PTE Exam Changes 2025: The Pearson Test of English will introduce major updates in August 2025, affecting scoring, tasks, and test format.
These changes will directly impact international students, skilled migration applicants, and visa holders who use PTE for study or immigration purposes in Australia.
1. Major Scoring Change
Double-Scoring System
AI will score first, followed by greater human oversight for selected tasks:
- Describe Image
- Re-tell Lecture
- Summarize Written Text
- Summarize Spoken Text
- Essay
- New tasks: Respond to a Situation & Summarize Group Discussion
No More Cross-Marking
- Each task now contributes only to its designated skill area.
- Example: “Read Aloud” no longer boosts Reading, “Fill in the Blanks” no longer boosts Writing.
✔️ Pros: Easier to identify skill weaknesses
❌ Cons: No more “score compensation”
2. New Speaking Task Types
To make the exam more practical, Pearson is adding two new speaking tasks:
- Respond to a Situation (RAS): Answer realistic scenarios with a natural spoken response.
- Summarize Group Discussion (SGD): Listen to a multi-person discussion and provide an extended summary.
Total Speaking tasks: 7 types.
3. Changes in the Number of Questions
Speaking Section
- Describe Image: 5–6 (previously 3–4)
- Re-tell Lecture: 2–3 (previously 1)
Writing Section
- Summarize Written Text: fixed at 2
- Essay: remains 1
Reading Section
- MCQs (Single & Multiple Answers): fixed at 2 each
Listening Section
- Summarize Spoken Text: fixed at 1
- Highlight Correct Summary & Select Missing Word: 2–3 (previously 1–2)
4. Format & Interface Updates
- Duration: approx. 2 hours 15 minutes
- Audio Cue: A beep now signals the start of “Repeat Sentence” tasks
- Improved UI:
- Circular progress bar
- Smaller fonts for readability
- Real-time audio waveforms in Speaking
5. What These Changes Mean for Students & Migrants
- More accurate skill-based scoring – weaknesses cannot be masked by other tasks.
- Speaking is tougher with more questions + 2 new task types.
- Preparation strategies must be updated to match the new format.
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