PTE Read Aloud practice text 4

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

Urban planners increasingly treat trees as infrastructure rather than decoration. A mature canopy cools streets by several degrees, absorbs storm water that would otherwise overwhelm drains, and measurably reduces the cost of running nearby buildings in summer.

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

Three items in a list: cools, absorbs, reduces. Give each the same shape and a small pause between them.
'infrastructure rather than decoration' carries the whole idea. Stress both nouns.
Do not lift your voice at the end of the last clause; it is a statement, not a question.

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?

Three items in a list: cools, absorbs, reduces. Give each the same shape and a small pause between them.