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

Starting 7th August 2025, the Pearson Test of English (PTE) will introduce the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks, marking a major shift in how the test assesses speaking skills. Instead of focusing solely on memorized phrases or repetitive exercises, these new tasks will test your ability to speak English in real-world situations. Whether you're preparing for university discussions or dealing with work-related scenarios, this update ensures the exam reflects how English is truly used in everyday life.

💡 Why Pearson Made These Changes

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to speak English on the spot, whether it’s during a meeting, an interview, or helping someone with directions? The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks are designed to mimic these types of situations. Pearson is shifting the focus to test active communication, quick thinking, and your ability to express ideas clearly in a real-world context, rather than just rote memorization of sentences.These new tasks aim to assess how well you can think and speak naturally in English—skills that will be crucial whether you’re studying abroad, working in an international environment, or just interacting with people in English every day.

🔄 What’s Changing in the Speaking Section?

🆕 New Tasks Starting August 2025:

1. Summarize Group Discussion
   
   
2. Respond to a Situation
   
   

These tasks are designed to measure how well you process spoken English and how clearly and appropriately you can respond. Instead of just repeating sentences, you’ll be assessed on your ability to summarize ideas and handle everyday situations in a way that makes sense.

🎯 Key Changes:

• No more memorized answers—now it's about thinking and responding
  
  
• A blend of AI and human raters will ensure accurate scoring
  
  
• The emphasis is on natural, real-life communication rather than scripted sentences
  
  

🗣️ Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion

📌 What You’ll Be Doing

In this task, you’ll listen to a group discussion of 2-3 minutes, with different speakers presenting their ideas. Then, you’ll need to provide a clear and neutral summary of what was discussed, focusing on the main points and viewpoints, without adding any of your own opinions.

⚙️ How It Works:

• You’ll hear multiple speakers with various opinions
  
  
• 10 seconds to prepare
  
  
• 2 minutes to summarize in formal language
  
  

🧠 What You’ll Be Tested On:

• The ability to pick out the main ideas and distinguish them from less important details
  
  
• Keeping the summary neutral—don’t include your personal thoughts
  
  
• Being able to summarize in a structured and coherent manner
  
  

✅ Tips to Prepare:

1. Before listening: Prepare to jot down key points and names.
   
   
2. During the discussion: Pay attention to the structure of the conversation—who is saying what and how the ideas connect.
   
   
3. When speaking: Start with a brief introduction of the topic, then cover each speaker’s viewpoint, and finish with a concluding summary.
   
   

🔥 Practice Tips:

• Watch group debates or panel discussions on YouTube
  
  
• Practice summarizing videos or articles in 60-80 words
  
  
• Work on speaking fluently, without too many pauses or hesitations
  
  

🎙️ Task 2: Respond to a Situation

📌 What It Looks Like

For this task, you’ll hear a real-world scenario, such as a work-related issue or a customer complaint. You’ll then have 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to respond. Your response should be natural, polite, and appropriate for the situation.

🧠 What You’ll Be Tested On:

• Your ability to understand the situation quickly
  
  
• How clearly and politely you can communicate your response
  
  
• Your fluency in speaking within a time limit
  
  

✅ Tips for Crafting a Good Response:

1. Quickly identify the issue at hand
   
   
2. Keep your response short and relevant, using 1-2 sentences
   
   
3. End with a polite conclusion or next step to address the problem
   
   

💬 Example Response:

"I understand your concern. I’ll check with the team and get back to you shortly with an update."

🧪 Practice Scenarios:

• A customer asks for a refund on a delayed order
  
  
• A colleague requests you to cover their shift
  
  
• A stranger needs directions to a nearby location
  
  

🆚 How This Differs from the Old Format

Previously, the Speaking section focused mainly on repeating sentences or reading aloud, which helped test pronunciation but didn’t fully reflect how you’d use English in real-world situations. The new PTE Two New Speaking Tasks are much more functional, testing how well you can:

• Summarize discussions
  
  
• Handle everyday work or social situations
  
  
• Respond thoughtfully in a real-time conversation
  
  

🎯 Why These Updates Matter

If you plan to study, work, or live in an English-speaking environment, the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks are a game-changer. These tasks are designed to measure the skills you’ll need to communicate effectively in real-life situations—whether that’s discussing a project at university, handling a client’s complaint at work, or helping someone with directions.By including these tasks, Pearson is making sure the test measures your real-world readiness in English.

🧩 How to Prepare

👂 Focus on Listening Skills

• Listen to group discussions, podcasts, or TED Talks to practice picking out main points
  
  
• Pay attention to how people respond to each other and build on ideas
  
  
• Practice listening not just for words, but also for tone and structure
  
  

🗣️ Build Your Speaking Confidence

• Use PTE practice apps or mock tasks to simulate the test
  
  
• Try thinking in English during your daily life—whether you’re talking to friends or alone
  
  
• Record your practice responses to check if you sound natural and fluent
  
  

⏳ Stay Calm Under Pressure

• Simulate the test conditions by giving yourself 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to speak
  
  
• Practice speaking without pauses, and avoid overthinking
  
  
• Record and listen to your responses, paying attention to clarity and fluency
  
  

🗣️ Helpful Phrases for Both Tasks

🔑 For Responding to a Situation:

• “I completely understand your concern…”
  
  
• “Let me see what I can do about that…”
  
  
• “I’ll make sure to follow up with you…”
  
  

📚 For Summarizing Discussions:

• “The key points discussed were…”
  
  
• “One participant emphasized that…”
  
  
• “In conclusion, the group agreed that…”
  
  

📌 Final Takeaway on PTE August 2025 Speaking Update

The August 2025 PTE Speaking update brings a significant improvement to how English proficiency is tested. With the introduction of the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks, Pearson is shifting the focus to assess how well you can communicate naturally and effectively in real-life situations, whether in the classroom, at work, or while traveling.Start practicing these new tasks today, and you’ll be well-prepared for the updated test format. The changes reflect real-world English, so you’ll feel more confident and capable when it’s time to speak.