Pearson Upgrades PTE Academic with New Speaking Tasks and Stricter AI Scoring from August 2025
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Pearson has announced key updates to the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic, introducing two new speaking tasks and enhancing AI scoring to better reflect real-world communication skills. The changes will take effect from August 2025, with a strong focus on preparing Indian students for global academic and professional environments.
The new speaking tasks, ‘respond to a situation’ and ‘summarise a group discussion’ are designed to assess how test-takers communicate in everyday and academic contexts. These additions aim to replicate real-life language use, aligning more closely with the speaking demands students will face abroad.
In addition, Pearson has tightened its AI scoring system to detect copied or unoriginal responses more effectively. This move is intended to uphold fairness and improve the accuracy of the test’s evaluation process.
“These enhancements to PTE Academic are designed to align with the changing needs of today’s learners in India,” said Prabhul Ravindran, Director of English Language Learning at Pearson India. “We aim to maintain trust among institutions and governments while supporting test-takers with more realistic preparation.”
To help students navigate the changes, Pearson will roll out updated study resources, including new practice tests, expert-designed courseware, instructional videos, and webinars.
Despite the additions, the core strengths of PTE Academic remain unchanged: the test is fully computer-based, AI-scored, and results are delivered within 48 hours. PTE is accepted by over 3,500 institutions globally, including the governments of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, making it one of the top choices for Indian students planning to study abroad.
The upgrade underscores Pearson’s commitment to AI-powered, secure, and globally recognised English proficiency testing, as Indian students continue to seek international study and career opportunities.
Source: CAREER 360
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