Prepare for Success: How to Tackle the New PTE Question Types in 2025

 

If you’re planning to take the PTE Academic exam after August 7th, 2025, there’s a big update you need to know about. Pearson has introduced New PTE Question Types designed to better assess how you communicate in everyday academic and social situations. Instead of focusing just on memorization or grammar rules, these new tasks will test your ability to think on your feet and engage in real-life conversations. In this blog, we’ll break down the new question types, why they’re important, and share practical tips to help you ace them.

🆕 What’s Changing in the Speaking Section?

The New PTE Question Types added to the speaking section are:

Summarize Group Discussion

Respond to a Situation

These tasks are all about testing how you listen, understand, and respond in dynamic, real-world contexts—whether it’s in a university setting or the workplace. You’ll need to move beyond the standard reading or repeating exercises and start thinking and speaking more naturally.

🎯 Why Are These Changes Happening?

Pearson is making these changes to focus on what truly matters in effective communication:

Testing your ability to think and speak spontaneously

Encouraging clear, structured speaking

Mirroring real-life communication environments

Moving away from rote learning to practical language use

If you’re someone who thrives in spontaneous conversations and can quickly respond to different situations, these changes could work in your favor. The goal is to assess how you communicate when it matters most—when you’re responding in real-time.

🗣️ A Closer Look at the New Tasks

1. Summarize Group Discussion

What to Expect:

You’ll listen to a discussion among 3–4 speakers (2–3 minutes).

You’ll have 10 seconds to plan your response.

Then, you’ll have 2 minutes to summarize the discussion.

How to Answer:

Pay attention to each speaker’s main points.

Use formal phrases like: “The discussion revolved around…” or “One participant pointed out…”

Be sure to present both sides of any debate, if there is one.

Wrap it up with a balanced conclusion: “In summary, the group shared differing perspectives on…”

Key Tip:

Stick to summarizing the discussion—this isn’t the time to include your personal opinion.

2. Respond to a Situation

What to Expect:

You’ll hear a brief real-world scenario (20–30 seconds).

A prompt will follow, and you’ll have 10 seconds to prepare.

You’ll then have 40 seconds to respond.

How to Answer:

Start by acknowledging the situation and showing empathy: “I understand your concern…”

Offer a clear, reasonable solution or next steps.

End with something like: “Let me know if I can assist you further.”

Key Tip:

Keep your response focused, calm, and polite. Don’t try to overcomplicate it.

📌 Key Information (No Tables)

Summarize Group Discussion

Audio: 2–3 minutes

Prep Time: 10 seconds

Speaking Time: 2 minutes

Goal: Summarize the key points and viewpoints shared in the discussion.

Respond to a Situation

Audio: 20–30 seconds

Prep Time: 10 seconds

Speaking Time: 40 seconds

Goal: Provide a clear, appropriate, and polite response to a real-world scenario.

📚 How to Prepare for the New PTE Question Types

Train Your Listening Skills

Listen to podcasts, panel discussions, or debates.

Focus on understanding the main points and who’s saying what.

Practice summarizing conversations aloud, focusing on clarity and structure.

Boost Your Speaking Fluency

Shadow native speakers in TED Talks or YouTube videos.

Try to match their tone, speed, and expression as you repeat what they say.

Practice speaking without hesitation or fillers to sound more fluent.

Prepare for Real-Life Situations

Role-play common scenarios you might encounter, like solving a problem or offering advice.

Use polite, professional language and practice staying calm under pressure.

Pair up with a friend or tutor to rehearse impromptu speaking.

Learn Useful Phrases

For Summarizing Discussions:

“The group discussed…”

“One participant emphasized that…”

“There was disagreement on…”

For Responding to Situations:

“Thank you for bringing that up.”

“Let me explain how we can address this.”

“Would you like to explore another option?”

✅ Top Tips for Success

Think Fast: You only have 10 seconds to prepare, so practice responding quickly.

Keep It Short and Sweet: Don’t ramble—stay on topic and make your points clearly.

Be Polite and Professional: Always use formal language for the Summarize Group Discussion task and be polite and empathetic for the Respond to a Situation task.

Record Your Responses: Listening to your recordings can help you spot areas for improvement.

Prioritize Clarity: Focus on being clear and understandable—don’t worry too much about using complex words.

❌ Mistakes to Avoid

Speaking too fast or unclearly: Speak slowly and clearly so your ideas come across.

Using informal language or slang: Keep it professional and polite throughout.

Adding personal opinions in summaries: Focus only on summarizing what was discussed.

Getting off-topic due to nerves: Stick to what’s asked and stay focused.

Missing the tone of the prompt: Understand the context of the question and respond accordingly.

🧠 Final Thoughts

The New PTE Question Types coming in August 2025 are designed to test your real-life communication skills. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about sounding natural, clear, and confident in your responses. By understanding the new tasks, practicing in realistic conditions, and focusing on structured, effective communication, you’ll be well-prepared for the changes.

Source: Angel EduNext