About Reading
Reading of PTE Academic tests your ability to understand written English in an academic environment.
Reading item types require you to understand an authentic text from an academic source.
Authentic texts about academic subjects in the humanities, natural sciences or social sciences are presented.
Although you may not to be familiar with the topics presented, all the information you need to answer the items is contained in the texts. Reading item types are not timed individually.
Reading Section
Multiple choice, single answer
For this item type you need to read the passage and answer the multiple-choice question
There are several possible response options but only one is correct.
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, or left-click on a different option.
The option you select is highlighted.
Multiple choice, multiple answer
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.
Re-order paragraphs
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.
Fill In The Blanks
For this item type you need to drag and drop words across the screen to correctly fill in the gaps in the text.
There is a passage with some missing words. You have a list of words in the blue box that you can use to fill the gaps in the text. There are more words than gaps so you will not use all the words provided.
Left-click on a word to select it; keep the left mouse button held down and drag the word to the gap where you want to place it. You can also drag words between gaps. To remove a word from a gap, drag it back to the blue box.
Reading & Writing Fill in the blanks
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.
Tips & Tricks
Note the key words in the prompt before you read the text. Evaluate the response options
Make sure you know how the task is scored. Note any repeated words in the options
Read all the text boxes quickly before you start re-ordering them. Find the topic sentence first
Think about words that you often see or hear together. Use your knowledge of grammar to help you select the correct word
Skim for overall meaning to help you choose the correct word. Read before and after the blank to help you identify the correct word
