Your Step-by-Step Guide to the Updated PTE Exam in 2025

 

If you're planning to take the PTE Academic exam in or after August 2025, it’s important to be aware of the significant changes that have been introduced to the exam format. These updates aim to make the test more reflective of real-life English usage, moving away from memorized responses and focusing more on how you use English in practical, everyday situations. Knowing these changes will help you prepare effectively and approach the exam with confidence. Let’s break down the updates, step by step, so you’ll know exactly what to expect.

Step 1: Understand What’s New

Pearson has updated the PTE exam format to make it more relevant to real-world communication. This means the exam will now focus on how well you can use English in daily life rather than just testing your ability to recall memorized answers. The new tasks will test your ability to react and respond naturally in spoken and written English, simulating real-life interactions.

Here are the two new speaking tasks added to the exam:

Respond to a Situation – In this task, you’ll listen to a short scenario and need to respond naturally, whether it’s offering advice, declining a request, or giving a suggestion.

Summarize a Group Discussion – In this task, you’ll listen to a conversation between a group of people and provide a brief spoken summary of the discussion.

These new tasks will test both your listening and speaking skills at the same time, mirroring the types of conversations and scenarios you might encounter in everyday life.

Step 2: Know the Technical Updates

The updated test interface is designed to make your experience smoother and more user-friendly. Some of the key technical changes include:

A beep in the "Repeat Sentence" task to signal when it’s your turn to speak.

A circular progress bar that shows how much time remains in the exam, helping you stay on track.

Font size adjustments are now available to make the questions easier to read.

A visible audio waveform helps you monitor your voice during the speaking tasks.

A double mic check ensures that your voice is recorded clearly and accurately.

The keyboard check has been removed, making the test process more efficient and less stressful.

These changes aim to create a more comfortable and intuitive test environment, helping you focus on your performance.

Step 3: Be Ready for a Slightly Longer Test

With the addition of the new tasks, the total test duration has increased to about 2 hours and 15 minutes, which is approximately 15 minutes longer than before. This change means you'll need to manage your time carefully during the test. Practicing under timed conditions can help you adjust to the new format and avoid feeling rushed when it’s time for your real exam.

Step 4: Human Scoring Is Back for Some Tasks

One important change is the return of human scoring for some of the tasks. Seven tasks will now be scored by human examiners instead of solely by AI. These tasks are:

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 evaluated more holistically, allowing for a more accurate assessment. Since human examiners are involved, it’s important to speak naturally and avoid robotic or overly rehearsed answers.

Step 5: Practice the Right Way

To succeed with the updated PTE format, you’ll want to focus your practice on real-life situations and everyday communication. Here are some tips for preparing effectively:

Practice responding to real-world scenarios, such as explaining something, offering a suggestion, or politely disagreeing with someone.

Summarize podcasts, YouTube videos, or short articles to build your ability to capture key points quickly and express them clearly.

Focus on fluency, clarity, and natural speech, rather than relying on memorized phrases or templates.

The goal is to demonstrate your ability to use English in a natural and authentic way.

Final Tip

While the new format may feel a bit different, it’s an exciting opportunity to showcase your true English abilities. The updated PTE exam focuses on how you use language in real-life situations, which means your responses should feel natural and reflective of how you’d speak in a real conversation. By practicing regularly and staying confident, you’ll be fully prepared to tackle the test.

Source: New PTE Academic August Update