If you're planning to take the PTE Academic after August 7, 2025, there’s an important update you need to know. The New PTE Question Types 2025 are coming, and they’re bringing big changes to the Speaking section. These updates are designed to make the test feel more like real-life communication—whether it’s for university, your job, or just everyday conversations. Let’s dive into the changes and how you can prepare to succeed.

📌 Why Is the Speaking Format Changing?

The main reason for these updates is to make the PTE test more realistic. In the past, the Speaking section was mainly focused on pronunciation and repeating sentences. But in the real world, communication is more than just repeating words—it’s about listening, thinking quickly, and responding in real-time.

With the new format, the test will focus more on:

• Active listening
  
  

• Quick thinking
  
  

• Real-world speaking skills
  
  

This means the updated Speaking tasks will not only test your grammar and pronunciation but also your ability to engage in conversations and solve problems using English.

🆕 What’s New in the Speaking Section?

Starting in August 2025, two exciting new tasks will be introduced in the Speaking section:

1. Summarize Group Discussion
   
   

2. Respond to a Situation
   
   

These tasks are designed to feel more like the types of conversations you might have in university or at work, rather than the more mechanical tasks in the previous format.

🗣️ Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion

What Happens in This Task?
In this task, you’ll listen to a short group discussion (about 2–3 minutes) between 3–4 people discussing an academic topic. Your job is to summarize the main points of the conversation in a formal, clear tone—without giving your personal opinion.

Skills This Task Tests

• Listening and understanding group conversations
  
  

• Identifying and summarizing different viewpoints
  
  

• Expressing the discussion’s main ideas clearly
  
  

Tips to Do Well

• Take quick notes while listening—focus on who said what.
  
  

• Start your summary with a clear introduction: “The discussion focused on…”
  
  

• Briefly mention the viewpoints of each speaker, maintaining a neutral tone.
  
  

• If you have time, wrap up with a short, balanced conclusion.
  
  

What to Avoid

• Don’t give your own opinions.
  
  

• Be careful not to confuse the speakers’ views.
  
  

• Avoid overly casual language or emotional tones.
  
  

🎤 Task 2: Respond to a Situation

What Happens in This Task?
In this task, you’ll hear a real-life scenario, such as someone asking for help, sharing a concern, or making a complaint. You’ll have 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to respond as if you were part of the situation.

Skills This Task Tests

• Thinking and speaking clearly under pressure
  
  

• Offering practical and helpful responses
  
  

• Maintaining a polite and professional tone
  
  

Tips to Do Well

• Start by acknowledging the situation: “I understand your concern…”
  
  

• Provide a clear, specific solution or next step.
  
  

• Close with a polite, professional ending: “Let me assist you with that.”
  
  

What to Avoid

• Don’t sound robotic or overly rehearsed.
  
  

• Avoid vague responses—be specific and clear.
  
  

• Don’t overcomplicate your language—simple and clear is best.
  
  

🎯 Why These Tasks Are Important

These changes to the Speaking section aren’t just about passing an exam—they’re about preparing you for real-life situations. Whether you’re preparing for university or work, you’ll need to:

• Participate in group discussions
  
  

• Solve problems through conversations
  
  

• Stay calm and respond clearly under pressure
  
  

These tasks will help you practice these skills, making your English more practical and useful for the real world.

🔍 How Will These Tasks Be Scored?

The new Speaking tasks will be scored using a combination of AI and human raters. Here’s what they’ll focus on:

• Fluency: Are you speaking smoothly without too many pauses?
  
  

• Pronunciation: Are your words clear and easy to understand?
  
  

• Content: Did you provide the right type of response?
  
  

• Appropriateness: Was your tone suitable for the situation?
  
  

📚 How to Get Ready for the New Format

🎧 Improve Your Listening

• Listen to podcasts, TED Talks, debates, or even university lectures. Pay attention to how speakers share their opinions and challenge each other’s ideas.
  
  

• Try to focus on understanding different viewpoints, as this will help in both tasks.
  
  

🗣️ Practice Speaking Spontaneously

• Respond out loud to random prompts, as you would in the exam. This will help you think quickly and speak clearly.
  
  

• Record yourself to check your fluency and tone, then listen to your recordings to spot areas for improvement.
  
  

• Use “mirror speaking” (speak in front of a mirror) to practice your confidence and body language.
  
  

⏱️ Practice with a Timer

• Use a stopwatch to time yourself while summarizing group discussions in 2 minutes.
  
  

• Practice responding to random scenarios in 40 seconds, just like the exam. This will help you get used to the time pressure.
  
  

📘 Handy Phrases to Learn

For Summarizing Group Discussions

• “The discussion was centered around…”
  
  

• “One speaker argued that…”
  
  

• “Another participant offered a different viewpoint, saying…”
  
  

• “To sum up, the main points discussed were…”
  
  

For Responding to Situations

• “Thank you for sharing that with me…”
  
  

• “I understand your concern…”
  
  

• “Let me explain how we can resolve this…”
  
  

• “Here’s what I suggest we do moving forward…”
  
  

📱 Tools to Help You Prepare

• Apps: PTE Tutorials, E2 Test Prep, PTE Master
  
  

• YouTube Channels: E2Language, Alpha PTE, Angel EduNext
  
  

• Mock Tests: Practice regularly with timed mock tests to get feedback.
  
  

• Flashcards: Create a deck with useful phrases for academic and everyday conversations.
  
  

💡 Final Thoughts: Be Ready, Not Just Prepared

The New PTE Question Types 2025 are all about helping you communicate effectively in real-world situations. These updates aren’t just designed to help you pass the test, but to help you use English with confidence in university, work, or social settings.

By practicing regularly and focusing on understanding, fluency, and clarity, you’ll not only pass the exam—you’ll impress. Remember, you’re not just learning English for the test—you’re learning how to use it in real conversations.

Source: Angel EduNext