The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is one of the leading English language proficiency exams, and like any major assessment, it undergoes periodic updates to maintain its relevance and accuracy. After 7th August, several key changes were made to the test format, structure, and scoring.
These changes were implemented to improve the test's alignment with modern language use, enhance fairness, and ensure that it better reflects real-life English skills.
Quick Overview of Major Updates:
- • Two new question types in the Speaking section
- • AI and Human integration for more accurate scoring
- • Enhanced focus on real-world English communication skills
- • Improved template detection and prevention
1. Two New Question Types in the Speaking Section
Pearson has introduced two new question types in the speaking section to test your ability to handle real-world situations:
️ Summarize a Group Discussion
In this task, you'll listen to a group discussion on a given topic and then summarize the key points in your own words for around 2 minutes.
What it tests: Your ability to understand group conversations and communicate the main ideas clearly.
Scoring impact: Contributes scores to both Speaking and Listening modules.
Respond to a Situation
Here, you'll be presented with a situation (e.g., a customer service scenario or a workplace issue) and asked to respond appropriately for around 40 seconds.
What it tests: How well you can react in different real-world situations, showing your ability to think and speak quickly.
Scoring impact: Contributes scores only to the Speaking module.
2. AI and Human Integration for Scoring
In the PTE Academic exam, human evaluation has been introduced in certain Speaking, Writing and Listening question types. This hybrid approach combines the consistency of AI scoring with human expertise to ensure more accurate and fair assessment.
The 7 question types in which Pearson has introduced Human evaluation are:
1. Describe Image (Speaking)
A human rater checks if the description of a chart, graph, or diagram is based on the provided image and not on a memorized template.
2. Retell Lecture (Speaking)
A human rater evaluates the summary to ensure it genuinely reflects the content of the lecture, rather than being a pre-scripted response.
3. Summarize Group Discussion (Speaking) - NEW!
Added in August 2025, the summary of the discussion is reviewed for relevant content.
4. Respond to a Situation (Speaking) - NEW!
Also new in August 2025, the speaking response to a given scenario is evaluated by a human for content relevance.
5. Summarize Written Text (Writing)
This is a more complex task where you need to write a concise summary of a given passage. A human rater assesses whether the summary is relevant to the source text and not from a template.
6. Write Essay (Writing)
This writing task is reviewed by a human expert to ensure the essay content is original and relevant to the prompt.
7. Summarize Spoken Text (Listening/Writing)
A human rater checks if the written summary reflects the content of the audio, verifying that templates are not used.
️ Important Implications for Test Takers
- Template Dependency is Risky: Human raters can easily identify memorized templates, which may result in lower scores.
- Authentic Responses are Crucial: Focus on generating genuine, content-relevant responses rather than relying on pre-prepared answers.
- Real-world Skills Matter: The new question types emphasize practical communication abilities over test-taking strategies.
- Preparation Strategy Shift: Traditional template-based preparation methods may no longer be effective.
How These Changes Affect Your Preparation
What NOT to Do
- Rely heavily on memorized templates
- Use generic, one-size-fits-all responses
- Focus only on fluency without content relevance
- Ignore the context of speaking situations
What TO Do
- Practice authentic, content-based responses
- Develop strong listening and comprehension skills
- Focus on real-world communication scenarios
- Build vocabulary for various professional contexts
Ready to Adapt to the New PTE Format?
These changes make the PTE exam more challenging but also more reflective of real-world English usage.
At Pyramid e-Institute, we've updated our PTE preparation programs to align with these new changes, ensuring you're fully prepared for the enhanced exam format.
Get Updated PTE Preparation