PTE · UPDATED 2026-10-12
PTE Academic: prepare for the newer speaking tasks
A practical introduction to Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation.
What changed? Pearson added Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation to PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI for tests after 7 August 2025. Include both tasks when planning your preparation.
Summarize Group Discussion You listen to three people discussing a topic, then summarise the discussion in your own words. Practise notes that separate the main topic, each speaker’s contribution and areas of agreement or disagreement. Focus on meaning rather than copying isolated phrases.
Respond to a Situation Practise identifying who you are speaking to, why you are responding, and which details matter. An appropriate, relevant response is more useful preparation than a memorised answer that does not fit the situation.
A useful practice routine After an attempt, listen to your own recording. Ask whether someone unfamiliar with the prompt could understand your message. Repeat with a new prompt to practise the skill rather than memorising the same response. Use Pearson’s current official task guidance for exact instructions.
Official source: Read the provider’s guidance ↗