Part 2: Reading

This part of the test is 29–30 minutes long and it contains five different
question types. Because PTE Academic is an integrated skills test, one
item type ('Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks') also assesses writing
skills.

1.Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks

Task
Text appears on-screen with several gaps. Drag words from a box below to fill the gaps.
Prompt Length
Text up to 300 words
Skills Assessed
Reading and writing
Time to Answer
Not applicable

How to answer this question

For this item type, you need to select the most appropriate words from a drop-down list to
restore the text.

There is a passage with some missing words. Beside each gap, there is a
button with a drop-down list. Left-click on this button to reveal the drop-
down list of options for that gap. Select the option you think best fills the
gap.

To change your mind, left-click on a different option.

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 Test tips
For this item type, you need to select the most appropriate words
from a drop-down list to restore the text.
There is a passage with some missing words. Beside each gap, there is a
button with a drop-down list. Left-click on this button to reveal the drop-
down list of options for that gap. Select the option you think best fills the
gap.

To change your mind, left-click on a different option.

Skim for overall meaning to help you choose the correct

word
Understanding the meaning of the whole text helps you choose the correct word
for each blank. For example, if you skim the passage below, you will find key
ideas and words which point to a main topic of ‘change’.

When you click on the drop-down arrows, you may find options that are
also related to the main topic. You can then check grammar and overall
meaning to see whether the words fit the blanks:

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 Read before and after the blank to help you identify
the correct word :
The choices in the drop-down menus may look quite similar but will have
different meanings and usage. Looking at the surrounding context will
help you choose the appropriate word. In the example below, only
‘access’ fits in the phrase ‘gained.....................to technologies’; pick words
that match the meaning (gain access) and grammar (‘access to’). Reading
either side of the blank will help you narrow down the choices you have to make:

Scan the text for the repeated words. Then read around them to find
the answer more quickly:

How this question is scored :

Your response for Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks is judged on your ability to use
contextual and grammatical cues to identify words that complete a reading text. If all blanks are
filled correctly, you receive the maximum score points for this question type. If one or more
blanks are filled incorrectly, partial credit scoring applies.

Notes

 This question type affects the scoring of reading and writing.

 Your listening and speaking skills are not tested by this question type.
 For more information download the Score Guide.

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 2.Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer

Task
After reading the text, answer a multiple-choice question on the content or tone of the text by
selecting more than one response.
Prompt Length
Text up to 300 words
Skills Assessed
Reading
Time to Answer
Not applicable

How to answer this question :

For this item type, you need to read the passage and answer the multiple-
choice question. There is more than one correct response.

You need to select all the response options that you think are correct from the list
of possible options.

To select an option, click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change
your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it.

The options you select are highlighted in yellow.

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 Test tips
Make sure you know how the task is scored
Read the instructions carefully. Remember that more than one option is correct in this type of
multiple-choice item. You will score marks for any correct options but you will lose score
points for any incorrect options.

These include options that you have clicked on as correct but which are wrong. If you click
on all the options because you do not know the answer, you will lose score points. This
applies to Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers item types for reading and listening.

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 Note any repeated words in the
options:
Quickly read through the response options and note any words that are repeated,
particularly adjectives (e.g., ‘multigrade’) or nouns (e.g., ‘classes’). If the same noun phrase
occurs in a lot of the options, the answer is probably related to this phrase.

Scan the text for the repeated words. Then read around them to find the answer
more quickly:

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 How this question is scored:
Your response for Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers is judged on your
ability to analyze, interpret and evaluate a short reading text on an
academic subject. If all responses are correct, you receive the maximum
score points for this question type.

If one or more response options are incorrect, partial credit

scoring applies.

This is the first of three question types where you can lose points if you
choose any incorrect options. For any wrong options chosen one point is
deducted, whilst correct options are given one point. Make sure you are
confident in your choices.

Note

 This question type affects the scoring of reading.

 Your listening, speaking and writing skills are not tested by this
question type.
 For more information download the Score Guide.

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 3. Re-order Paragraphs:
4. Task
5. Several text boxes appear on the screen in a random order. Put the text boxes in the
correct order.
6. Prompt Length
7. Text up to 150 words
8. Skills Assessed
9. Reading
10. Time to Answer
11. Not applicable

How to answer this question:

For this item type, you need to restore the original order of the text by
selecting text boxes and dragging them across the screen.

There are two ways you can move the text:

1. Left-click on a box to select it (it will be outlined in blue), hold the

left mouse button down and drag it to the desired location.
2. Left-click on a box to select it, and then left-click on the left and right arrow
buttons to move it across. On the right panel, you can also use the up and
down arrow buttons to re-order the boxes.

To deselect a box, left-click elsewhere on the screen.

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 Test tips
Read all the text boxes quickly before you start re-
ordering them:
Read the text boxes in order to understand the main idea of each one. You can do this by
noting the key words.

Next, use the key words to form an overall idea of what the original text is about. This will
help you find the logical order for the ideas in the text boxes:

Find the topic sentence first:

Every well-written paragraph has a topic sentence. It is usually a clear statement about the topic,
and all the other sentences are related in some way to this sentence.

The topic sentence can stand alone; it does not begin with a linker or a pronoun
that refers back to something or someone (e.g., ‘he’ or ‘this’), nor does it does refer
back to information or actions previously mentioned through the use of things like
passive verb tenses (e.g., ‘No link was found’):

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 Accordion - 2. Reading - Part 2 - 2.3: Re-order Paragraphs -
How this question is scored
Your response for Re-order Paragraphs is judged on your ability to understand the organization
and cohesion of an academic text. If all text boxes are in the correct order, you receive the
maximum score points for this question type. If one or more text boxes are in the wrong order,
partial credit scoring applies.

Notes

 This question type affects the scoring of only reading.

 Your listening, speaking and writing skills are not tested by this question type.
 For more information download the Score Guide.

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