REORDER PARAGRAPHS TIPS

● Read all the options carefully.

Then look for that one sentence that clearly introduces a person, a place, or a concept. This
should be the first sentence of the PTE Academic Re-order Paragraph task.

● Every paragraph has a central theme or main idea.

It can be found in the first sentence or in the last sentence. The first sentence of the paragraph
may contain introduction of something. The last line of the paragraph contains conclusions of
some logical details. If the main idea is mentioned in the first sentence, then the sentences after
it will give logical details. There may also be some examples related to the theme. If the main
idea is present in the last line, the sentences before it will state some facts. These facts are
such that you can draw a conclusion from them.

● In tasks that mention events or activities,

you can easily arrange the sentences in the correct order, by determining the sequence in which
the activities can take place.

● Opening sentences usually don’t contain “connectives”.

Sentences having connectives always refer to people or events mentioned in previous
sentences. Some examples of connectives are: Although, though, if, until, since, but, after,
alternatively, besides, then, yet, because, consequently, and, when, meanwhile, so, however,
for, whoever, whatever, whenever, therefore, whereas, etc.

● In some cases, articles (a, an & the) can be useful in skipping sentences that can’t be
the first sentence.
‘The’ is used to denote something or someone specific. It is also used when the person or thing
has already been introduced. “A” or “an” are used while introducing something for the first time.
They are also used for stating general facts.

● Sentences containing pronouns

like he, she, they, it, them, their, him, etc. are usually not first sentences, as these pronouns are
used when the person has already been introduced.

● Sentences containing proper nouns

like names of persons, places or buildings or abstract nouns like qualities such as goodness,
beauty, etc. are usually present in the first half of the paragraph.

● If a sentence contains words like initially,

eventually, finally, proceeding, following, mentioned below/above, etc. it becomes easier to find
other sentences that come immediately before or after it.

● In some paragraphs, there are certain sentences that favour an argument,

and others that oppose it. The order of sentences will become more clear by placing the
supporting and opposing sentences in two different groups.