Study Abroad: Pearson upgrades PTE Academic, adds 2 speaking tasks, tightens AI scoring

Pearson has announced upgrades to Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic to strengthen its value for Indian students aspiring to study abroad. Starting from August 2025, PTE Academic will include two new speaking tasks, ‘respond to a situation’ and ‘summarize a group discussion’.

Simultaneously, Pearson has enhanced its AI scoring system to detect copied or unoriginal responses, to ensure fair and more accurate assessments for all students. The new tasks will evaluate test test-taker’ ability to communicate in real-world academic and professional scenarios.

As per the official Pearson statement , these updates reinforce Pearson’s commitment to providing secure, AI-powered English proficiency assessments, which reflect the communication skills required for academic and professional success across the globe.
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Pearson PTE Academic

Pearson will also provide updated study materials, which include practice tests, expert-designed courseware, webinars, and instructional videos to support Indian students with these revamps, while also maintaining the tests’ core strengths of speed, security, and global recognition.

However, the core strengths of PTE Academic remain the same. The test continues to be a fully computer-based test (CBT) mode, AI-scored, with results being delivered within 48 hours. PTE is recognised by more than 3,500 institutions globally and is accepted by the governments of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom (UK) , and New Zealand. The English test remains one of the most trusted among Indian students willing to study abroad or for work opportunities.

The director of English Language Learning at Pearson India Prabhul Ravindran said: “The enhancements to PTE Academic are designed to align with the changing needs of today’s learners in India, while ensuring that institutions and governments can continue to rely on it for fair and effective assessment. By introducing real-world speaking tasks and improving scoring safeguards, the test aims to support better preparation while maintaining the trust of decision-makers.”