Read aloud

You’ll be given a short text (up to 60 words) and you need to read it out loud as clearly as possible. In this section test takers complete between 6-7 items in total.

The Read Aloud task in the PTE Speaking section is designed to assess your ability to read a short text aloud using correct pronunciation and intonation. This task tests both your speaking and reading skills.

Here’s how it works:

• A text of up to 60 words will appear on the screen.
• You will have 30-40 seconds to prepare before you need to start speaking. Use this time to quickly read through the text and familiarize yourself with any difficult words or phrases.
• As soon as the preparation time ends, you should start reading the text out loud as clearly and naturally as possible. You’ll have 30-40 seconds to complete your reading.

Scoring is based on three factors:

• Content: Did you read the text without omitting any words?
• Oral Fluency: Was your rhythm, phrasing, and stress smooth and natural?
• Pronunciation: Was your speech easily understandable to most regular speakers of the language?

Here are some strategies that might help you perform better in this task:

• Pronunciation and Intonation: Pay attention to the pronunciation and intonation. If you’re unsure about how to pronounce a word, try to pronounce it as clearly as you can.
• Don’t Rush: Don’t rush to finish the text. Speak at a natural pace, ensuring to articulate every word correctly.
• Practice: Practice makes perfect. Reading English books, newspapers, or articles aloud in your spare time can significantly improve your performance in this task.

Sample Question:

Domestication is an evolutionary, rather than a political, development. They were more likely to survive and prosper in an alliance with humans than on their own. Humans provided the animals with food and protection, in exchange for which the animals provided the humans their milk and eggs and their flesh.

After completing the exercise, check your pronunciation:

Strategies to Master Pronunciation in English:

Introduction to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for English

What is the IPA?

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system of symbols that represents sounds in spoken language. It allows for a consistent representation of sounds, regardless of the language being spoken.

Why is the IPA Useful for English Learners?

• Provides a standardized representation of English sounds.
• Helps to identify sounds that might not exist in your native language.
• Makes it easier to practice pronunciation.

Basic IPA Symbols for English Sounds

Consonants

Here is an example text that might appear in the Read Aloud task:

“The human brain is a complex organ with the wonderful power of enabling man to find reasons for continuing to believe whatever it is that he wants to believe.”

• In the preparation time (30-40 seconds), try to identify any words you find difficult to pronounce (in this case, ‘complex’, ‘organ’, ‘enabling’, ‘continuing’, ‘believe’). You should also pay attention to the structure of the sentence so you can read it with the correct intonation and stress.
• When the time starts, read it aloud in a clear and confident voice: “The human brain is a complex organ with the wonderful power of enabling man to find reasons for continuing to believe whatever it is that he wants to believe.”

Things to Take Care

1. Fluency means going in a smooth flow, not too fast; avoid hesitations and self-corrections.
2. Pronunciation means speaking clearly; not your accent.
3. Content – Do not omit words, focus on sand ed sound at the end of the words.
4. How to read numbers, contractions, years?

Reading Short Forms and Numbers Aloud in English

1. Short Forms (Abbreviations)

• St.: Can mean “Street” or “Saint.” Read the context.
  • E.g., St. Paul (Saint Paul), Elm St. (Elm Street)
• Dr.: “Doctor” or it can indicate a “Drive” in an address.
  • E.g., Dr. Smith (Doctor Smith), Hillside Dr. (Hillside Drive)
• Mr. / Mrs. / Ms.: “Mister,” “Misses,” and “Miz” respectively.
• e.g.: “for example”
• i.e.: “that is”
• etc.: “et cetera” or “and so on”
• &: “and”
• %: “percent”
  • E.g., 45% (Forty-five percent)

2. Numbers

• Addresses:
  • 221B Baker St. = Two twenty-one B Baker Street.
• Dates:
  • 04/07/2021 = the fourth of July, two thousand twenty-one (US) or the seventh of April, two thousand twenty-one (many other countries). Understand regional differences.
• Decimals:
  • 3.14 = Three point one four.
• Large Numbers:
  • 1,000 = One thousand.
  • 1,000,000 = One million.
• Phone Numbers:
  • 555-0123 = Five five five, zero one two three.
• Fractions:
  • ½ = One-half.
  • ¾ = Three-quarters.
• Percentages:
  • 25% = Twenty-five percent.
• Currency:
  • $5.50 = Five dollars and fifty cents.

3. Tips:

• Always Pause Slightly: Between numbers or before moving to the next segment of information.
• Practice Listening: Listen to news broadcasts in English to hear how native speakers read numbers and short forms aloud.
• Practice Speaking: Use flashcards with abbreviations and numbers. Read them aloud and then check your pronunciation against a native speaker or language learning app.

Remember, mastering reading aloud requires practice. Regularly speaking the language and familiarizing oneself with common abbreviations and number patterns will significantly help improve proficiency.

Remember to read at a natural pace, articulate every word, and use the correct intonation.

Watch this video on the “Read Aloud” section of the PTE…

1. Understand the Format: You will have 30-40 seconds to prepare, depending on the length of the text. After the preparation time, a recording bar will appear and you’ll have to read the text out loud.
2. Pace Yourself: Do not rush while reading. Speak at a steady and natural pace. This helps in maintaining fluency and pronunciation.
3. Focus on Pronunciation: Pronounce words correctly. Incorrect pronunciation can lead to a lower score.
4. Maintain Fluency: Do not make unnecessary pauses and try to maintain fluency. Do not stop in the middle of sentences.
5. Observe Punctuation: Pay attention to the punctuation marks in the text as they will guide your intonation and where to pause.
6. Speak Clearly: Ensure your voice is clear and loud enough to be understood. Speaking too softly might affect the voice recognition capability of the system.
7. Practice: Regular practice will make you more familiar with the exam pattern and help in improving your reading speed, pronunciation, and fluency. Use practice tests and read English texts out loud in your free time.
8. Don’t Skip Words: Try not to skip words or sentences, as it might affect your score. Even if you make a mistake, continue reading without correcting yourself, as there’s no penalty for small errors.

In conclusion, the Read Aloud section of the PTE exam tests the examinee’s ability to read a short text aloud using correct pronunciation and intonation. Success in this section requires practice, clear and fluent speech, attention to punctuation, and careful pacing. Despite its seeming simplicity, this task plays a significant role in assessing a candidate’s overall spoken English proficiency. Therefore, practicing with a wide variety of texts and focusing on improving pronunciation, intonation, and pacing will significantly increase an examinee’s chances of achieving a high score in this section.

External Resources 

Read Aloud Tips

Pronunciation

Numbers