PTE Academic Exam introduced a new scoring update to enhance scoring in the speaking section. This change is applicable in two speaking tasks: “Describe Image” and “Retell Lecture” for exceptions and anomalies. Starting 4 November 2024, human intervention will be introduced for scoring these two question types. This scoring update would thus provide every test-taker with a fair and reliable evaluation. Here is detailed information about the PTE Academic Score Update that you need to know.
PTE Academic Score Enhancements: What’s changing?
Pearson has improved the scoring of two question types—Describe Image and Retell lecture—in the PTE Academic Exam. This change integrates a dual-scoring approach, where human experts will now validate the automated scores generated for exceptions and anomalies, which AI cannot confidently do. The new PTE Academic Score update does not impact the way the exam is taken or the preparation methods, but it surely enhances the scoring process, leading to more accuracy.
How Will These Questions Be Scored?
The Describe Image and Retell Lecture tasks are evaluated based on three distinct criteria:
- Content (Score Range: 0 – 5)
- Oral Fluency (Score Range: 0 – 5)
- Pronunciation (Score Range: 0 – 5)
Oral Fluency & Pronunciation factors will be scored completely through AI scoring, but the Content factor will go under review by human examiners. This intervention of a new scoring model benefits both automated technology and human expertise in evaluating responses more accurately. It will specifically help in checking for originality and the appropriateness of the content.
Why Is the Scoring Process Changing?
The main reason for involving human expertise in the checking process is to blend AI technology with human judgement for a fair and balanced assessment. AI has always played a significant role in scoring, as it was generated to check the responses like a real-time examiner only. But to be more precise, the scoring has been refined.
With this new PTE Academic Score update, a real person will now review answers in the “Describe Image” and “Retell Lecture” sections which comes under exceptions. This adds an extra layer of human oversight, making sure these responses truly show the test taker’s understanding of English.
What Will the Human Review Check For?
The human review process will focus on verifying that the responses are:
- Original: Ensuring that responses are genuinely spoken in the test taker’s own words, not memorized or pre-prepared using templates.
- Relevant to Content: Evaluating that responses match the task’s requirements, addressing the key elements of the image or lecture appropriately.
Automated systems are already designed to detect template use. Now, this process is reinforced by human verification, confirming that each response is both relevant and unique. Only responses that demonstrate genuine understanding and original expression will achieve valid scores.
Benefits of the New PTE Academic Score Update
The new scoring process offers various advantages to test-takers:
- Increased Fairness: The integration of human expertise helps in decreasing any potential limitations of AI, and that leads to a more fair and accurate evaluation.
- Greater Accuracy: By double-checking the AI-generated scores with human expertise, the scoring process becomes more precise.
- Enhanced Trust: Now, the Test-takers can feel more confident because the responses will undergo a robust evaluation process that combines automated efficiency with human discernment. This will decrease the chances of errors.
What This Means for Your Preparation
This PTE Academic Score update does not require any change in the way you prepare for the exam. Continue to focus on understanding and expressing the content accurately for both Describe Image and Retell Lecture tasks. Make sure to:
- Use Your Own Words: Practice explaining images and lectures in your own words. Instead of copying the templates, try to build originality and fluency.
- Focus on Key Details: Note important points and information and use them in description.
- Improve Fluency and Pronunciation: Continue refining your fluency and pronunciation by practicing speaking naturally and clearly.
- Practice On Mock Test: Use Gurully’s online practice platform to experience real time exam simulation and accurate scoring. It will help you in understanding how your response will be scored according to Pearson’s.
For PTE Academic preparation, you can practice on Gurully’s online practice platform. You will get a full-length mock test along with a section-wise test and question-wise practice. With accurate AI scoring, you will get your results instantly, and it will help you in knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Our mock tests are curated by exam experts, and by practicing on them, you will score high.
To know more click on the official update of Pearson.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How does human scoring work?
A: Currently all the questions are AI-scored and human intervention is only done to review any exception or anomalies. Under the recent PTE Academic score update, a human expert will review the AI-assigned Content Scores before finalizing the overall scores.
Q: What PTE tests will be impacted by this test?
A: The changes are only applicable to PTE Academic that includes PTE Academic UKVI also.
Q: Will this update affect my overall PTE score?
A: This PTE Academic Score update only impacts the Describe Image and Retell Lecture tasks within the speaking section. The overall scoring process remains the same, along with the involvement of human reviewers for the Content scoring factor.
Q: Do I need to change the way I prepare for the PTE Academic exam?
A: No, you need not change the preparation technique. Focus on delivering responses in your own words, addressing the main content of the tasks, and practicing oral fluency and pronunciation. You can also practice on Gurully’s PTE Academic Mock Tests.
Q: How does the system detect template use?
A: The PTE Academic scoring system uses automated algorithms to detect template use and pre-prepared answers. With the latest PTE Academic Score update, human examiners will also verify originality to ensure only genuine responses receive valid scores.
Q: What are the benefits of this scoring enhancement?
A: Because of the enhancement of PTE Academic Score update fairness and accuracy of the response will increase. It ensures that test takers are evaluated on authentic responses, providing a more balanced and reliable assessment of English proficiency.
