From August 2025, PTE Academic has introduced two brand-new speaking tasks that will significantly impact your test preparation. If you are planning to sit for the updated version of the exam, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about these tasks, why they matter, and how you can score the highest marks possible.
đ Whatâs New in PTE August 2025?
Pearson has added two new speaking tasks:
- Summarize a Group Discussion â contributes to Listening and Speaking scores.
- Respond to a Situation â contributes to Speaking score.
Both tasks test not just your English proficiency, but also your ability to listen carefully, think quickly, and respond clearly.
đ€ Task 1: Summarize a Group Discussion
This is one of the most important new tasks because it impacts both listening and speaking. There will be 2-3 items of this question type in the test.
What Youâll See on Test Day:
- Instructions at the top of your screen
- Audio playback panel
- A status bar showing preparation and response time
What Happens:
- Youâll listen to a group discussion (usually 3 speakers) on a general or academic topic.
- Examples:
- Students discussing challenges they face
- A team working on a project
- A community planning an event
- Examples:
- The recording will last 1â3 minutes. You can hear it only once and cannot pause or rewind.
- As you listen, take notes on the notepad provided at the test center.
- Once the audio finishes, you get 10 seconds to prepare.
- When the tone sounds, your microphone switches on, and you must begin speaking. Youâll have 2 minutes to give your response.
Pro Tips for Success:
- Donât just repeat one speakerâs opinion â include all main ideas.
- Speak at a natural pace, but avoid long pauses (more than 3 seconds).
- Stay confident and clear â pronunciation and fluency are key.
- Avoid filler words like âum,â âlike,â and âyou know.â
Sample Response:
âThree students are discussing where they plan to live next year because the campus accommodation office needs confirmation by next week. One student asks about the othersâ decisions, and another replies that he will continue living on campus.â
đ€ Task 2: Respond to a Situation
This task is designed to test your ability to respond naturally to real-life scenarios. There will be 2-3 items for this question type too.
What Youâll See on Test Day:
- Instructions at the top of the screen
- A short description of the situation
- An audio recording of the scenario
- A status box showing preparation and response time
What Happens:
- You get a few seconds to read the instructions.
- You hear the description of the situation.
- After the audio, youâll see how much preparation time is left.
- When the tone sounds, your mic switches on.
- Youâll have 40 seconds to deliver your response.
Example Situations:
- A friend or colleague requests your help with a task.
- You face a problem (like a late bus or a broken laptop) and need to explain it.
- Youâre a landlord reminding tenants about their responsibilities.
How to Respond:
- Use formal language for professional contexts (e.g., workplace, landlord).
- Use informal language for friendly or casual scenarios.
- During preparation, note down key words and phrases that match the tone of the situation.
Sample Scenario:
âYou are a landlord who has rented your flat to four university students. The flat is messy, the carpet is damaged, and youâre upset. You want to remind them of their responsibilities.â
Sample Response:
âIâd like to remind you about your responsibility to keep the flat clean. The current condition is unacceptable, and I expect you to repair the carpet and maintain cleanliness moving forward.â
â Final Thoughts
The Summarize a Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation tasks may feel new and challenging, but with the right strategies, you can master them. Both tasks reward clarity, structure, and confidence â not perfect grammar.
If you want more templates, hacks, and free resources, Enrol NOW! With the right preparation, your dream PTE score is closer than you think.