As per Pearson PTE, there are new changes will be implemented in the PTE Academic
Examination from 7 th August 2025. We will go through all the major changes one by one
New Speaking Question Types
There will two new topic which will be added to the speaking section, which are as below:
- Summarize Group Discussion
In this question You’ll hear a 2- to-3-speaker discussion a topic and your task is to summarize it in 2 minutes. This will count toward both Listening and Speaking scoring of your exam.
- Respond to a Situation
In this question you’ll see a written scenario on screen and your task is to respond in 40
seconds. This will Counts toward Speaking scoring only.
There are few Adjustments in number of questions as well, below are the details for the same
| Section | Before | From Aug 7, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
|
Describe Image |
3–4 items |
5–6 items |
|
Retell Lecture |
1 item |
2–3 items |
|
Summarize Written |
Variable (often 1–2) |
2 items |
|
Essay |
1 item |
No Change |
|
Summarize Spoken |
Variable (1–2) |
1 item |
|
MCQ–Single Answer |
Variable (1–2) |
2 items |
|
MCQ–Multiple Answer |
Variable (1–2) |
2 items |
|
Listening MCQs |
– |
2–3 items each for single & multiple |
|
Highlight Summary |
– |
2–3 items (correct) |
|
Select Missing |
– |
1–2 items |
|
Read-Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Write from
Dictation, Highlight Incorrect Words |
No change |
No change |
There will be revised scoring and it will be calculated as below
- Describe Image & Retell Lecture: Content → 6 points (up from 5)
- Summarize Written Text: Content → 4 points (up from 2)
- Essay: ○ Content → 6 points (up from 3) ○ Development & Structure → 6 points (up from 2)
- Summarize Spoken Text: Content → 4 points (up from 2)
- Other language criteria (grammar, vocabulary, spelling) remain at 2 points each.
There are Changes in Human Review of AI-Flagged Responses
For these seven question types, any response flagged by the AI as “templated” will now go to a
human examiner for verification:
- Describe Image
- Retell Lecture
- Essay
- Summarize Written Text
- Summarize Group Discussion
- Respond to a Situation
- Summarize Spoken Text
Hope you have understood the upcoming changes in the PTE Academic Examination and
you can prepare yourself as per the given guidelines. For any further assistance you feel free to contact Geoedutech Immigration and Overseas education and Can call on 8007057070 or
email us on admission@geoedutech.com
FAQ
What changes are being made to the PTE Academic exam in August 2025?
Starting August 7, 2025, Pearson will introduce two new speaking question types, update the number of items in various tasks, revise scoring criteria, and initiate human review for AI-flagged responses.
What are the two new question types in the Speaking section?
The two new types are:
- Summarize Group Discussion – You’ll listen to a multi-speaker conversation and summarize it in 2 minutes (counts for both Listening and Speaking).
- Respond to a Situation – You’ll see a scenario and respond verbally in 40 seconds (counts toward Speaking only).
How will the number of questions change in the PTE format?
Several sections will have more questions than before. For example:
- Describe Image: 5–6 items (was 3–4)
- Retell Lecture: 2–3 items (was 1)
- MCQs and Summarize Written Text: now fixed at 2 items
Has the essay section changed in the new PTE pattern?
No, the number of essay questions remains the same (1 item), but the scoring has changed — content now carries 6 points instead of 3, and development & structure also carries 6 points.
How has the scoring system changed in the PTE Academic exam?
Scoring for content has increased in several sections:
- Essay: 6 points for content (up from 3)
- Summarize Written Text: 4 points (up from 2)
- Describe Image & Retell Lecture: 6 points each Language criteria like grammar, vocabulary, and spelling still carry 2 points each.
What is a 'templated response' and why will humans now review them?
A templated response is an answer that appears overly rehearsed or copied. If the AI flags a response as templated in any of 7 key sections, it will now be reviewed manually by a human examiner to ensure fairness.
Which question types will undergo human review if flagged by AI?
The following tasks will be reviewed by a human if detected as templated:
- Describe Image
- Retell Lecture
- Essay
- Summarize Written Text
- Summarize Group Discussion
- Respond to a Situation
- Summarize Spoken Text
Is the reading section affected by the 2025 changes?
Yes, the overall reading time has been reduced to 7 minutes, which means students must manage their time more efficiently during the reading section.
Will all tasks have fixed question numbers now?
Most tasks now have specific question counts, which helps candidates better prepare. However, some tasks like Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, and Write from Dictation remain unchanged.
How should I prepare for the new PTE exam format?
Familiarize yourself with the new question types and revised scoring criteria. Practice regularly using updated mock tests.
