PTE Academic, Speaking and writing
PTE Read Aloud
A short text appears on screen. You get a few seconds to read it silently, then read it aloud into the microphone.
Format and scoring
| Skill | Speaking |
|---|---|
| Preparation | 35 seconds |
| Response time | Up to 40 seconds |
| How it's scored | Scored on content (the words you say), oral fluency and pronunciation. It also feeds your reading score. |
| Weight (estimate) | About 27% of your speaking score |
How to answer Read Aloud
- 1Use the preparation time to split the text into sense groups and spot hard words.
- 2Start speaking within three seconds of the tone; the microphone closes after a long silence.
- 3Read at a steady, natural pace, pausing only at commas and full stops.
- 4If you slip on a word, keep going. Never restart a sentence.
Common mistakes
- Restarting after a mistake, which costs more fluency than the mistake itself.
- Reading word by word in a flat voice instead of in phrases.
Sample question
Urban green spaces & public health
Urban green spaces do far more than improve the appearance of a city. Recent studies suggest that regular access to parks can lower stress, strengthen communities, and even reduce summer temperatures by several degrees, which makes them a surprisingly effective investment in public health.