Crack the 2025 PTE Speaking Section: A Deep Dive into the Two New Tasks

Big news for PTE aspirants—starting 7th August 2025, Pearson is introducing two brand-new tasks to the Speaking section. These  PTE Two New Speaking Tasks represent the most significant update to the speaking component in years. The goal? To better assess your real-world communication skills, not just your ability to repeat phrases or follow scripted answers.

If you're taking the PTE after this update, understanding and mastering these new tasks is essential. This blog gives you everything you need to know to prepare effectively and boost your speaking score.

Why Is PTE Changing Its Speaking Section?

Pearson aims to make the PTE Academic a more realistic measure of how well candidates use English in everyday academic and professional environments.

This means:

• Shifting the focus to practical speaking skills

• Evaluating your ability to listen, process information quickly, and respond naturally

• Replacing repetition-based tasks with real-life speaking simulations

These changes are designed to make the test fairer, more authentic, and more valuable for both test takers and the institutions that rely on PTE scores.

Overview of the PTE Two New Speaking Tasks

The updated format introduces the following two tasks:

• Summarize Group Discussion

• Respond to a Situation

Both are designed to evaluate your ability to listen to audio prompts and respond with structured, fluent, and relevant spoken answers—skills that are vital in academic discussions, meetings, and daily conversations.

Task 1: Summarize Group Discussion

What Happens in This Task?

• You’ll hear a conversation among multiple speakers discussing a topic

• The audio lasts about 2–3 minutes

• You get 10 seconds to prepare

• You then speak for up to 2 minutes summarizing the discussion

How to Approach It

• Take notes on each speaker’s key point as you listen

• Identify differences and similarities between speakers

• Use a clear structure:

  • Introduction: “The discussion focused on…”

  • Body: Mention individual viewpoints

  • Conclusion: Summarize the general consensus or disagreement

Tips to Score High

• Maintain a formal, academic tone

• Do not include your own opinion

• Use linking phrases such as “While one speaker mentioned… another emphasized…”

• Keep your summary concise, balanced, and neutral

Task 2: Respond to a Situation

What Happens in This Task?

• You’ll hear a short real-life scenario lasting 20–30 seconds

• A prompt appears on-screen outlining your role

• You get 10 seconds to prepare

• You must respond to the scenario in 40 seconds

How to Approach It

• Start by acknowledging the issue: “I completely understand your concern…”

• Provide a suitable solution or response based on the context

• Maintain a clear, polite, and conversational tone

Tips to Score High

• Use natural, everyday English

• Don’t aim for perfection—focus on being clear and relevant

• End with a confident closing: “I’ll get that sorted for you right away” or “Thanks for your patience”

Key Differences from the Old Format

The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks bring in:

• More realistic, spontaneous communication

• A stronger focus on fluency and comprehension

• Reduced reliance on memorized templates

• Better assessment through a mix of human and AI scoring

This means success now depends on clarity, confidence, and the ability to think on your feet.

How to Prepare for the New Tasks

1. Active Listening Practice

• Watch group discussions, debates, or interviews

• Focus on what each speaker says and summarize the key points

• Pay attention to tone, intent, and structure

2. Simulate Real-Life Scenarios

• Practice common situations such as:

  • Handling customer complaints

  • Rescheduling meetings

  • Offering polite refusals or suggestions

• Keep responses polite, relevant, and natural

3. Time-Bound Speaking Drills

• Use a timer to build speed and structure under pressure:

  • 10 seconds to prepare

  • 40 seconds to speak (for situations)

  • 2 minutes to speak (for discussions)

4. Improve Vocabulary and Tone

• For academic tasks: “The discussion revolved around…”

• For professional situations: “Let me check on that for you”

• For polite interaction: “Would you mind waiting a moment?”

What to Do in the Exam

• Use neutral, clear language

• Stick to what you heard—avoid guessing or adding personal views

• Keep an eye on the timer and wrap up smoothly

• Maintain a steady speaking pace and speak with confidence

What Not to Do

• Don’t include your opinion in the summary task

• Don’t rely on pre-learned scripts—they sound unnatural

• Avoid slang or overly casual language

• Don’t overthink your answer—be clear and to the point

• Don’t panic if you miss a detail—just focus on the main idea

Sample Phrases to Practice

Summarize Group Discussion

• “One speaker highlighted the benefits of…”

• “Another participant expressed concern about…”

• “There was general agreement that…”

Respond to a Situation

• “Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

• “Let me check what I can do to fix that.”

• “Could I suggest an alternative option?”

Final Thoughts

The PTE Two New Speaking Tasks represent a major shift toward practical language skills that are useful in real life. Rather than being a challenge, they can be an opportunity to showcase your fluency, clarity, and confidence.

Start practicing now. Use realistic tasks, review your responses, and focus on developing natural, structured speech. With the right preparation, you can turn these new tasks into a strength and achieve a high score in the 2025 PTE Speaking section.