If you have booked a PTE exam recently, you might walk into the test centre and notice a major upgrade sitting on your desk. Pearson has officially started rolling out the brand new EPOS Impact 860T ANC headset across its test centres. It replaces the Andrea EDU 455 model that we have all been using for years.
Because your headset plays a direct role in how accurately your speaking responses are recorded and how clearly you hear the audio, I wanted to test this new equipment myself. After getting my hands on the new EPOS headset and comparing it side by side with the old Andrea Edu model, here is my honest, hands on review of what you can actually expect on exam day.
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The Short Verdict
Let’s get right to it. The switch to the EPOS Impact 860T ANC is a massive win for test takers. The old Andrea headsets had a major flaw. They often captured the voices of people sitting next to you, which could negatively impact your speaking scores. The new EPOS headset features true Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), allowing only your voice to get captured by the microphone.
Why I Care So Much About the Headset
Let’s be real. The headset is not just a formality. It is your lifeline during the PTE. It dictates whether you catch that fast spoken word in Summarise Spoken Text and determines if the scoring algorithm actually picks up your pronunciation in Read Aloud over the sound of the person sitting next to you. A bad headset causes distractions. A good one lets you focus entirely on your English.
Deep Dive: The New EPOS Features
EPOS is a brand known for high end enterprise and gaming audio, and it definitely shows. Here is exactly what I noticed when putting the new headset through its paces.
Comfort and Build Quality
The old Andrea Edu headsets were okay, but they often felt a bit flimsy and could clamp down uncomfortably on your ears after an hour. The PTE takes close to two hours, so comfort is a huge deal. When I put the EPOS headset on, the difference was night and day.
- Passive Noise Isolation: The physical design of the ear cups blocks out a bit more ambient room noise before you even hear any audio. This is a massive win for concentration.
- Memory Foam Ear Cushions: The ear pads use a breathable memory foam. They are softer and wider, sitting much more comfortably against the ear without that pinching sensation.
- Lightweight yet Sturdy Frame: It feels much sturdier but surprisingly lighter on the head. I was able to adjust the headband to fit perfectly, meaning it did not slide around when I nodded or shifted in my seat.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) for Speaking
This is the biggest and most important upgrade. If you have taken the PTE before, you know the room gets incredibly loud when everyone starts reading aloud at the same time.
With the old headset, the microphone would sometimes pick up the guy screaming his Describe Image response right next to you. The EPOS Impact 860T ANC fixes this. It uses advanced noise cancellation tech that actively isolates your voice and cancels out background environment noise. When I tested the recordings in a noisy room, the EPOS mic did an incredible job of dampening background chatter so only my voice hit the scoring algorithm.
Microphone Positioning and Flexibility
The boom arm on the EPOS headset holds its shape much better than the old model. This makes it incredibly easy to position the mic exactly where it needs to be. For the best audio capture without heavy breathing sounds, you still want to place the microphone about two fingers away from your mouth, right at the chin line. Once you bend the EPOS mic into place, it stays there securely.
Premium Cable Connection
The wiring on the EPOS feels much more durable. A thicker, tangle free cable means you will not accidentally get caught up or pull the cord while writing down your notes. The USB connection is also rock solid, ensuring there is no audio crackle if you accidentally bump the wire with your arm.
Upgraded Audio Clarity for Listening
For tasks like Summarise Spoken Text or Fill in the Blanks, missing a single syllable can cost you points. During my listening tests, the audio clarity on the EPOS was significantly sharper. The older headsets sometimes had a slight muffled quality, but the EPOS drivers deliver a much richer and crisper sound. Accents felt easier to decipher, and I did not feel the need to crank the volume up to uncomfortable levels just to hear the consonants clearly.
Comfort for Long Exams
The old Andrea EDU 455 headsets were okay, but they often felt a bit flimsy and clamped down uncomfortably on your ears after an hour. The PTE takes close to two hours, so comfort is a huge deal.
When I put the EPOS headset on, the difference was immediate. The ear pads are wider, softer, and sit much more comfortably against the ear without that pinching sensation. It feels heavier in terms of build quality, but the weight is distributed well across the headband so you do not get ear fatigue by the time you reach the reading and writing sections.
The Famous “Beep” Sound Has Changed
The beep that signals the start and end of your speaking response is the most familiar cue in the entire exam. During my comparison, I noticed that the beep on the new EPOS headset sounds slightly different than the one we are used to. It is a minor detail, but knowing this in advance ensures it will not throw you off your rhythm when you hear it for the first time in the test centre.
Real Student Feedback
Beyond my own technical testing, I have been talking to my students in Australia who recently sat their exams using the new EPOS headsets. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Almost all of them mentioned feeling less distracted by their neighbors, and several noted that they did not get the usual ear fatigue by the end of the reading and writing sections.
What This Means for Your Exam
If your test centre has already switched to the new EPOS headset, you are in luck. It is a strict upgrade across the board.
However, you do not need to change your PTE preparation strategy. The core skills you need for reading, writing, listening, and speaking have not changed. The algorithm scores you exactly the same way. The only difference is that you now have better hardware capturing your performance.
Over to You: Have You Used the New Headset?
If you have already sat your PTE exam with the new EPOS headset, I would love to hear your take. Did it help you focus? How did the mic feel? Share your experience with comfort and sound quality in the comments below to help out other test takers.
