Phone Bans in Schools: PTE Read Aloud Question with Sample Answers

Your task

Look at the text below. In 30 seconds, you must read this text aloud as naturally and clearly as possible.

“In many schools, pupils aren’t allowed to use their phones during lessons. After all, when pupils spend too much time checking their phones, it prevents them from giving their full attention to the lesson. However, the educational possibilities of technology shouldn’t be forgotten, because smartphones offer access to a wide range of learning activities. Surely balance is the key.”

30 community answers with AI feedback

SCORE 15/15

pupils aren't allowed to use their phones during lessons. after all, when pupils spend too much time checking their phones, it prevents them from giving their full attention to the lesson. however, the educational possibilities of technology shouldn't be forgotten because smart phones offer access to a wide range of learning activities. surely balance is the key.

AI Feedback

Content:

48 words, 0 errors (0%): no errors found

Oral Fluency:

Speech was smooth and fluent with no noticeable hesitations.

Pronunciation:

Pronunciation was clear and natural.

SCORE 14/15

in many schools, pupils are not allowed to use their phones during lessons. after all, when pupils spend too much time checking their phones, it prevents them from giving their full attention to the lesson. however, the educational possibilities of technology shouldn't be forgotten, because the smartphones offer access to a wide range of learning activities. surely, balance is the key.

AI Feedback

Content:

48 words, 8 errors (16.67%): 1 omission (the → missing), 3 replacements (the → smartphones, shouldnt → should not, balance → balance is), 4 insertions (missing spaces)

Oral Fluency:

Speech was smooth and fluent with natural rhythm.

Pronunciation:

Pronunciation was clear and articulate with no significant errors.

SCORE 14/15

in many schools, pupils are not allowed to use their phones during lessons. after all, when pupils spend too much time checking their phones, which prevents them from giving their full attention to their lesson. however, the educational possibilities of technology shouldn't be forgotten. because smartphones offer access to a wide range of learning activities. surely balance is the key.

AI Feedback

Content:

The user made a minor error by saying 'which prevents' instead of 'it prevents', which affects clarity. This counts as one error.

Oral Fluency:

The user exhibited excellent fluency with a high words per minute rate and no disfluencies, maintaining a smooth and coherent delivery.

Pronunciation:

The user's pronunciation is clear and accurate, with no significant issues, demonstrating a native-like quality.

SCORE 14/15

in many schools, pupils aren't allowed to use their phones during lessons. after all, when pupils spend too much time checking their phones, it prevents them from giving their full attention to the lesson. however, the educational possibilities of technologies shouldn't be forgotten. because smartphones offer access to a wide range of learning activities. surely, balance is the key.

AI Feedback

Content:

48 words, 7 errors (14.58%): 1 omission (technologies → technology), 6 replacements (in → and x2, because → as x2, surely → sure x2)

Oral Fluency:

Speech was smooth and fluent with a natural rhythm and no noticeable hesitations.

Pronunciation:

Pronunciation was clear and natural with no significant mispronunciations.

SCORE 14/15

in many schools, pupils aren't allowed to use their phones during sessions. after all, when pupils spend too much time checking their phones, it prevents them from giving their full attention to the lesson. however, the educational possibilities of technology shouldn't be forgotten, because smartphones offer access to a wide range of learning activities. surely, balance is the key.

AI Feedback

Content:

48 words, 7 errors (14.58%): 1 omission (lessons → sessions), 3 replacements (during → sessions, shouldnt → shouldn't, surely → surely, balance → balance), 3 insertions (the → the, the → the, the → the)

Oral Fluency:

Speech was smooth and fluent with no noticeable hesitations.

Pronunciation:

Pronunciation was clear and natural with no significant mispronunciations.

SCORE 14/15

in many schools, pupils aren't allowed to use their phones during recess. after all, when pupils spend too much time checking their phones, it prevents them from giving their full attention to their lesson. however, the educational possibilities of technology shouldn't be forgotten. because smartphones offer access to a wide range of learning activities. surely, balance is the key.

AI Feedback

Content:

48 words, 7 errors (14.58%): 1 omission (recess → lesson), 1 replacement (their → the), 1 replacement (shouldn't → should), 1 omission (because → as), 1 replacement (to → for), 1 omission (the → a), 1 replacement (and → or)

Oral Fluency:

Speech was smooth with a natural rhythm and no noticeable hesitations.

Pronunciation:

Pronunciation was clear and articulate with no significant errors.

SCORE 14/15

in many schools, pupils aren't allowed to use their phones during lessons. after all, when pupils spend too much time checking their phones, it prevents them from giving their full attention to the lesson. however, the educational possibilities of technology shouldn't be forgotten, because smartphones offer access to a wide range of learning activities, surely, balance is the key.

AI Feedback

Content:

There were minor omissions in the predicted text compared to the reference text, which affected the overall content score.

Oral Fluency:

Fluency was excellent, with a high words-per-minute rate and no disfluencies.

Pronunciation:

Pronunciation was clear and accurate, with no significant errors.

SCORE 14/15

in many schools, pupils aren't allowed to use their phones during lessons. after all, when pupils spend too much time checking their phones, it prevents them from giving their full attention to the lesson. however, the educational possibilities of technology shouldn't be forgotten. because smartphones offer access to a wide range of learning activities, surely balances is the key.

AI Feedback

Content:

The user made a minor error with the word 'balances' instead of 'balance', which counts as one replacement error, resulting in a score of 4.

Oral Fluency:

The user demonstrated excellent fluency with a high words per minute rate and no disfluencies, earning a score of 5.

Pronunciation:

The pronunciation was clear and accurate, with no notable issues, scoring a perfect 5.

SCORE 14/15

in many schools, people aren't allowed to use their phone during lessons. after all, when people spend too much time checking their phones, it prevents them from giving their full attention to the lesson. however, the educational possibilities of technology shouldn't be forgotten, because smartphones offer access to a wide range of learning activities. surely, balance is the key.

AI Feedback

Content:

48 words, 7 errors (14.58%): 3 omissions (pupils → people, their → phone, educational → educational), 4 replacements (pupils → people, their → phone, educational → educational, surely → surely)

Oral Fluency:

Speech was smooth and fluent with a natural rhythm.

Pronunciation:

Pronunciation was clear and native-like with no significant errors.

SCORE 14/15

in many schools, pupils aren't allowed to use their phones during lessons. after all, when pupils spend too much time checking their phones, it prevents them from giving their full attention to the lesson. however, the educational possibilities of technology shouldn't be forgotten. because smartphones offer access to a wide range of learning activities. surely balance is the key.

AI Feedback

Content:

48 words, 7 errors (14.58%): 1 omission (because → omitted), 6 insertions (in → inserted before many, 1 before schools, 1 before pupils, 1 before however, 1 before surely, 1 before balance)

Oral Fluency:

Speech was smooth with a natural rhythm and no noticeable hesitations.

Pronunciation:

Pronunciation was clear and natural with no significant issues.

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How to approach it

Use the prep time. Scan the text and note difficult words before the mic opens.
Read in phrases. Group words into meaningful chunks and pause at commas and full stops.
Keep a steady pace. Do not rush. Clear pronunciation beats speed.
Do not stop for mistakes. If you slip, keep going. Hesitation costs fluency marks.