If you're planning to take the PTE Academic after August 7th, 2025, it’s time to familiarize yourself with the updated PTE Academic New Speaking Tips. The Speaking section has undergone significant changes, focusing more on real-world communication. Instead of just assessing grammar and vocabulary, the new format aims to measure how naturally you can engage in conversations, process information, and respond on the spot. In this blog, we’ll walk you through these changes, share key tips to prepare, and help you get ready for success in the new format.

🔄 Why the PTE Speaking Section is Changing

The reason behind the changes is simple: Pearson wants the test to reflect how we actually use English in our daily lives. The updated Speaking section is designed to:

• Test real-time communication: You’ll need to think and speak on your feet, like you would in a classroom, meeting, or casual conversation.
  
  

• Emphasize fluency: Instead of focusing on perfect grammar, the test now values how naturally and confidently you can speak.
  
  

• Highlight listening and responding: The test will challenge you to process information quickly and respond thoughtfully.
  
  

• Mirror real-life situations: Whether you’re in a job interview or socializing with friends, the new tasks are designed to feel more like everyday conversations.
  
  

In short, the updated format focuses more on your ability to use English in real-world situations—an essential skill for academic and professional success.

🆕 Overview of the New Speaking Tasks

There are two new tasks in the updated format:

1. Summarize Group Discussion
   
   

2. Respond to a Situation
   
   

These tasks are interactive and will test your ability to think quickly, speak fluently, and respond effectively to different situations.

🗣️ Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion

What This Task Looks Like

In this task, you’ll listen to a 2–3 minute conversation between multiple speakers discussing a topic. After listening, you’ll have 10 seconds to prepare and then 2 minutes to summarize what was said.

PTE Academic New Speaking Tips for This Task

• Take concise notes: Jot down key points and who said what. Focus on the main ideas rather than every detail.
  
  

• Start with an introduction: Begin with something like, “The discussion focused on…” to set the stage for your summary.
  
  

• Summarize diverse opinions: Make sure to mention at least two speakers' points to show you understood different viewpoints.
  
  

• Use clear structure: Organize your summary like this: Introduction → Speaker 1’s Point → Speaker 2’s Point → Conclusion.
  
  

• Maintain a formal tone: Avoid inserting personal opinions—just focus on what was discussed.
  
  

🎤 Task 2: Respond to a Situation

What This Task Looks Like

For this task, you’ll hear a 20–30 second real-life situation, such as a request, problem, or question. After the audio prompt, you’ll have 10 seconds to think and then 40 seconds to respond.

PTE Academic New Speaking Tips for This Task

• Open with empathy: Start your response with something like, “I understand your concern…” or “Thank you for bringing this to my attention…”
  
  

• Respond clearly: Offer a solution or opinion in a clear, natural manner.
  
  

• Conclude politely: End with a positive note, like “I hope that helps” or “Let me know if you need further assistance.”
  
  

• Stay confident: Keep your tone calm and self-assured, even if the scenario is unexpected.
  
  

🎯 Why These New Tasks Matter

These new tasks assess the skills you’ll actually use in the real world, such as:

• Quick thinking: Can you formulate a clear response on the spot, without hesitation?
  
  

• Fluency: How smoothly can you speak in a spontaneous situation?
  
  

• Active listening: Do you understand others' viewpoints and respond appropriately?
  
  

• Real-life communication: The tasks simulate everyday conversations, so you’re being tested on practical communication skills that are useful in school, work, and social settings.
  
  

Mastering these tasks will make you more comfortable with English in real-life situations, and help you perform better both on the test and in the real world.

📚 Preparation Strategies That Work

1. Listen to Group Discussions
   
   

• Watch debates, podcasts, or interviews and try to summarize the key points afterward.
  
  

• Practice summarizing in 2 minutes to get comfortable with the format.
  
  

• Focus on capturing the main ideas, not every small detail.
  
  

2. Practice Responding to Situations
   
   

• Record yourself responding to different real-life situations, such as handling a customer complaint or offering advice to a friend.
  
  

• Use a timer to mimic the test conditions: 10 seconds to think, then 40 seconds to respond.
  
  

• The more you practice, the more natural your responses will become.
  
  

3. Create a Simple Structure
   
   

• For Summarizing Group Discussions: Start with an introduction, like “The discussion centered around…” then break it down into key points.
  
  

• For Responding to a Situation: Structure your response as: Acknowledge → Address → Conclude.
  
  

4. Build a Strong Vocabulary
   
   

• Academic Context: “The speaker argued that…”
  
  

• Workplace: “Would you like me to assist with that?”
  
  

• Social Situations: “Thanks for your patience while I sort this out.”
  
  

🧠 Bonus Speaking Tips to Boost Confidence

• Speak aloud daily: Even just 5 minutes a day will help you get more comfortable speaking in English.
  
  

• Practice shadowing: Repeat what native speakers say to improve your pronunciation and fluency.
  
  

• Record yourself: Play back your recordings to identify areas for improvement.
  
  

• Focus on clarity: Make sure your words are easy to understand, rather than speaking quickly.
  
  

• Use a cheat sheet: Keep a list of helpful phrases to open and close your responses confidently.
  
  

🚫 Mistakes to Avoid

• Rushing your response: Take your time to organize your thoughts before speaking. A clear, structured answer is always better than rushing.
  
  

• Using informal language: Keep your responses professional and relevant to the task.
  
  

• Giving personal opinions in the summary task: Stick to summarizing what was discussed, not adding your own viewpoint.
  
  

• Overusing fillers like “um,” “like,” or “you know” can make you sound unsure.
  
  

• Going off-topic: Stay focused on the question or task at hand and make sure your response addresses it directly.
  
  

📌 What to Expect on Test Day

• Summarize Group Discussion
  
  

• Audio: 2–3 minutes
  
  

• Prep Time: 10 seconds
  
  

• Speaking Time: ~2 minutes
  
  

• Goal: Accurately summarize the discussion in a clear, structured way.
  
  

• Respond to a Situation
  
  

• Audio: 20–30 seconds
  
  

• Prep Time: 10 seconds
  
  

• Speaking Time: 40 seconds
  
  

• Goal: Respond appropriately, showing confidence and clarity.
  
  

✅ Final Thoughts

The new PTE Speaking section is focused on real-world communication skills, reflecting how we use English in everyday situations. By mastering the PTE Academic New Speaking Tips, you’ll not only be ready for the test but also improve your ability to speak confidently and naturally. Practice consistently, stay calm, and aim for clarity and fluency.

With the right preparation, you’ll be well on your way to cracking the new PTE Speaking format in 2025!

Source: Angel EduNext