If you're planning to take the PTE Academic exam on or after August 7, 2025, there are some important changes that you need to know. These updates are designed to make the test more practical and effective at assessing your real English skills. Instead of focusing on how well you can memorize answers, the new format is all about measuring how well you can use English in everyday situations. Understanding these changes and how they impact the test will help you feel more confident and prepared. Let’s dive into what’s new and how you can get ready for the 2025 exam.
What’s New in the PTE Academic 2025?
1. Two New Speaking Tasks
Pearson has added two new tasks to the speaking section to better assess your ability to communicate in real-life situations.
Respond to a Situation
You will listen to a brief situation and then respond appropriately. For example, you might be asked to apologize, give advice, or politely turn down an offer. This task is designed to test how well you can react to real-world scenarios in English.
Summarize a Group Discussion
For this task, you will hear a group discussion and need to summarize the key points in 20–30 seconds. This will assess both your listening and speaking skills as you express the main ideas clearly and concisely.
These new speaking tasks focus on practical communication skills, which will better reflect how you use English in everyday conversations.
2. Beep Sound in Repeat Sentence
In the Repeat Sentence task, a beep sound will now indicate exactly when you should start speaking. This change helps with timing, making it easier for you to respond at the right moment without any confusion.
3. Updated Test Interface
The exam interface has been updated to improve the overall experience and make it more user-friendly. Some of the changes you’ll notice include:
A double mic check to ensure your microphone is set up correctly.
No keyboard check, which simplifies the process.
A circular progress bar that shows how much time you have left during the exam.
Adjustable font size to suit your preferences.
An audio waveform to display your voice levels, helping you monitor your speaking.
These changes aim to make the exam less stressful and easier to navigate, allowing you to focus more on your performance.
4. Slightly Longer Test Duration
The PTE Academic exam will now take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, which is about 15 minutes longer than before. The additional time is due to the two new speaking tasks, so it’s important to manage your time wisely during the test.
5. Human Scoring for Some Tasks
Starting in 2025, seven tasks will be scored by real human examiners, not just AI. These tasks are:
Describe Image
Retell Lecture
Respond to a Situation
Summarize Group Discussion
Write Essay
Summarize Written Text
Summarize Spoken Text
Human scoring ensures a more accurate and fair assessment of your responses. However, keep in mind that relying on templates too heavily may hurt your score, as human examiners are looking for more natural, spontaneous answers.
How to Prepare for the New Format
Practice responding to real-life situations, such as politely refusing or offering suggestions in English.
Listen to group discussions or conversations in English, and practice summarizing them in your own words.
Focus on speaking clearly, naturally, and with confidence. Avoid sounding rehearsed or overly formal.
Avoid relying too much on templates; aim to give responses that feel authentic and conversational.
Final Words
The PTE Academic 2025 update is all about testing your ability to communicate effectively in real-life situations. With these changes, the exam will better reflect your actual language skills. If you prepare to speak naturally and confidently, you’ll be in a strong position to succeed. Stay calm, familiarize yourself with the new tasks, and practice regularly. With the right preparation, you’ll be ready to tackle the new format and achieve your desired score.
Source: PTE New August Update 2025
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