Analysing responses – Logical organisation

Hi, everyone. Welcome to our second video on content in the speaking section of PTE Academic. You recently learnt how to select information from an image or lecture to include in your response. In this video, you will look at how to organise this information in a logical manner. To organise something logically means to organise information in a way that has clear and easily understandable links between the sections, and is easy for the listener to follow. If something is illogical, it means that the relationships between ideas are difficult to follow, and this may cause the listener to become confused.

In the speaking section of PTE Academic, speaking in a logical order is an important skill for Describe Image and Re-tell Lecture item types. Let’s try an example. Firstly, listen to the example lecture and take notes. Remember, you only have 40 seconds to retell the lecture so focus on the main ideas and the most important details.

[Narrator] Yoga is an ancient practice which is believed to have begun over 5,000 years ago in Northern India. Modern yoga has eight limbs or parts, and these include concentration, breathing, positive duties and moral disciplines, which result in multifaceted benefits. The first group of benefits stems from the physical practice of yoga and indeed the physical benefits of yoga are extensive. Through holding the postures and moving and stretching in different ways, participants in yoga improve flexibility. This helps their muscles and joints become less tight. Yoga is also beneficial for improving muscle tone. The postures are physically demanding and often held for an extended period of time. This leads to a strengthening of the muscles and this, more toning.

Another set of benefits for yoga are more mental. A full practice of yoga involves meditation. And this practice helps center the mind, sharpen attention and relieve stress. An integral part of yoga practice is breathing. This can be done at the same time as the physical Asana practice or separately. This focus on deep and consistent breathing has a positive impact on the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system and can slow the heart rate and promote calmness.

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How did you go? Now, let’s look at how Shaoling retold the lecture. Firstly, let’s look at the notes that she took when listening to the lecture. What can you notice about the notes? What order are they in? How are they organised? You can see that the notes are in the same order as the lecture. Is this true of your notes as well? It is a good idea to take your notes in the same order as the lecture, as this will help your response be logical. Shaoling also did not include all the information from the lecture. She only included the main ideas and the important examples and details. Now, let’s listen to Shaoling re-tell the lecture.

Pay attention to how she organises her response. How does this relate to her notes and to the lecture? Do you think that her retelling is logical?

The speaker was discussing yoga and it’s physical and mental benefits. He said that yoga started in North India about 5,000 years ago. There are eight parts of yoga. He described the physical benefits. In yoga people stretch their muscles and they become more flexible. Also, the pose help people to become stronger. He also discussed the mental benefits. Meditation is key in yoga. Breathing is also able to have a positive impact.

Can you see that Shaoling organised her retelling in the same order as the lecture? Firstly, she stated the main topic and then moved through in order. This is the key part of responding in a logical manner. Can you also see that Shaoling included a range of linking words to help organise her ideas? She also clearly introduced each new idea as she moved through her response. This is a key part of organizing a response logically. Now, listen to your recording and think about how logically your ideas are organised. Are they in the same order as the lecture? Have you used a range of introductory phrases and linking words to help you organize your ideas?

In the next step, you will look at how you can logically organise your responses by taking clear notes and using a range of linking words.