Crack the 2025 PTE Speaking Section: A Deep Dive into the Two New Tasks

 

If you're preparing for the PTE after 7th August 2025, there’s a big change coming your way! Pearson is introducing PTE Two New Speaking Tasks designed to make the test more reflective of real-world communication skills. These tasks are focused on assessing your ability to understand spoken content and respond naturally in everyday situations. Whether you're aiming to study abroad or work in an English-speaking environment, mastering these tasks is key to achieving a high score. This blog will walk you through everything you need to know to tackle these new speaking tasks with ease.

🎯 Why Is PTE Changing Its Speaking Section?

Pearson’s update to the PTE Academic exam is all about improving how your speaking skills are assessed. The goal is to make the exam a true reflection of how you use English in your day-to-day life. The updated tasks are designed to test more than just grammar or vocabulary—now, it's about communicating effectively and naturally. Here’s what these changes focus on:

Practical communication skills that will help you in real life

The ability to think quickly, listen carefully, and respond in real-time

Moving away from repetitive tasks to more realistic scenarios

These changes aim to make the exam more authentic, fair, and relevant for both test-takers and institutions.

🔍 Overview of the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks

Here’s a quick look at the two new speaking tasks in the updated exam format:

Summarize Group Discussion

Respond to a Situation

Both tasks focus on evaluating how well you can comprehend spoken prompts and respond in a clear, structured, and fluent manner—skills that are essential for both study and work in English-speaking environments.

🧩 Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion

What Happens in This Task?

 In this task, you will listen to a conversation among multiple speakers discussing a topic. Here's what you need to know:

The discussion lasts for about 2-3 minutes.

You’ll have 10 seconds to prepare your response.

Then, you’ll have up to 2 minutes to summarize the main points of the discussion.

How to Approach It

Listen carefully and take quick notes on the key ideas shared by each speaker.

Look for common themes, differences, and any major points of agreement or disagreement.

Structure your response like this:

Intro: “The discussion centered around…”

Body: Briefly mention each speaker's viewpoint.

Conclusion: Wrap up by summarizing the overall outcome of the discussion.

Tips to Score High

Use a formal and academic tone throughout your summary.

Don’t add your own opinions—just focus on summarizing what was discussed.

Use linking words like “While one speaker suggested…, another highlighted…” to make your summary flow logically.

Keep your summary concise and neutral, without over-explaining.

🎤 Task 2: Respond to a Situation

What Happens in This Task?

 In this task, you’ll listen to a short scenario, and the screen will show a prompt with your role in the situation. Here's how it works:

The scenario lasts about 20-30 seconds.

You’ll have 10 seconds to prepare.

Then, you’ll need to speak for 40 seconds and provide a response or solution.

How to Approach It

Start by showing empathy: “I understand how that might be frustrating…” or “I can see why this is important.”

Offer a clear, practical solution or suggestion based on the situation.

Maintain a polite, professional, and natural tone throughout your response.

Tips to Score High

Use natural conversational English—avoid sounding overly formal or robotic.

Even if you don’t have the perfect solution, focus on offering a clear and logical response.

End smoothly: “I’ll make sure to handle that right away” or “Thanks for your patience while I take care of this.”

📌 Key Differences from the Old Format

The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks mark a significant shift from the old exam format. Here’s how they differ:

Real-world scenarios: The focus is now on real-life communication, rather than repeating information.

You’re being evaluated on your ability to communicate effectively rather than just your accuracy in grammar.

There’s less emphasis on robotic delivery—the tasks are designed to encourage spontaneous, natural speech.

The introduction of AI and human scoring ensures a more accurate and reliable evaluation of your responses.

In short, it’s no longer enough to just know the language—you need to demonstrate how well you can use it to communicate in everyday situations.

🧠 How to Prepare for the New Tasks

Practice Active Listening

Listen to debates, podcasts, or discussions, and try to summarize the key points from each speaker.

Focus on both the tone and the content—how something is said can be just as important as what is said.

Simulate Everyday Situations

Practice reacting to common real-world situations like resolving customer service issues or dealing with scheduling conflicts.

Use simple, clear, and polite language to respond to scenarios.

Practice Under Time Pressure

Time yourself during practice sessions:

10 seconds to plan your response.

40 seconds for the response task.

2 minutes for the summary task.

Practice speaking confidently and staying structured, even under pressure.

Refine Your Vocabulary and Tone

For the summary task, use formal academic language like “The discussion revolved around…” or “The speakers shared differing views on…”

For the response task, use polite, professional language like “Let me look into that for you” or “I’ll take care of it immediately.”

✅ What to Do in the Exam

Speak clearly and use neutral language—avoid slang or overly casual expressions.

Stick closely to what’s said in the audio—don’t guess or make assumptions.

Watch the timer and aim to finish your response before time runs out.

Speak at a steady pace—don’t rush, but don’t speak too slowly either.

Stay confident—even if you miss a small detail, clarity is more important than perfection.

❌ What NOT to Do

Don’t add personal opinions to your summary task.

Don’t memorize answers—they will sound robotic and unnatural.

Avoid using slang or overly casual language, especially in professional situations.

Don’t overthink—keep your responses simple, clear, and focused.

Don’t panic if your response isn’t perfect—focus on being clear and confident.

📝 Sample Phrases to Practice

Summarize Group Discussion:

“One speaker argued that…”

“Another participant emphasized that…”

“The group generally agreed that…”

Respond to a Situation:

“I appreciate you bringing this to my attention.”

“Let me check what I can do to resolve this.”

“Would you mind waiting while I sort this out?”

🎯 Final Thoughts

The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks bring a welcome shift in the exam format, making it more relevant to real-world communication. By focusing on fluency, structure, and clarity, you can score high and showcase your ability to respond confidently and naturally in English. So, stay calm, stay organized, and with enough practice, you'll be ready to tackle these new tasks successfully.

Source: Angel EduNext