If you’re planning to take the PTE Academic exam on or after August 7, 2025, it’s important to understand the major updates to the exam format. Pearson is moving away from memorization-based methods and focusing more on assessing real-world English skills. These changes will impact the speaking section, the test interface, and the way the exam is evaluated. The goal is to better reflect how English is used in practical, everyday situations, which means you’ll need to adapt your preparation strategies to match the updated approach.

Why Are These Changes Happening?

The updates are a response to feedback from thousands of test-takers who felt that the previous format didn’t accurately represent real-life communication. Pearson aims to make the test more relevant to the way English is used in daily conversations, at work, and in academic settings. The new format will allow for a more accurate evaluation of fluency and natural communication, rather than focusing solely on memorized responses.

What’s New in the PTE Academic?

Two New Speaking Tasks

1. Respond to a Situation
   This task involves listening to a real-life scenario and providing a natural, polite response. For example, you might be asked to refuse an offer or offer assistance in a way that is appropriate and conversational. The aim is to test how well you can handle everyday communication.
   
   

2. Summarize a Group Discussion
   In this task, you will listen to a short group conversation and summarize the key points in 20–30 seconds. This test evaluates your ability to understand and communicate the main ideas clearly, which is crucial in real-life conversations.
   
   

The "Repeat Sentence" Beep

In the “Repeat Sentence” task, a beep will now signal when it’s your turn to speak, removing the guesswork of when to start. This makes it easier to focus on speaking without distractions.

User Interface Updates

The updated user interface will improve your experience with a few new features:

• Double mic check: The microphone will be checked more thoroughly to ensure your audio is clear during speaking tasks.
  
  

• No keyboard check: The test process will be quicker, with fewer system checks before you begin.
  
  

• Circular progress bar: A circular progress bar will display how much time you have left, making it easier to manage your time.
  
  

• Font size adjustment: You can now adjust the font size to your comfort level, ensuring that the text is readable.
  
  

• Audio waveform display: A visual representation of your speech will appear on the screen, helping you track your performance in real-time.
  
  

Exam Structure & Time

• Total Questions: 22
  
  

• Duration: About 2 hours and 15 minutes
  
  

• Onboarding: The onboarding process is faster, with fewer system checks before starting the exam.
  
  

Human Evaluation for 7 Tasks

Starting August 2025, seven tasks will be evaluated by human raters instead of relying solely on AI. These tasks are:

• Describe Image
  
  

• Retell Lecture
  
  

• Respond to a Situation
  
  

• Summarize Group Discussion
  
  

• Summarize Written Text
  
  

• Write Essay
  
  

• Summarize Spoken Text
  
  

Human evaluation aims to provide a more accurate and nuanced assessment of your responses, ensuring fairness and a better evaluation of your skills.

How to Prepare for the Updated Test

Here’s how you can get ready for the changes in the 2025 PTE Academic exam:

• Practice Everyday Conversations: The “Respond to a Situation” task is all about how well you communicate in real life. Practice responding naturally to situations like refusing offers, making requests, or offering help.
  
  

• Summarize Discussions: The “Summarize Group Discussion” task requires you to capture key points in just a few seconds. To prepare, listen to discussions or podcasts and practice summarizing them in a clear and concise way.
  
  

• Focus on Fluency: The exam now emphasizes fluency and natural speech. Avoid relying on memorized templates or scripted answers. Instead, focus on speaking clearly and confidently, as if you’re having a real conversation.
  
  

• Get Comfortable with the Interface: Spend time getting familiar with the new user interface. Understanding how the circular progress bar works or how the audio waveform appears will help you stay calm and focused during the exam.
  
  

Quick Recap

• Two new speaking tasks: Respond to a Situation and Summarize Group Discussion.
  
  

• Human evaluation for 7 tasks, including both speaking and writing tasks.
  
  

• User interface updates: Double mic check, circular progress bar, font size adjustment, and audio waveform display.
  
  

• Exam duration: About 2 hours and 15 minutes.
  
  

• The new focus is on fluency, real-world communication, and natural responses, rather than just accuracy.
  
  

Final Thoughts

The PTE Academic updates for 2025 aim to make the test more reflective of how English is used in everyday life. With new speaking tasks, human evaluation, and user interface improvements, these changes are designed to better assess your practical English skills. By practicing real-world communication and becoming familiar with the updated exam format, you’ll be well-prepared to take on the new PTE Academic with confidence.

FAQs

1. Has the PTE scoring system changed?
No, the scoring system remains the same, using the 10-90 scale and AI-based scoring.

2. Will these updates affect PTE Core?
No, these changes apply only to the PTE Academic and UKVI Academic exams.

3. Is the test longer now?
Yes, the exam is about 15 minutes longer than before.

4. Are old prep materials still useful?
Some older materials may not reflect the 2025 changes. It’s best to use updated resources aligned with the new format.

5. Are templates banned?
Templates are not banned, but overusing them may negatively affect your score, especially when human evaluators are reviewing your responses. Speaking naturally and clearly is key to success.

By preparing with the updated exam format and focusing on real-world English skills, you'll be ready for the PTE Academic in 2025. Best of luck with your preparation!

Source: Angel EduNext - PTE Academic August 2025 Update