Free practice · Reading Aloud
5 PSLE Reading Aloud practice passages, with a given situation and a marked-up version
An announcement, a news report, a story, a speech and a guided tour. Read each one cold, record it, then reveal the marked-up version and read it again. The difference is usually obvious on the first try.
On this page 9 sections
Key takeaways
- Since 2025, each PSLE Reading Aloud passage comes with a given situation: who is speaking, to whom and why. It decides how the passage should sound.
- Read each passage cold first and record it. Then reveal the marked-up version, with pauses and stress, and record it again.
- Listen for four things: accuracy, fluency, expression that suits the situation, and clear word endings.
- Reading Aloud is worth 15 of the 40 Oral marks, and it improves fast with short, regular practice.
How to use these passages
The fastest way to improve Reading Aloud is to hear yourself. Most children have no idea they rush, or drop the ends of words, until they listen back. So each passage below comes with a recorder that works right on this page.
- Read it coldRead the situation, then the passage, once in your head. Then record yourself reading it aloud.
- Reveal and compareOpen the marked-up version. “/” is a short pause, “//” a longer one, and bold words are stressed.
- Record againRead it once more using the marks. Play both recordings and listen for the difference.
About these passages. All five are our own practice passages, written in the current PSLE format with a given situation. None is taken from an exam. Mustard Seed is an independent tuition provider and is not affiliated with SEAB or MOE. For why the situation matters so much, read our guide to the given situation.
What to listen for
| Check | Listen for |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | Every word read exactly as written: nothing added, skipped or swapped |
| Fluency | A steady pace, with pauses at full stops and commas, not in the middle of a phrase |
| Expression | A tone that suits the situation, and stress on the words that carry the meaning |
| Pronunciation | Clear endings (-ed, -s, -t), the th sound, and long words said in full |
Passage 1: an announcement
The situation
You are a library monitor. You are making an announcement to the whole school at morning assembly.
Good morning, everyone. Next week is our school’s Reading Week, and the library has planned some exciting activities for all of you.
On Monday and Tuesday, the library will hold a book swap. Bring up to three books that you have finished reading, and exchange them for books you have never read. Please make sure your books are clean and in good condition.
On Wednesday, a well-known children’s author will visit our school. She will share how she writes her stories and answer your questions during recess. Seats are limited, so sign up with your form teacher by this Friday.
Finally, on Thursday, there will be a reading challenge for every class. The class that reads the most pages by the end of the week will win a special trophy, and its name will be displayed outside the library for the rest of the year.
We hope to see you in the library. Thank you.
Show the marked-up version
Good morning, everyone. // Next week is our school’s Reading Week, / and the library has planned some exciting activities / for all of you. //
On Monday and Tuesday, / the library will hold a book swap. // Bring up to three books / that you have finished reading, / and exchange them for books you have never read. // Please make sure your books are clean / and in good condition. //
On Wednesday, / a well-known children’s author will visit our school. // She will share how she writes her stories / and answer your questions / during recess. // Seats are limited, / so sign up with your form teacher / by this Friday. //
Finally, / on Thursday, / there will be a reading challenge for every class. // The class that reads the most pages / by the end of the week / will win a special trophy, / and its name will be displayed outside the library / for the rest of the year. //
We hope to see you in the library. // Thank you.
Watch for: the days and dates. In an announcement, they are the information people must catch, so slow down slightly and stress each one. Say library with both r sounds (LIE-bruh-ree), and finish the -ed in finished and displayed.
Passage 2: a news report
The situation
You are a presenter on your school’s radio programme. You are reading a news report to pupils listening in their classrooms.
Last Saturday, more than eighty pupils and parents from our school gave up their morning to clean a stretch of beach at East Coast Park.
The volunteers arrived at eight o’clock, armed with gloves, tongs and large rubbish bags. In just three hours, they collected over two hundred kilograms of litter. Most of it was plastic: bottles, straws, food containers and countless bottle caps. One group even found an old bicycle wheel half-buried in the sand.
Mrs Rahman, who organised the clean-up, said she was proud of everyone who took part. “Much of this rubbish was washed up by the sea,” she explained. “But some of it was simply left behind by visitors. Each of us can make a difference by taking our litter home.”
The school hopes to hold another clean-up during the December holidays. Pupils who are interested may collect a consent form from the general office.
Show the marked-up version
Last Saturday, / more than eighty pupils and parents from our school / gave up their morning / to clean a stretch of beach at East Coast Park. //
The volunteers arrived at eight o’clock, / armed with gloves, / tongs / and large rubbish bags. // In just three hours, / they collected over two hundred kilograms of litter. // Most of it was plastic: / bottles, / straws, / food containers / and countless bottle caps. // One group even found an old bicycle wheel / half-buried in the sand. //
Mrs Rahman, / who organised the clean-up, / said she was proud of everyone who took part. // “Much of this rubbish was washed up by the sea,” / she explained. // “But some of it was simply left behind by visitors. // Each of us can make a difference / by taking our litter home.” //
The school hopes to hold another clean-up / during the December holidays. // Pupils who are interested / may collect a consent form from the general office.
Watch for: the list after the colon. Give each item its own small pause, and let your voice fall on the last one (countless bottle caps) so the listener knows the list has ended. Mrs Rahman’s words are a quotation: read them a touch more personally, as she would say them.
Passage 3: a story
The situation
You are reading the opening of a mystery story aloud to your classmates during an English lesson.
The classroom was silent. Everyone had gone home, and Wei Ling was alone, packing the last of her books into her bag.
Then she heard it. A soft, scratching sound was coming from the cupboard at the back of the room.
Wei Ling froze. She looked at the cupboard. Its door, which was always kept locked, was open just a crack. “Hello?” she called, her voice barely a whisper. “Is anyone there?”
There was no answer. The scratching stopped.
Slowly, she walked towards the cupboard. Her heart was pounding so loudly that she was sure the whole school could hear it. She reached out, took a deep breath and pulled the door wide open.
Two bright eyes stared back at her from behind a pile of art paper. Then, with a tiny squeak, a small grey kitten tumbled out and landed right on her shoes.
Wei Ling burst out laughing. “So you’re the ghost of Primary 6C!”
Show the marked-up version
The classroom was silent. // Everyone had gone home, / and Wei Ling was alone, / packing the last of her books into her bag. //
Then / she heard it. // A soft, / scratching sound / was coming from the cupboard / at the back of the room. //
Wei Ling froze. // She looked at the cupboard. // Its door, / which was always kept locked, / was open / just a crack. // “Hello?” ↗ / she called, / her voice barely a whisper. // “Is anyone there?” ↗ //
There was no answer. // The scratching stopped. //
Slowly, / she walked towards the cupboard. // Her heart was pounding so loudly / that she was sure the whole school could hear it. // She reached out, / took a deep breath / and pulled the door wide open. //
Two bright eyes stared back at her / from behind a pile of art paper. // Then, / with a tiny squeak, / a small grey kitten tumbled out / and landed right on her shoes. //
Wei Ling burst out laughing. // “So you’re the ghost of Primary 6C!”
Watch for: the pace. Slow down as Wei Ling walks to the cupboard, and drop your voice for “Hello?”, which is a whisper. Then let the mood lift: the last line should sound like a real laugh of relief, not like the rest of the passage.
Passage 4: a speech of thanks
The situation
You are the class representative. You are giving a short speech to thank your teachers at the school’s Teachers’ Day celebration.
Good morning, Principal, teachers and fellow pupils. On behalf of the Primary 6 pupils, I would like to say a big thank you to all our teachers.
Every morning, you are in school before we arrive, and many evenings, you are still here long after we have gone home. You mark our work, plan our lessons and answer the same questions again and again, with patience that never seems to run out.
But you do much more than teach us English, Mathematics and Science. You notice when one of us is quiet or unhappy. You cheer the loudest at our sports day. And when we make mistakes, you remind us that trying again is part of learning.
This is our last Teachers’ Day in primary school. Wherever we go next year, we will carry the lessons you taught us, both in the classroom and outside it.
Thank you, teachers. Happy Teachers’ Day!
Show the marked-up version
Good morning, / Principal, / teachers / and fellow pupils. // On behalf of the Primary 6 pupils, / I would like to say a big thank you / to all our teachers. //
Every morning, / you are in school before we arrive, / and many evenings, / you are still here / long after we have gone home. // You mark our work, / plan our lessons / and answer the same questions / again and again, / with patience that never seems to run out. //
But you do much more than teach us English, / Mathematics / and Science. // You notice when one of us is quiet or unhappy. // You cheer the loudest at our sports day. // And when we make mistakes, / you remind us / that trying again is part of learning. //
This is our last Teachers’ Day in primary school. // Wherever we go next year, / we will carry the lessons you taught us, / both in the classroom / and outside it. //
Thank you, teachers. // Happy Teachers’ Day!
Watch for: the contrasts, before and after, in the classroom and outside. Stressing both halves of each pair is what makes a speech sound thoughtful. Slow down for “This is our last Teachers’ Day”: it is the emotional heart of the speech.
Passage 5: a guided tour
The situation
You are a student guide. You are speaking to a group of visiting pupils from an overseas school at the start of a walk through a wetland nature reserve.
Welcome, everyone, and thank you for joining our walk today. My name is Aisha, and I will be your guide for the next hour.
We are standing at the edge of a mangrove forest. Mangroves are special trees that can grow in salty, muddy water, where most plants cannot survive. Look down at the water beside the boardwalk. Can you see the roots sticking out of the mud like pencils? They help the trees to breathe when the tide comes in.
If you are lucky, you may spot a mudskipper. It is a fish that can climb out of the water and hop across the mud. You may also see large monitor lizards resting in the sun. They look fierce, but they will leave you alone if you leave them alone.
Before we start, here are two simple rules. Please stay on the boardwalk at all times, and do not feed the animals. Now, follow me, and keep your eyes open!
Show the marked-up version
Welcome, everyone, / and thank you for joining our walk today. // My name is Aisha, / and I will be your guide / for the next hour. //
We are standing at the edge of a mangrove forest. // Mangroves are special trees / that can grow in salty, / muddy water, / where most plants cannot survive. // Look down at the water beside the boardwalk. // Can you see the roots / sticking out of the mud / like pencils? ↗ // They help the trees to breathe / when the tide comes in. //
If you are lucky, / you may spot a mudskipper. // It is a fish / that can climb out of the water / and hop across the mud. // You may also see large monitor lizards / resting in the sun. // They look fierce, / but they will leave you alone / if you leave them alone. //
Before we start, / here are two simple rules. // Please stay on the boardwalk / at all times, / and do not feed the animals. // Now, / follow me, / and keep your eyes open!
Watch for: the question to the visitors (“Can you see the roots …?”), which should rise and sound like a real question to real people. Say breathe (a long “ee” and a soft th), not breath. And make the two rules firm and clear, without losing the friendly tone.
A ten-minute routine
Ten minutes, three times a week
One passage, two recordings, one fix
- 2 minRead the situation aloud and say how the passage should sound in three words, for example “clear, friendly, upbeat”.
- 3 minRecord a first reading. Play it back and pick one thing to fix: pace, pauses, stress or endings.
- 5 minMark up your own copy with “/” and bold, then record again. Keep the better recording.
When your child is ready for a mark, our AI oral practice listens to the reading and scores it out of 15 for Reading Aloud, with written feedback, as part of a full Oral practice. The first practice needs no sign-up.
Questions parents ask
Are these real PSLE passages?
No. We wrote all five ourselves, in the style of the current format. We never reproduce exam passages.
How long is the preparation time?
Candidates get a short preparation time before the Oral to look at the passage and the photograph. Use it to read the situation first, then the passage, marking where to pause and which words to stress, just as the marked-up versions here do.
What should my child do with a word they cannot pronounce?
Break it into syllables during preparation time, and say it confidently and steadily in the exam. Stopping, restarting or skipping the word hurts fluency more than a small slip in one sound.
Does the recorder upload my child’s voice?
No. The recording stays in your browser and is gone when you leave the page. If you would like a mark and feedback on a reading, our AI oral practice does that, and the first practice needs no sign-up.
Mustard Seed is an independent tuition provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by SEAB, MOE or Cambridge Assessment. No tutor can guarantee a particular grade.
