The PTE Academic Reading section is designed to assess your ability to read, comprehend, and interpret written academic English. Test Takers will get approximately 2-30 minutes to attempt the entire reading section. Below are the details of the various question types in the PTE Academic Reading section, which will be applicable after 7th August 2025:
| Question Type | No. of Questions | Scoring | Communicative Skill Scored | Traits Scored |
| Fill In The Blanks (Dropdown) | 5-6 | Partial credit (for each correctly completed blank) | Reading: 1: Each correctly completed blank 0: Minimum score | Not applicable |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | 2-3 | Partial credit (for each correct response. Points deducted for incorrect options chosen) | Reading: 1: Each correct response -1: Each incorrect response 0: Minimum score | Not applicable |
| Reorder Paragraphs | 2-3 | Partial credit (for each correctly ordered, adjacent pair) | Reading: 1: Each pair of correct adjacent textboxes 0: Minimum score | Not applicable |
| Fill In The Blanks (Drag and Drop) | 4-5 | Partial credit (for each correctly completed blank) | Reading: 1: Each correctly completed blank 0: Minimum score | Not applicable |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 2-3 | Correct/ incorrect | Reading: 1: Each correctly completed blank 0: Minimum score | Not applicable |
1. Fill in the Blank (Dropdown)
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Number of Questions: 5-6 questions
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- How to Answer:
- Choose the correct word from a dropdown list to fill in the gaps in the passage.
- Read the passage thoroughly to understand the context and select the appropriate word for each gap.
Tips:
- Focus on the surrounding context to choose the correct word.
- Pay attention to grammatical cues (verb tense, plural/singular) to guide your choice.
- Don’t rush; take a moment to think about how the word fits into the sentence structure.
Are you ready to test your skills?
Take a free mock test today and see where you stand!
2. Multiple Choice – Multiple Answers
- Prompt Length: Text up to 350 words
- Number of Questions: Typically 2-3 questions
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- How to Answer:
- Read the passage carefully.
- Select all correct answers based on your understanding of the passage’s content or tone.
Tips:
- Eliminate incorrect answers first to narrow your choices.
- Pay attention to the tone of the passage. Look for hints in the writer’s attitude or stance.
- Make sure to read all options thoroughly; sometimes two answers may seem right, but only one matches the passage perfectly.
3. Reorder Paragraphs
- Prompt Length: Text up to 150 words
- Number of Questions: 2-3 questions
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- How to Answer:
- Drag and drop the text boxes to restore the original order of the passage.
- Look for logical connections and transitional words, for example: first, next, finally help order the paragraphs correctly.
Tips:
- Focus on the logical flow of the ideas. Start with the paragraph that introduces the main point, then follow the sequence of events or ideas.
- Identify transitions like “in conclusion,” “for example,” or “however,” which can guide you to the correct order.
- Practice reordering paragraphs to improve your understanding of how academic texts are structured.
4. Fill in the Blank (Drag and Drop)
- Prompt Length: Text up to 80 words
- Number of Questions: 4-5 questions
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- Time to Answer: 1-2 minutes per question
- How to Answer:
- Drag the words from the box at the bottom of the screen to fill the gaps in the passage.
- Be mindful of the context and select words that make sense within the sentence structure.
Tips:
- Look for clues in the surrounding sentences that indicate which word fits.
- Don’t use words just because they seem to make sense on their own; ensure they align with the overall meaning of the sentence.
- Remember, there are extra words that won’t be used, so don’t worry about picking all of them.
5. Multiple Choice – Single Answer
- Prompt Length: Text up to 300 words
- Number of Questions: 2-3 questions
- Skills Assessed: Reading
- How to Answer:
- Read the passage carefully to understand the content fully.
- Choose the one correct answer from the multiple-choice options.
Tips:
- Read the entire passage before answering to ensure you understand the full context.
- Focus on keywords and phrases in the question that align with the passage.
- Don’t rush; carefully evaluate each answer choice before making your selection.
Are you ready to test your skills?
Take a free mock test today and see where you stand!
Key Skills Assessed in the PTE Academic Reading Section
The PTE Academic Reading section assesses a broad range of skills that are essential for academic success. These include:
- Reading Comprehension: The ability to understand and extract key information from academic texts.
- Vocabulary Knowledge: Your understanding of words and their meanings in academic contexts.
- Grammatical Accuracy: Correct use of grammar, especially in tasks like filling in the blanks.
- Context Understanding: The ability to infer meanings from the context of the passage.
- Logical Reasoning: Particularly for tasks like Reorder Paragraphs, where you need to understand the logical flow of ideas.
- Attention to Detail: Being able to extract small but crucial details from the text, especially in multiple-choice questions.
