PTE Summarize Group Discussion template
A sentence plan for each of the 5 shapes a discussion takes, with how to note three speakers and link their views.
By Thanh Tran, PTE and IELTS coach
Updated
What shape is the discussion?
The cheat sheet has a page for each of the 5 kinds of discussion. Find yours here, then turn to its page.
- Page 4
Two agree, one disagrees
Share a view, except one
- Page 5
For, against and in between
Argue for, against and in the middle
- Page 6
A problem and advice
Help one speaker with a problem
- Page 7
A plan they agree on
Plan something and settle on a choice
- Page 8
Each shares their experience
Each say how it is for them
How to use it
Before it starts, write a line for the topic and three columns: S1, S2, S3.
Under each speaker, write their view and one reason, in a few words.
Find the shape of the discussion in the table below. Pick one option for each sentence from your notes.
Say every speaker's view and how it links to the others. Leave out your own opinion.
Speak for up to 2 minutes. If you stop for 3 seconds, the recording ends.
The two agree, one disagrees template
Page 4 of the cheat sheet, as it prints. Pick one option for each sentence and fill the blue gaps.
Blue: take it from your notes.Bold: a linking phrase.
- The topic
- A choiceThey are talking about where to live: a dorm or a private flat.
- A questionThe speakers are discussing whether to take a gap year.
- Speaker 1's view
- A clear viewThe first speaker prefers the dorm.
- Decides laterThe first speaker is unsure, but later loves the dorm.
- Their reason
- A reasonThis is because she enjoys the shared kitchen.
- An exampleFor example, she cooks with students from other cultures.
- Speaker 2, and the link
- The other sideIn contrast, the second speaker has chosen a private flat.
- DisagreesThe second speaker disagrees, and thinks the dorm is too noisy.
- Their reason
- A reasonThe dorm was noisy, so he thinks the extra cost is worth it.
- A bad experienceIn the dorm, people took food from his shelf.
- Speaker 3, and the link
- New reasonThe third speaker agrees, but for another reason: study groups.
- Same reasonThe third speaker also prefers the dorm, because it is cheaper.
- Agree or disagree
- Two against oneSo two speakers prefer the dorm, while one wants a flat.
- Common groundAll three agree that cost matters.
- How it ends
- What each valuesOverall, two value people, while one values privacy.
- One movesIn the end, the third speaker accepts it could work.
- The three students are talking about where to live next year: in university housing or in a private flat.
- The first speaker is unsure at the start, but later says she loves living in the dorm.
- This is because she enjoys the shared kitchen, where she cooks with students from other cultures and learns about their lives.
- In contrast, the second speaker has signed a contract for a studio flat in the city centre.
- The dorm was noisy and people took his food, so he thinks the extra cost is worth it for privacy.
- The third speaker agrees with the first, but for different reasons: the dorm is three minutes from class, and its study groups helped his grades.
- So two speakers prefer the dorm, while the second prefers to live alone.
- Overall, the first and third speakers value people and support, while the second values privacy more than money.
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