Latest Changes in the PTE Exam Structure (2025): What You Need to Know
As of 7 August 2025, Pearson has rolled out significant updates to the PTE Academic (and PTE Academic UKVI) format, designed to make the test more real-world relevant, fair, and intuitive. Here’s a breakdown of everything you should be aware of:
1. Two New Speaking & Writing Tasks Added
Pearson has increased the number of task types from 20 to 22 by adding:
- Summarize Group Discussion
Listen to a 2–4 speaker discussion (~3 minutes), then deliver a 2-minute oral summary capturing key ideas and perspectives. - Respond to a Situation
Presented with an everyday scenario in audio and text (up to ~60 words), candidates must speak a natural, relevant response for 40 seconds.
These additions push candidates to demonstrate spontaneous and contextualized communication, reflecting real academic and social scenarios.
⏱ 2. Test Duration & Structure Extended
To accommodate these new tasks:
- Total duration now spans ~2 hours 15 minutes, up from the previous ~2 hours.
- Speaking & Writing section now features 65–75 tasks, up from 52–64.
- Certain tasks have increased in number,
3. Hybrid Scoring: AI + Human Oversight
Pearson has introduced a new scoring model, combining AI and human review:
- Seven tasks now involve human oversight, evaluating content and coherence:
- Essay Writing
- Summarize Written Text
- Describe Image
- Retell Lecture
- Summarize Spoken Text
- Summarize Group Discussion
- Respond to a Situation
- AI continues to assess fluency and pronunciation. In case of discrepancies, a second human evaluator is involved.
This method reduces formulaic responses and encourages authentic communication.
4. Refined Skill Scoring & Rubrics
Pearson refined scoring to prioritize clarity and single-skill measurement:
- Tasks now map to one skill only, e.g., “Read Aloud” contributes solely to Speaking—not Reading.
- Rubric updates:
- Summarize Written Text: Expanded from a 0–2 to 0–4 scale.
- Essay Writing: Graded on 0–6 scale per criterion, replacing the old 0–3 scale.
This improved granularity enhances clarity in feedback and better reflects a candidate’s language abilities.
5. Interface & Experience Overhaul
Pearson has enhanced the test user experience with several UI/UX updates:
- No more optional breaks, streamlining pacing and decreasing downtime.
- Key interface changes include:
- Removal of keyboard check
- Double microphone/headphone checks
- Beep cues in “Repeat Sentence” to signal when to speak
- Circular progress bar
- Live audio waveforms during speaking tasks
- Smaller font sizes for readability
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These make the exam more accessible, intuitive, and less stressful.
6. Improved Accessibility & Fairness
The updates collectively aim to foster a more equitable testing environment:
- Single-skill scoring simplifies preparation focus.
- Human oversight discourages mechanical responses.
- UI enhancements—like real-time feedback and better navigation—help all test takers perform confidently.
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What This Means for Test Takers
- Start practicing with updated mock tests that reflect the new structure and timing.
- Adapt your strategy for new task types: practice group discussions and scenario responses.
- Focus on authenticity—deliver original, fluent responses rather than memorized templates.
- Familiarize yourself with the updated UI, using official simulators if available.
- Use scoring rubrics to identify target areas for improvement, especially for writing tasks.
What Test-Takers Are Saying
From Reddit discussions:
“I did after the changes and got perfect score. … the trick is exactly NOT using templates anymore since they will be flagged…”
“…gumagana pa rin ang templates… hindi mo na pwedeng gamitin ang mga public templates.”
(“…templates still work… but you can no longer use public templates.”)
These reflect the importance of honest, well-structured responses under the new scoring mechanisms.
Summary Table: 2025 PTE Changes at a Glance
| Change Area | What’s New |
|---|---|
| New Tasks | Summarize Group Discussion, Respond to a Situation added |
| Duration | Extended to ~2h 15m; no break; more tasks overall |
| Scoring | Hybrid AI + Human review; single-skill scoring; refined rubrics |
| UI/UX | Beep cues; live waveform; circular progress; mic rechecks |
| Prep Tips | Use updated mock tests; focus on originality; practice new formats |
Final Thoughts
These 2025 updates represent a bold move by Pearson toward a more genuine, skill-specific, and accessible English proficiency assessment. With real-world communication at its heart, the modernized PTE rewards natural, articulate, and skillful responses—rather than rote memorization.
Start your preparation today—using updated materials—and approach the exam with authenticity and confidence.