“Guessing is the fastest way to lose points. Strategic elimination turns it into a science.” Why Elimination Works: In PTE Reading, facing multiple options can be overwhelming. Instead of guessing, strategic elimination helps reduce 4 options to 2 or even 1 using logic. This increases accuracy and removes uncertainty. Your 5-Step Elimination Checklist: Remove grammatically incorrect Eliminate options that break tense, subject-verb agreement, or article Remove non-collocating Words that don’t naturally go together (e.g., “hold responsibility” instead of “take responsibility”). Remove illogical or out-of-context Even if grammatically correct, discard words that don’t fit the passage’s meaning or Remove tone/register Avoid words that sound

“You chose the right word… but still got it wrong. Why? Tone and register.” What Are Tone and Register? Tone = Emotional quality or attitude of the text (formal, serious, conversational, neutral) Register = Level of formality or appropriateness of the language used (academic, casual, professional) Why They Matter: In PTE Reading, choosing a word with the correct meaning is not enough. The word must also match the tone and register of the passage to sound natural and accurate in context. Common Mistake: Students often choose a synonym that matches the meaning but mismatches the style. Example: The professor gave a talk on