August 2025 PTE Speaking Update: Real-Life English Skills Now Tested in Exam

 

Starting 7th August 2025, the Pearson Test of English (PTE) will roll out the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks, bringing a major shift in how the test evaluates your English skills. The goal is to move beyond simple repetition and focus on real-world communication. These tasks are designed to assess how well you can use English in everyday situations—whether it’s participating in a group discussion or responding to a workplace challenge. If you’re taking the test after this date, keep reading to get ahead of the curve.

💡 Why Pearson Made These Changes

Have you ever been in a group meeting or had to deal with an issue at work—all in English? That’s the kind of real-world interaction Pearson is now focusing on with the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks. These tasks test not only your language skills but also how well you can think, listen, and respond in situations that happen every day.

This update means that the test is shifting from simple memorization to practical communication—something that’s much more relevant in the real world. Instead of just checking if you can say sentences correctly, the focus is on how well you can interact and communicate in English-speaking environments.

🔄 What’s Changing in the Speaking Section?

🆕 New Tasks Starting August 2025:

Summarize Group Discussion

Respond to a Situation

These new tasks are designed to assess how you engage with spoken English and how you respond clearly and appropriately—just like you would in real life.

🎯 What’s Different:

No more robotic repetition—now it’s all about thinking and responding naturally

The new tasks will be scored by both AI and human raters for fairness

Less memorization, more real-time thinking and speaking

🗣️ Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion

📌 What’s Involved

For this task, you’ll listen to a 2-3 minute discussion where multiple speakers share their opinions on a topic. Your job is to give a neutral, concise summary of the main points discussed.

⚙️ How It Works:

Multiple speakers will express their views on a topic

10 seconds to prepare

You’ll have 2 minutes to speak

Use formal academic language

🧠 What You’re Being Tested On:

Spotting main ideas vs. details

Remaining neutral—don’t add your personal opinion

Summarizing clearly and logically

✅ How to Prepare:

Before listening: Get ready to take notes—focus on names, opinions, and main ideas.

During the discussion: Pay attention to who says what and the flow of ideas.

When speaking: Start by introducing the topic, then summarize each speaker’s viewpoint, and finish with a clear conclusion.

🔥 Practice Tips:

Watch debates or panel discussions online (YouTube is a great resource)

Try summarizing the discussion in 70-80 words

Practice speaking out loud to improve fluency and avoid awkward pauses

🎙️ Task 2: Respond to a Situation

📌 What It Looks Like

You’ll be given a short scenario, followed by a prompt on screen. You’ll then have 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to respond. This task simulates real-world conversations.

🧠 What’s Being Tested:

How quickly you can understand the issue

How polite and relevant your response is

Your ability to speak fluently and confidently under pressure

✅ Tips for Crafting a Good Response:

Identify the problem quickly—what’s the main issue?

Respond with 1–2 clear, concise sentences

Close politely, offering a next step or solution

💬 Example Response:

"I understand your concern about the late check-in. I’ll check with the front desk and get back to you as soon as possible."

🧪 Practice Scenarios:

A customer is upset about a delayed product delivery

A colleague asks you to cover their shift

A stranger asks for help finding a location

🆚 How This Differs from the Old Format

Previously, the Speaking section relied heavily on tasks like repeating sentences or reading aloud, which mainly assessed pronunciation and clarity. While useful, these tasks didn’t reflect how language is really used in the world.

With the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks, Pearson is moving towards tasks that test:

Real-world communication skills

Quick thinking and problem-solving

Clear and relevant responses in natural conversations

🎯 Why These Changes Are Important

These updates are great news for anyone planning to study, work, or live in an English-speaking country. The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks will test the skills you’ll need to succeed in classrooms, offices, and everyday life.

Instead of testing isolated grammar or memorized phrases, the focus is now on whether you can effectively communicate in real situations—whether that’s in a university seminar or an office meeting.

🧩 How to Get Ready

👂 Improve Your Listening Skills

Listen to group discussions, debates, or podcasts that feature different viewpoints

Practice understanding the main ideas, not just the words

Focus on how people respond to each other in conversations

🗣️ Build Your Speaking Confidence

Use speaking apps like ELSA Speak or PTE practice portals to simulate test scenarios

Practice thinking in English during daily activities—this helps improve fluency

Record your practice responses and evaluate your tone and pacing

⏳ Get Comfortable Under Time Pressure

Try practicing with 10-second prep and 40-second responses

Use a timer to make sure you’re not rushing or pausing too long

Record yourself and review your performance

🗣️ Useful Phrases for Both Tasks

🔑 For Responding to a Situation:

“I completely understand the issue…”

“Let me check and get back to you…”

“I’ll take care of that as soon as possible…”

📚 For Summarizing Discussions:

“The main topic discussed was…”

“One participant expressed…”

“In conclusion, the group agreed that…”

📌 Final Takeaway on PTE August 2025 Speaking Update

The August 2025 PTE Speaking update is more than just a small change—it’s a complete overhaul that reflects real-world communication skills. With the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks, Pearson is ensuring that the test assesses how well you can function in everyday English conversations, not just memorized sentences.

Whether you're preparing for university, a new job, or just life in an English-speaking country, this update is designed to help you succeed. Start practicing today, and you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way!