Major PTE Academic Update in August 2025: Format Changes Explained
If you’re planning to take the PTE Academic exam on or after August 7, 2025, it’s important to be aware of the major changes to the test format. Pearson is moving away from testing rote memorization and focusing more on assessing real-world English skills. These updates include changes to the speaking section, the exam’s user interface, and how the test is evaluated. The goal is to measure your practical communication abilities, ensuring the exam better reflects how English is used in everyday situations.
Why Are These Changes Happening?
Pearson’s decision to update the PTE Academic format comes after gathering feedback from thousands of test-takers who expressed concerns that the exam didn’t fully reflect real-life communication. These changes aim to shift the focus to fluency and effective communication in daily situations, rather than simply testing your ability to memorize answers. Pearson hopes that by doing so, the exam will be more authentic and fair, allowing for a better evaluation of your English proficiency.
What’s New in the PTE Academic?
Two New Speaking Tasks
- Respond to a Situation
This task presents you with a realistic scenario, and you need to respond in a natural, appropriate way. For example, you might be asked to politely refuse an invitation or offer help in a given situation. This test measures your ability to handle everyday conversations effectively. - Summarize a Group Discussion
You’ll listen to a short group conversation and then summarize the key points in 20-30 seconds. The goal here is to assess your ability to grasp the main ideas quickly and communicate them clearly in a brief summary.
The "Repeat Sentence" BeepFor the “Repeat Sentence” task, a beep will now signal when it's your turn to speak. This removes any uncertainty about when to start speaking, making the task more straightforward.User Interface UpdatesThe exam interface has been improved to make the test-taking experience smoother:
- Double mic check: A more thorough microphone check will ensure your audio is clear during the speaking tasks.
- No keyboard check: The test will no longer check your keyboard, helping you get started with fewer delays.
- Circular progress bar: A circular progress bar will show you how much time is left in the exam, making it easier to track your progress.
- Font size adjustment: You’ll now have the option to adjust the font size to your preference, which is helpful for readability.
- Audio waveform display: This feature will display a visual representation of your speech during the speaking tasks, so you can monitor your performance in real time.
Exam Structure & Time
- Total Questions: 22
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Onboarding: The onboarding process has been streamlined, meaning you’ll spend less time going through system checks before the test begins.
Human Evaluation for 7 TasksAs of August 2025, 7 key tasks will be evaluated by human raters instead of AI. This shift aims to provide a more accurate and nuanced assessment of your abilities:
- Describe Image
- Retell Lecture
- Respond to a Situation
- Summarize Group Discussion
- Summarize Written Text
- Write Essay
- Summarize Spoken Text
Human evaluation will ensure that your responses are judged more accurately, considering the context and content of your answers.
How to Prepare Effectively
With these changes in mind, here are some tips to help you prepare for the updated PTE Academic exam:
- Practice Real-Life Scenarios: Focus on responding naturally to everyday situations, like politely refusing an invitation or offering advice. The key is to speak in a way that feels authentic and clear.
- Summarize Key Ideas: Listen to discussions, podcasts, or debates, and practice summarizing the main ideas in a few sentences. This will help you with the new Summarize Group Discussion task.
- Focus on Fluency, Not Just Accuracy: Don’t rely on memorized phrases or templates. Instead, focus on speaking clearly and confidently. The more natural you sound, the better your score will be.
- Familiarize Yourself with the Interface: Take time to explore the updated interface and get comfortable with new features, such as the circular progress bar and the audio waveform display. Knowing how the system works will help reduce anxiety on test day.
Quick Recap
- Two new speaking tasks: Respond to a Situation and Summarize a Group Discussion.
- Human evaluation for 7 tasks, providing a more accurate scoring process.
- User interface improvements: Double mic check, circular progress bar, font size adjustment, and audio waveform display.
- Exam duration: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- Focus on fluency, real-world communication, and natural responses rather than just accuracy.
Final Thoughts
The PTE Academic update for 2025 brings meaningful changes that make the test more reflective of how English is used in real-life situations. With new speaking tasks, human evaluation, and a more user-friendly interface, the exam is now better suited to evaluate practical communication skills. By practicing real-world scenarios, focusing on fluency, and getting comfortable with the new format, you’ll be well-prepared to take on the test with confidence.
FAQs
1. Has the PTE scoring system changed?
No, the scoring system remains the same, using the 10-90 scale and AI-based scoring.
2. Will these updates affect PTE Core?
No, these changes apply only to the PTE Academic and UKVI Academic exams.
3. Is the test longer now?
Yes, the exam will take about 15 minutes longer than before.
4. Are old prep materials still useful?
Some older materials may not reflect the updated format. It’s best to use resources that align with the new changes introduced in 2025.
5. Are templates banned?
Templates are not banned, but overusing them may negatively affect your score, especially when human evaluators are reviewing your responses. The goal is to speak naturally and clearly.
Source: Angel EduNext - PTE Academic August 2025 Update
