Major PTE Update 2025: Explore the Two New Speaking Tasks and How to Tackle Them

If you’re preparing for the Pearson Test of English (PTE) after August 7th, 2025, there’s an exciting update you need to know about. The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025 are designed to make the test more reflective of how English is used in everyday life. These new tasks go beyond just grammar and pronunciation—they test how quickly and naturally you can think and respond in real-world situations. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the changes, explain the tasks in detail, and give you practical tips to help you ace the new format.
🎯 Why Pearson Introduced These New Tasks
If you've taken the PTE before, you might remember some repetitive tasks that focused mainly on grammar and pronunciation, like reading out sentences or repeating words. While helpful, they didn’t quite reflect how we actually use English in conversations. The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025 address this by focusing on:
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Your ability to think quickly and speak clearly.
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Your listening and comprehension skills in a conversational context.
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Your ability to respond appropriately in real-life situations, like work meetings, classroom discussions, or social exchanges abroad.
These updates aim to make the test more realistic, helping you develop skills that will be essential in your academic or professional journey.
🆕 What Are the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025?
Pearson has introduced two fresh tasks that replace some of the older, more repetitive ones. These tasks are designed to reflect the real-world situations you’re most likely to encounter:
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Summarize Group Discussion
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Respond to a Situation
Let’s break each one down so you know exactly what to expect.
🗣️ Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion
What Happens in This Task:
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You will listen to a 2-3 minute conversation between multiple speakers discussing a topic.
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Once the audio ends, you’ll have 10 seconds to prepare.
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Then, you’ll have up to 2 minutes to summarize the conversation.
Skills Tested:
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Active listening: Can you catch key ideas from different speakers?
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Summarizing clearly: Can you convey the main points in a neutral, concise way?
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Using academic language: Are you able to speak formally and objectively?
Preparation Tips:
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Practice summarizing podcasts, debates, or group discussions you find online. Focus on who said what and the main ideas.
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Take quick notes while listening, using keywords and speaker initials to stay organized.
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Structure your response with phrases like:
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“The group discussed…”
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“One person mentioned…”
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“Another speaker noted that…”
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“To conclude, the group had diverse opinions on…”
What Not to Do:
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Don’t offer your personal opinion—just stick to summarizing the speakers’ views.
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Don’t mix up the viewpoints of the different speakers.
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Avoid informal language—keep your tone academic and neutral.
🎤 Task 2: Respond to a Situation
What Happens in This Task:
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You’ll hear a 20-30 second audio clip describing a situation (like a customer complaint or a workplace issue).
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After that, a related question will appear, and you’ll have 10 seconds to think.
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You’ll then have 40 seconds to respond.
Skills Tested:
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Quick thinking and speaking: How well can you respond clearly and appropriately under time pressure?
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Fluency and pronunciation: Can you speak smoothly and understandably?
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Social appropriateness: Can you maintain a polite and suitable tone for the situation?
Preparation Tips:
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Practice responding to common situations like helping a customer, offering solutions, or dealing with complaints.
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Record your responses and listen to them to check your clarity, tone, and fluency.
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Use natural, polite phrases like:
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“I completely understand your concern…”
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“Let me handle that for you…”
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“Can you please clarify what you need?”
What Not to Do:
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Don’t use slang or overly casual language unless the situation requires it.
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Don’t overthink—responding naturally and confidently is key.
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Avoid memorizing answers—it might sound robotic and inauthentic.
💡 Why These Tasks Make the PTE More Realistic
The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025 aim to assess the skills you’ll actually use in real-life situations. Instead of just reading aloud or repeating words, you’ll need to:
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Engage in discussions with others, picking up on key points and responding appropriately.
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React to social or professional scenarios on the spot, just like you would in a work meeting or casual conversation.
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Speak clearly and confidently, demonstrating your fluency and ability to understand multiple viewpoints.
This shift toward more realistic tasks means that the test is a better reflection of how you’ll use English in your day-to-day life, whether you’re studying abroad, working in an English-speaking country, or traveling.
📌 Format Breakdown
Summarize Group Discussion
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Audio Length: 2-3 minutes
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Prep Time: 10 seconds
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Speaking Time: 2 minutes
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Tone: Formal, neutral, academic
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Focus: Listening, summarizing, using academic language
Respond to a Situation
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Audio Length: 20-30 seconds
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Prep Time: 10 seconds
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Speaking Time: 40 seconds
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Tone: Polite, natural, situational
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Focus: Quick thinking, fluency, appropriateness
🎯 Key Scoring Elements
You’ll be scored based on:
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Content Relevance: Did you stay on topic and respond appropriately?
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Fluency: Was your speech clear and confident?
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Pronunciation: Was your speech easy to understand?
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Appropriateness: Did you use the right tone and language for the situation?
AI and human raters will assess your performance to ensure accuracy and fairness.
📚 Top Preparation Tips for the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025
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Listen Actively
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Practice listening to group discussions and debates. Try to summarize what’s being said out loud, focusing on key ideas and the tone of the speakers.
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Simulate Real-Life Scenarios
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Role-play common situations, like responding to customer inquiries or making polite suggestions. Time yourself to ensure you speak naturally under pressure.
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Organize Your Thoughts
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Use a simple structure for both tasks: Introduction → Main Point → Support → Conclusion. This helps keep your responses clear and organized.
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Speak Regularly
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The more you speak English, the more confident and fluent you’ll become. Whether reading aloud, talking to a friend, or practicing with a partner, speaking every day is essential.
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Record Yourself
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Recording your responses allows you to hear how you sound and spot areas for improvement, like eliminating filler words or improving pronunciation.
🧠 Bonus: Useful Phrases for the New Tasks
For Summarizing Discussions:
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“The group discussed…”
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“One speaker mentioned that…”
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“Another participant added that…”
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“In conclusion, the group had different views on…”
For Responding to Situations:
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“I understand your concern…”
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“Let me handle that for you…”
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“Would you like me to explain further?”
✅ Final Thoughts
The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks 2025 are designed to be more practical and reflective of real-world English use. By practicing these tasks, you’ll not only do well on the test but also improve your ability to communicate confidently and naturally in English. Start preparing today, and you’ll be ready to take on the test with ease.
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