Starting 7th August 2025, the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic is undergoing a significant upgrade especially in the Speaking section. If you’re planning to take the test after this date, it’s essential to understand the PTE Academic New Questions Format to avoid surprises and perform at your best. Two new task types have been added, each designed to evaluate how effectively you can communicate in real-world academic and professional settings not just your grammar skills.

This blog gives you a complete breakdown of these new speaking tasks, why they matter, and how to prepare with confidence.

Why Pearson Introduced a New Format

In today's fast-paced academic and global work environments, communication is about more than memorizing textbook phrases. Pearson has introduced the PTE Academic New Questions Format to better evaluate how well candidates can:

• Understand multiple viewpoints
  
  

• Respond appropriately and naturally
  
  

• Think on their feet in practical, spoken situations
  
  

The goal is to make the test more reflective of everyday communication like classroom interactions or workplace conversations rather than scripted responses.

Overview of the New Tasks in PTE Speaking

The two new additions in the Speaking section are:

• Summarize Group Discussion
  
  

• Respond to a Situation
  
  

These tasks require quick thinking, active listening, and structured, clear speech. They assess your ability to process information and speak naturally under pressure.

Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion

What to Expect:

• A 2–3-minute audio of a group conversation on a topic
  
  

• 10 seconds to prepare your response
  
  

• 2 minutes to deliver your spoken summary
  
  

How to Approach It:

• Focus on identifying key opinions and perspectives
  
  

• Take quick notes using keywords or initials
  
  

• Structure your response as follows:
  
  

• Introduction: “The discussion focused on…”
  
  

• Body: “Speaker A emphasized… while Speaker B disagreed…”
  
  

• Conclusion: “Overall, the discussion highlighted differing opinions on…”
  
  

Tips for Success:

• Avoid giving your personal opinion
  
  

• Use academic language and maintain a neutral tone
  
  

• Mention at least two speakers by summarizing their viewpoints
  
  

• Practice summarizing group discussions from YouTube or podcasts

Task 2: Respond to a Situation

What to Expect:

• A short audio scenario (20–30 seconds) simulating a real-life situation
  
  

• A related prompt for response
  
  

• 10 seconds of preparation
  
  

• 40 seconds to speak your reply
  
  

How to Approach It:

• Begin with empathy: “Thanks for bringing this to my attention…”
  
  

• Offer a polite, relevant solution
  
  

• End with confidence: “I’ll make sure this is resolved promptly.”
  
  

Tips for Success:

• Stay calm and polite
  
  

• Use natural, workplace-appropriate language
  
  

• Focus on one clear solution instead of trying to say too much
  
  

• Record your practice responses for self-review

Quick Format Summary

Summarize Group Discussion

• Audio: 2–3 minutes
  
  

• Prep Time: 10 seconds
  
  

• Speaking Time: 2 minutes
  
  

• Goal: Summarize group opinions using clear, formal language
  
  

Respond to a Situation

• Audio: 20–30 seconds
  
  

• Prep Time: 10 seconds
  
  

• Speaking Time: 40 seconds
  
  

• Goal: Respond appropriately to a real-world scenario with clarity and courtesy

How to Prepare for the New Speaking Tasks

1. Active Listening Drills

• Watch debates, podcasts, or panel discussions
  
  

• Practice identifying who said what and summarizing their viewpoints
  
  

2. Real-Life Speaking Practice

• Role-play scenarios like:
  
  

• Receiving the wrong order
  
  

• Handling a scheduling conflict
  
  

• Apologizing for a delay
  
  

• Focus on tone, fluency, and structured responses
  
  

3. Organize Your Speech

• Use a simple structure: Introduction → Main Points → Conclusion
  
  

• Practice using connectors like “Moreover,” “However,” “To summarize”
  
  

4. Improve Fluency & Pronunciation

• Read news articles aloud daily
  
  

• Use shadowing with native speakers (TED Talks, YouTube)
  
  

• Record and playback your answers for self-evaluation

Useful Vocabulary & Phrases

For Summarizing Discussions:

• “The conversation revolved around…”
  
  

• “There was disagreement regarding…”
  
  

• “Each speaker brought a unique perspective…”
  
  

For Situation Responses:

• “I understand your concern.”
  
  

• “Let me look into that for you.”
  
  

• “Thanks for letting me know; I’ll handle it right away.”

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

• Use polite, concise language
  
  

• Practice under timed conditions
  
  

• Stay on topic and complete your response
  
  

• Keep your tone formal for summaries and calm for scenarios
  
  

Don’t:

• Share your personal opinion in summaries
  
  

• Use slang or overly casual phrases
  
  

• Speak too fast or fill time with “uh” or “um”
  
  

• Repeat the prompt or waste prep time
  
  

Final Thoughts

The PTE Academic New Questions Format is designed to better reflect how English is used in everyday communication. These two new tasks in the Speaking section assess not just what you know, but how you apply it—how well you can think, respond, and speak under real-world conditions.

Start preparing now with targeted practice. Whether it’s listening to group conversations or role-playing realistic scenarios, daily effort will boost both your confidence and score. With the right strategy and consistent speaking drills, you won’t just adapt to the changes—you’ll master them.