Mastering the New PTE Speaking Format: August 2025 Exam Update Uncovered

If you're planning to take the PTE Academic exam from August 7th, 2025, there’s an important update you need to know. Two new speaking tasks are being added to reflect real-life communication skills. Whether you're preparing for university, immigration, or professional life, adapting to this change early can make a big difference. That’s why we’ve put together simple and practical PTE Academic New Speaking Tips to help you feel confident and ready for test day.

🆕 What’s New in PTE Speaking from August 2025?

Pearson is introducing two realistic, real-world tasks to the Speaking section:

• Summarize Group Discussion
  
  
• Respond to a Situation
  
  

These tasks go beyond pronunciation or memorization. They test your ability to:

• Follow natural conversations
  
  
• Respond clearly and appropriately
  
  
• Communicate with a formal or academic tone
  
  

This update brings PTE Academic closer to how English is actually used in academic settings and the workplace.

🗣️ Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion

🎧 What to Expect

You’ll hear a 2–3 minute group discussion with different speakers sharing their views. Your job is to deliver a 50–70 word summary in a neutral tone—no opinions, just key points.

🧠 Skills Being Tested

• Listening and understanding multiple viewpoints
  
  
• Identifying key ideas and supporting arguments
  
  
• Summarizing clearly and formally
  
  

✅ Tips to Perform Well

• Take quick notes: use initials and arrows to connect points (e.g., “S1 → supports,” “S2 → disagrees”)
  
  
• Listen for phrases like “on the other hand,” “also,” and “in conclusion”
  
  
• Start with: “The discussion focused on…”
  
  
• Mention each speaker’s view briefly and end with a general summary
  
  

❌ What to Avoid

• Don’t include your own opinion
  
  
• Don’t mix speaker ideas together
  
  
• Avoid casual or emotional language
  
  

🧏 Task 2: Respond to a Situation

🔊 What Happens in This Task?

You’ll hear a short audio describing a real-life situation—like someone requesting help or reporting a problem. Then, you’ll have 10 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to respond.

🧠 Skills Being Tested

• Quick understanding of the situation
  
  
• Clear and polite responses
  
  
• Fluency and natural tone
  
  

✅ A Simple 3-Step Response

1. Acknowledge the issue: “Thanks for letting me know…”
   
   
2. Offer a solution or action: “I’ll check with the team and get back to you…”
   
   
3. Close politely: “I appreciate your patience.”
   
   

❌ Avoid These Mistakes

• Don’t go off-topic
  
  
• Don’t sound robotic or overly scripted
  
  
• Avoid complicated language if it doesn’t sound natural
  
  

🎯 Why These Changes Matter

These updates are meant to reflect real-life communication—the kind you use in classrooms, meetings, or customer service. Instead of testing just vocabulary or grammar, PTE now evaluates:

• How well you listen and respond
  
  
• How naturally and professionally you speak
  
  
• Your ability to adapt your tone based on the situation
  
  

It’s a big step toward a more practical, skill-based exam.

📌 PTE Academic New Speaking Tips

To help you adjust and improve, here are five useful tips for both new tasks:

🎧 Tip 1: Practice Listening to Real Conversations

• Listen to panel discussions, interviews, or group talks
  
  
• Focus on how people agree, disagree, or explain their views
  
  

🧱 Tip 2: Structure Your Speaking

Think in three parts:

1. Introduction – What’s the topic or issue?
   
   
2. Main message – What’s the key point or response?
   
   
3. Polite close – Wrap it up clearly
   
   

⏱️ Tip 3: Use a Timer During Practice

• Set a timer for 40 seconds when practicing responses
  
  
• Record yourself to check pacing and clarity
  
  

💬 Tip 4: Speak Formally, But Naturally

• Use linking phrases like “therefore,” “on the other hand,” “as a result”
  
  
• Avoid slang and overly casual words
  
  
• Don’t overcomplicate your language—keep it clear
  
  

🎤 Tip 5: Shadow Native Speakers

• Watch videos or podcasts with native English speakers
  
  
• Repeat what they say to improve fluency, rhythm, and pronunciation
  
  

📚 Sample Phrases You Can Use

For Group Discussion Summaries:

• “The discussion centered around…”
  
  
• “One participant argued that…”
  
  
• “In conclusion, the speakers presented differing views.”
  
  

For Situational Responses:

• “I completely understand your concern.”
  
  
• “Let me look into that for you.”
  
  
• “Would it be alright if I follow up later today?”
  
  

🛠️ Helpful Practice Resources

YouTube Channels:

• E2 PTE
  
  
• PTE Tutorials
  
  

Mobile Apps:

• PTE Tools
  
  
• AI Speaking Coach
  
  

Daily Practice Ideas:

• Read a news article out loud each day
  
  
• Practice with a study partner or teacher
  
  
• Take a weekly mock speaking test
  
  

✅ Final Thoughts: Ready for the August 2025 PTE?

The August 2025 PTE update is all about showing how well you can use English in real situations. With these two new speaking tasks, it’s more important than ever to practice listening actively, thinking clearly, and speaking naturally.Using the PTE Academic New Speaking Tips in this guide, you’ll be able to prepare smarter—not just harder. Start early, build your speaking confidence day by day, and you’ll walk into the test ready to succeed.Need a printable practice checklist or personalized feedback? Just ask—I’m here to help you get test-ready!