PTE Read Aloud: template, tips & practice
Read Aloud is the first PTE Academic Speaking task. A short text of up to about 60 words appears; you have roughly 30-40 seconds to prepare, then read it aloud clearly. It feeds both your Speaking and Reading scores, and because the text is on screen, content is easy, so pronunciation and oral fluency decide your mark.
How PTE Read Aloud is scored
Read Aloud is scored on content (reading the words accurately and in order), oral fluency (smooth, steady pace, natural phrasing) and pronunciation. Add or skip words and you lose content; rush, stumble or pause oddly and you lose fluency. A confident, even delivery beats a fast one.
The PTE Read Aloud template
- 1Use the prep time to read the text silently and mark natural pauses (after commas and clauses).
- 2Start speaking as soon as the tone sounds; do not leave a long silence.
- 3Read in chunks at a steady pace, pause briefly at punctuation, never mid-phrase.
- 4Keep your volume even and pronounce word endings (-s, -ed, -ing) clearly to the very last word.
Worked example
For the sentence "Renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, is becoming cheaper every year," pause slightly after "energy", group "such as solar and wind power" as one chunk, and keep an even pace through to "every year" without trailing off.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Long silence before starting; begin as soon as the recording opens.
- Reading too fast and stumbling; a steady pace scores higher than a rushed one.
- Dropping volume at the end of the sentence; finish as strongly as you start.
- Skipping or adding small words; read exactly what is on screen.
PTE Read Aloud FAQ
How long is the PTE Read Aloud text?
Usually up to about 60 words. You get roughly 30-40 seconds to prepare before reading it aloud.
Does Read Aloud affect my Reading score?
Yes. Read Aloud contributes to both your Speaking and Reading scores, which is why it is worth practising.
What matters most in Read Aloud?
Fluency and pronunciation. Because the words are on screen, a smooth, clear, evenly-paced delivery is what raises your score.