Nine scored task types, plus a warm-up
The current Speaking & Writing part has nine scored task types. Pearson also includes a Personal Introduction so you can get familiar with the test technology; it does not contribute to your score.
Speaking: Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Answer Short Question, Summarize Group Discussion, and Respond to a Situation.
Writing: Summarize Written Text and Write Essay.
Some tasks assess more than one skill, so follow the official task page for each task’s exact scoring traits.
Speak so your meaning is easy to follow
Clear speech is more useful than rushing to sound impressive. Use the preparation time to find the main idea, then organise details in a simple sequence. In tasks where you speak from source material, keep important information accurate and avoid inventing details.
For Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence, practise phrasing, word endings, and steady pacing.
For Describe Image and Retell Lecture, select a few key features or points and connect them logically.
For the newer discussion and situation prompts, respond to the actual prompt and use your own words.
Write to the task requirements
Summarize Written Text asks for a single-sentence summary, while Write Essay asks for a longer response to a topic. Read the instructions and check the required format, length, and time for the task you are practising. A correct idea can lose value if the response ignores its form requirements.
Do not build preparation around templates
A flexible outline can help you organise ideas, but a memorised answer cannot replace understanding the prompt. Practise adapting your structure, vocabulary, and level of formality to the information on screen and in the audio. Pearson describes pronunciation in terms of being understandable; there is no need to imitate one national accent.