2025 PTE Speaking Update: Everything You Need to Know About the New Format
Exciting changes are coming to the PTE exam! Starting August 7, 2025, the Speaking section will introduce two new tasks that are designed to reflect real-life conversations. This update, officially known as the PTE Academic New Questions Format 2025, aims to align the test more closely with the types of communication you’ll encounter in real-world academic and professional environments. If you're planning to take the PTE after this date, this blog will guide you through the updates and give you helpful tips to tackle the new tasks confidently.
🔄 Why Is Pearson Updating the Speaking Section?
Pearson is making these updates because they want the test to evaluate your real-world communication abilities—not just your ability to repeat or read words. The new format focuses on:
Understanding multiple speakers in a conversation
Summarizing discussions clearly and accurately
Responding effectively to everyday situations
Demonstrating fluency, pronunciation, and contextual awareness in real-time
With the PTE Academic New Questions Format 2025, Pearson is moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach and instead, testing how well you can communicate in natural settings—just like you would in the classroom or workplace.
🆕 What’s New in the Speaking Section (August 2025 Onward)
In August 2025, two new tasks will be introduced in the Speaking section:
Summarize Group Discussion
Respond to a Situation
These tasks replace older, more mechanical exercises, providing a better chance to demonstrate how you can engage in meaningful conversations and respond thoughtfully to common real-world situations.
🗣️ Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion
What You’ll Experience
For this task, you’ll listen to a 2–3 minute group conversation where multiple speakers discuss a topic. After 10 seconds of preparation time, you’ll have 2 minutes to summarize the key points of the discussion.
What Skills This Tests
Active listening and identifying key points
Differentiating different viewpoints
Structuring your thoughts in a clear and coherent way
Speaking fluently and confidently
Tips to Nail It
Take quick, organized notes using symbols or initials to track what each speaker says.
Start your summary with: “The group discussed…” or “The main focus of the conversation was…”
Focus on 2-3 key points, highlighting different viewpoints.
Keep a neutral tone—avoid sharing personal opinions.
Conclude with a short, objective wrap-up: “In conclusion, the main takeaway was…”
🧏 Task 2: Respond to a Situation
What You’ll Experience
In this task, you’ll hear a real-life situation (like a customer complaint or a request for help). You’ll also see a written prompt. After 10 seconds to prepare, you’ll have 40 seconds to respond as if you’re directly involved in the situation.
What Skills This Tests
Responding spontaneously to real-life scenarios
Emotional intelligence and cultural awareness
Speaking clearly and appropriately under time pressure
Tips to Nail It
Start by acknowledging the situation: “I understand your concern…” or “I can see why this might be frustrating…”
Offer a helpful and practical response.
Stay calm, polite, and natural—avoid sounding rehearsed or robotic.
End with a friendly, positive closing: “I hope that helps!” or “Feel free to reach out if you need anything else.”
🎯 Why These New Tasks Matter
These changes are designed to make the PTE Speaking section more relevant to your actual language use in the real world. Here’s how:
Summarize Group Discussion simulates academic settings, like university tutorials or team meetings, where you need to understand and summarize different perspectives.
Respond to a Situation mimics real-world scenarios such as job interviews, customer service roles, or even casual work conversations, where you need to respond thoughtfully and appropriately.
Both tasks go beyond simple language recall—they test your ability to engage with others, understand context, and communicate effectively, just as you would in a real-world environment.
📝 Format and Timing Breakdown
Summarize Group Discussion
Audio Duration: 2–3 minutes
Prep Time: 10 seconds
Speaking Time: ~2 minutes
Style: Formal, neutral tone (focus on summarizing viewpoints, not personal opinions)
Respond to a Situation
Audio Prompt: 20–30 seconds
Prep Time: 10 seconds
Speaking Time: 40 seconds
Style: Polite, natural, context-specific tone
🧠 Key Scoring Criteria
The new tasks will be scored based on:
Content: Did you stay on topic and address all key points?
Fluency: Did you speak smoothly, without unnatural pauses or hesitations?
Pronunciation: Was your speech clear and easy to understand?
Appropriacy: Did your tone and word choices fit the situation?
AI and human raters will evaluate your performance to ensure accuracy and fairness.
📚 How to Prepare for the PTE Academic New Questions Format 2025
Practice Listening to Group Discussions
Listen to podcasts, debates, or interviews with multiple speakers.
Try summarizing the key points and different viewpoints.
Practice using linking words like “however,” “on the other hand,” or “in contrast.”
Simulate Real-Life Scenarios
Record yourself responding to situations like a customer complaint or a work-related request.
Use a timer: 10 seconds to prepare, 40 seconds to speak.
Make sure your response is clear, polite, and concise.
Develop a Speaking Framework
For summaries: Start → Speaker 1 → Speaker 2 → Conclusion
For responses: Acknowledge → Respond → Close politely
Boost Your Fluency and Timing
Practice speaking for 2 minutes without pausing to think.
Use a timer to stay within the time limits.
Focus on natural, relaxed speech—just like a normal conversation.
📖 Useful Vocabulary and Phrases
For Summarizing Discussions:
“The group discussed the following topics…”
“One participant mentioned…”
“Another speaker argued that…”
“To summarize, the main points were…”
For Responding to Real-Life Situations:
“I understand your concern.”
“Let me assist you with that.”
“Could you clarify what you mean?”
“Thanks for bringing this to my attention.”
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t rush your speech—focus on clarity and natural pacing.
Avoid using fillers like “um,” “uh,” or “like.”
Stay on topic—don’t include irrelevant information.
Don’t sound overly rehearsed—aim for a natural, conversational tone.
✅ Final Thoughts
The PTE Academic New Questions Format 2025 is a big shift towards testing practical communication skills. Whether you’re summarizing a group discussion or responding to a situation, these new tasks will help you showcase your ability to communicate effectively in real-life situations.
To prepare, practice often. Work on fluency, clarity, and staying on topic. The more familiar you are with the new format, the more confident you’ll feel on test day.
Source: Angel EduNext