If you're planning to take the PTE Academic exam on or after August 7, 2025, there are some important changes you should be aware of. Pearson, the organization behind PTE, has updated the exam format to make it more reflective of real-world English use. These changes are aimed at evaluating your ability to use English in practical, everyday situations, focusing more on real communication skills and less on memorization or rigid templates.
Let’s dive into the key updates and discuss how you can best prepare for the new PTE Academic exam format.
What’s New in PTE Academic 2025?
1. Two New Speaking Tasks
One of the major changes is the introduction of two new speaking tasks that focus on real-life communication:
Respond to a Situation: In this task, you’ll be given a real-life scenario and asked to respond appropriately. This could involve offering advice or politely declining an invitation, for example. It tests your ability to react to everyday situations with proper language skills.
Summarize a Group Discussion: Here, you’ll listen to a short conversation between several people and then summarize what was discussed. This tests your understanding of spoken English and your ability to communicate the main points clearly and concisely.
These new tasks are designed to better assess your ability to use English in real-life contexts, making the exam more practical and applicable to everyday communication.
2. Beep in the "Repeat Sentence" Task
The “Repeat Sentence” task now includes a beep that signals when to begin speaking. This simple addition removes any confusion about when to start and helps you stay focused and on track during the task.
3. Enhanced User Interface (UI)
The test interface has been redesigned to make your experience smoother and more user-friendly:
Double mic check: Before starting the exam, your microphone will be tested twice to ensure it's working correctly.
No keyboard check: The keyboard check has been removed, saving you time and reducing unnecessary steps.
Circular progress bar: A visual progress bar will help you track how much time is left, making it easier to manage your time throughout the exam.
Adjustable font size: You can adjust the text size to make it more comfortable for you to read.
Audio waveform display: The audio waveform display will help you track and understand the audio content more effectively.
These changes are aimed at reducing stress and helping you stay focused during the exam.
4. Slightly Longer Exam
The new exam format will now take 2 hours and 15 minutes, which is 15 minutes longer than the previous version. This extra time accommodates the new tasks in the speaking section, ensuring that you have enough time to complete all sections without feeling rushed.
5. Human Scoring for Some Tasks
In the updated format, seven tasks will now be scored by real human examiners instead of being evaluated by a computer. These tasks are:
Describe Image
Retell Lecture
Respond to a Situation
Summarize Group Discussion
Write Essay
Summarize Written Text
Summarize Spoken Text
With human scoring, it’s more important than ever to speak naturally and clearly. Relying on memorized phrases or templates may hurt your score, as examiners are looking for genuine communication.
How to Prepare for the New PTE Format
Practice real-life speaking situations: Instead of just memorizing responses, try practicing speaking in real-world situations, such as giving advice or politely refusing an invitation.
Summarize conversations: Listen to group discussions or conversations on podcasts or videos, and practice summarizing the key points. This will help you with the “Summarize a Group Discussion” task.
Take practice tests: Familiarize yourself with the updated format by taking practice tests that reflect the 2025 changes.
Focus on fluency and clarity: The new format places more emphasis on speaking naturally and clearly. Avoid relying on templates, and instead, aim to speak confidently and fluently.
Stay calm and confident: Confidence in your speaking will help you perform better in both the speaking and writing sections. Practice speaking aloud and making your points clearly.
Final Thoughts
The August 2025 update to the PTE Academic exam makes the test more focused on real-world English skills. These changes are not necessarily more difficult, but they require you to communicate effectively in everyday situations. With the right preparation, you can use these updates to your advantage and perform better on the exam.
Take time to get familiar with the new tasks, practice speaking naturally, and stay confident throughout your preparation. You’ll be well-prepared for the updated PTE Academic exam.
Source: PTE New August Update
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