Big changes are coming to the PTE exam! Starting August 7, 2025, the Speaking section will feature two brand-new tasks designed to reflect real-life communication scenarios. This update, called the PTE Academic New Questions Format 2025, is Pearson’s way of aligning the test more closely with the way English is used in academic and professional settings. If you’re planning to take the PTE after this date, this blog will guide you through the updated Speaking section and provide you with practical tips to succeed.

🔄 Why Is Pearson Updating the Speaking Section?

Pearson is revamping the Speaking section to make it more realistic and performance-based. Rather than just testing your ability to repeat sentences or read aloud, the new format will assess whether you can:

• Understand multiple people speaking at once
  
  

• Summarize conversations accurately
  
  

• Respond quickly and appropriately to real-world situations
  
  

• Show fluency, pronunciation, and context awareness in real-time
  
  

This update isn’t just about changing the format—it’s a smarter way of evaluating your true English communication skills.

🆕 What’s New in the Speaking Section (August 2025 Onward)

Two brand-new Speaking tasks will be introduced:

1. Summarize Group Discussion
   
   

2. Respond to a Situation
   
   

These tasks replace more mechanical speaking exercises and are designed to reflect how English is used in universities and workplaces.

🗣️ Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion

What You’ll Experience

You’ll listen to a 2-3 minute group conversation where multiple speakers will discuss a topic from different viewpoints. You’ll have 10 seconds to prepare, and then you’ll speak for around 2 minutes, summarizing the key points made during the conversation.

What Skills This Tests

• Active listening
  
  

• Differentiating viewpoints
  
  

• Structured summarization
  
  

• Fluency and coherence
  
  

Tips to Nail It

• Use a note-taking strategy with symbols or speaker initials to keep track of each person's point.
  
  

• Start with an introduction: “The group discussed…” or “The main focus of the conversation was…”
  
  

• Mention 2-3 key points or arguments shared by the speakers.
  
  

• Maintain a neutral, objective tone—don’t add personal opinions.
  
  

• Conclude briefly and objectively: “In summary, the discussion emphasized…”
  
  

🧏 Task 2: Respond to a Situation

What You’ll Experience

You’ll hear a real-life situation, like a problem or request, followed by a written prompt. You’ll have 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to respond as if you were directly involved in the scenario.

What Skills This Tests

• Spontaneous speaking
  
  

• Emotional intelligence
  
  

• Cultural and situational appropriateness
  
  

• Fluency and pronunciation under pressure
  
  

Tips to Nail It

• Start with acknowledgment: “I understand your concern…” or “Let me help you with that…”
  
  

• Offer a solution or helpful response.
  
  

• Stay calm and polite—avoid sounding too rehearsed.
  
  

• Close with a positive tone: “Feel free to reach out again” or “I hope that helps!”
  
  

🎯 Why These New Tasks Are a Big Deal

These tasks prepare you for real-life situations you’re likely to face in academic and professional environments. Here’s how:

• Summarize Group Discussion mimics university tutorials or project meetings, where discussions happen from various viewpoints.
  
  

• Respond to a Situation is like customer service, job interviews, or casual interactions you might encounter at work.
  
  

• Both tasks emphasize interaction, not just repetition or reading.
  
  

• The new format tests your ability to understand context, tone, and intent in conversations.
  
  

In short, the PTE is shifting from testing just your “knowledge of English” to testing your “performance in real-world English situations.”

📝 Format and Timing Breakdown

• Summarize Group Discussion
  
  

  • Audio Duration: 2–3 minutes
    
    

  • Prep Time: 10 seconds
    
    

  • Speaking Time: ~2 minutes
    
    

  • Style: Formal, objective, third-person tone
    
    

• Respond to a Situation
  
  

  • Audio Prompt: 20–30 seconds
    
    

  • Prep Time: 10 seconds
    
    

  • Speaking Time: 40 seconds
    
    

  • Style: Natural, polite, context-specific
    
    

🧠 Key Scoring Criteria

Both tasks are scored based on the following:

• Content – Did you stay relevant and cover all important points?
  
  

• Fluency – Did you speak smoothly without unnatural pauses?
  
  

• Pronunciation – Were your words easy to understand?
  
  

• Appropriacy – Did your tone and word choice fit the situation?
  
  

Scoring will be based on a combination of AI and human raters for accuracy and fairness.

📚 How to Prepare for the PTE Academic New Questions Format 2025

1. Practice Listening to Group Discussions
   
   

   • Watch academic panel discussions or podcasts where multiple people speak.
     
     

   • Try summarizing the key points made by each speaker.
     
     

   • Focus on using transition words like “however,” “in contrast,” and “meanwhile” to show the differences in viewpoints.
     
     

2. Simulate Real-Life Scenarios
   
   

   • Record yourself responding to fake customer complaints, help requests, or social situations.
     
     

   • Use a 10-second timer for preparation and a 40-second timer for your response.
     
     

   • Focus on being polite, clear, and helpful in your responses.
     
     

3. Build a Speaking Framework
   
   

   • For summaries: Start → Speaker 1 → Speaker 2 → Conclusion
     
     

   • For responses: Acknowledge → Respond → Close politely
     
     

4. Improve Fluency and Timing
   
   

   • Read aloud daily for 2 minutes without pausing.
     
     

   • Use language apps to time yourself and practice speaking naturally.
     
     

   • Try speaking while thinking—just like you would in a real conversation.
     
     

📖 Useful Vocabulary and Phrases

• For Summarizing Discussions:
  
  

  • “The topic under discussion was…”
    
    

  • “One participant pointed out that…”
    
    

  • “Another speaker emphasized…”
    
    

  • “In summary, the discussion highlighted…”
    
    

• For Real-Life Situations:
  
  

  • “I understand where you’re coming from.”
    
    

  • “Let me look into that for you.”
    
    

  • “Could you clarify what you mean?”
    
    

  • “Thanks for bringing that to my attention.”
    
    

🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t speak too fast—clarity matters more than speed.
  
  

• Avoid filler words like “um,” “uh,” and “like.”
  
  

• Don’t go off-topic or add irrelevant details.
  
  

• Don’t sound robotic—speak naturally and fluidly.
  
  

✅ Final Thoughts

The PTE Academic New Questions Format 2025 is a game-changer. It moves beyond mechanical tasks and focuses on testing how you use English in real-world scenarios. Whether you’re summarizing a group discussion or handling a tricky situation, these new tasks will challenge you to think, speak, and interact like you would in a university or workplace setting.

To prepare, practice actively. Work on your clarity, structure, and tone. And most importantly, start training now! The more familiar you are with this new format, the more confident and fluent you’ll be on test day.

Source: Angel EduNext