Two tasks were added to Speaking & Writing
For tests taken after 7 August 2025, Pearson added two question types to PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI. The three-part structure remains, the test is still approximately two hours, and the updated test keeps its alignment with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
Summarize Group Discussion: listen to a discussion among three people, then explain the main points in your own words. Pearson allows up to three minutes for the recording and two minutes for the spoken response.
Respond to a Situation: listen to and read a short situation, then give an extended spoken response. The current instructions allow ten seconds to prepare and forty seconds to speak.
Scoring also received updates
Pearson says it enhanced scoring criteria for some tasks and that some response traits can receive a human expert review alongside AI scoring. The Score Report remains on the 10–90 scale with an overall score and four communicative-skill scores. Human review does not assess pronunciation or oral fluency, according to Pearson.
What did not change
The Reading and Listening parts remain in the same three-part test structure. The changes described on Pearson’s update page apply to PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI; Pearson says PTE Core and PTE Home were not changed by this update.
Old PTE Academic score reports remain valid for two years under Pearson’s general policy, but receiving institutions may set a different expiry rule. Check directly before relying on an older result.
How to prepare for the current version
Use practice materials that include both new task types. For Summarize Group Discussion, practise tracking each speaker’s view and the connection between ideas. For Respond to a Situation, identify what the listener needs, choose an appropriate tone, and answer the prompt directly. Build adaptable speaking skills rather than memorising a fixed script.