Effective Strategies for Fill in the Blanks (Reading) in the PTE Exam

The Fill in the Blanks (Reading) task in the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic evaluates your ability to understand context, grammar, vocabulary, and collocations. Though the task may appear simple at first glance, it often challenges even strong readers with its complexity.

Understanding the Task

In this question type, you will be presented with a short passage of up to 80 words. Some words in the passage will be missing, and these are represented by blank spaces. Below the passage, you will see a selection of words in a blue box. You have to drag and drop the correct words into the blanks.

Prompt Length	Skill Assessed	Time to Answer
Text up to 80 words	Reading	Not Applicable

Key details:

• There are more words in the box than blanks in the passage.

• Not every word from the box will be used.

• Words can be moved and adjusted until you finalize your choices.

How This Question Is Scored

Scoring is based on accuracy. You receive points for each blank that is filled correctly. Partial credit is awarded, which means you can still earn points even if you don’t get all the blanks right. Scoring criteria for this question type are as follows:

• 1: for correct answer

• 0: for incorrect answer

Key Point:

• There is no negative marking.

• You should aim to fill in all the blanks, even if you are unsure of some.

How to Answer This Question

This task requires the understanding of vocabulary knowledge, grammar awareness, and the ability to understand the logical flow of a text. The following strategies will help you to attempt this task effectively.

1. Focus on Collocations

Collocation refers to the natural combination of words that frequently go together in English. It will help you to find the correct correct answer

Example:

The general _____________ supported the government’s decision.

Options: public, avoid, illusion Among the options, “public” is the best fit. This is because “the general public” is a commonly used collocation in English.

Strategy Tip:

• You should develop a habit of learning word partnerships such as strong argument, make a decision, or conduct research.

• Reading academic texts or newspapers will expose you to frequent collocations used in formal contexts, similar to those in the PTE.

2.  Use Grammar to Guide Your Choices

You have to understand sentence structure and parts of speech is essential. When facing a blank, look at the words before and after it to determine what type of word is needed noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.

Example:

The professor began to ______ the main concepts of the lecture.

Here, “to” suggests that an infinitive verb is required, for example, adjust, describe, or summarize. If you see options like lecture, formal, or summarize, only summarize fits grammatically and semantically.

Strategy Tip:

• Review the basic rules of English grammar, especially verb forms, tenses, and noun/adjective usage.

• Eliminate any options that do not match the required part of speech.

3.  Read the Entire Sentence Before and After the Blank

Reading the full context of a sentence is critical. A word might fit grammatically, but still be incorrect due to the meaning of the sentence.

Example:

Despite the clear instructions, many students failed to ___________ the task correctly.

If your options are complete, plan, future, and role, only complete logically makes sense in the context of performing a task.

Strategy Tip:

Don’t just focus on the blank but read a few words before and after it to understand the overall meaning.

Ask yourself: What would make sense here, based on the tone and logic of the passage?”

4.  Eliminate Incorrect Options

Often, the easiest way to get to the right answer is by ruling out the wrong ones. You should eliminate any words that:

• It doesn’t fit grammatically.

• It doesn’t make sense in context.

This helps narrow down your choices and reduce confusion.

Strategy Tip:

• Go through the answer choices one by one and try placing them in the blank.

• Ask yourself whether the sentence still reads naturally and meaningfully after each attempt.

5.  Don’t Overthink Unfamiliar Vocabulary

Occasionally, the answer choices may include advanced vocabulary. Even if you’re unfamiliar with a word, don’t panic. Use context clues and sentence logic to determine whether it might fit.

Strategy Tip:

• If you don’t know a word, look at the structure of the sentence. Is a verb required or a noun? If you know the other words are wrong, the unknown one might be correct.
• Learn high-frequency academic words commonly used in PTE by reviewing vocabulary lists designed for standardized English tests.

6.  Practice with Timed Exercises

Although this task is not strictly timed, practicing under time pressure will help build confidence.

Strategy Tip:

• Use online PTE practice platforms that simulate the actual test environment.

• Track your performance and revisit mistakes to understand why a particular word didn’t fit.

Practice Question:

Hostel life is often considered one of the most memorable phases in a student’s life. It teaches students how to live (1) _____________ from their families and how to become more responsible. Living in a hostel helps students to manage their time, money, and personal needs. However, it also requires students to learn how to (2) _____________ with others in shared spaces, which may sometimes lead to conflicts.

A hostel environment offers various opportunities to make friends and build social skills. Students from different regions and backgrounds live under the same roof, which helps to promote (3) _____________ and understanding. Despite the challenges, hostel life helps students grow emotionally and mentally, preparing them for future responsibilities. It also builds a sense of (4) _________________ as everyone follows the same set of rules and routines.

Overall, hostel life may be challenging at first, but it is also full of learning and personal growth. Many people look back at their hostel days with great (5) _____________ , remembering the friendships, fun, and freedom they experienced.

Options: excitement, independently, silence, cooperate, harmony, discipline, fondness, danger

Answer: independently, corporate, harmony, discipline, fondness

Explanation of Correct Answer:

• Independently: The word independently means doing things on your own. This fits perfectly because hostel life requires self-reliance and handling daily tasks without family support.
• Corporate: The word cooperate means working or living together peacefully, which is necessary in a shared living space. It also connects logically with the idea of avoiding or resolving conflicts.
• Harmony: When people from different places live together, there’s a need for peace and mutual respect. Harmony means living together peacefully, which matches the idea of understanding and unity in a diverse group.
• Discipline: Hostels usually have rules for daily life, for example, curfews, meal times, and study hours. Discipline is the habit of following rules and maintaining order, which is what the sentence describes.
• Fondness: Fondness means a warm or affectionate feeling. Since the sentence talks about people remembering good times with friends and fun, fondness is the most suitable emotional word.

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