If you're planning to take the PTE Academic test on or after August 7, 2025, there are some significant updates you need to be aware of. Pearson has redesigned the test to better reflect real-world English communication. That means memorized answers won’t be enough your natural speaking, listening, and understanding skills are now more important than ever.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the major changes and how to prepare effectively for the updated format.

What’s New in PTE Academic 2025?

1. Two New Speaking Tasks Introduced

Respond to a Situation
You’ll be presented with a short real-life scenario—like apologizing, giving advice, or politely refusing an invitation—and asked to respond verbally. This task assesses how well you can handle practical, everyday conversations in English.

Summarize a Group Discussion
You’ll listen to a brief group conversation and summarize the key points in your own words within 20–30 seconds. This evaluates both your listening and speaking skills in real-time communication settings.

2. Beep Sound Added to “Repeat Sentence”

A new beep sound will now guide you on exactly when to start speaking during the “Repeat Sentence” task. This small change helps eliminate confusion and improves response timing.

3. Enhanced Test Interface for Better User Experience

Pearson has made several user-friendly updates to the test interface:

• Double mic check for clearer audio
  
  

• No keyboard check before the test
  
  

• Circular progress bar to track your test journey
  
  

• Adjustable font size for better readability
  
  

• Audio waveform to visualize your voice levels
  
  

These improvements make the test experience smoother and reduce test-day stress.

4. Extended Test Duration

The total test time has increased to around 2 hours and 15 minutes, approximately 15 minutes longer than the previous version. This change accommodates the new speaking tasks and ensures a more relaxed pace.

5. Human Scoring for Seven Key Tasks

To ensure more accurate and fair evaluation, seven tasks will now be scored by trained human assessors instead of only AI:

• Describe Image
  
  

• Retell Lecture
  
  

• Respond to a Situation
  
  

• Summarize Group Discussion
  
  

• Write Essay
  
  

• Summarize Written Text
  
  

• Summarize Spoken Text
  
  

This change rewards clarity, tone, and natural delivery so avoid robotic or template-based answers.

How to Prepare for the New PTE Academic Format

Here are smart preparation strategies aligned with the 2025 updates:

Practice Real-Life Communication
Get comfortable speaking English in everyday scenarios like asking for help, making suggestions, or turning down invitations politely.

Build Listening and Summarizing Skills
Listen to group discussions, podcasts, or interviews, then practice summarizing them. Focus on identifying the main ideas quickly.

Avoid Overusing Templates
Pearson now values spontaneous, authentic communication. Use your own words and speak naturally instead of relying on memorized responses.

Focus on Fluency and Clarity
Don’t get stuck chasing perfect grammar. Speak fluently and confidently even small grammar mistakes are less important than delivering your message clearly.

Take Practice Tests with the Updated Format
Familiarize yourself with the new structure, timing, and interface by taking updated mock tests. This helps reduce anxiety and improve your test-day performance.

Final Thoughts

The PTE Academic 2025 update marks a major shift toward fairer, more practical testing. If you’re well-prepared, these changes can work in your favor.

Speak naturally. Listen attentively. Stay confident.
By focusing on real communication and understanding the new format, you’ll be ready to ace the test and achieve your dream score.

Source: PTE Academic August Update