PTE Scoring Changes 2025: The Full Task-to-Skill Map
On 7 August 2025 Pearson changed how PTE Academic tasks feed your four skill scores — and most study blogs still have the map wrong. Here is the corrected, task-by-task breakdown of all 22 task types, plus what else changed and how to practise smarter. For the visa side, see PTE scores for Australian PR.
The short answer
Read Aloud does NOT feed your Reading score on PTE Academic — it is Speaking only. After the 7 Aug 2025 update, four tasks that people commonly still list as "two-skill" now count toward a single skill. In PTE Academic, exactly 8 of the 22 tasks contribute to two communicative skills; the other 14 contribute to one. Those 8 dual-skill tasks are the highest-ROI things you can practise.
Many competitor guides copy an outdated table — verify against this one.
PTE has always used "integrated" scoring, where one spoken or written answer can feed more than one skill. That is still true, but the update trimmed which tasks do it. A common myth is that reading a paragraph aloud sharpens your Reading score; on PTE Academic it does not. (Confusingly, on the separate PTE Core test used for Canada, Read Aloud does feed Reading — different test, different map. See PTE Academic vs PTE Core.)
What actually changed on 7 August 2025
Per-section visa requirements. Australia's Department of Home Affairs now checks each of your four PTE section scores against its own threshold — your lowest section sets your English level. The old "65 in each" or "79 in each" single-number shorthand is retired. See the 65-vs-79 rule change.
22 task types. Two new Speaking tasks were added: Summarize Group Discussion (SGD) and Respond to a Situation (RTS).
Fewer cross-skill tasks. Several tasks that used to feed two skills now feed one, which makes each section score a cleaner measure of that single skill.
More granular content scoring. Some extended tasks got wider rating scales (for example, more content points on Summarize Written Text and Write Essay), so partial credit is more finely graded.
At-home test discontinued for Australia. Since 7 Aug 2025 the online/at-home version of PTE is not accepted for Australian visa purposes — you must sit PTE Academic at an approved test centre. Results stay valid 3 years.
Visa note: score thresholds and accepted tests can change. Confirm current requirements at the official Department of Home Affairs site and, for your personal situation, consult a registered migration agent (MARA). This page states published PTE facts, not eligibility advice.
Full corrected task-to-skill table (all 22 tasks)
Grouped by the section you sit them in. "Feeds" = which skill score(s) each task contributes to.
Not on PTE Academic. Read Aloud is scored on content, fluency and pronunciation, and all of that lands in Speaking. If your Reading section is weak, Read Aloud practice will not move it.
2. "Answer Short Question is a Speaking task, so it feeds Speaking."
You sit Answer Short Question in the Speaking part of the test, but it scores Listening only — it checks whether you understood the question. The section you sit a task in is not always the skill it feeds.
3. "Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks feeds both Reading and Writing."
Despite the name, this dropdown task feeds Reading only after the update. See the guide. Its drag-and-drop cousin is also Reading only.
Why the 8 dual-skill tasks are the highest-ROI practice
One good answer can lift two section scores at once.
Because your overall level is set by your lowest section, the fastest way to raise a weak section is often to drill a task that also happens to feed it. The 8 tasks that each feed two skills are:
Highlight Incorrect Words — Listening + Reading (guide)
Write From Dictation — Listening + Writing (guide)
Example: if your Listening and Writing are both trailing, Write From Dictation is unusually efficient because every correct word you type is credited to both. That is why experienced test-takers treat these eight as their core rotation rather than spreading effort evenly across all 22 tasks.
How to use this for a smarter study plan
Find your lowest section in a scored mock — that number is your ceiling for visa purposes.
List the dual-skill tasks that feed it from the table above, then weight your practice toward them.
Fill gaps with single-skill drills for any section that is close to its threshold but not over it.
Re-test the whole section, since Australia needs every section over threshold in one sitting.
You can practise all of these with instant AI scoring on our free practice, and see how section scores translate to points on the PTE points calculator.
Common questions
Does Read Aloud count toward the Reading score in PTE Academic?
No. On PTE Academic, Read Aloud contributes only to your Speaking score, based on content, fluency and pronunciation. It does not feed Reading. Note that on the separate PTE Core test used for Canada, Read Aloud does feed both Reading and Speaking, which is a frequent source of confusion.
Which PTE tasks affect two skills at once?
Eight tasks each feed two communicative skills: Repeat Sentence, Re-tell Lecture, Summarize Group Discussion (Listening and Speaking); Summarize Written Text (Reading and Writing); Summarize Spoken Text and Write From Dictation (Listening and Writing); and Highlight Correct Summary and Highlight Incorrect Words (Listening and Reading). The other 14 tasks each feed a single skill.
What changed in PTE scoring on 7 August 2025?
Pearson reduced how many tasks feed two skills so each section score is a cleaner measure of that skill, added two Speaking tasks (Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation) for 22 task types total, and widened some content rating scales. Separately, Australia moved to per-section score requirements and stopped accepting the at-home version of PTE for visa purposes.
Why is Answer Short Question a Listening task if I speak the answer?
You sit Answer Short Question in the Speaking part of the exam, but it is scored under Listening only, because it tests whether you understood the spoken question. The section a task appears in is not always the skill it contributes to, which is why the corrected task-to-skill map matters.
Does Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks score Writing?
No, despite its name it feeds Reading only after the August 2025 update. It tests your ability to choose the correct word from dropdowns in context. The drag-and-drop Reading: Fill in the Blanks task is also Reading only.
Which tasks give the best return on practice time?
The eight dual-skill tasks, because one strong answer is credited to two section scores. Since your overall level is set by your lowest section, drilling a two-skill task that feeds that weak section is usually the fastest way to lift it. Write From Dictation and the Summarize tasks are common favourites.
Practise the high-ROI tasks with instant AI scoring
Drill the eight dual-skill tasks that move two section scores at once, and see exactly which skills each answer feeds — free, no sign-up.
The PTE Master is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson. "PTE Academic" is a trademark of its owner. Information is provided in good faith and can change — always confirm current details with the official source. Last updated: 24 July 2026.