Timing at a glance
| Audio | A discussion between several speakers, of up to a few minutes |
|---|---|
| Preparation | About 10 seconds after the audio ends |
| Speaking time | Up to about 2 minutes |
Timings are approximate and can vary slightly from question to question.
How it's scored
Scored onContentOral FluencyPronunciation
Content checks how well you capture the topic and the main points each speaker made, and how they relate. Oral Fluency and Pronunciation are judged as in the other speaking tasks, across a longer answer.
Worked example
A practice discussion we wrote
Imagine three colleagues discussing whether their office should move to working from home three days a week. One says it saves travel time and money; another worries that new staff will learn less without a team around them; the third suggests fixed team days in the office as a compromise.
A strong approach
"The speakers discussed whether their office should allow working from home three days a week. The first speaker supported the idea, saying it would save time and money on travel. The second disagreed, worrying that new employees would learn less without colleagues around them. The third suggested a compromise: fixed days when the whole team works in the office. Overall, they agreed flexibility is useful, but felt new staff need support."
Common mistakes
- Retelling only the first speaker.
- Listing points with no link between them.
- Running out of things to say after 40 seconds.
- Mixing up who said what.
Tips
- Note the topic first, then one line per speaker: S1, S2, S3.
- Mark agreement and disagreement with simple symbols (+ / −).
- Use reporting verbs: argued, suggested, agreed, was concerned that.
- Finish with a one-sentence overall conclusion.
- Practise speaking for the full time so the length feels normal.
Summarize Group Discussion FAQ
No. Summarize Group Discussion is part of PTE Academic only.
Related guides
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