If you're planning to take the PTE Academic on or after August 7, 2025, it's essential to understand the significant changes to the exam format. Pearson is moving away from focusing on memorized responses to better assess real-world English skills. These updates, which affect the speaking section, user interface, and evaluation methods, are designed to test how effectively you can use English in everyday situations.
Why Are These Changes Happening?
Pearson made these changes based on feedback from thousands of test-takers who felt that the previous exam format didn't fully represent real-world communication. The aim is to measure practical English skills that reflect real-life scenarios rather than just memorized answers. The updated format is intended to be more authentic, fair, and relevant for all test-takers.
What’s New in the PTE Academic?
Two New Speaking Tasks
Respond to a Situation
In this task, you'll be asked to respond to a realistic situation. For example, you might have to politely decline an invitation or offer help to someone. This task is designed to test how naturally and appropriately you can react in everyday conversations.
Summarize a Group Discussion
In this task, you’ll listen to a brief group discussion and summarize the main points in 20–30 seconds. It tests your ability to listen carefully, identify key ideas, and communicate them concisely—skills that are crucial in many real-world situations.
The "Repeat Sentence" Beep
A new beep feature has been introduced during the “Repeat Sentence” task to make it clearer when it’s time to speak. The beep eliminates any guesswork, allowing you to focus on delivering a clear response.
User Interface Updates
Several updates to the user interface are designed to improve your test experience:
Double mic check: This ensures the microphone is properly set up and ready for the test.
No keyboard check: The system no longer checks the keyboard, which helps speed up the onboarding process.
Circular progress bar: A new circular progress bar shows your progress throughout the test.
Font size adjustment: You can now adjust the text size for better readability.
Audio waveform display: This feature provides a visual representation of your speech, helping you track your performance.
Exam Structure & Time
Total Questions: 22
Duration: Around 2 hours and 15 minutes
Onboarding: The onboarding process is now faster with fewer system checks, allowing you to start the exam more quickly.
Human Evaluation for 7 Tasks
Seven key tasks will now be evaluated by human raters. This means your responses will be assessed by real people, which ensures a more accurate and fair scoring process:
Describe Image
Retell Lecture
Respond to a Situation
Summarize Group Discussion
Summarize Written Text
Write Essay
Summarize Spoken Text
Human evaluation is designed to provide a more detailed and nuanced assessment of your abilities.
How to Prepare Effectively
To help you succeed in the updated PTE Academic, here are some practical preparation tips:
Practice Everyday Scenarios: Focus on real-world situations where you might need to respond naturally. For example, practice how you would politely refuse an invitation, offer help, or apologize.
Summarize Key Information: Listen to podcasts or watch short videos, then practice summarizing the main points in a clear and concise way.
Speak Naturally: Rather than relying on memorized templates, aim to speak naturally and fluently. Don’t worry too much about making mistakes—clarity and fluency are more important than perfection.
Familiarize Yourself with the New Interface: Get comfortable with the updated interface, including the new progress bar and audio waveform display, so you’re not distracted by these changes on exam day.
Quick Recap
Two new speaking tasks: Respond to a Situation and Summarize a Group Discussion.
Human evaluation now applies to 7 key tasks for more accurate scoring.
User interface updates include a double mic check, a circular progress bar, font size adjustment, and an audio waveform display.
The exam duration is around 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Focus on natural speech, fluency, and real-world communication, rather than just accuracy.
Final Thoughts
The PTE Academic update for 2025 marks a shift toward testing real-world English communication skills. With the introduction of new tasks, human evaluations, and updated features, the exam will now better reflect your ability to use English in everyday situations. If you focus on speaking naturally and practicing practical scenarios, you’ll be well-prepared for the changes.
FAQs
1. Has the PTE scoring system changed?
No, the scoring system remains the same, using the 10–90 scale and AI-based scoring.
2. Will these updates affect PTE Core?
No, the updates only apply to the PTE Academic and UKVI Academic exams.
3. Is the test longer now?
Yes, the test is approximately 15 minutes longer than before.
4. Are old prep materials still useful?
Some older resources may not cover the new tasks or updated interface. Make sure you're using materials that reflect the 2025 changes.
5. Are templates banned?
Templates are not banned, but relying too heavily on them may hurt your score, particularly during human evaluations where natural responses are valued.
By staying aware of the changes and practicing accordingly, you’ll be ready to tackle the updated PTE Academic with confidence. Good luck with your preparation!
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