How it's scored
Read Aloud counts towards both speaking and reading. It's scored on:
- Content: every word in the text, and no extra or missing words.
- Pronunciation: clear sounds and correct word stress.
- Oral fluency: smooth rhythm and natural phrasing, without hesitations or restarts.
Three steps in your preparation time
- Chunk the text. Use punctuation to split it into meaningful groups of 3–7 words, with tiny pauses between them.
- Find the key words. Stress the words that carry meaning (nouns, main verbs, numbers) a little more.
- Check tricky words. Say difficult words quietly to yourself before the microphone opens.
If you stumble on a word, don't go back. Carry straight on. A restart costs more than one mispronounced word.
Practice texts
Read each one aloud, then press "Hear it" to compare your pacing with your browser's voice.
-
Many cities are redesigning their streets to make walking and cycling safer. Wider footpaths, protected bike lanes and lower speed limits can reduce accidents, and local shops often benefit when more people move through an area on foot.
-
The history of tea in Australia dates back to the first European settlers, who carried it on long sea voyages. Today, coffee culture dominates the cities, but tea remains a staple in many homes and workplaces.
-
Researchers studying sleep have found that teenagers naturally fall asleep later than adults. Some schools have responded by starting classes later in the morning, and early results suggest improvements in attendance and concentration.
The browser voice is a guide to pacing, not a perfect model of pronunciation. Record yourself with the speaking recorder to hear how you really sound.