PTE has updated its test from 7 August 2025 - here’s what you need to know

From August 7, 2025, PTE introduced:

1. Two new question types:

• Summarise Group Discussion

• Respond to a Situation

New question types mean new approaches and new prep materials. This also means you may need to relearn the dos and don’ts - from how to structure responses to which preparation strategies will work.

2. A move away from fully automated scoring

Some speaking and writing responses will now be marked by human assessors, reversing PTE’s long-standing reliance on AI-only scoring.

3. Extra questions

The updated test will include slightly more questions overall, but the total test time will still be approximately two hours long. The time limit for each question remains unchanged.

Greater complexity for PTE test takers

• New question types mean relearning two additional Speaking tasks and buying updated prep materials, as previous strategies may no longer work.

• Extra questions, same test time - more content to get through without extra minutes.

Scoring changes

• Some PTE speaking and writing responses will be reviewed by human markers. Although Pearson hasn’t made it clear which tasks this applies to or how scores are determined.

• Memorised templates won’t help - pre‑prepared responses are being cracked down on.

Preparation will change

• You’ll need to adjust study methods, invest in new materials, and rethink your approach.

• No option to retake just one section. If you miss a score, you’ll need to pay for and sit the entire test again.

Global recognition

• Trusted and accepted by more than 12,500 organisations, universities and governments worldwide.

Unchanged & consistent

• IELTS format hasn’t changed - you can prepare with confidence knowing the test will stay the same.

Prepare with no surprises

• With IELTS, you know exactly what to expect, how you’ll be marked and the option to retake just one skill if needed.

Start your journey today

We make it easy for you to prepare with a wide range of official preparation material than any other English test provider. With IELTS, we set you up to succeed. You can expect consistent preparation and trusted scoring.

Official IELTS preparation resources

IELTS scoring: Fair for more than 35 years

• At IELTS, we want to help you achieve the result you need for work, study or migration. As a result, that’s why we share with you how we test, how we mark your work, and what is important. So, for IELTS Writing, Speaking, Reading, and Listening, we’ll tell you what examiners look for and how your test is marked. We’ll also show you how we calculate your overall band score.

Quality and fairness

• IELTS invests heavily in the continued development of its test and the processes how we mark your test. This is to ensure a fair assessment for all test takers. Furthermore, it is to ensure a reliable result for the organisations that depend on IELTS as a measure of English language skill. We also show you how we mark our test.

Find out more about the test format

• IELTS is unique in that it allows the choice of an Academic or General Training test. Both types of IELTS test measure your skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. However, the questions are a little different and one test might suit you more than the other.

There are a number of differences between IELTS and PTE Academic.

• IELTS sets you up to succeed. It is the only major test that offers One Skill Retake, allowing you to resit just one part of the test (Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking) instead of repeating the entire test. Immigration New Zealand accepts IELTS One Skill Retake for a number of visas including the Accredited Employer Work Visa, skilled residence visas, some working holiday visas, and other visa types. We also offer dependable test preparation materials to help you get ready.
  With PTE Academic, if you don’t get the score you need, you must pay for and take the full test again.

• Test marking is another key difference. PTE Academic is primarily AI-scored, and while a few speaking tasks will now involve some human review, Pearson hasn’t made it clear which ones or how that process works. IELTS takes a more transparent approach. Reading and Listening are auto-marked, while Writing and Speaking are assessed by expert human examiners using clearly published band descriptors, so you know exactly what is being assessed and how your score is determined.

• Test format matters too. IELTS gives you options - you can choose between IELTS on computer or paper tests. PTE Academic? It’s computer-based only.

• IELTS is accepted more widely. Your IELTS results are recognised by over 12,500 organisations globally, including more immigration departments, universities, professional bodies and employers than PTE Academic.

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Dive deeper into the differences here

Source: Pearson PTE: Updates to PTE Academic