Major PTE Update 2025: Explore the Two New Speaking Tasks and How to Tackle Them
If you’re planning to take the Pearson Test of English (PTE) after August 7th, 2025, there’s an important update you need to be aware of. The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025 have been introduced, and they’re designed to make the test more realistic. These changes reflect how English is actually used in the real world, focusing not just on your grammar or pronunciation, but also on how you think and respond quickly in conversations. In this blog, we’ll break down the updates, explain the new tasks, and give you practical tips to help you prepare like a pro.
🎯 Why Pearson Introduced These New Tasks
The previous speaking tasks in the PTE were useful, but they didn’t fully capture the way we communicate in real life. Repeating sentences or reading aloud doesn’t test your ability to have dynamic conversations, especially in situations you’d face at work, in class, or while traveling. The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025 are here to change that. These new tasks focus on:
Quick thinking and speaking in a variety of situations.
Appropriate responses in social and professional contexts.
Fluent communication that mirrors real-world interactions.
Pearson has designed these tasks to reflect what’s really important when you use English every day, whether you’re listening to others, summarizing ideas, or responding to challenges in conversation.
🆕 What Are the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025?
The two new tasks Pearson has introduced are:
Summarize Group Discussion
Respond to a Situation
These tasks are meant to help assess how well you can communicate in settings that require active listening, quick responses, and appropriate social skills.
🗣️ Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion
Here’s What Happens:
You’ll listen to a 2-3 minute conversation between several speakers discussing a topic.
Once the audio ends, you’ll have 10 seconds to prepare.
You’ll then have up to 2 minutes to summarize the conversation in a clear and neutral way.
Skills This Task Measures:
Active listening: Can you pick out key points and different opinions from multiple speakers?
Summarizing effectively: Can you put the information into a concise, structured summary?
Using formal language: Can you express yourself in a neutral, academic tone?
How to Prepare:
Listen to podcasts, group discussions, or debates, and practice summarizing the main ideas out loud.
Make quick notes on key points during the discussion, focusing on who said what.
Use this structure when summarizing:
“The group discussed…”
“One speaker mentioned that…”
“Another participant added that…”
“To conclude, the group had different opinions on…”
What Not to Do:
Don’t add your own opinions—stick to summarizing the speakers’ ideas.
Don’t mix up the speakers' viewpoints—keep their opinions separate.
Avoid informal language—keep your summary academic and neutral.
🎤 Task 2: Respond to a Situation
Here’s What Happens:
You’ll hear a 20-30 second audio describing a situation (such as a customer complaint, a workplace issue, or a social problem).
A related prompt will appear on the screen asking you to respond.
You’ll have 10 seconds to think, then 40 seconds to provide your response.
Skills This Task Measures:
Quick thinking and speaking: Can you respond clearly and appropriately in a short amount of time?
Fluency and pronunciation: Can you express yourself smoothly and understandably under pressure?
Social appropriateness: Can you maintain a polite and appropriate tone based on the situation?
How to Prepare:
Practice responding to different real-life situations, like handling customer complaints, giving advice, or responding to questions at work.
Record your responses to evaluate your fluency and clarity.
Use natural phrases like:
“I understand your concern…”
“Let me assist with that…”
“Would you like me to clarify further?”
What Not to Do:
Don’t use slang unless it’s required by the situation.
Don’t overthink your response—trust your instincts and speak naturally.
Avoid using memorized scripts—they often sound too robotic.
💡 Why These Tasks Make the PTE More Realistic
The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025 aim to make the test more aligned with how English is used in real life. Instead of just memorizing phrases or repeating sentences, these tasks test your ability to:
Engage in meaningful discussions with others and understand multiple points of view.
Respond appropriately and naturally to a variety of social or professional situations.
Express yourself clearly and confidently, whether you’re giving a summary or reacting to a problem.
This shift toward real-world communication makes the PTE a more accurate measure of your ability to use English in everyday settings, whether in academic discussions, work meetings, or casual conversations abroad.
📌 Format Breakdown
Summarize Group Discussion
Audio: 2-3 minutes
Prep Time: 10 seconds
Speaking Time: 2 minutes
Tone: Formal, neutral, academic
Focus: Listening, summarizing, using academic language
Respond to a Situation
Audio: 20-30 seconds
Prep Time: 10 seconds
Speaking Time: 40 seconds
Tone: Polite, natural, situational
Focus: Quick thinking, fluency, and appropriateness
🎯 Key Scoring Elements
Here’s how you’ll be evaluated:
Content Relevance: Did you stay on topic and respond appropriately to the prompt?
Fluency: Was your speech smooth, clear, and confident?
Pronunciation: Was your speech easy to understand?
Appropriateness: Was your tone and language suitable for the situation?
AI and human raters work together to ensure your score is fair and accurate.
📚 Top Preparation Tips for the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025
Practice Active Listening
Listen to group discussions, debates, or podcasts, and practice summarizing them aloud. Focus on identifying the main points and the tone of each speaker.
Simulate Real-Life Scenarios
Use apps or role-play with a partner to practice real-life situations like responding to a customer complaint, handling work issues, or offering help. Time yourself to simulate the pressure of the test.
Stay Organized
When summarizing or responding, organize your thoughts with a simple structure: Introduction → Main Point → Support → Conclusion. This makes your response clearer and more logical.
Speak Daily
The more you practice speaking English, the more confident and fluent you’ll become. Whether reading aloud, talking to yourself, or practicing with a friend, regular speaking practice is key.
Record and Review Your Responses
Recording your responses helps you spot areas where you can improve, such as fluency, tone, and clarity. Focus on one area at a time to enhance your performance.
🧠 Bonus: Useful Phrases for the New Tasks
For Summarizing Discussions:
“The group discussed…”
“One speaker pointed out that…”
“Another participant mentioned that…”
“In conclusion, the group had different perspectives on…”
For Responding to Situations:
“I completely understand…”
“Let me take care of that…”
“Would you like me to clarify that further?”
✅ Final Thoughts
The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025 represent a big shift towards testing how well you communicate in real-life situations. These tasks focus on your ability to listen, think quickly, and respond in ways that mirror real-world conversations. By practicing now, you’ll be ready to tackle the updated test confidently and effectively.