In the past, learning English as a separate subject seemed…
Read the text aloud.
In the past, learning English as a separate subject seemed relatively easy. The textbook selected and graded items of language which were put into context and then practiced intensively. New items were carefully controlled so that the student could cope with quite easily. Now that English is used as a medium of instruction, however, all this has changed. Unknown items of grammar and vocabulary appear in texts which attempt to explain new and often difficult information.
Opens question #010028 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
In the past,|learning English as a separate subject|seemed relatively easy.‖The textbook selected and graded items of language|which were put into context|and then practiced intensively.‖New items were carefully controlled|so that the student could cope with quite easily.‖Now that English is used as a medium of instruction,|however,|all this has changed.‖Unknown items of grammar and vocabulary|appear in texts|which attempt to explain new and often difficult information.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Words to stress correctly
| vocabulary | vo·CAB·u·lar·y | /voʊˈkæbjəlɛri/ |
| intensively | in·TEN·sive·ly | /ɪnˈtɛnsɪvli/ |
| information | in·for·MA·tion | /ɪnfɚˈmeɪʃən/ |
| instruction | in·STRUC·tion | /ɪnsˈtrʌkʃən/ |
| relatively | REL·a·tive·ly | /ˈrɛlətɪvli/ |
| selected | se·LEC·ted | /səˈlɛktɪd/ |
76 words, aim for 29–35 seconds. No numbers. Breathe after easy, intensively, easily and changed; the last sentence is long, so keep an even pace to the end.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress REL·a·tive·ly on the first syllable, but vo·CAB·u·lar·y, in·TEN·sive·ly, in·STRUC·tion, se·LEC·ted on the second and in·for·MA·tion on the third. Keep the -ed in selected, graded, practiced, controlled, changed and the -s in items, texts. Don't pause before vocabulary.
General tip: 'which attempt to explain new and often difficult information' is one long chunk; glance ahead so you don't stumble on difficult information.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 过去,把英语作为一门独立科目来学习似乎相对容易。教材挑选并分级语言项目,把它们放进语境,然后进行强化练习。新内容受到仔细控制,使学生能很轻松地应付。然而,现在英语被用作教学媒介,这一切都变了。未知的语法和词汇出现在试图解释新的、往往很难的信息的文本中。
हिन्दी: अतीत में, अंग्रेज़ी को एक अलग विषय के रूप में सीखना अपेक्षाकृत आसान लगता था। पाठ्यपुस्तक भाषा की वस्तुओं को चुनती और श्रेणीबद्ध करती थी, जिन्हें संदर्भ में रखकर फिर गहनता से अभ्यास कराया जाता था। नई वस्तुओं को सावधानी से नियंत्रित किया जाता था ताकि छात्र उन्हें काफ़ी आसानी से संभाल सके। लेकिन अब जब अंग्रेज़ी शिक्षण के माध्यम के रूप में प्रयोग होती है, यह सब बदल गया है। व्याकरण और शब्दावली की अज्ञात वस्तुएँ ऐसे पाठों में दिखाई देती हैं जो नई और अक्सर कठिन जानकारी समझाने का प्रयास करते हैं।
नेपाली: विगतमा, अंग्रेजीलाई छुट्टै विषयका रूपमा सिक्नु तुलनात्मक रूपमा सजिलो देखिन्थ्यो। पाठ्यपुस्तकले भाषाका एकाइहरू छानेर श्रेणीबद्ध गर्थ्यो, तिनलाई सन्दर्भमा राखेर त्यसपछि गहन अभ्यास गराइन्थ्यो। नयाँ एकाइहरू होसियारीपूर्वक नियन्त्रण गरिन्थे ताकि विद्यार्थीले निकै सजिलै सम्हाल्न सकून्। तर अब अंग्रेजी शिक्षणको माध्यमका रूपमा प्रयोग हुने भएकाले, यो सबै बदलिएको छ। व्याकरण र शब्दभण्डारका अज्ञात एकाइहरू त्यस्ता पाठहरूमा देखा पर्छन् जसले नयाँ र प्रायः कठिन जानकारी व्याख्या गर्ने प्रयास गर्छन्।
Tiếng Việt: Trước đây, việc học tiếng Anh như một môn học riêng có vẻ tương đối dễ. Sách giáo khoa chọn lọc và phân cấp các đơn vị ngôn ngữ, đặt chúng vào ngữ cảnh rồi luyện tập chuyên sâu. Các đơn vị mới được kiểm soát cẩn thận để học sinh có thể xử lý khá dễ dàng. Tuy nhiên, giờ đây khi tiếng Anh được dùng làm phương tiện giảng dạy, mọi thứ đã thay đổi. Những đơn vị ngữ pháp và từ vựng chưa biết xuất hiện trong các văn bản cố gắng giải thích thông tin mới và thường khó.
More Read Aloud questions
Read Aloud format (Pearson)
| Prompt | Text up to 60 words |
|---|---|
| Preparation | 30–40 seconds |
| Time to answer | Depends on the length of the text |
| Skills assessed | Speaking |
| Scored on | Content; Pronunciation; Oral fluency |
How it is scored
- Content is scored by counting the correct words in your response.
- If you stay silent for more than 3 seconds, the recording stops.
- You can record your response only once.
Source: Pearson, PTE Academic & UKVI test format, Part 1: Speaking & Writing, checked 9 October 2026.