A PTE prediction file usually claims to list questions likely to appear in a future test. No file can give you a reliable guarantee of future questions. Memorising supplied answers is also a poor substitute for the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills the test assesses.
There is a useful alternative: treat broad topic lists as prompts for original practice. Change the data, angle and task each time. This develops a response method that still works when the real content is unfamiliar.
What prediction files cannot establish
A large list or recent date does not prove forecast accuracy. Ask:
- Who created the questions, and are they original?
- Is any accuracy claim supported by transparent, independently checkable evidence?
- Does the file match the current PTE Academic task list?
- Does it encourage flexible responses or copied scripts?
Pearson's current format has three parts and 22 question types: nine in Speaking and Writing, five in Reading and eight in Listening (Pearson test format). For preparation in 2026, use materials that include Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation. Both have been part of the current PTE Academic format since the August 2025 update; a resource claiming to provide a complete current Academic task list is outdated if it omits them.
Pearson's terms prohibit candidates from removing or sharing test items and answers. Avoid files presented as recalled, leaked or stolen live content (Pearson terms and conditions).
Why memorised answers break down
A memorised response can fail when the chart, speaker's position or situation differs slightly. It can also pull your answer away from the actual prompt. Current PTE tasks reward relevant language performance under the task's scoring criteria, so your preparation should train selection, organisation, accuracy and delivery.
Use a topic list for vocabulary collection and idea generation. Then close the sample answer and respond to a changed prompt in your own words.
Original practice set
These exercises were written for this guide. They are not predictions or recalled test questions.
1. Describe Image planning exercise
Prompt: A fictional bar chart shows weekday library visits: Monday 120, Tuesday 150, Wednesday 135, Thursday 190 and Friday 175.
Plan three points: overall pattern, highest/lowest, and one comparison.
Answer guidance: A clear response could state that visits generally rise across the week despite a Wednesday dip, identify Thursday as the peak and Monday as the lowest day, then compare Friday with Tuesday. Do not list every number if that damages fluency.
2. Respond to a Situation exercise
Prompt: You are part of a group presentation tomorrow. A teammate has changed the slides without telling the group, and two charts now conflict. Speak to the teammate and propose a solution.
Plan: polite opening, exact problem, impact, requested action and next step.
Model response: "Hi Jordan, I noticed the two charts in the revised slides use different enrolment totals, so our explanation may confuse the audience. Could we check the source together this afternoon and keep the chart with the verified figures? I can update the speaker notes once we agree, then send the final version to the group by six."
3. Reorder Paragraph exercise
Put these sentences in a logical order:
A. As a result, the council extended the trial for another six months. B. A coastal council introduced a weekend bicycle lane as a three-month trial. C. Surveys then showed that most nearby traders supported keeping it. D. During the trial, bicycle traffic increased while delivery access remained available.
Answer: B, D, C, A. Sentence B introduces the trial. D describes what happened during it. C adds the evidence. "As a result" in A gives the decision based on that evidence.
Turn a topic list into real practice
For each topic, create three variants. Change the viewpoint, numbers or purpose. Respond without viewing an old answer. Review whether you addressed the prompt, used a clear structure and controlled grammar, vocabulary and delivery. Repeat the skill with a different topic rather than memorising a polished paragraph.
Readiness is better supported by performance across fresh tasks and comparable mocks than by recognising a list of topics. You should be able to explain why your answer works and adapt it when one detail changes.
Practise with fresh tasks in the PTE practice question hub, then rewrite or rerecord one response with a different detail or viewpoint.
Five-minute credibility check
Before using any prediction list, choose one item and ask whether the source explains where it came from, when it was updated and how any success percentage was calculated. A sales claim such as “up to 80%” is not independently verified evidence. If the method is missing, treat the list only as a pool of prompts.
Then test transfer. Change two details in the prompt and answer again without the supplied script. Keep resources that provide accurate tasks and useful explanations. Use a weak changed-prompt result to identify further practice, not as the sole reason to reject the resource. This turns recognition into usable exam skill.
Related guides
- PTE September 2026 Practice Plan: Templates, Drills and Revision
- PTE Describe Image Practice: Original Charts With Sample Answers