Unlock Success in PTE Speaking 2025: Updated Tasks & Expert Tips You Need

 

If you’re preparing for the Pearson Test of English (PTE), it’s essential to know that the Speaking section is getting a major makeover starting 7th August 2025. The new tasks are designed to reflect real-life situations where English is used, which means they’ll be more practical and closer to how you’d actually communicate in everyday settings. To succeed, mastering the PTE Academic New Speaking Tips will be key. This guide will walk you through the changes and share helpful tips to ensure you're fully prepared.

🎯 Why Pearson Made Changes to the Speaking Section

The goal behind these updates is simple: Pearson wants to test how well you can communicate in real-world scenarios, not just how well you can memorize scripted responses. Here's what Pearson wants to see:

Can you listen to different perspectives and understand them?

Are you able to respond clearly and confidently, even with little preparation?

Can your speaking skills handle real-life situations like university lectures, business meetings, or even casual conversations?

The updated tasks are all about authentic communication—it’s not just about the language itself, but how you use it in the real world.

🆕 Overview of the Two New Speaking Tasks

Here’s a quick overview of the two new speaking tasks you’ll face in PTE 2025:

Summarize Group Discussion

Respond to a Situation

Both tasks aim to test your ability to process information and speak naturally in everyday scenarios. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

🗣️ Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion

What It Involves:

In this task, you’ll listen to a conversation between multiple people (2–3 minutes). After that, you’ll have 10 seconds to prepare, and then you’ll speak for about 2 minutes, summarizing the main points discussed.

PTE Academic New Speaking Tips for This Task:

Use initials: Mentally assign initials to the speakers so you can refer to them easily during your summary.

Spot agreements and disagreements: Pay attention to where speakers agree or disagree on certain points. Highlight these in your summary.

Start with a formal tone: For example, begin with, “The group discussed…” or “The topic under discussion was…”

Mention key points: Focus on summarizing the main ideas, without going into too much detail. Your job is to give a clear and concise overview.

Conclude briefly: End with a short sentence that wraps up the main message of the discussion. Avoid adding personal opinions.

Keep in mind that this task is all about providing an objective summary, so steer clear of offering your own views or analysis.

🎤 Task 2: Respond to a Situation

What It Involves:

Here, you’ll listen to a real-life scenario (20–30 seconds). After that, you’ll be given a prompt explaining your role in the situation. You’ll have 10 seconds to gather your thoughts, and then you’ll speak for 40 seconds.

PTE Academic New Speaking Tips for This Task:

Acknowledge the situation: Start by acknowledging the situation. For example, “I understand the issue…” or “Thanks for letting me know about this.”

Keep it concise: You don’t have much time, so make sure your response is clear and to the point.

Offer a practical solution: Provide a solution or response that makes sense in the given context. Keep it realistic and helpful.

End on a positive note: Close your response with something like, “Feel free to reach out if you need more help.”

Remember, this task is about making your response feel like a natural conversation, so avoid sounding too scripted or formal.

🧠 What Makes These Tasks Different from Previous Formats

Real-world application: These tasks are not about textbook knowledge—they’re about how you use English in the real world.

Clear structure: You need to deliver your thoughts clearly and logically, especially when summarizing or offering solutions.

Time management: Both tasks require quick thinking and fast speaking, so managing your time is crucial.

Active listening: You’ll need to absorb information quickly and respond in a way that reflects your understanding.

These updates are all about applying your English skills under pressure, in realistic, dynamic situations.

📌 Task Format Recap (No Tables, Just Points)

Summarize Group Discussion

Listen: 2–3 minutes

Prep: 10 seconds

Speak: ~2 minutes

Focus: Summarize viewpoints with clarity and structure

Respond to a Situation

Listen: 20–30 seconds

Prep: 10 seconds

Speak: 40 seconds

Focus: Provide clear, polite, and helpful responses

📚 Best Practices for the New PTE Speaking Format

Practice Active Listening:

Watch group discussions or debates, and try to summarize what each person is saying in your own words.

Pay attention to the main ideas and the emotions behind the words, rather than focusing on every single detail.

Build Quick Response Skills:

Create flashcards with common scenarios (e.g., handling a complaint, explaining a delay).

Practice thinking on your feet: give yourself 10 seconds to prepare, and then speak for 40 seconds on each scenario.

Use Structured Speaking Models:

For Summarizing:

“The group discussed…”

“Speaker A mentioned that…”

“In conclusion, they agreed that…”

For Responding:

“I understand your concern…”

“Here’s what I can do to help…”

“Please let me know if you need any further assistance.”

Expand Your Vocabulary:

Academic: “The participants argued that…”

Professional: “Would you like me to take action on this?”

Social: “I completely understand your frustration.”

❌ Avoid These Mistakes

Speaking too quickly without clear structure.

Giving personal opinions in the summary task.

Using too many filler words like “uh” or “like.”

Forgetting to stay polite and professional, especially in the response task.

Trying to memorize answers instead of understanding the context.

✅ Final Thoughts

The new Speaking section in PTE 2025 brings exciting changes that are more aligned with how English is really used in academic, social, and professional settings. By focusing on structure, clarity, and following the PTE Academic New Speaking Tips, you’ll be able to approach these tasks confidently and effectively. Start practicing now, and by the time the test comes, you’ll be fully prepared for whatever the exam throws at you.

Source: Angel EduNext