PTE Read Aloud practice text 1

One real-format Read Aloud prompt with a model spoken answer and notes on why it scores. You get about 35 seconds to look at the text, then read it aloud once, clearly and at a steady pace. Every word counts towards your content score.

The text to read aloud

Coral reefs occupy less than one per cent of the ocean floor, yet they shelter roughly a quarter of all marine species. Scientists studying their decline argue that protecting these habitats is among the most efficient conservation investments available to coastal governments today.

35 seconds to prepare, up to 45 seconds to speak.

Hear it read aloud

This is the same text, read at the pace the task expects. Listen once, then read it aloud yourself and compare where the pauses fall.

Why this earns score 90

Read at about 150 words a minute. Rushing this text is the single commonest way to lose fluency marks.
Pause after 'ocean floor' and after 'marine species'. The commas are the phrase groups; the full stops are longer stops.
Say 'roughly a quarter' as one unit, and do not let 'conservation investments' collapse into one word.

Questions about this answer

What score is this model answer?

It is written to earn the top of the PTE Academic scale, score 90, and the notes under it say why.

How long do I get for this prompt?

35 seconds to prepare and up to 45 seconds to speak.

What should I watch for in my own answer?

Read at about 150 words a minute. Rushing this text is the single commonest way to lose fluency marks.