Achieve 90+ in PTE 2025: Your Guide to Summarize Group Discussion & Respond to a Situation

The PTE Academic exam is taking a big leap forward from August 7, 2025! If you’re aiming for that dream 90+ score for your study abroad, visa, or professional goals, understanding these exciting new changes is crucial. At Scoresmartpte, we believe in keeping you ahead of the curve.

This guide is your roadmap to mastering the two new tasks in the PTE Speaking section: Summarize Group Discussion (SGD) and Respond to a Situation (RTS). We’ll break down what they are, why they matter, and most importantly, give you the expert strategies, crucial do’s and don’ts, and practice tips to secure your 90+ score. 

Understanding the PTE 2025 Updates: Why These Changes Matter for Your Score

The Pearson is always working to make the test even better at measuring real-world English skills. That’s why, starting August 7, 2025, they’re introducing SGD and RTS. These aren’t just new questions; they’re a smarter way to see how well you can communicate in everyday and academic settings.

The Big Change: Human Scoring is Here! While PTE is famous for its unbiased AI scoring, for seven key tasks (including SGD and RTS), a human rater will now also be part of the assessment. This means your responses need to be truly authentic, relevant, and natural. Forget memorized templates for these tasks – they could lower your score, potentially even leading to a zero! This shift emphasizes genuine communication over rote learning.

The overall test will now have 22 questions (up from 20) and a slightly longer duration of about 2 hours and 15 minutes. But don’t worry, with the right preparation, this extra time means more opportunities to shine!

 Master Summarize Group Discussion (SGD) for 90+

Imagine you’re in a university seminar or a team meeting, listening to several people share their ideas. The “Summarize Group Discussion” task is just like that!

What is Summarize Group Discussion (SGD)?

 You will listen to an audio recording of 2-3 speakers discussing a particular topic. Your job is to summarize the main points of their discussion in your own words.

• Time to prepare: 10 seconds after the audio finishes.
• Time to speak: Up to 2 minutes (120 seconds).

Why is SGD Important for a 90+ Score? 

This task isn’t just about listening; it tests your ability to:

• Understand different viewpoints: Can you grasp what each speaker is saying?
• Identify key information: Can you pick out the most important ideas from a conversation?
• Synthesize information: Can you combine these ideas into a clear, concise summary?
• Speak fluently and coherently: Can you present your summary smoothly and logically?

Expert Strategies for SGD Success:

1. Be a Listening Detective: 

While listening, focus on understanding the main topic and what each person’s core idea or opinion is. Listen for agreements, disagreements, and any conclusions they reach. Use quick notes (keywords, symbols) to jot down these points. Don’t try to write full sentences.

2. Structure Your Summary: 

Think of it like telling a story of the discussion.

• Introduction: Briefly state what the discussion was about. (e.g., “The discussion focused on the pros and cons of online learning.”)
• Main Points with Attribution: Mention the key ideas and, if possible, who said them (e.g., “One speaker argued that… while another pointed out that…”).
• Outcome/Conclusion: If they reached an agreement or a specific outcome, include that.

3. Language & Cohesion:

 Use connecting words and phrases to make your summary flow naturally. Think of words like “however,” “furthermore,” “in addition,” “consequently,” “on the other hand,” etc. Paraphrase their ideas – don’t just repeat what they said word-for-word. Keep your tone neutral.

4. Time Management: 

Use your 10 seconds of prep time wisely to quickly organize your notes. Then, aim to speak clearly and steadily for most of the 2 minutes. Don’t rush, but don’t leave long silences.

SGD: The Crucial Do’s:

• Do summarize the main points and the overall gist of the discussion.
• Do attribute ideas to speakers when it clarifies the summary.
• Do use a variety of linking words and phrases for a smooth flow.
• Do maintain an objective and neutral tone – no personal opinions!
• Do practice with real group discussions (podcasts, documentaries).

SGD: The Critical Don’ts:

• Don’t simply list everything you heard; focus on the most important ideas.
• Don’t add your own opinions or outside information.
• Don’t use rigid, pre-memorized templates. Human raters will easily spot this, and your score could be zero. Your response must be unique to the discussion you hear.
• Don’t speak too little (less than a minute is usually too short) or go off-topic.

Ace Respond to a Situation (RTS) for 90+

The “Respond to a Situation” task is designed to see how you would react and communicate in everyday real-life scenarios. 

What is Respond to a Situation (RTS)? 

You will be presented with a real-life scenario (either text on screen or audio). Your task is to respond appropriately.

• Time to prepare: 20 seconds.
• Time to speak: Up to 40 seconds.

Why is RTS Important for a 90+ Score?

 This task directly tests your communicative competence:

• Appropriacy: Can you respond in a way that fits the situation’s tone (formal, informal, polite, urgent)?
• Natural Language: Do you sound like a native speaker responding naturally?
• Fluency & Pronunciation: Can you speak smoothly and clearly without hesitation?
• Problem-solving/Solution-oriented: Can you effectively address the situation presented?

Expert Strategies for RTS Mastery:

1. Understand the Scenario:

 Read/listen carefully to identify:

• Who are you talking to? (Friend, professor, customer service?)
• What’s the situation? (Apology, request, complaint, offering help?)
• What’s the expected tone? (Formal, informal, empathetic, assertive?)

2. Structure Your Response (Flexibly!): 

While not a rigid template, a general flow helps:

• Greeting/Acknowledgement: Start appropriately (e.g., “Hi [Name],” “Excuse me, Professor,” “I apologize for…”).
• Acknowledge the Situation: Briefly show you understand (e.g., “I understand there’s a problem with…”).
• Your Response/Solution: Clearly state what you would say or do.
• Polite Closing: A natural end (e.g., “Thanks for your understanding,” “Please let me know if I can help further”).

3. Language Use:

 Be Natural! Use vocabulary and phrases that fit the situation. If it’s a formal setting, use polite and respectful language. If it’s casual, be more relaxed. Focus on sounding like you’re genuinely having a conversation. Avoid overly complex sentences if they make you sound unnatural.

4. Time Management: 

Use your 20 seconds to quickly brainstorm a few key points and how you’ll start. Then, speak for most of the 40 seconds, ensuring you cover the situation adequately. There’s no specific word limit, so focus on quality and coherence.

RTS: The Essential Do’s:

• Do match your tone and formality to the situation given.
• Do sound natural and conversational.
• Do address all key parts of the situation in your response.
• Do speak clearly, fluently, and with good pronunciation.
• Do practice responding to a wide range of scenarios (e.g., inviting, declining, apologizing, asking for help, explaining a problem).

RTS: The Common Don’ts:

• Don’t use any pre-written, memorized scripts. This is a human-scored task, and automated-sounding responses will get zero.
• Don’t hesitate or pause awkwardly. Keep your speech flowing.
• Don’t speak too fast or too slow; aim for a natural pace.
• Don’t go off-topic or add irrelevant information.
• Don’t simply summarize the situation; you need to respond to it.

General Strategies for a 90+ PTE Speaking Score

To truly hit that 90+ mark in PTE 2025, remember these foundational principles for all speaking tasks:

• Fluency is Key: Aim for smooth, continuous speech. Avoid long pauses, repetitions, or self-corrections. Even if you make a minor grammatical error, keep going!
• Clear Pronunciation: Practice your articulation. Focus on correct word stress and intonation patterns. This makes it easy to understand.
• Broaden Your Vocabulary & Grammar: Use a good range of words and sentence structures, but always prioritize clarity and naturalness. Don’t force complex words if they don’t fit.
• Master Time Management: Practice speaking within the given time limits for each task. It’s a critical skill for maximizing your score.
• Utilize Official & AI-Scored Mock Tests: This is where Scoresmartpte truly shines! Our updated mock tests, complete with AI scoring, will give you instant feedback on your fluency, pronunciation, and content, helping you identify areas for improvement before the actual exam.
• Mindset Matters: Stay calm, confident, and focused. Believe in your ability to communicate effectively.

Your Path to PTE 2025 Success with Scoresmartpte

The PTE Academic exam in 2025 is designed to be more authentic, and with these new tasks, your ability to communicate naturally and effectively will be directly assessed by human raters. This is great news for genuine English speakers!

Mastering Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation is not just about passing; it’s about showcasing your true English proficiency and achieving that desirable 90+ score. At Scoresmartpte, we offer specialized PTE, IELTS, and NAATI classes tailored to the latest exam patterns and scoring criteria. Our expert instructors and latest practice materials will equip you with the skills and confidence to ace every section.

Ready to start your journey to a 90+ PTE score? Don’t let the new changes intimidate you. Join Scoresmartpte today and transform your preparation into success!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: When do the new PTE tasks (Summarize Group Discussion & Respond to a Situation) start? 

A1: The new PTE Academic tasks, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation, will be introduced on August 7, 2025. If your test date is on or after this date, you will encounter these new question types.

Q2: Are templates still allowed for the new PTE tasks (SGD & RTS)? 

A2: No, it is highly advised NOT to use memorized templates for the new Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation tasks. These tasks now include a human scoring component, and responses that sound automated, unnatural, or templated are likely to receive a zero score. Focus on original, contextually relevant answers.

Q3: How long are the new PTE tasks? 

A3: For Summarize Group Discussion, you get 10 seconds to prepare and then 2 minutes (120 seconds) to speak. For Respond to a Situation, you have 20 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to speak.

Q4: Do the new PTE tasks affect the overall exam duration? 

A4: Yes, with the addition of the two new tasks, the overall PTE Academic exam duration will be slightly extended to approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes (from the previous 2 hours).

Q5: What skills do Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation assess?

 A5: Summarize Group Discussion primarily assesses your listening comprehension, summarizing skills, critical thinking, and speaking fluency. Respond to a Situation assesses your ability to communicate appropriately in real-life scenarios, focusing on natural fluency, pronunciation, and the relevance of your response to the given context.

Q6: Can I still achieve a 90+ score with these new PTE changes? 

A6: Absolutely! The new PTE 2025 changes are designed to better assess real-world English communication. With focused preparation, understanding the new task requirements, practicing authentic responses, and leveraging expert guidance from institutions like Scoresmartpte, achieving a 90+ score is definitely within your reach.