Planning to Take the PTE Exam in 2025?
If you’re planning to take the PTE Academic exam after August 7, 2025, you’ll need to know about some key changes to the test format. Pearson has revamped the exam to better assess how well you can use English in real-life situations. These changes focus on your practical language skills, ensuring that the test reflects how you’d communicate in everyday conversations rather than just recalling memorized responses. To help you succeed, it's crucial to understand what’s different and how to adjust your preparation accordingly for the updated PTE Academic exam.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the major updates, why they’ve been introduced, and offer practical tips for preparing effectively.
Why Has the PTE Format Changed?
Pearson received feedback from test-takers who wanted the exam to feel more natural and aligned with real-life communication. The goal now is to assess how well you understand and use English in everyday situations, instead of just testing your ability to memorize and recite answers. The new format is designed to ensure the test is more fair, relevant, and reflective of actual English proficiency.
What’s New in PTE Academic from August 2025?
1. Two New Speaking Tasks
The updated PTE exam introduces two new speaking tasks designed to test your ability to handle real-world conversations.
Respond to a Situation
In this task, you’ll be given a brief scenario and asked to respond appropriately. For example, you may need to express an apology, offer help, or provide a polite response to an invitation. The goal is to evaluate your ability to communicate clearly and naturally in common situations.
Summarize a Group Discussion
You will listen to a short conversation between two or more people and summarize the main points in 20-30 seconds. This tests your listening skills and how well you can condense the conversation into a concise and clear summary.
2. Beep Sound in Repeat Sentence Task
In the “Repeat Sentence” task, a beep sound will now help guide you on when to start speaking. This change makes the task clearer and reduces any uncertainty, ensuring that you know exactly when to begin your response.
3. User Interface (UI) Improvements
Pearson has also made improvements to the test interface to create a smoother and more intuitive experience:
Double mic check ensures better voice recognition.
No keyboard check, simplifying the process.
Circular progress bar shows you how much time is left.
Larger font size for easier reading.
Audio waveform tracks your speaking volume in real-time, helping you adjust as needed.
4. Longer Test Duration
The updated PTE Academic will now take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, which is 15 minutes longer than the previous version. This extra time allows for the additional tasks and gives you more time to complete each section.
5. Human Scoring for 7 Key Tasks
Starting in 2025, human evaluators will be involved in scoring seven important tasks. These tasks include:
Describe Image
Retell Lecture
Respond to a Situation
Summarize Group Discussion
Summarize Written Text
Write Essay
Summarize Spoken Text
This means your responses will be judged more on how naturally and clearly you communicate, rather than simply repeating memorized phrases. It’s important to focus on speaking naturally and using your own words.
How to Prepare for the New PTE Format
1. Practice Speaking Naturally
The new tasks require you to speak in a way that feels natural and conversational. Practice responding to common scenarios, such as offering help, giving advice, or summarizing information. Doing so will help you perform confidently and effectively on tasks like “Respond to a Situation” and “Summarize Group Discussion.”
2. Listen and Summarize
For the new "Summarize a Group Discussion" task, practice listening to discussions or conversations between multiple speakers. Afterward, try summarizing the key points in 20-30 seconds. This will help you get comfortable with the task’s format and improve your listening and summarizing abilities.
3. Use Updated Practice Materials
To make sure you’re preparing for the 2025 changes, use practice tests that reflect the updated format. This will give you a feel for the new tasks and timings, helping you approach the exam with confidence.
4. Avoid Overusing Templates
While templates aren’t banned, relying too heavily on them can hurt your score, especially when human evaluators are involved. Focus on speaking naturally, clearly, and confidently. Try to avoid robotic or repetitive answers and aim for a more authentic conversation style.
Summary of the Changes
Two new speaking tasks designed to test real-world communication.
A beep sound in the Repeat Sentence task to guide your speaking.
Improved user interface with features like better voice recognition and real-time audio feedback.
Human scoring for seven key tasks to assess natural communication.
The test will now be 15 minutes longer, providing more time for each section.
A shift towards assessing practical English skills, not just memorized responses.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 updates to the PTE Academic exam reflect a shift towards real-world communication. By focusing on practical English skills, the exam now more accurately measures your ability to use English in everyday life. To succeed, it’s important to practice speaking naturally, stay calm during the exam, and focus on being authentic rather than relying on memorized phrases.
Remember, the goal of the updated exam isn’t perfection; it’s about using English in a way that feels natural and clear. Keep practicing real-life conversations and summaries, and you’ll be ready to tackle the new format with confidence.
FAQs
Is the scoring system changing?
No, the scoring system remains the same, with scores ranging from 10 to 90. Both AI and human evaluators will be involved in scoring.
Do these changes apply to PTE Core?
No, these changes only apply to PTE Academic and PTE UKVI Academic exams.
Is the test now longer?
Yes, the updated test will take around 2 hours and 15 minutes, which is 15 minutes longer than before.
Can I still use old study materials?
Some older materials may still be helpful, but it’s best to focus on updated practice resources that align with the 2025 changes.
Are templates banned?
Templates are not banned, but relying too much on them may lower your score. Human evaluators are looking for natural, clear responses that reflect genuine language use.
Source: PTE Academic August 2025 Update
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