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PTE Home A1 tips

PTE Home A1 uses very simple English, but you speak to a computer and cannot go back. Small habits decide the result: starting to speak straight away, keeping a steady speed, and not stopping to correct yourself. This page goes through the three tasks one by one.

Tasks
3 types, 32 questions
Biggest part
22 repeat sentences
Marked by
Computer
Result
Pass or fail

Ready to try it? Free PTE Home A1 practice test, with every task type and your spoken answers checked as you go.

What to do in each task

  1. Task 1

    Repeat sentence

    22 questions

    You hear a short sentence and say it again exactly as you heard it. This task is scored on fluency and pronunciation. Pearson's specification says each answer is scored as correct, partly correct or incorrect, so part of an answer still earns marks.

    • Listen to the end before you start. If you begin early you lose the last words.
    • Say it at the speed you heard it. Do not slow down to be careful.
    • If you miss a word, say the rest. Part of a sentence still earns marks.
    • Copy the music of the sentence: where the voice rises and where it stops.
    • At A1 the sentences are three to seven words. Practise until you can repeat them without thinking.

    Sentence patterns to practise

    • My name is ...
    • I live in ...
    • She has two ...
    • Where is the ...?
    • Can I have ..., please?
  2. Task 2

    Describe image

    5 questions

    You see a picture, have 25 seconds to look and prepare, and then describe it. It is scored on fluency, pronunciation and content, so say real things about the picture.

    • Use the 25 seconds to choose three things: the place, the people, and one action.
    • Always start the same way: "This is a ..." or "I can see ...". A fixed first sentence stops you freezing.
    • Use "There is" and "There are" for objects.
    • Use "-ing" for actions: "A man is walking."
    • Three or four short, correct sentences are enough at A1.

    Sentences to learn

    • This is a kitchen.
    • I can see a woman.
    • She is cooking.
    • There is a table.
    • It is a sunny day.
  3. Task 3

    Conversation: listen and answer

    5 questions

    You hear two people talking, then one question about what they said. You say the answer. A short answer is enough.

    • While you listen, notice the facts: a time, a price, a place or a thing.
    • Answer with the fact only: "twelve pounds" or "at work".
    • Practise hearing numbers and times, such as "half past seven".
    • If two times or places are mentioned, the question is about one of them. Listen for who is speaking.

    Short answers that are enough

    • At half past seven.
    • Twelve pounds.
    • At work.
    • Some bread.
    • Coffee.

Common mistakes

  • Waiting too long to speak. You are recorded by a computer, not heard by a person. Start speaking a second or two after the recording ends.
  • Going back to correct yourself. Fluency is scored. A smooth answer with one small mistake is better than a broken one.
  • Speaking too quietly. Other people are in the room, but speak into the microphone at a normal volume.
  • Describing things that are not in the picture. Content is scored, so talk about what you can actually see.
  • Giving a long answer to the conversation question. One short fact is what the task asks for.

A one-week study plan

About thirty minutes a day. Speak aloud every day, and use headphones if you can.

Day 1
Read this page. Then do the first eleven repeat sentences in the practice test.
Day 2
The other eleven repeat sentences. Repeat each one until every word is heard.
Day 3
Describe the five pictures. Time yourself: 25 seconds to prepare, then speak.
Day 4
The five conversations. Then ask a friend to tell you a time or a price, and say it back.
Day 5
All 22 repeat sentences again, with headphones, without looking at the words.
Day 6
The whole practice test in one go, without stopping.
Day 7
Rest. Check your booking, your ID and how to get to the test centre.

Questions

Is PTE Home A1 hard?
The English is basic: short sentences about everyday life. The difficulty is the format. You speak to a computer and cannot go back, so practise the format until it feels normal.
What is the pass mark for PTE Home A1?
Pearson does not publish one. The result is simply a pass or a fail at level A1.
Do I need a British accent?
No. Pronunciation and fluency are scored, so aim for clear, steady speech that is easy to understand, in your own accent.
Can I prepare without a teacher?
Yes. The tasks are always the same types, so the best preparation is to do them many times. Our practice test plays every recording and, in Chrome or Edge, shows which words it heard you say.

More PTE Home help

Official sources

TestWise Prep is independent and is not connected to Pearson. Test format checked against Pearson's pages on 10 October 2026. The advice on this page is our own.