typing Speed for Writing

You only get limited time, and slow typing = incomplete response.

3. Focus on Time Management

In Speaking: Stick to the recording timer.
In Writing: Spend ~5 mins planning, ~15 mins writing, ~5 mins proofreading.

4. Learn From Sample Answers

Use the official PTE site’s resources and sample responses for high-scoring templates. 📖 Pearson PTE Sample Questions

🧠 How Gurully Helps You Ace the PTE Exam

At Gurully, we understand that mastering Speaking and Writing for the PTE Exam requires more than tips—it requires practice.

That’s why we offer:

✅ One FREE full-length PTE Mock Test
✅ Unlimited practice questions for all task types
✅ Real-time scoring & analytics to track your performance
✅ AI-backed feedback in Speaking & Writing

Whether you're struggling with fluency, structure, or grammar, our platform is built to replicate the real PTE exam environment and help you improve faster.

👉 Try it now: Free PTE Mock Test – Gurully

🏁 Final Words

The PTE Speaking and Writing sections are not just about language; they test your ability to perform under pressure with accuracy and speed. By avoiding common mistakes, using structured strategies, and practicing smartly—you can confidently aim for a high PTE score.

Remember: Success = Right Techniques + Daily Practice + Real Mock Tests. And that’s exactly what Gurully offers.