Related: Changes to English Language Tests for Visa Applicants from 7 August 2025
1. Overview
Pearson is introducing new enhancements to the PTE Academic test from 7 August 2025 to better reflect real-world English skills. The core structure and benefits—fast scoring, AI scoring, computer-based delivery, and global recognition—remain unchanged.
2. Test Format Changes
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| New Question Types | 1. Respond to a Situation 2. Summarise Group Discussion |
| Impacted Skill | Speaking Section |
| Preparation Support | New prep materials, including videos, webinars, and updated question banks |
| Validity of Old Materials | Existing preparation materials remain valid and useful |
Tip: These new tasks test your ability to respond spontaneously and summarise spoken content—skills vital for academic and real-life communication.
3. Scoring Adjustments
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Scoring Method | Still primarily AI-based for consistency and speed |
| Human Involvement | Greater human oversight for longer responses (mainly content, not fluency) |
| Oral Fluency & Pronunciation | Still scored entirely by AI |
| Score Turnaround | Fast results — typically within 48 hours |
Confidence Point: Scores will not be influenced by individual human bias, as humans will only check for content relevance, not delivery style.
4. Recognition & Acceptance
PTE Academic continues to be widely accepted for:
- Australian visa applications (all types)
- 100% of Australian universities and colleges
- Professional assessing bodies for skill recognition
- Visa and academic purposes in New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and more than 3,500 institutions globally
5. Support Resources & Promotions
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Webinar | 23 July 2025 – Walkthrough of all changes. Open to agents/students. |
| In-person Events | Held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane with Pearson experts. |
| Discount Offer | 30% off all paid Pearson prep resources (e.g., scored practice tests). Use code: PTEPREP30 |
6. Score Concordance with IELTS
- Pearson has published a new concordance study comparing PTE Academic and IELTS Academic scores.
- This study is for reference only and does not change any official score requirements unless notified by institutions or authorities.
- Full report available on Pearson’s official website.
Practical Tip: Use this for benchmarking scores or planning transition strategies between IELTS and PTE.
PTE Academic and IELTS
The table below shows Pearson’s current best estimate of scoring alignment between PTE Academic and IELTS Academic.
Note: This table has been updated from the previous version of the score guide based on updated research released in July 2025.
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