August 2025 PTE Speaking Update: Real-Life English Skills Now Tested in Exam

Big changes are coming to the PTE Speaking section starting 7th August 2025. With the introduction of the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks, Pearson is shifting toward a more practical, real-world approach to language testing. These new tasks are designed to go beyond pronunciation and grammar—they test how well you actually use English in everyday life, whether it's for university group work or dealing with unexpected workplace situations.

If your test date is after this change, here’s everything you need to know to stay ahead.

💡 Why Pearson Introduced These New Speaking Tasks

Think about moments where you’ve had to speak English spontaneously—maybe you were part of a class debate or had to calm down a frustrated customer. That’s the kind of real-life communication Pearson now wants to assess.

Instead of testing whether you can memorize or repeat perfectly, the new Speaking tasks measure whether you can:

• 🔍 Listen with attention
  
  

• 💭 Think critically and quickly
  
  

• 🗣️ Speak naturally and confidently
  
  

Pearson’s goal? To ensure that test-takers are prepared not just for the test—but for life in English-speaking environments.

🔄 Summary of the New Speaking Changes

🆕 What’s New in August 2025:

• Summarize Group Discussion
  
  

• Respond to a Situation
  
  

These tasks focus on your ability to process spoken English and reply with relevance, clarity, and appropriate tone.

🔧 What’s Different:

• No more robotic repetition—now it’s about real thinking and communication.
  
  

• Less memorization, more reaction and reasoning.
  
  

• Scoring is handled by both AI and human raters for better fairness and accuracy.
  
  

🗣️ First Task – Summarize Group Discussion

📌 What It Is

You’ll listen to a 2–3-minute conversation featuring multiple people expressing different opinions—just like in a university setting or team meeting. Then, you’ll deliver a neutral, organized summary.

⚙️ How It Works:

• Listen to the full discussion
  
  

• 10 seconds to plan
  
  

• Speak for about 2 minutes
  
  

• Use formal, academic English
  
  

🧠 What You Need to Show:

• Spot the main points vs. minor ones
  
  

• Maintain a neutral, third-person tone
  
  

• Summarize clearly without adding your opinion
  
  

✅ Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Before Listening: Prepare to note keywords or phrases.
   
   

2. During the Audio: Focus on who said what and the overall structure.
   
   

3. When Speaking: Start with the topic, then explain each speaker’s view, and wrap up with a general summary.
   
   

🔥 Practice Tips:

• Watch group discussions or interviews on YouTube.
  
  

• Challenge yourself to summarize them in 70–100 words.
  
  

• Speak aloud and aim for fluency with minimal pauses.
  
  

🎙️ Second Task – Respond to a Situation

📌 What to Expect

You’ll hear a short real-world scenario (like a problem or question), followed by a prompt on-screen. You’ll have 10 seconds to think and 40 seconds to speak.

🧠 What’s Being Tested:

• Can you understand the issue quickly?
  
  

• Can you respond politely and appropriately?
  
  

• Can you stay calm and speak fluently under pressure?
  
  

✅ How to Build a Strong Response:

1. Identify the issue right away
   
   

2. Use 1–2 clear sentences to explain or respond
   
   

3. End politely or suggest a next step
   
   

Example Response:

"Thanks for bringing this up. I’ll speak to the manager and get back to you shortly."

🧪 Try These Sample Scenarios:

• A hotel guest complains about a delayed room check-in
  
  

• A coworker asks you to swap shifts
  
  

• A tourist asks for subway directions
  
  

🆚 How This Differs from the Old Format

Before August 2025, the Speaking section focused heavily on tasks like repeating sentences or reading aloud—which often felt more like a memory test than a communication challenge.

Now, with PTE Two New Speaking Tasks, the focus is on:

• Practical, real-world skills
  
  

• Speaking with purpose and clarity
  
  

• Responding in ways that show you can function in everyday life
  
  

🎯 Why These New Tasks Matter

If you’re moving to an English-speaking country to study or work, you’ll need more than just textbook grammar. You’ll need to speak up in class, respond to colleagues, and handle unexpected situations. These new tasks make sure you’re ready to do exactly that.

🧩 Preparation Game Plan

👂 Improve Active Listening:

• Watch TED Talks, podcasts with multiple speakers, or debate panels
  
  

• Practice identifying the speaker’s main idea and tone
  
  

🗣️ Boost Speaking Confidence:

• Use language apps or PTE practice platforms with mock tasks
  
  

• Try “thinking in English” throughout your day to build fluency
  
  

⏳ Stay Cool Under Exam Pressure:

• Practice under timed conditions (10 seconds to prep, 40 seconds to speak)
  
  

• Record yourself and review for clarity, tone, and confidence
  
  

🗣️ Useful Vocabulary for Both Tasks

🔑 For Real-Life Responses:

• “I understand your concern…”
  
  

• “Let me look into that for you…”
  
  

• “Thanks for bringing this to my attention…”
  
  

🎓 For Formal Summaries:

• “The discussion revolved around…”
  
  

• “One speaker expressed…”
  
  

• “In summary, the viewpoints varied on…”
  
  

📌 Final Takeaway on PTE August 2025 Speaking Update

The August 2025 PTE Speaking update isn’t just another test format change. It’s a smart, real-world shift in how your English skills are measured. By introducing the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks, Pearson is making sure your score reflects your ability to handle English in real life—not just inside a classroom.

If you start practicing today, you’ll not only feel more confident on test day—but you’ll also be better prepared for life abroad.