If you’re planning to take the PTE Academic exam on or after August 7, 2025, it’s important to be aware of the new changes. Pearson is shifting the focus of the exam from memorization to real-world English usage. These updates will impact several areas, including the speaking section, the user interface, and how your answers are evaluated. Understanding these changes is key to preparing effectively and doing your best on the updated exam.

Why Are These Changes Happening?

The goal of these updates is to create a more accurate test that reflects how English is actually used in everyday communication. Based on feedback from thousands of students, Pearson is moving away from focusing on memorized responses and instead aiming to assess how well you can communicate in practical, real-world situations. This means the exam will now better measure your ability to interact in English in everyday scenarios, rather than just recall information or follow fixed scripts.

What’s New in the PTE Academic?

1. Two New Speaking Tasks
   
   

• Respond to a Situation: In this task, you’ll be given a real-life situation and asked to respond naturally. For example, you might need to politely decline an invitation or offer help. The key here is to communicate clearly and appropriately, just like you would in an actual conversation.
  
  

• Summarize a Group Discussion: You’ll listen to a short group discussion and then summarize the main points in 20-30 seconds. This will test your ability to understand spoken English and quickly summarize key ideas in a concise manner.
  
  

2. "Repeat Sentence" Beep
   The "Repeat Sentence" task will now have a beep that indicates when it’s time to speak. This small but helpful change removes the guesswork and ensures you know exactly when to start.
   
   

3. User Interface Updates
   
   

• Double mic check: A double check of your microphone will be required before starting the test, ensuring that your audio is clear and that you won’t face any technical issues during the exam.
  
  

• No keyboard check: The usual keyboard check has been removed, allowing you to start the test more quickly.
  
  

• Circular progress bar: The new circular progress bar will help you keep track of your progress throughout the exam, so you can see exactly how much time is left.
  
  

• Font size adjustment: The exam interface now allows you to adjust the font size, making it easier to read the questions, especially during longer tasks.
  
  

• Audio waveform display: During listening tasks, you’ll see an audio waveform on the screen. This will help you follow along with the audio and know when to respond.
  
  

4. Exam Structure and Time
   
   

• Total questions: The PTE Academic will now have 22 questions, slightly fewer than in the current format.
  
  

• Duration: The test will now last around 2 hours and 15 minutes, about 15 minutes longer than the previous version.
  
  

• Faster onboarding: There will be fewer system checks at the beginning of the exam, which means you can get started more quickly.
  
  

5. Human Evaluation for 7 Tasks
   In a bid to improve the accuracy of scoring and reduce reliance on memorized responses, Pearson will now include human evaluation for seven tasks. These tasks are:
   
   

• Describe Image
  
  

• Retell Lecture
  
  

• Respond to a Situation
  
  

• Summarize Group Discussion
  
  

• Summarize Written Text
  
  

• Write Essay
  
  

• Summarize Spoken Text
  
  

How to Prepare Smartly

1. Practice Real-Life Speaking Scenarios: For tasks like "Respond to a Situation," it’s important to practice speaking in natural, real-world scenarios. Think about how you would respond in everyday situations—offering advice, turning down an offer, or politely asking for clarification. This practice will help you become more comfortable speaking naturally during the test.
   
   

2. Sharpen Your Summarizing Skills: For tasks like "Summarize a Group Discussion" and "Summarize Spoken Text," practice listening to conversations or discussions and summarizing the main points in a clear and concise way. This will help you get better at organizing your thoughts and communicating them effectively.
   
   

3. Avoid Overusing Templates: While templates aren’t banned, relying on them too much—especially in tasks that are human-evaluated—can affect your score. It’s better to answer in a natural, personal way, rather than using a memorized response.
   
   

4. Get Comfortable with the New Format: Since the format of the exam is changing, it’s crucial to practice with updated materials that reflect the new structure. Get familiar with the new tasks, the user interface, and the timing so that you feel confident when it’s time for your test.
   
   

Quick Recap

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

• Human evaluation for 7 tasks: Tasks like Describe Image, Retell Lecture, and Summarize Written Text will now be evaluated by humans.
  
  

• User Interface updates: The exam will feature a circular progress bar, font size adjustment, and an audio waveform display.
  
  

• Test Duration: The exam will now last around 2 hours and 15 minutes.
  
  

• Focus on fluency: The updated test emphasizes fluency and natural speaking over memorized answers.
  
  

Final Thoughts

The PTE Academic is evolving in 2025 to become a more authentic measure of your real-world English skills. With an increased focus on fluency and the ability to respond naturally to everyday situations, these changes will help provide a more accurate assessment of your language abilities. To succeed, practice responding to real-world situations, avoid relying on memorized templates, and familiarize yourself with the new format. These changes will allow you to better demonstrate your true English proficiency.

FAQs

1. Has the PTE scoring system changed?
No, the scoring system is still the same. You will be scored on a scale from 10 to 90, with AI-based scoring continuing to be used.

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

3. Is the test longer now?
Yes, the exam will take around 2 hours and 15 minutes, which is approximately 15 minutes longer than the previous version.

4. Are old prep materials still useful?
Some old materials may not align with the updated exam format. It’s best to use resources that reflect the changes made for the 2025 version of the test.

5. Are templates banned?
Templates aren’t banned, but overusing them—especially in tasks evaluated by humans—can hurt your score. It’s better to answer in a more personalized and natural way.

Source: PTE August 2025 Update