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PTE Academic – Complete Information (with New Speaking Tasks)

The Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic is a computer-based English language test accepted globally for study, immigration, and professional purposes. It assesses your ability in all four language skills — Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening. PTE uses a combination of AI scoring and human oversight for fairness and accuracy.

Why Choose PTE Academic

• Accepted by many universities, colleges, governments, and professional bodies around the world (UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.)

• Fast reporting of results — usually within 24-48 hours after you finish.

• Flexible test dates and wide global availability.

• Secure testing environment and reliable scoring system.

Test Format & Duration

The test is about 2 hours, but due to recent updates (from 7 August 2025), it has been slightly extended. The test is divided into sections:

1. Speaking & Writing

2. Reading

3. Listening

Because of the new tasks added, the number of tasks and time allocated in some sections has changed.

Scoring & Assessment

• PTE uses a 10-90 scoring scale for overall performance.

• Also scores for each communicative skill: Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing.

• With the new update, certain tasks are now more heavily weighted in terms of content and originality. Human scorers will evaluate more tasks to check relevance and naturalness of responses.

• AI still handles parts like pronunciation, fluency, but human reviewers provide oversight especially where content/template copying or unnatural speech might be penalized.

Skills Assessed

The PTE Academic test measures:

• Fluency & Pronunciation – speaking clearly, maintaining pace and intonation.

• Content & Relevance – what you say must answer the task, be on topic, and be meaningful.

• Grammar & Vocabulary – correct grammar, a range of words/structures.

• Listening Comprehension – especially in tasks like Summarize Group Discussion.

• Reading & Writing – for relevant tasks, especially those that combine reading/writing or summarizing written text.

Tips to Prepare for the Updated Speaking Module

1. Practice extensively with the two new tasks — get used to summarizing group discussions (listening to multi-speaker audio) and reacting appropriately to everyday or workplace situations.

2. Work on note-taking skills: capture key points, names, roles, perspectives when you listen.

3. Record yourself to check fluency, avoid long pauses, hedging (“um”, “uh”), and unnatural structures.

4. Use a variety of vocabulary and expressions for different situations — speaking in formal vs informal settings.

5. Time yourself in mock tests under the new format to manage the extended time.

6. Make sure you get feedback, especially on content relevance, coherence, and whether your response actually answers the prompt.

Test Sections: Reading & Listening (unchanged tasks but some changes in weight/time)

While the big changes are in Speaking & Writing, the Reading and Listening sections remain largely similar in terms of task types, but some timings and scoring weight may have small adjustments due to extension of test duration. Be sure to use updated official mock tests.

With the August 2025 update, PTE Academic has become more realistic and aligned with actual communication needs. The two new speaking tasks — Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation — mean exam takers must not just speak well, but think, listen, respond, and structure their speech in ways that mirror real life.

If you’re preparing now, start practicing these new formats immediately. Use updated mock tests, get feedback, and focus on delivering natural, relevant content not memorized templates.